This was the moment that Dorothy Hamill won my heart. An athlete and skater myself, I understood how she felt to be the victim of these circumstances. She could have easily caved and no one would have faulted her; but being a tiger with the heart of a champion, the little girl from America skates the program of her life.
Dorothy Hamill is my favorite figure skater of all time. So graceful, artistic and classy. So much has changed in this sport since the pressure of doing triple jumps has been added. I don't enjoy watching it as much because it's all about the triple jumps, so the focus on being graceful and having balletic lines is missing.
And skaters lose their composure after their performances and instead of just bowing to the audience they blatantly wear their emotions on their sleeves. It's unfortunate.
I remember watching her in the 1976 Olympics. I just saw her Friday at the Galleria in Dallas. She still looks fantastic. She is such a wonderful person.
@jacquieskater123 Figures were 40% of the score back then. There was no percentage in doing triples in the free skate. Janet Lynn, by the way, did triples early in her career, but stopped doing them because no matter how much she elevated her free skating, figures held her back.
I think her crying got a lot of emotions out of her system. She let it out, took a second to get herself together and then just went out there and skated her heart out.
@thedriverguy - but Hamill was only 5th in compulsories. and more, she perform weak 2Axel+2Toe and 2Lutz in the short), and Christine Errat was really 1st in compulsories and 1st in the short. So that was the reason for total gold for Christine Errath and silver for Hamill. And I can beleive for only one 2axel in the free skating we can see also the marks so extremely high as 5.9/6.0 for Hamill ?!
Very nice, esp. her layback -- one of the very best, ever. And she's so very fast out there on the ice. But where is the content? Peggy did more at the 68 Nationals. Amazing how little content one could get away with back then. Still, very pretty as regards moves and overall impression.
We were booing & jeering against the judges marks. We were extremely excited to see Dorothy. The announcer rushing her introduction forced her to take the ice before proper time had passed after the skater ahead was scored quickly. It was a bad situation the judges created for themselves. Then They were forced too score Dorothy properly. But it was too late. The Odinals pointed out a GOLD for Errath & SILVER for Hammill
I was there! I was watching her closely.When the skater before her, Cristine Errath E.Ger. was given inflated scores we in the crowd whistled and jeered our dismay at the awful judgments for a hi score when mistakes didnot rate the score. Dorothy needed her glasses to see. She wouldn't wear them ever in competition, but always had them with her. The announcer rushed her introduction as the booing for the previous skater was increasing. You can hear me yelling & cheering for Dorothy!!!
Fun to see this again after so many years. The '76 winter games were the first ones I watched, and I still love those games in my memory. Thanks for posting this, and the '76 long program, and letting me travel back to those days for a bit.
Many, MANY THANKS floskate for this wonderful video and so many others. Actually Dorothy was just 17 here-she would be 18 on July 26 but I believe this was in March. I remember watching this and how nice this is to be able to see it again.
Grace under pressure at barely 18 years. Thank you for this great clip. I do wish the commentators would quit filling every second with chatter and speculation.
Christ, what IS it with Dick Button and "LOOK AT THE SMILE!" as though if women aren't smiling every goddamn second...! He did it with Midori Ito, too.
I actually prefer the commentators from days gone by...look what Scott hamilton does on a regular basis since 1990 by shouting out who HE thinks won the competition when the rest of the field hasn't even competed yet. He did it at 2010 Ladies Nationals.Did it at 1990 Worlds in the Pairs event; then switched gears in 94 Lillehammer w/blatant favoritism toward G&G ;of course the most infamous w/repercussions we're seeing today: "What HAPPENED? they won that program' w/Sale'&Pelletier in SLC in '02
We didn't learn til Dorothy wrote her autobiography in 2007 that she suffered depression her whole life, and still does,
Read her "Dorothy Hamill: A Skater's Life." No wonder the announcer keeps calling her "the up and down" girl. Her depression is now called bipolarism. It always causes "mood swings." Imagine the courage it took for Dorothy to overcome her deep fears after hearing the German girl being booed! She is a beautiful person then and now, on and off the ice.
because it's for my bibliography cards and i need a video from this source and all i need is the producer from this video and this is for a school research project
I love the comments on here from the jackasses that you know have never left their mom's basement calling her a "fool" and a "dummy" for being upset that 10,000 people started booing the minute she took the ice. (These are the same people that will undoubtedly flame me for hurting their feelings now.)
Bravo Dorothy! You'll always be a favorite of mine. The delayed axel, the Hamill camel - oh gosh the back position is so far superior to anyone competing today...This is terrific!
This was the moment that Dorothy Hamill won my heart. An athlete and skater myself, I understood how she felt to be the victim of these circumstances. She could have easily caved and no one would have faulted her; but being a tiger with the heart of a champion, the little girl from America skates the program of her life.
bubbalouification 3 weeks ago
Dorothy Hamill is my favorite figure skater of all time. So graceful, artistic and classy. So much has changed in this sport since the pressure of doing triple jumps has been added. I don't enjoy watching it as much because it's all about the triple jumps, so the focus on being graceful and having balletic lines is missing.
And skaters lose their composure after their performances and instead of just bowing to the audience they blatantly wear their emotions on their sleeves. It's unfortunate.
thanks53 1 month ago
I remember watching her in the 1976 Olympics. I just saw her Friday at the Galleria in Dallas. She still looks fantastic. She is such a wonderful person.
Irondragon61 2 months ago
her dress is so cute! i like figure skating dresses back then. not tacky and weird like they are today
fightinside1 3 months ago
She is just a stunningly beautiful woman. At least, that's what I've thought everytime I've seen her
kantucky 5 months ago
My program is way harder. 3 triples 2 double axels and a 2Lz
jdfooten 6 months ago
@jdfooten JK. 1 triple 2 2A's
jdfooten 6 months ago
She made me cry!!
espinaca79 8 months ago
Wow! not even one triple. I guess the sport hadn't developed as much then though
jacquieskater123 8 months ago
@jacquieskater123 Figures were 40% of the score back then. There was no percentage in doing triples in the free skate. Janet Lynn, by the way, did triples early in her career, but stopped doing them because no matter how much she elevated her free skating, figures held her back.
idolfan9495 7 months ago
I think her crying got a lot of emotions out of her system. She let it out, took a second to get herself together and then just went out there and skated her heart out.
Junon999 1 year ago
Dorothy Hamil is one of the true female figure skating icons! She is always such a joy to watch!
rickram1961 1 year ago
@thedriverguy - but Hamill was only 5th in compulsories. and more, she perform weak 2Axel+2Toe and 2Lutz in the short), and Christine Errat was really 1st in compulsories and 1st in the short. So that was the reason for total gold for Christine Errath and silver for Hamill. And I can beleive for only one 2axel in the free skating we can see also the marks so extremely high as 5.9/6.0 for Hamill ?!
bemar1972 1 year ago
sorry Errath was 2nd in figures;)
bemar1972 1 year ago
Dorothy Hamil was and still is one of the most lovely Figures Skaters.
rickram1961 1 year ago
That's a huge arena...
barkingtree88 1 year ago
Very nice, esp. her layback -- one of the very best, ever. And she's so very fast out there on the ice. But where is the content? Peggy did more at the 68 Nationals. Amazing how little content one could get away with back then. Still, very pretty as regards moves and overall impression.
Aldobrandini 1 year ago
She is so darn cute. The dress is so modest!
annachestnut 2 years ago 2
She still looks gorgeous, age seems to have very little impact on her.
henrysinaga 2 years ago
We were booing & jeering against the judges marks. We were extremely excited to see Dorothy. The announcer rushing her introduction forced her to take the ice before proper time had passed after the skater ahead was scored quickly. It was a bad situation the judges created for themselves. Then They were forced too score Dorothy properly. But it was too late. The Odinals pointed out a GOLD for Errath & SILVER for Hammill
thedriverguy 2 years ago
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I was there! I was watching her closely.When the skater before her, Cristine Errath E.Ger. was given inflated scores we in the crowd whistled and jeered our dismay at the awful judgments for a hi score when mistakes didnot rate the score. Dorothy needed her glasses to see. She wouldn't wear them ever in competition, but always had them with her. The announcer rushed her introduction as the booing for the previous skater was increasing. You can hear me yelling & cheering for Dorothy!!!
thedriverguy 2 years ago
Fun to see this again after so many years. The '76 winter games were the first ones I watched, and I still love those games in my memory. Thanks for posting this, and the '76 long program, and letting me travel back to those days for a bit.
skirson1 2 years ago
Many, MANY THANKS floskate for this wonderful video and so many others. Actually Dorothy was just 17 here-she would be 18 on July 26 but I believe this was in March. I remember watching this and how nice this is to be able to see it again.
Thank you so much.
A MILLION THUMBS UP FOR YOU !!
libralady1010 2 years ago
She is my cousin. Isn't that awesome?!
TheTwiHardChannel 2 years ago 2
Dorothy will be appearing on The Today Show tomorrow.
mkl62 2 years ago
Grace under pressure at barely 18 years. Thank you for this great clip. I do wish the commentators would quit filling every second with chatter and speculation.
SerenLLawen 2 years ago 3
Wasn't the West German gal Dagmar Lutz?
HattieLovesCattie 2 years ago
No it was Gerti Schandel :)
floskate 2 years ago
dorothy is more at ease here than at the 76 nationals, speed and height is better than anybody today!
Rouben19 2 years ago
Remember, '74 was Dorothy's first Worlds as the U.S. national champion. The pressure on her had to be tremendous, let alone what the crowd added.
sjkel 2 years ago
Christ, what IS it with Dick Button and "LOOK AT THE SMILE!" as though if women aren't smiling every goddamn second...! He did it with Midori Ito, too.
thewomandirector 2 years ago
geez, the comments the commentators used to make...couldn't get away with it today!
magicpie77 2 years ago 2
I actually prefer the commentators from days gone by...look what Scott hamilton does on a regular basis since 1990 by shouting out who HE thinks won the competition when the rest of the field hasn't even competed yet. He did it at 2010 Ladies Nationals.Did it at 1990 Worlds in the Pairs event; then switched gears in 94 Lillehammer w/blatant favoritism toward G&G ;of course the most infamous w/repercussions we're seeing today: "What HAPPENED? they won that program' w/Sale'&Pelletier in SLC in '02
libralady1010 2 years ago
We didn't learn til Dorothy wrote her autobiography in 2007 that she suffered depression her whole life, and still does,
Read her "Dorothy Hamill: A Skater's Life." No wonder the announcer keeps calling her "the up and down" girl. Her depression is now called bipolarism. It always causes "mood swings." Imagine the courage it took for Dorothy to overcome her deep fears after hearing the German girl being booed! She is a beautiful person then and now, on and off the ice.
11777766 2 years ago 2
On the portion where she does the spread eagle into the double salchow, what is the music playing?
houmatt67 3 years ago
It's the end of Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet suite.
floskate 3 years ago
Brillant artistry! A skate of a lifetime!
rickram1961 3 years ago
because it's for my bibliography cards and i need a video from this source and all i need is the producer from this video and this is for a school research project
watmelberries 3 years ago
who is the producer of this video?
watmelberries 3 years ago
well I made it from my collection - why???
floskate 3 years ago
I love the comments on here from the jackasses that you know have never left their mom's basement calling her a "fool" and a "dummy" for being upset that 10,000 people started booing the minute she took the ice. (These are the same people that will undoubtedly flame me for hurting their feelings now.)
stevel738 3 years ago 6
Dorothy's a brilliant skater, but what a dummy. Duh, they weren't booing you, girl!
Jentany 3 years ago
Comment removed
koolaidnhemlock 3 years ago
Dorothy is so cute. Even when she's having a nervous breakdown she is cute!
firmingitup 3 years ago 2
WOW, she did a different long program that what she did at the 74 nationals?
northtexasdude 3 years ago
This is actually the LP she used at 1972 Worlds with just a few differences.
floskate 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this! I've wanted to see it.
barkingtree88 3 years ago
Bravo Dorothy! You'll always be a favorite of mine. The delayed axel, the Hamill camel - oh gosh the back position is so far superior to anyone competing today...This is terrific!
miloandtock1 3 years ago