Kristi Yamaguchi and Rudi Galindo 1990 Nationals LP

[NashfanVash]

What a pity they split! They could have become one of the top pairs in the world.

[getrealandsee]

Two absolutely AMAZING skaters who went on to singles and were awesome on their own.

[bandnerd883]

beautiful!!

[laudese]

as a pair skater, her triple sal was GREAT!

[alistairkok]

It's fantastic to see Kristi with such a strong throw triple salchow, especially since the solo triple salchow always gave her such problems in her single's career.

[EightballRus]

Too bad her coach didn't support her pairs career.

[koalasarah]

Wow, thanks for posting this. I never saw this, although I knew Kristi did pairs with Rudy Galindo. Odd thing is that I think she could've possibly have gotten a gold in pairs, too.

[signejorgenson]

Does she hit her head on his leg at 3:23?

[midmangomama]

It doesn't look like it but if she did it was possibly intentional....I think it's just the angle from him switching feet while holding her.

[starquasar1]

I want to see them skate again.

[iluvpapillions]

perfect.  no improvement. this is simple AMAZING

[ambitiouspants]

That mirroring is so much fun to watch on the spins and jumps, and the entry to the death spiral was fantastic. I loved it.

So amazing to be competing in both singles and pairs simultaneously, too.

[sk8tinglas]

How did I miss that she did pairs?! Let alone, how good she was in pairs!

[starquasar1]

I never get tired watching this video.  It is sad that we are not going to see them skate together again.

[neverendingdreamx]

thats why she won dancing with the stars, she had this experience all along......no one ever really knew this side of her....we just all know americas sweetheart from her post pairs career

[dinh]

Skating is not dancing on ice. If she were in ice dancing then it would be closer. Pairs is totally different and most of the skating world knew she did pairs.

[tinymavy]

I loved them as pair skaters more than singles skaters. They were really good. I love that star lift, nobody does those anymore!

[azsk8fan]

Kristi's skating, imho, was just 'spot on' but I didn't feel the passion in her movement - I guess that is the best way I can describe what I consider 'boring'. It in no means diminishes her talent or accomplishments - it's much like I found Peggy Fleming boring but not Dorothy Hamill, Michelle Kwan or even Tonya Harding - all a matter of personal preference I suppose.

[dinh]

I think Kristi became more artistic in her pro career but just look at her competition at the amateur level, you can totally see why Kristi was viewed more artistically.

[starquasar1]

You are, exactly, right azsk8fan except that Kristi's skating is not boring.

[azsk8fan]

I think it was a very selfish move on Kristi's part to dump him for a singles career. It's not like they were just a 'so-so' team with no place to go - they were headed for the top without a doubt but I think the Yamaguchi's didn't give a thought to what it would cost Rudy at that point - very selfish indeed. She is boring anyway - always has been - Rudy was the shining star in that pair team.

[Chocolatesonnet]

Odd that you would say that Ktisti, the 1992 gold medalist in ladies singles, is boring and that Rudy is the star. Competing in two disciplines is very hard, and the track record of USA pairs at Worlds isn't stellat. Kristi and Rudy were very good bit whether they could've received a gold medal was very iffy.

Rudy did have his chance to shine as a singles skater at the 1996 Nationals. One of the best programs ever, rightfully deserving of two perfect scores of 6.0.

[azsk8fan]

I just personally find Kristi's skating boring - it has nothing to do with talent or ability - it's just her style - it just never did a thing for me. As for any discipline, as evidenced by MK, the best does NOT always win the Gold (Olympic Gold that is) however as a pair team Kristi and Rudy were certainly headed onward and upward - so my personal opinion, for what it's worth, is that when you start a partnership you should see it thru baring indifference or lack of dedication-Rudy had neither

[Torqamy]

This pair was so ahead of their time! Some of the things they did - the interesting variations on the entry to the death spiral, side-by-side triple FLIPS, the uniqueness of some of their transitions - are skills teams are only starting to master almost twenty years later.

[proxy22]

it was too bad that it took rudi 6 years to finally get some reward after the breakup of this pair. but it was well deserved! two classy ppl!

[Menelorn]

It's so interesting to see a pair that spins/jumps in opposing directions. I had never thought about it before seeing this clip, even though I knew they were opposite-footed skaters. ^_^ Thanks for posting this!

[starquasar1]

My two favorite skaters in pairs??? Priceless!!!

[pellebravesskylar]

Of the two of them, I always thought Rudy was the more exciting and lyrical skater. Certainly Kristi was amazing - but Rudy always was a notch or two above her.

[azsk8fan]

I totally agree

[pellebravesskylar]

Do you know how much (if at all) he competed as a singles skater pre-Kristi days? If he mainly competed as a pairs skater before Kristi left, I wonder how much better he would have been as a singles skater? Certainly, he was amazing enough!

[visceraltuning]

Both Kristi and Rudy competed in singles and pairs simulateously.

Rudy was a Novice National Champion, two-time Jr. National Bronze medalist, and Jr. World Champion.