I bet the two judges who didn't give her 6's for presentation needed armed guards just to get out of there alive :) Many athletes can execute technically, but few have ever performed with such passion and emotion as Kwan. One of the best performances by any athlete in any sport, period. I concur with Mr. Button...this was magnificent!
Just a measure of how wonderful Michelle was and still is as a skater.....I have YET to see a standing ovation like this one...........worlds, olympics, nationals, GPF.....
NO ONE, not even YUNA KIM will come close to michelle. with or without olympic gold, it's the passion that engraves the memory of this talented skater...America's Ice Queen!
@bluescribblefy: 1) Kwan was NOT the world silver medalist (she finished 8th) going into 1994 Olympics (her first time on the world podium was in 1996-gold); you don't have your facts correct. Listen, I did NOT say Kwan should not have been allowed, I simply said that the rules were such that she could not due to the kerrigan/harding fiasco. I would have LOVE to have seen Kwan at the 94 games. We really aren't arguing that point.
@mlc2005 yeah I would love to have seen Michelle at the 94 games too but as mentioned there was only 2 spots anyway and no way were the committee was not going to let Kerrigan go because of the attack and Harding because her whole involvement legal wise hadnt been sorted out, the whole plot was dumb to begin with that whole field was wide open for the games , with Syria,Lu Chen, Nancy,Josee Chinard,Tonya,Oksana, but then again Harding/Kerrigan brought Super Bowl type ratings
@bluescribblefy: Okay, we will agree to disagree... but just wanted to point out: Tara was reigning World Champion, and Sara was the reigning world bronze medalist when the competed at their Olympics Whereas Kwan's 1994 Olympics would have been her first senion intl. competition, so that is not a good comparison. I agree that Kwan had the talent that she MAY have won, but you said that the whole thing is why she does not have a gold, as if it were certain.
@bluescribblefy: Cont: Don't get me wrong, ideally Harding's ass should have been off the team, but that would have been illegal at the time, frankly, b/c they did not have a strong case against her at that point (even though everyone knew she did it). And otherwise, the Olympic committee should have allowed all three to go, given the circumstances. Where I think you're wrong is in claiming that Kwan doesn't have gold because she didn't get to go to the 1994 Olympics. That's a HUGE leap.
@bluescribblefy: Is your argument 1) Kerrigan should not have gone to the Olympics b/c she was unable to compete at Nationals (through no fault of her own); and that 2) Kwan would have won a gold medal at the 1994 Olympics had she been allowed to attend?OK: the USFSA had a really tough call: They could only send two skaters (not their rule). Kerrigan being denied would have been immoral and caused huge outcry. And Harding threatened legal action b/c technically she had not been convicted yet.
The USFSA only commits to send the number 1 finisher at Nationals to the Olympics. It's mission is to send the best team. Nancy couldn't compete at Nationals through no fault of her own and her silver medal at the Olys proves she deserved to be there. The one who should have bowed out--or been made to bow out-- was Tonya.
@idolfan9495 Tonya should have been kicked out for sure! Michelle was robbed in 1994 but she was classy about it. Too bad but Michelle is a great role model at how to handle disappointment. Didn't Nancy throw her medal out at some Disney parade?
@bluescribblefy: Don't get me wrong, I think Kwan is one of the greatest in history, and, yes, she was a huge talent in 1994.
I think what you are failing to grasp is the fact that Kerrigan had been attacked, and was the 1993 National Champion. Kerrigan absolutely should have gone. The only way for Kwan to have gone was: 1) Harding to bow out and show some class (yeah right), or 2) The Olympics change the rules and let three ladies compete.I don't consider it an outrage that she didn't go.
@bluescribblefy: Well, I def. think Kerrigan should have been gone to the Olympics, and I doubt Kwan would have won gold in 1994, as her maturity and artistry we all know and love had not blossomed yet. Plus, the networks were NEVER going to give up the change for a Kerrigan/Harding show down at the Olympics: And it worked. The ratings are among the highest in US television history!
@bluescribblefy Pressure smessure she choked the Olympics (where the REAL pressure is) twice and cowardly backed out on a third she had no right to be in.
Even the "getreal's" of the world have to admit that Kwan was the glue that held the popularity of figure skating together for so many audiences. Interestingly, once she left center stage, ratings dropped and ABC did not renew it's contract. "She's an icon in figure skating" as one British figure skating commentator put it! Fabulous.
@mlc2005 Yeah but so did Tonya Harding... who by the way did far more for figure skating's popularity than Kwan ever did... wasn't the 94 Olympics 5th or something on most watched television program in history? And if Kwan really was that great to skating, American TV ratings should have continued to be riding high after Torino.
I burst into tears right at the start. Don't know why. Probably due to Michelle's heart and soul that is on display the moment she hit the ice. A world treasure is our Michelle. She never fails to lift my spirits, show us what beauty and courage is and how a true, great artist could be so bright and yet so humble at the same time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
@allenglandlawns She doesn't need to. An Olympic Gold Medal does not define how great someone it is. It is just a prize everyone wants to have somehow. As the founder of the modern Olympics said, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” Michelle lives this quote word for word. :)
@TeamKween2010 There are great skaters who didn't win the OGM...just didn't receive the breaks/help Kwan had. They competed with honesty, courage, athleticism and assumed nothing. Kwan all but expected the gold around her neck and even she bungled up her simple and safe routines...so much for "fighting". Instead of being grateful and relieved to be on an Olympic podium, she was snivelly and angry... shocked that the OGM wasn't just handed to her. And she was willing to step on Emily in 2006.
@allenglandlawns Well you just bash Michelle time after time. Michelle competed with honesty and courage. In 1998, she was injured, I am sure you know. She had a stress fracture. Obviously she was restrained from doing triples-triples. In 2002, she did play it conservatively, but after the fall on the triple flip, she came back fighting and showed tremendous courage. She was not angry and snivelly. I am sure she was disappointed, but not what you say.
@allenglandlawns After the 2005 Worlds, Michelle was revamping her levels so she can compete with the rest of the ladies under the new judging system. And at the time of petioning for a spot on the team, Michelle's scores under the system were better than Emily. The United States wants their BEST to be represented at the Olympics, and based on the scores at Worlds, Michelle was more than capable of competing with the best in the world.
@TeamKween2010 And Tara had a hip injury but she stayed mum about it, did her combos, and WON. As for the US wanting the "best" to represent their country, why couldn't they just bump Sasha off in 02 for Angela? Angela "helped" earn 3 spots for the USA and Sasha never proved herself in major internationals yet. Kwan was sent for facetime and money for NBC in 06. She wasn't in any condition to skate and she knew it...slithering off. And Emily went on to represent the US with class and honor.
@TeamKween2010 cont...So much for the US wanting it's best representatives. Kwan couldn't even skate after ONE practice session. Sheesh it makes America look like a bunch of pansies. It's all MONEY MONEY MONEY when it comes to Kwan. No honor...no values. And the Hughes family (Sarah and then Emily) had to restore the meaning of integrity and honesty back into skating for the 2nd straight Olympics.
@allenglandlawns Before being placed on the team, Michelle had to prove to a five-member monitoring committee that she was well enough to compete in the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. After performing both her short program and long program to them, they came to a conclusion that she was ready. So Michelle had no power whatsoever. If they felt she was not ready, they would have declined the petition and sent Emily. Michelle suffered from a different injury after the practice in Torino.
@TeamKween2010 Regardless of the issue whether it was an old or new injury, the fact that it came by after a SINGLE practice session suggests that she was NOT fit to skate from the very beginning. But NBC wasn't going to shoot itself in the foot...it wanted money and facetime...so did Kwan. They both sure got what they wanted... with that pity press party... no matter the credibility damage to the sport, the US, and the Olympics.
@allenglandlawns I am sure she was fit enough to compete. The panel that observed Michelle felt she was more than ready to compete at the Olympics. And injuries in sports are very normal. They can occur any time. Even at a single practice. While most athletes would forget the pain and compete anyways, Michelle made a promise when petitioning. She directly said to the press that if she was not 100 %, she would withdraw from the team. And after the new injury, she kept her word.
@TeamKween2010 So you place your faith in the hands of who knows could be a couple of crooked and biased officials? That decision occurred behind closed doors and that is a poor act esp in light of a sport that has worked so hard to eliminate cheating and favoritism ever since SLC. If Kwan was truly that fit and had nothing to hide, it shouldn't a private audition. Competing in front of the public and REAL Olympic officials is different than a panel that likely made an arbitrary decision.
@allenglandlawns Yes, and then like she always did, Sasha Cohen took up the gauntlet, skated beautifully, and restored faith in the system by winning the Olympic Gold Medal. Oh, wait, no, she didn't. She fell, as always, right on her tight little ass. Talk about arbitrary, Sasha's Silver Medal was a gift. . even she knew it. Michelle Kwan has been retired for 6 years now. Let it go. Let it go.
@allenglandlawns Stop your bitching.Just listen to the crowd.They love her even without a olympic gold medal.I haven't heard the crowd cheer so loud for another skater.
Why can't there be one video out there of Michelle or Tara that doesn't have a horrible fan fight in the comments? Michelle is amazing, but that doesn't mean Tara didn't deserve her medal. This routine is really beautiful though...as always.
Michelle Kwan and Puccini was the best combination ever. She really makes me believe she would be, if she were an opera singer, a dramatic soprano and BE Tosca.
The troll lives for the responses, like an obscene phone caller lives for a voice at the other end. Ignore her. And don't forget to thumbs-down the troll and make her posts disappear.
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@SkatingDominator I think you need to talk to more people...you know, the ones who are in touch with reality. Can't stand the fact that your Kween got her cheeks iced by a true champion? Must be some sick joke that the judges played fair at the Olympics...the one event the world cares about. Flaunt all the 6s, nationals and worlds she touts all you want, but Kwan was KWAP at the Olympics...THRICE!...well twice, but that desperate attempt in 06 was more comedic than pathetic...your call
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@SkatingDominator Kwan is just overhyped and pitied. Got all the facetime in the world up to the point where most people think she's the only figure skater on earth. All name...no game. How did the judges cheat? They awarded the gold to the skater who skated the best. And Kwan failed to be that skater TWICE. She stumbled, bumbled, was slow, and boring. Give her all the cupcake medals in the world...despite all the favoritism, she'll always be a choking Olympic FAILURE.
Isn't it sad that the ugly, career-less has-been Tara Lipinski just spends her whole day everyday bashing Kwan and doesn't even have the courage to use her real name and instead hides under 'allengslandlaws,' 'getrealandsee,' 'ithinkformyself,' kwansangsog,' etc.? What a COWARD. But not s surprise, really, since she was too chicken to compete again after shrieking her wide, ugly mouth to the skies being gifted that OGM...
Just ignore the troll. There is only one. She posts under different names and gets a charge out of people's indignant responses--kind of like an obscene phone caller. Or better yet, move your mouse to the right of her post and click the thumbs down instead of responding. If enough people do it, the troll's posts will disappear.
Kwan has become a LEGEND, a hard and bitter slap on the face of the UGLY, CAREER-LESS HAS-BEEN Tara Lipinski, otherwise known on Youtube as getrealandsee, allengslandlawns, cleareyed, ithinkformyself, and her other TROLL identities pretending to be "objective" to avoid being found out as Lipinski. And Kwan became one even without having to win the medal that was GIFTED to the UGLY, CAREER-LESS HAS BEEN Lipinski. Look who has the last laugh now? Ha ha ha ha ha!
Even with mistakes we're with her? Umm...real athletes pay for their mistakes and receive absolutely no pity for it. Baby Kwan needs all the love so her feewings don't get hurt after being so traumatized at not being handed the OGM as she figured she was entitled to.
didn't say anything bad about Kwan. I think she's a real champion for moving forward and entertaining us showing that she loves to skate. And seriously, how many people who are not Olympic Gold Medalist can do high jumps, beautiful spins, and have grace? There are examples like Midori Ito (highest jumper w triple axel), Mao Asada (has flexibility, triple axels, and spins), or even (Tonya harding known for her jumps)
It's really spooky to see the thumbs up on tavias48's comment...really spooky. Michelle DID lose to Tara...she DID lose to Sarah...and she was given so many titles/golds/records that she herself bought the hype...maybe...just maybe...if she had been treated fairly and objectively people wouldn't hate on her so much. For sure she damaged herself and figure skating with that sleazy trick she pulled in 2006 and it was all about money. ALL about money!
@getrealandsee Yep. Kwan embarrassed herself and skating in front of the whole world for years and years. And has absolutely no shame and remorse for it.
@getrealandsee Spooky??? It's THEIR opinions! Elaborate how Michelle embarrassed herself for years and years...Your vindictive posts are spooky and embarrassing (this nonsense has been going on for years and years). And Michelle Kwan deserved all of her titles...
@Karosanyo Kwan was propped up so much, her defenders forget which titles/medals she didn't actually earn (which was most). But she actually did earn the title of LOL: Legendary Olympic LOSER! =)
@allenglandlawns Titles and medals mean nothing!!! There are Olympic champs who are not even competing still, all cuz they won gold. GUESS WHAT, REAL CHAMPS MOVE FORWARD! Like you're a skater, Quit using other skaters as an excuse of your failures. Guess who's the real loser. YOU!! GUESS WHO ELSE DIDN'T WIN A WORLD TITLE ALL CUZ SHE'S OLYMPIC CHAMPION. OLYMPIC CHAMPS ARE NOT THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
@filipinoICEsk8ter Wow...ruffled much? May I suggest taking a walk outside for some fresh air? Or a glass of water? The Olympic Gold is the holy grail for all athletes. Whether they win it or not, its what they all dream of winning and Kwan the Kareful couldn't cut it despite all the help. Have a lovely day! =)))
@allenglandlawns wow filipinoicesk8ter... Kwan won 5 world titles and each were well deserved. Btw, thanks for defining what an Olympic gold is like for athletes (chuckle). And so what if she never won Olympic gold; she became very popular because of her elegance and grace, which won people's hearts. As for you judging (re: "Kwan the Kareful couldn't cut it despite all the help") - who are you again? What have you won? I bet you've never even won Sectionals or Regionals.. lmao! Buh-bye! :)
@allenglandlawns Sorry I was too busy skating and learning more about champions than faffing around the house not living up my dreams like you are. HOLY GRAIL MY A***!! I can give so many examples that show Olympic Champs aren't the best in the world. Yeah skaters dream, too bad it won't really come true as quick as a flash. The likelyhood of someone winning the Gold is 1-100. Which is not much. Even if your kids were to compete, odds are they will not win.
@filipinoICEsk8ter I tend to just treat that troller as a child. It's nothing to get worked up about, and it's a waste of energy. Frankly, her/his rants has made me more in love with skaters and figure skating, so I say just let her have her little moments.
@getrealandsee I showed some of my friends your activity online and we had a good laugh about it. You're quite entertaining to watch. I bet you just love Michelle Kwan, don't you?
@anubethc45 I know as much as anyone else does...about figure skating. Just listen to this..the already determined win...even when she makes mistakes we're with her...ok, so people make mistakes but they are penalized..Kwan is simply gushed over....I looked up Helen Thomas but don't understand the comparison...oh, Tonya did wrong and she PAID big time....what Tonya did with a pipe Kwan did with a pen. And cashed in.
Actually Sasha Cohen is the premier skater of the new millennium. She pushed the difficulty level of the sport instead of skating safe and easy like Kwan did.
@HowsaBowsaYowsa She would've pushed the sport, but she had the perennial difficulty of skating well in the free skate. Skating clean is also important.
@RevShaqueefa Skating clean is always important, but yeah Cohen had the presence as Michelle, but she didn't do a clean long and short yet. But she's without a doubt one of the best.
@filipinoICEsk8ter Sasha has some of my favorite SP's. She's a very special skater. Nowadays, doing a clean program will not matter as much as long as you get the points. Still, it's nice when you watch a clean program that's performed well. Best of both worlds.
@RevShaqueefa Yeah. I mean the new system may be about getting points, but you are still in a subjective sport. You need to perform well no matter what. Getting points or not, we have to do well.
New system, old system, doesn't matter. Look at the audience reactions. They were part of this performance by the way they cheered and felt the performance.
Unquestionably the best female figure skater of all time. Nobody ever out-skated Michelle Kwan. If she lost, it was due to her own mistakes not because someone else was better.
Disagree wholeheartedly. Best ever is Sasha Cohen. She pushed the sport to a whole new level with her spins, spirals and moves in general. I have never seen anyone before her or after her that is any better than her.
It is unfortunate also that the US women skaters have not step up to the plate to compete internationally. Not that they're not good but not up to par with the rest of the world. And to me the point system seems to favor skaters that can do triple jump after triple jump. Wasn't there a limit to how much triple jumps you could do in a program? ie. Yvgeny pleshenko and his back loaded programs
Why are ppl bashing the skaters. It was unfortunate that Michelle had to skate first but it is what it is. I am a very big fan of Michelle and I wish she had won but it is in the past. Michelle kwan will always be known for ALL of her perfection while Tara and Sarah will only be known for one. Their OGM
@cyke90 Kwan skated FIRST multiple times in her career and was still handed titles left and right. Think 98 worlds and 02 nats to name a couple. Tara and Sarah (who are true champions) absolutely SHUT her down at the only event the world cares about.
@mlc2005 More like most pitied in history for choking the Olympics TWICE and embarrassing herself and her country at another she had NO right to be in.
One of the greatest programs of all time..and it didn't even happen at the Olympics. A testament to how beautiful and brilliant of a skater Michelle was.
Michelle did not lose to Lipinski at Nagano! Those judges cheated Michelle out of that gold medal! Lipinski could never out skate Michelle, never in this or any other lifetime, and those moronic judges at the 2002 games played the same sick joke against this iconic skater! They and Sarah, will forever burn in hell for such atrocities!!! Michelle will Forever be Olympic Gold Material!!!!!!!!!
@tavias48 Last I checked, Kwan skated like a scared cat and LOST TWICE. She also embarrassed herself in Torino, but that's another story. Tara and Sarah skated like TRUE champions and judges finally played it fair no matter how much Kwanatics rage over that fact =) Kwan can have a hundred worlds and nationals, but none of that adds up to the holy grail of skating: the OGM.
@allenglandlawns Olympic gold medals don't mean anything!! Seriously? Even with an Olympic Gold medal, You can still lose. Ex. Evgeni Plushenko and Yuna Kim. Olympic Gold doesn't mean anything. You win, SO WHAT?! You're still the same person. End of story! Get that right! I bet you won't get any close to the podium nor even qualify for nationals so why even insult someone who can out skate you?
@filipinoICEsk8ter Oh yes they do! Isn't it the reason Kwan hung around forever trying to win? Isn't it the great prize all skating athletes dream about winning? The process of pushing yourself to be the best athlete is most important but dreams of becoming an Olympic champion provide the inspiration to do that. Kwan was just "inspired" to hang around another 4 years without pushing herself...until COP forced her to. But she couldn't keep up with the REAL athletes and then crashed and burned.
@allenglandlawns Dude serously get a clue! She has been training a whole year before the Olympics. If she weren't practicing, she wouldn't be pettitioning the US Comittee to compete at the Olympics. DUH! If you were a skater you'd know. I was inspired by her and Tara Lipinski. She inspired Yuna kim also. She's a better athlete than you. You're not out there doing anything. The odds of becoming an Olympic Champ is very small. Even making the podium at the Olympics is a big accomplishment.
@filipinoICEsk8ter Kwan had such a long career and was so popular that I think ppl began to take her for granted. Even for me, it wasn't until after she retired that I really noticed how hard it was to skate a program and not have it seem like a collection of elements/point-getters. There are skaters I enjoy, like Patrick Chan and Kanako Murakami from this season, but I still miss Kwan's skating.
@RevShaqueefa Michelle Kwan is the only one who inspires so many young girls today to become skaters. She and Tara Lipinski were an inspiration. Michelle Kwan style is going to be remembered for a long time until someone will take over.
But tell us, "expert": How much was each individual audience member in the numerous audiences to consistently give Kwan standing ovation after standing ovation after standing ovation, even during practice sessions, paid?
Face it: most of those audience members both knew and know figure skating through and through, so recognize excellence when they see it. So are you going to question their integrity also?
@tavias48 Shelly outright got her butt whipped by Tara and Sarah, both of whom are true athletes and champions. They both recognized the Olympic moment and nailed it which is something your Kween can't seem to do despite every effort from the judges to gift her the Gold. Scream all you want, but Kwan will NEVER EVER wear the OGM! =)
@allenglandlawns OGM are not always worth watching. There are many examples. Apparently to most skaters and some fans, Kwan is always going to be a champion. Especially because after the Olympics, she wouldn't keep skating unlike some skaters who just take a break and think they are good enough to win worlds as the first competiton. OGMedalists are not always worth watching. Many examples out there man. From what I see, you no real athlete so, you don't know what an athlete and a Champion is.
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@tavias48 What on earth are you babbling about? Sarah and Tara have Olympic Golds. Kwan has NONE and lost twice to them. FACT! And to add to that, she skated like a scared rabbit TWICE and couldn't cut it despite safe routines and all the help she could get. And you call that Olympic Gold Material? Kwan will always be known as a choker and the Legendary Olympic Loser. :)
@allenglandlawns At least she won medals at the Olympics while you faff around your house being a real loser. Nothing to be a loser about that. You criticize like a little B*** like you're better when she could skate circles around you. Heck I could skate circles, around you. SERIOUSLY, IF YOU RESPECT THIS SPORT, YOU RESPECT THE SKATERS AS WELL. WE SKATERS RESPECT EACH OTHER, CUZ WE LOVE THIS SPORT. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND DON'T HAVE RESPECT. F*** OFF You've got nothing!! Who's the real loser now?
@allenglandlawns I'm not desperate. I actually have the skill and knowledge of this sport. The only ones who talk crap and not do anything about it, is desperate. I may not know anything about you, but with your attitude, and no action, you have no respect for this sport. If you aren't going to respect skaters, you have no respect for this sport. Simple as that. And it's another rule in the Figure skating world. ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS. Kwan has the ACTION, you have words. You're faffing
@filipinoICEsk8ter True, actions speak louder than words. And you could see the lack of respect Shelly has for other athletes and the sport itself when she destroyed Emily's dream. She can spout all the cliches she wants but her actions (cheating Emily, never upping the ante by skating the same old safe routines, booing her scores when no 6s were gifted to her) speak for themselves. Kwan is a phony and loser. Goodbye!
@allenglandlawns As I said Action speaks louder than words. You can't perform like her. You're a phony and a loser since you think you're better than her. It's not up to Michelle. It was the Comittee. Don't blame here, blame the committee. Don't be mad cuz she has her own ice rink and is part of pop culture. That's worth more than OGM! BAM. I'm talking about you. If you think she's a loser, why even bash her any more? Oh, that's right, you like kicking people when they are down. JERK!
@allenglandlawns How is Michelle Kwan a "loser"? She IS the most influential female figure of the last 50 years (just ask Yuna and Sasha). Her artisty will forever be unmatched. I can watch her performances over and over and never get tired of them. Your lame posts are never going to change that fact. You sound like a very bitter and jealous fan of hers. Why does she get to you so much? You just love to bad mouth her on all of her videos. You sound very self-righteous. Get over it!
Who allowed this freak (LennonDeservedToDie), to talk about Michelle choking at those prejudiced Olympic Games? Where the hell are Tara the puppy dawg, and Sara Hughes the no skating witch??? No where!!! No one really remembers these witches only that Michelle was robbed of not one but two Olympic gold medals! But no matter, Michelle will always be the 'IT' skater of all times! You will always rule women skating Michelle! Cause without you competing, that chit's not worth viewing any more!!!
@tavias48 Kwan never even came close to winning at the 2002 olympics. Sarah had that one in the bag. She did come close in 98 but still Tara deserved the gold.
I grew up watching her skate. I don't think I realized just how amazing she is until she's not skating anymore. I can't find any current skater to compare.
@JeromeViolist Same here. I think it's being older, so being able to appreciate what one might not have understood then. And having seen so many other skaters, then coming back to watch Kwan. When she just skates, as in this instance, no one could touch her. She didn't need Olympic Gold to be the best.
@nphung01 Kwan skated first, so as the commentators -- Scott Hamilton, who knows something about skating, especially -- said, she was ARTIFICALLY UNDERSCORED by, as Hamilton said, "Several tenths". Hamilton also expressed shock that she was so excessivley underscored.
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Lipinski "won" by an insignificant 1/100th of a point, only one fewer tenth of underscoring Kwan and Kwan would have the gold.
Ultimately, though, Kwan doesn't need Olympic Gold.
I bet the two judges who didn't give her 6's for presentation needed armed guards just to get out of there alive :) Many athletes can execute technically, but few have ever performed with such passion and emotion as Kwan. One of the best performances by any athlete in any sport, period. I concur with Mr. Button...this was magnificent!
rjh4736 1 day ago
Just a measure of how wonderful Michelle was and still is as a skater.....I have YET to see a standing ovation like this one...........worlds, olympics, nationals, GPF.....
thaoch 3 days ago
Beautiful!
dannyradar 4 days ago
NO ONE, not even YUNA KIM will come close to michelle. with or without olympic gold, it's the passion that engraves the memory of this talented skater...America's Ice Queen!
hrjr2009 3 weeks ago 4
i still cant find that very symphony version of tosca!?
anarchov5 3 weeks ago
I treasure this performance because it was her last really jaw-dropping performance. You had many, Michelle. Love it.
RevShaqueefa 1 month ago in playlist Favorite videos
She is a class act, I watch this performance again and again--I just can't get excited about figure skating if she's not competing..
jraehol 1 month ago in playlist Liked videos 2
She is awesome!!
2dogsMulti 1 month ago
She's incredible! We'll never find someone like her again.
lowdaisy1 1 month ago
Scott isn't announcing, but while watching the footwork section I could hear Scott exclaiming, "Sell it!"
AvFan4vr 1 month ago
made me teary... amazing!
orinnecay 1 month ago
Michelle is an incredible skater. So gifted on soo many levels.
SummerNAutumn1 2 months ago
She's incredible. Brought tears to my eyes :)
AlwaysaNavyGirl 2 months ago 3
but why did she only do one combo?
macerface 2 months ago
This is magnificent.
macerface 2 months ago
It looks like she's dancing with the wind. Very graceful.
iratymae 2 months ago 2
I just cried...and I don't even like figure skating that much.
celo432 2 months ago
This performance was so incredible, I cried. You can really see her hard work pay off, you can just see the fire in this inspiring performance. WOW!
1word2peoplex3 2 months ago
michelle kwan is one of the best skater i ever seen, she rocks, but now i think she is like in her 20s? idk but yeah so she rocks
oct1200 2 months ago
holy crap FOOTWORK!!!
TheIdolWannabe 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy: 1) Kwan was NOT the world silver medalist (she finished 8th) going into 1994 Olympics (her first time on the world podium was in 1996-gold); you don't have your facts correct. Listen, I did NOT say Kwan should not have been allowed, I simply said that the rules were such that she could not due to the kerrigan/harding fiasco. I would have LOVE to have seen Kwan at the 94 games. We really aren't arguing that point.
mlc2005 3 months ago
@mlc2005 yeah I would love to have seen Michelle at the 94 games too but as mentioned there was only 2 spots anyway and no way were the committee was not going to let Kerrigan go because of the attack and Harding because her whole involvement legal wise hadnt been sorted out, the whole plot was dumb to begin with that whole field was wide open for the games , with Syria,Lu Chen, Nancy,Josee Chinard,Tonya,Oksana, but then again Harding/Kerrigan brought Super Bowl type ratings
sportstalk23 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy: Okay, we will agree to disagree... but just wanted to point out: Tara was reigning World Champion, and Sara was the reigning world bronze medalist when the competed at their Olympics Whereas Kwan's 1994 Olympics would have been her first senion intl. competition, so that is not a good comparison. I agree that Kwan had the talent that she MAY have won, but you said that the whole thing is why she does not have a gold, as if it were certain.
mlc2005 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy: Cont: Don't get me wrong, ideally Harding's ass should have been off the team, but that would have been illegal at the time, frankly, b/c they did not have a strong case against her at that point (even though everyone knew she did it). And otherwise, the Olympic committee should have allowed all three to go, given the circumstances. Where I think you're wrong is in claiming that Kwan doesn't have gold because she didn't get to go to the 1994 Olympics. That's a HUGE leap.
mlc2005 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy: Is your argument 1) Kerrigan should not have gone to the Olympics b/c she was unable to compete at Nationals (through no fault of her own); and that 2) Kwan would have won a gold medal at the 1994 Olympics had she been allowed to attend?OK: the USFSA had a really tough call: They could only send two skaters (not their rule). Kerrigan being denied would have been immoral and caused huge outcry. And Harding threatened legal action b/c technically she had not been convicted yet.
mlc2005 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy
The USFSA only commits to send the number 1 finisher at Nationals to the Olympics. It's mission is to send the best team. Nancy couldn't compete at Nationals through no fault of her own and her silver medal at the Olys proves she deserved to be there. The one who should have bowed out--or been made to bow out-- was Tonya.
idolfan9495 3 months ago
@idolfan9495 Tonya should have been kicked out for sure! Michelle was robbed in 1994 but she was classy about it. Too bad but Michelle is a great role model at how to handle disappointment. Didn't Nancy throw her medal out at some Disney parade?
1001icetea 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy: Don't get me wrong, I think Kwan is one of the greatest in history, and, yes, she was a huge talent in 1994.
I think what you are failing to grasp is the fact that Kerrigan had been attacked, and was the 1993 National Champion. Kerrigan absolutely should have gone. The only way for Kwan to have gone was: 1) Harding to bow out and show some class (yeah right), or 2) The Olympics change the rules and let three ladies compete.I don't consider it an outrage that she didn't go.
mlc2005 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy: Well, I def. think Kerrigan should have been gone to the Olympics, and I doubt Kwan would have won gold in 1994, as her maturity and artistry we all know and love had not blossomed yet. Plus, the networks were NEVER going to give up the change for a Kerrigan/Harding show down at the Olympics: And it worked. The ratings are among the highest in US television history!
mlc2005 3 months ago
@bluescribblefy Pressure smessure she choked the Olympics (where the REAL pressure is) twice and cowardly backed out on a third she had no right to be in.
allenglandlawns 3 months ago
Even the "getreal's" of the world have to admit that Kwan was the glue that held the popularity of figure skating together for so many audiences. Interestingly, once she left center stage, ratings dropped and ABC did not renew it's contract. "She's an icon in figure skating" as one British figure skating commentator put it! Fabulous.
mlc2005 3 months ago
@mlc2005 Yeah but so did Tonya Harding... who by the way did far more for figure skating's popularity than Kwan ever did... wasn't the 94 Olympics 5th or something on most watched television program in history? And if Kwan really was that great to skating, American TV ratings should have continued to be riding high after Torino.
allenglandlawns 3 months ago
Whenever I think of figure skating, Michelle Kwan pops in my head. You know why? She is figure skating.
filipinoICEsk8ter 4 months ago 2
she's wonderful. it makes me wonder if she still competed today if she would have kept up with the technical standards of IJS.
macerface 4 months ago
In basketball there's MJ, in figure skating there's MK-Michelle Kwan.
lowdaisy1 4 months ago
Amazing
fuji73p 4 months ago
what level are you? youre really good!!!
skateralli123 4 months ago in playlist Figure skating
@skateralli123 sorry i ment to post that for another video
skateralli123 4 months ago in playlist Figure skating
What an incredible performance! Michelle is unmatched. I miss her
awesometom117 5 months ago 9
She's beautiful. Better than Yuna Kim.
MistressSerenity 5 months ago 8
35 seconds from 4:10 to 4:45 - This is 100% absolutely the best of the best performance of all, the great example to other skaters!
TheVietc 5 months ago
Actually,I want to ice skate just for fun :)
Richele1528 5 months ago
I burst into tears right at the start. Don't know why. Probably due to Michelle's heart and soul that is on display the moment she hit the ice. A world treasure is our Michelle. She never fails to lift my spirits, show us what beauty and courage is and how a true, great artist could be so bright and yet so humble at the same time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
alphabetacanton 5 months ago 3
Is there a way to like this 1,000x?
bradyachin 5 months ago
@bradyachin Yeah, watch it a thousand times.
alphabetacanton 5 months ago
i just realized that she was my hero when i was in elementary o:
man even after all this time i still love her, she's so pretty and works so hard, and she's so kind >.<
analivita 5 months ago
Oh sure let Kwan have her 6s and "record" national titles...she will NEVER wear the Olympic Gold Medal.
allenglandlawns 6 months ago
@allenglandlawns She doesn't need to. An Olympic Gold Medal does not define how great someone it is. It is just a prize everyone wants to have somehow. As the founder of the modern Olympics said, "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” Michelle lives this quote word for word. :)
TeamKween2010 5 months ago
@TeamKween2010 There are great skaters who didn't win the OGM...just didn't receive the breaks/help Kwan had. They competed with honesty, courage, athleticism and assumed nothing. Kwan all but expected the gold around her neck and even she bungled up her simple and safe routines...so much for "fighting". Instead of being grateful and relieved to be on an Olympic podium, she was snivelly and angry... shocked that the OGM wasn't just handed to her. And she was willing to step on Emily in 2006.
allenglandlawns 5 months ago
@allenglandlawns Well you just bash Michelle time after time. Michelle competed with honesty and courage. In 1998, she was injured, I am sure you know. She had a stress fracture. Obviously she was restrained from doing triples-triples. In 2002, she did play it conservatively, but after the fall on the triple flip, she came back fighting and showed tremendous courage. She was not angry and snivelly. I am sure she was disappointed, but not what you say.
TeamKween2010 5 months ago
@allenglandlawns After the 2005 Worlds, Michelle was revamping her levels so she can compete with the rest of the ladies under the new judging system. And at the time of petioning for a spot on the team, Michelle's scores under the system were better than Emily. The United States wants their BEST to be represented at the Olympics, and based on the scores at Worlds, Michelle was more than capable of competing with the best in the world.
TeamKween2010 5 months ago
@TeamKween2010 And Tara had a hip injury but she stayed mum about it, did her combos, and WON. As for the US wanting the "best" to represent their country, why couldn't they just bump Sasha off in 02 for Angela? Angela "helped" earn 3 spots for the USA and Sasha never proved herself in major internationals yet. Kwan was sent for facetime and money for NBC in 06. She wasn't in any condition to skate and she knew it...slithering off. And Emily went on to represent the US with class and honor.
allenglandlawns 5 months ago
@TeamKween2010 cont...So much for the US wanting it's best representatives. Kwan couldn't even skate after ONE practice session. Sheesh it makes America look like a bunch of pansies. It's all MONEY MONEY MONEY when it comes to Kwan. No honor...no values. And the Hughes family (Sarah and then Emily) had to restore the meaning of integrity and honesty back into skating for the 2nd straight Olympics.
allenglandlawns 5 months ago
@allenglandlawns Before being placed on the team, Michelle had to prove to a five-member monitoring committee that she was well enough to compete in the 2006 Winter Games in Torino, Italy. After performing both her short program and long program to them, they came to a conclusion that she was ready. So Michelle had no power whatsoever. If they felt she was not ready, they would have declined the petition and sent Emily. Michelle suffered from a different injury after the practice in Torino.
TeamKween2010 5 months ago
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@TeamKween2010 Regardless of the issue whether it was an old or new injury, the fact that it came by after a SINGLE practice session suggests that she was NOT fit to skate from the very beginning. But NBC wasn't going to shoot itself in the foot...it wanted money and facetime...so did Kwan. They both sure got what they wanted... with that pity press party... no matter the credibility damage to the sport, the US, and the Olympics.
allenglandlawns 5 months ago
@allenglandlawns I am sure she was fit enough to compete. The panel that observed Michelle felt she was more than ready to compete at the Olympics. And injuries in sports are very normal. They can occur any time. Even at a single practice. While most athletes would forget the pain and compete anyways, Michelle made a promise when petitioning. She directly said to the press that if she was not 100 %, she would withdraw from the team. And after the new injury, she kept her word.
TeamKween2010 5 months ago 3
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@TeamKween2010 So you place your faith in the hands of who knows could be a couple of crooked and biased officials? That decision occurred behind closed doors and that is a poor act esp in light of a sport that has worked so hard to eliminate cheating and favoritism ever since SLC. If Kwan was truly that fit and had nothing to hide, it shouldn't a private audition. Competing in front of the public and REAL Olympic officials is different than a panel that likely made an arbitrary decision.
allenglandlawns 5 months ago
@allenglandlawns Yes, and then like she always did, Sasha Cohen took up the gauntlet, skated beautifully, and restored faith in the system by winning the Olympic Gold Medal. Oh, wait, no, she didn't. She fell, as always, right on her tight little ass. Talk about arbitrary, Sasha's Silver Medal was a gift. . even she knew it. Michelle Kwan has been retired for 6 years now. Let it go. Let it go.
neutrogenaaveeno 5 months ago
@allenglandlawns Stop your bitching.Just listen to the crowd.They love her even without a olympic gold medal.I haven't heard the crowd cheer so loud for another skater.
skategurl1102 5 months ago
Why can't there be one video out there of Michelle or Tara that doesn't have a horrible fan fight in the comments? Michelle is amazing, but that doesn't mean Tara didn't deserve her medal. This routine is really beautiful though...as always.
juicy013 6 months ago
Michelle Kwan and Puccini was the best combination ever. She really makes me believe she would be, if she were an opera singer, a dramatic soprano and BE Tosca.
WickedProductions100 6 months ago
why not post her sp? surely not just because she didn't finish first...
Arinozian 6 months ago
Best. Skater. Ever... Love and miss watching this kind of skating! Thank God for YouTube!!!
christyyz 6 months ago
There is not one time I watch this where i don't get goosebumps. :D She is truly amazing & my idol.
porky1098 6 months ago
This performance simply exudes sheer passion from Kwan. Such a beautiful performance, well deserved score and response from the audience.
blahhx49 6 months ago
Goes to show you're a little B***** that can't put her money where her mouth is.
filipinoICEsk8ter 6 months ago
@gemgem92 chinese american.
zhangshinyi 6 months ago
The troll lives for the responses, like an obscene phone caller lives for a voice at the other end. Ignore her. And don't forget to thumbs-down the troll and make her posts disappear.
idolfan9495 6 months ago
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@idolfan9495 I don't care if you fruit loops stop responding or vote down my posts...I will continue to post what, when, and where I please.
allenglandlawns 6 months ago
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SkatingDominator 7 months ago
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@SkatingDominator I think you need to talk to more people...you know, the ones who are in touch with reality. Can't stand the fact that your Kween got her cheeks iced by a true champion? Must be some sick joke that the judges played fair at the Olympics...the one event the world cares about. Flaunt all the 6s, nationals and worlds she touts all you want, but Kwan was KWAP at the Olympics...THRICE!...well twice, but that desperate attempt in 06 was more comedic than pathetic...your call
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
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SkatingDominator 7 months ago
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@SkatingDominator Kwan is just overhyped and pitied. Got all the facetime in the world up to the point where most people think she's the only figure skater on earth. All name...no game. How did the judges cheat? They awarded the gold to the skater who skated the best. And Kwan failed to be that skater TWICE. She stumbled, bumbled, was slow, and boring. Give her all the cupcake medals in the world...despite all the favoritism, she'll always be a choking Olympic FAILURE.
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
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SkatingDominator 7 months ago
Isn't it sad that the ugly, career-less has-been Tara Lipinski just spends her whole day everyday bashing Kwan and doesn't even have the courage to use her real name and instead hides under 'allengslandlaws,' 'getrealandsee,' 'ithinkformyself,' kwansangsog,' etc.? What a COWARD. But not s surprise, really, since she was too chicken to compete again after shrieking her wide, ugly mouth to the skies being gifted that OGM...
woodlandb234 7 months ago 45
@woodlandb234 Just wondering is there any actual proof that this is Tara?
RCskater97 5 months ago
@woodlandb234 how did she bash mk?
who1cares 3 weeks ago
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defend
getrealandsee 7 months ago
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woodlandb234 7 months ago 2
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woodlandb234 7 months ago
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woodlandb234 7 months ago
goosebumps!
aryrupp 7 months ago 5
MICHELLE KWAN IS THE BEST HANDS DOWN
phenomenalyana 7 months ago 4
I love michelle and tosca is my favorite program. I want to see her once more in korea, skating with Yuㅡna.
yejigtm 7 months ago 4
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woodlandb234 7 months ago
Figure Skating when it was great and kept you glued!
Michelle Kwan is a National Treasure.
Sessylius 7 months ago 43
Just ignore the troll. There is only one. She posts under different names and gets a charge out of people's indignant responses--kind of like an obscene phone caller. Or better yet, move your mouse to the right of her post and click the thumbs down instead of responding. If enough people do it, the troll's posts will disappear.
idolfan9495 7 months ago 4
Kwan has become a LEGEND, a hard and bitter slap on the face of the UGLY, CAREER-LESS HAS-BEEN Tara Lipinski, otherwise known on Youtube as getrealandsee, allengslandlawns, cleareyed, ithinkformyself, and her other TROLL identities pretending to be "objective" to avoid being found out as Lipinski. And Kwan became one even without having to win the medal that was GIFTED to the UGLY, CAREER-LESS HAS BEEN Lipinski. Look who has the last laugh now? Ha ha ha ha ha!
jgardell 7 months ago 5
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Even with mistakes we're with her? Umm...real athletes pay for their mistakes and receive absolutely no pity for it. Baby Kwan needs all the love so her feewings don't get hurt after being so traumatized at not being handed the OGM as she figured she was entitled to.
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns she didn't make any mistakes here. But you're funny.
RevShaqueefa 7 months ago
@RevShaqueefa Where's the report button when we need it?
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
didn't say anything bad about Kwan. I think she's a real champion for moving forward and entertaining us showing that she loves to skate. And seriously, how many people who are not Olympic Gold Medalist can do high jumps, beautiful spins, and have grace? There are examples like Midori Ito (highest jumper w triple axel), Mao Asada (has flexibility, triple axels, and spins), or even (Tonya harding known for her jumps)
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
Amazing performance!
rbowie79 7 months ago
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It's really spooky to see the thumbs up on tavias48's comment...really spooky. Michelle DID lose to Tara...she DID lose to Sarah...and she was given so many titles/golds/records that she herself bought the hype...maybe...just maybe...if she had been treated fairly and objectively people wouldn't hate on her so much. For sure she damaged herself and figure skating with that sleazy trick she pulled in 2006 and it was all about money. ALL about money!
getrealandsee 7 months ago
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@getrealandsee Yep. Kwan embarrassed herself and skating in front of the whole world for years and years. And has absolutely no shame and remorse for it.
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns lol, so embarrassing...I sincerely wish you well because you're not doing a good job of showing your competent mental faculty.
RevShaqueefa 7 months ago
@getrealandsee Spooky??? It's THEIR opinions! Elaborate how Michelle embarrassed herself for years and years...Your vindictive posts are spooky and embarrassing (this nonsense has been going on for years and years). And Michelle Kwan deserved all of her titles...
Karosanyo 7 months ago
@Karosanyo That getrealandsee guy is agreeing with herself. She's also allenglandlawns. No one would hate kwan unless she actually was a bad example.
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
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@Karosanyo Kwan was propped up so much, her defenders forget which titles/medals she didn't actually earn (which was most). But she actually did earn the title of LOL: Legendary Olympic LOSER! =)
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns What a juvenile post! I think that Kwan earned all of her World and National titles.
Karosanyo 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns Titles and medals mean nothing!!! There are Olympic champs who are not even competing still, all cuz they won gold. GUESS WHAT, REAL CHAMPS MOVE FORWARD! Like you're a skater, Quit using other skaters as an excuse of your failures. Guess who's the real loser. YOU!! GUESS WHO ELSE DIDN'T WIN A WORLD TITLE ALL CUZ SHE'S OLYMPIC CHAMPION. OLYMPIC CHAMPS ARE NOT THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
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@filipinoICEsk8ter Wow...ruffled much? May I suggest taking a walk outside for some fresh air? Or a glass of water? The Olympic Gold is the holy grail for all athletes. Whether they win it or not, its what they all dream of winning and Kwan the Kareful couldn't cut it despite all the help. Have a lovely day! =)))
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns wow filipinoicesk8ter... Kwan won 5 world titles and each were well deserved. Btw, thanks for defining what an Olympic gold is like for athletes (chuckle). And so what if she never won Olympic gold; she became very popular because of her elegance and grace, which won people's hearts. As for you judging (re: "Kwan the Kareful couldn't cut it despite all the help") - who are you again? What have you won? I bet you've never even won Sectionals or Regionals.. lmao! Buh-bye! :)
rbowie79 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns Sorry I was too busy skating and learning more about champions than faffing around the house not living up my dreams like you are. HOLY GRAIL MY A***!! I can give so many examples that show Olympic Champs aren't the best in the world. Yeah skaters dream, too bad it won't really come true as quick as a flash. The likelyhood of someone winning the Gold is 1-100. Which is not much. Even if your kids were to compete, odds are they will not win.
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
@filipinoICEsk8ter I tend to just treat that troller as a child. It's nothing to get worked up about, and it's a waste of energy. Frankly, her/his rants has made me more in love with skaters and figure skating, so I say just let her have her little moments.
RevShaqueefa 7 months ago
@getrealandsee I showed some of my friends your activity online and we had a good laugh about it. You're quite entertaining to watch. I bet you just love Michelle Kwan, don't you?
RevShaqueefa 7 months ago
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@RevShaqueefa No.
getrealandsee 7 months ago
@anubethc45 I know as much as anyone else does...about figure skating. Just listen to this..the already determined win...even when she makes mistakes we're with her...ok, so people make mistakes but they are penalized..Kwan is simply gushed over....I looked up Helen Thomas but don't understand the comparison...oh, Tonya did wrong and she PAID big time....what Tonya did with a pipe Kwan did with a pen. And cashed in.
getrealandsee 7 months ago
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Actually Sasha Cohen is the premier skater of the new millennium. She pushed the difficulty level of the sport instead of skating safe and easy like Kwan did.
HowsaBowsaYowsa 8 months ago
@HowsaBowsaYowsa She would've pushed the sport, but she had the perennial difficulty of skating well in the free skate. Skating clean is also important.
RevShaqueefa 8 months ago
@RevShaqueefa Skating clean is always important, but yeah Cohen had the presence as Michelle, but she didn't do a clean long and short yet. But she's without a doubt one of the best.
filipinoICEsk8ter 8 months ago
@filipinoICEsk8ter Sasha has some of my favorite SP's. She's a very special skater. Nowadays, doing a clean program will not matter as much as long as you get the points. Still, it's nice when you watch a clean program that's performed well. Best of both worlds.
RevShaqueefa 8 months ago
@RevShaqueefa Yeah. I mean the new system may be about getting points, but you are still in a subjective sport. You need to perform well no matter what. Getting points or not, we have to do well.
filipinoICEsk8ter 8 months ago
New system, old system, doesn't matter. Look at the audience reactions. They were part of this performance by the way they cheered and felt the performance.
filipinoICEsk8ter 8 months ago
She is amazing. I didn't even watch figure skating until I came across a video of her. Truly awe inspiring.
Thetruth34512 8 months ago
What versión if tosca" Is that?
anarchov5 8 months ago
She is real Qween.
DDOKU 8 months ago
I agree she was the best but for me I admire how Kim yuna skates not that I'm saying Kim yuna is better but imma say they are both great skater
pearlharbor073 8 months ago
Wow allenglandlawns...you're not bitter or anything are you? Why bother to comment at all if you don't have anything nice to say.
Michelle got jipped in Nagano. Plain and simple. You need to get a life and get over yourself mr. Self righteous jerk!
kristensantoyo 8 months ago
I watch this everytime, I feel sad
BEYONCEBOOTY 8 months ago
She's the only one who drew the audience into the performance. They were part of the performance.
filipinoICEsk8ter 8 months ago
Unquestionably the best female figure skater of all time. Nobody ever out-skated Michelle Kwan. If she lost, it was due to her own mistakes not because someone else was better.
YRGrace01 8 months ago 2
@YRGrace01 I agree. Michelle Kwan was the best when she skated her best. Her footwork at the end of this program is just a masterpiece.
Karosanyo 8 months ago
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@YRGrace01
Disagree wholeheartedly. Best ever is Sasha Cohen. She pushed the sport to a whole new level with her spins, spirals and moves in general. I have never seen anyone before her or after her that is any better than her.
HowsaBowsaYowsa 8 months ago
It is unfortunate also that the US women skaters have not step up to the plate to compete internationally. Not that they're not good but not up to par with the rest of the world. And to me the point system seems to favor skaters that can do triple jump after triple jump. Wasn't there a limit to how much triple jumps you could do in a program? ie. Yvgeny pleshenko and his back loaded programs
cyke90 9 months ago
Why are ppl bashing the skaters. It was unfortunate that Michelle had to skate first but it is what it is. I am a very big fan of Michelle and I wish she had won but it is in the past. Michelle kwan will always be known for ALL of her perfection while Tara and Sarah will only be known for one. Their OGM
cyke90 9 months ago
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@cyke90 Kwan skated FIRST multiple times in her career and was still handed titles left and right. Think 98 worlds and 02 nats to name a couple. Tara and Sarah (who are true champions) absolutely SHUT her down at the only event the world cares about.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
The most adored skater in the history of the sport, bar none!
mlc2005 9 months ago
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@mlc2005 More like most pitied in history for choking the Olympics TWICE and embarrassing herself and her country at another she had NO right to be in.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
@allenglandlawns : you're wrong, and you know it. Please get a new hobby.
mlc2005 8 months ago
she still give me chills. i love you michelle kwan, you will always be the best figure skater in history
ygvtfc123 9 months ago
One of the greatest programs of all time..and it didn't even happen at the Olympics. A testament to how beautiful and brilliant of a skater Michelle was.
mariahfan444 9 months ago
love her..shes what mde me love this sport
PyaraSaBandhan 9 months ago
Michelle Kwan is my idol bcuz i figure skate and i want to b just like her
mollym53 9 months ago
I can't think of a better-loved skater, man or woman or pair or dance.
dtv2031 9 months ago
I miss watching her. She's one of the people who inspired many people all over the world to skate. I love her reaction at the end.
filipinoICEsk8ter 10 months ago
Michelle did not lose to Lipinski at Nagano! Those judges cheated Michelle out of that gold medal! Lipinski could never out skate Michelle, never in this or any other lifetime, and those moronic judges at the 2002 games played the same sick joke against this iconic skater! They and Sarah, will forever burn in hell for such atrocities!!! Michelle will Forever be Olympic Gold Material!!!!!!!!!
tavias48 10 months ago 16
@tavias48 Last I checked, Kwan skated like a scared cat and LOST TWICE. She also embarrassed herself in Torino, but that's another story. Tara and Sarah skated like TRUE champions and judges finally played it fair no matter how much Kwanatics rage over that fact =) Kwan can have a hundred worlds and nationals, but none of that adds up to the holy grail of skating: the OGM.
allenglandlawns 9 months ago
@allenglandlawns Olympic gold medals don't mean anything!! Seriously? Even with an Olympic Gold medal, You can still lose. Ex. Evgeni Plushenko and Yuna Kim. Olympic Gold doesn't mean anything. You win, SO WHAT?! You're still the same person. End of story! Get that right! I bet you won't get any close to the podium nor even qualify for nationals so why even insult someone who can out skate you?
filipinoICEsk8ter 9 months ago
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@filipinoICEsk8ter Oh yes they do! Isn't it the reason Kwan hung around forever trying to win? Isn't it the great prize all skating athletes dream about winning? The process of pushing yourself to be the best athlete is most important but dreams of becoming an Olympic champion provide the inspiration to do that. Kwan was just "inspired" to hang around another 4 years without pushing herself...until COP forced her to. But she couldn't keep up with the REAL athletes and then crashed and burned.
allenglandlawns 9 months ago
@allenglandlawns Dude serously get a clue! She has been training a whole year before the Olympics. If she weren't practicing, she wouldn't be pettitioning the US Comittee to compete at the Olympics. DUH! If you were a skater you'd know. I was inspired by her and Tara Lipinski. She inspired Yuna kim also. She's a better athlete than you. You're not out there doing anything. The odds of becoming an Olympic Champ is very small. Even making the podium at the Olympics is a big accomplishment.
filipinoICEsk8ter 9 months ago
@filipinoICEsk8ter Kwan had such a long career and was so popular that I think ppl began to take her for granted. Even for me, it wasn't until after she retired that I really noticed how hard it was to skate a program and not have it seem like a collection of elements/point-getters. There are skaters I enjoy, like Patrick Chan and Kanako Murakami from this season, but I still miss Kwan's skating.
RevShaqueefa 9 months ago
@RevShaqueefa Michelle Kwan is the only one who inspires so many young girls today to become skaters. She and Tara Lipinski were an inspiration. Michelle Kwan style is going to be remembered for a long time until someone will take over.
filipinoICEsk8ter 9 months ago
@allenglandlawns The Olympics are a glorified Worlds.
But tell us, "expert": How much was each individual audience member in the numerous audiences to consistently give Kwan standing ovation after standing ovation after standing ovation, even during practice sessions, paid?
Face it: most of those audience members both knew and know figure skating through and through, so recognize excellence when they see it. So are you going to question their integrity also?
JNagarya 9 months ago
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@tavias48 Shelly outright got her butt whipped by Tara and Sarah, both of whom are true athletes and champions. They both recognized the Olympic moment and nailed it which is something your Kween can't seem to do despite every effort from the judges to gift her the Gold. Scream all you want, but Kwan will NEVER EVER wear the OGM! =)
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
@allenglandlawns OGM are not always worth watching. There are many examples. Apparently to most skaters and some fans, Kwan is always going to be a champion. Especially because after the Olympics, she wouldn't keep skating unlike some skaters who just take a break and think they are good enough to win worlds as the first competiton. OGMedalists are not always worth watching. Many examples out there man. From what I see, you no real athlete so, you don't know what an athlete and a Champion is.
filipinoICEsk8ter 8 months ago
@tavias48 they did the same thing to Yuna Kim last year
EmoGirlLovsU 7 months ago
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@tavias48 What on earth are you babbling about? Sarah and Tara have Olympic Golds. Kwan has NONE and lost twice to them. FACT! And to add to that, she skated like a scared rabbit TWICE and couldn't cut it despite safe routines and all the help she could get. And you call that Olympic Gold Material? Kwan will always be known as a choker and the Legendary Olympic Loser. :)
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns At least she won medals at the Olympics while you faff around your house being a real loser. Nothing to be a loser about that. You criticize like a little B*** like you're better when she could skate circles around you. Heck I could skate circles, around you. SERIOUSLY, IF YOU RESPECT THIS SPORT, YOU RESPECT THE SKATERS AS WELL. WE SKATERS RESPECT EACH OTHER, CUZ WE LOVE THIS SPORT. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND DON'T HAVE RESPECT. F*** OFF You've got nothing!! Who's the real loser now?
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
@filipinoICEsk8ter Sounding a tad desperate, no? You know nothing about me and I will post what, when, and where I please so buzz off. =)
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns I'm not desperate. I actually have the skill and knowledge of this sport. The only ones who talk crap and not do anything about it, is desperate. I may not know anything about you, but with your attitude, and no action, you have no respect for this sport. If you aren't going to respect skaters, you have no respect for this sport. Simple as that. And it's another rule in the Figure skating world. ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS. Kwan has the ACTION, you have words. You're faffing
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
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@filipinoICEsk8ter True, actions speak louder than words. And you could see the lack of respect Shelly has for other athletes and the sport itself when she destroyed Emily's dream. She can spout all the cliches she wants but her actions (cheating Emily, never upping the ante by skating the same old safe routines, booing her scores when no 6s were gifted to her) speak for themselves. Kwan is a phony and loser. Goodbye!
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns As I said Action speaks louder than words. You can't perform like her. You're a phony and a loser since you think you're better than her. It's not up to Michelle. It was the Comittee. Don't blame here, blame the committee. Don't be mad cuz she has her own ice rink and is part of pop culture. That's worth more than OGM! BAM. I'm talking about you. If you think she's a loser, why even bash her any more? Oh, that's right, you like kicking people when they are down. JERK!
filipinoICEsk8ter 7 months ago
@allenglandlawns How is Michelle Kwan a "loser"? She IS the most influential female figure of the last 50 years (just ask Yuna and Sasha). Her artisty will forever be unmatched. I can watch her performances over and over and never get tired of them. Your lame posts are never going to change that fact. You sound like a very bitter and jealous fan of hers. Why does she get to you so much? You just love to bad mouth her on all of her videos. You sound very self-righteous. Get over it!
Karosanyo 7 months ago
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@tavias48 Good God you need help!
twilliger123 7 months ago
One of the best moments in figure skating history . Good job Michelle Kwan!!!:)
adenmanic 10 months ago 2
Who allowed this freak (LennonDeservedToDie), to talk about Michelle choking at those prejudiced Olympic Games? Where the hell are Tara the puppy dawg, and Sara Hughes the no skating witch??? No where!!! No one really remembers these witches only that Michelle was robbed of not one but two Olympic gold medals! But no matter, Michelle will always be the 'IT' skater of all times! You will always rule women skating Michelle! Cause without you competing, that chit's not worth viewing any more!!!
tavias48 10 months ago
@tavias48 I did notice that it really isn't the same without Michelle Kwan.
filipinoICEsk8ter 9 months ago
@tavias48 Kwan never even came close to winning at the 2002 olympics. Sarah had that one in the bag. She did come close in 98 but still Tara deserved the gold.
HowsaBowsaYowsa 8 months ago
I grew up watching her skate. I don't think I realized just how amazing she is until she's not skating anymore. I can't find any current skater to compare.
JeromeViolist 10 months ago 18
@JeromeViolist Same here. I think it's being older, so being able to appreciate what one might not have understood then. And having seen so many other skaters, then coming back to watch Kwan. When she just skates, as in this instance, no one could touch her. She didn't need Olympic Gold to be the best.
JNagarya 9 months ago
I cried...
xXazrafaelXx 10 months ago 4
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She always choked at the Olympics. Sad, but true.
LennonDeservedToDie 10 months ago
@LennonDeservedToDie I don't think she choked at all at Nagano 98 Olympics. She lost only because Lipinski skated an even better program
nphung01 10 months ago
@nphung01 Kwan skated first, so as the commentators -- Scott Hamilton, who knows something about skating, especially -- said, she was ARTIFICALLY UNDERSCORED by, as Hamilton said, "Several tenths". Hamilton also expressed shock that she was so excessivley underscored.
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that Lipinski "won" by an insignificant 1/100th of a point, only one fewer tenth of underscoring Kwan and Kwan would have the gold.
Ultimately, though, Kwan doesn't need Olympic Gold.
JNagarya 9 months ago
No one but you Michelle. Always in my heart.
whatev3rrr 10 months ago
there's no hesitation or shaking in her jumps. They are so smooth. She's so beautiful.
katinkaballerina 11 months ago 4
its the music that makes this performance.
castaneda79 11 months ago
To be in the building when she skates like this is a very magical thing.
csilvey 11 months ago
今思えば、私は彼女の演技を見てフィギュアのファンになったんだと思います。
何度見ても目頭が熱くなってしまいます。
小柄な体から繰り出されるスケールの大きな演技、魂の滑り！
今でも１番大好きですスケーターです！
MekanikKommandoh 11 months ago
THE DAN MARINO OF FIGURE SKATING
tigerwoods232000 11 months ago