Chen Lu 's long program @ 1996 Worlds

[kikot84]

this performance happened 15 years ago and it still gives me chills. no one since, even yu na kim, mao asada or michelle kwan has matched her elegance. this is should be put in the vaults as the most beautiful performances of all time.

[ostar85]

Anyone notice how the ever talkative and opinionated Dick Button only said three words during this entire program? "It was elegant." That was only about 1 minute into the performance. ..A very eleant performance indeed. One for the ages.

[vistaprime]

high quality is not that good.

[skateschool]

What a beautiful program. Not a boring second, but captivating from beginning to end. This was an entire package.

[LWOPP]

Her face at 00:31 is so beautiful! I'd hate to have been a judge that night. (I do believe if she had skated last, Chen Lu would have won.) Hers was a career hallmarked by elegance and athleticism. You don't see that come together very often.

[delayedricochet]

This was one for the ages, one of the programs and performances that will be forever remembered and studied. It's significant, and this one is in the 90s vault. It's not just how the program is put together and choreographed, but it's up to the skater to put the vision onto the ice. Chen always did that, and she did it here perfectly to the best anyone could ever possibly do.

[delayedricochet]

....to achieve this feat is one of the moments where missing the gold medal is not as important.

[deshania]

Chen Lu didn't win because she skated before Michelle so the judges had to hold back the marks.

It's the same thing that happened to Michelle at the 1998 Olympics. Michelle skated first in the final group whereas Tara Lipinski skated second last, so Tara won.

[vistaprime]

I am not sure about that...Kulik skated before all the men at the olympics and won.

[licoreen]

I am not a great fan of ice skating, but I do remember watching this on TV back in the day and being surprised when Chen Lu did not win the gold.

Thanks for posting it!

[jaderainbow]

Should have been 6.0 across the board fro presentation. Even her jumps had far mroe height and beauty than Kwan's ever has had. Kwan mainly had one thing going for her for her streak- consistency.

Clearly, the judges were rewarding MK for a consistent season rather than judging what happened on the ice. Chen Lu's perf that night will go down as one of the all time greats. MK's will not.

[Egbert23]

what reality do you live in...MK in 1996 is hailed as the year the Kween took her rightful place!!!