Rudy Galindo 1996 US National Championship Long Program

[ferency98]

Sixteen years later and still the most emotional men's program I have ever seen at Nationals. How could he have not received all 6.0's???

[LesPumps]

What a spectacular moment in figure skating, yet, very sad too, as one of the biggest rip offs in the history of the sport. There is no doubts he skated way better than the others...

[NorthwoodsWi]

As someone else here said, 15 years later, and this brings tears to my eyes. I remember a story about Rudy on 20/20, or 60 Minutes, and he had to overcome so much, and work so hard. I cannot think of a better skating performance by an individual skater ever. Amazing performance Rudy!

[BarleyJack72]

Miss you Rudy!

[WheresMyKoppy]

I ws there in person to see this. I went rooting for Todd Eldredge, but got caught up in the Rudy fervor. I can tell you they almost literally had to nail the roof back on after this program!

However, looking back after fifteen years with the initial euphoria having faded I can see slight mistakes that do justify him losing a couple of tenths for technical. But there is no question on that day he deserved to win, no question at all! It was an amazing performance!

[christest15]

Did he bring the house down that night or what?

[dwayneparkerUSA]

14 years later, this program still brings tears to my eyes. One minute before the end, I'm a mess.

Bravo!

[tanaramclean]

This is absolutely amazing. Right now I'm kind of in the same position Rudy was, and it's just faith, the talent God gave me and the support of family that's getting me on the ice every day.

Well done Rudy! I actually stood and clapped after his performance was done :)

thanks for posting this video!

[HowDareThey1970]

So amazing. I remember that like it was just happening.

[bibi24]

wow I cry every time I watch this program....

Rudy Galindo > Johnny Weir

[WheresMyKoppy]

@bibi24 What's Johnny Weir got to do with it? He's Johnny and Rudy is Rudy.

[jesren22]

anyone know where the program is where he carries a bow and plays the violin on his arm? it's my fave program of his... very soft and passionate

[caseyphx]

anyone who's not cheering by the end of this program needs to be checked for a heart.

love when he waves to someone in the crowd!

[WheresMyKoppy]

@caseyphx

I believe that was one of his skating students who was sitting in the audience in that section.

[veernnyr]

Watching Galindo and then Jeremy Abbott, I can't really compare them stylistically. Galindo is all jumps and then rests to set up for the next set of jumps. His form is tighter, arms more punctuating. Abbott is constantly moving; he never rests between jumps. It all flows together. In fact, I felt exhausted when it was over. I think he is better trained and in shape than Galindo was. I sure hope he can do as well in Vancouver. Go Jeremy!

[visceraltuning]

Errr, why would you compare? ... - 1996 Vs 2010 - 6.0 System Vs IJS - Coach: Sister Vs World Champion Yuka Sato - Choreographer: Himself Vs Pasquale Camerlengo - Traing Facilities: A shopping mall skating rink Vs Detroit Skating Club If you had any sense then you would realize that: - 14 years of progress in the sport - A different judging system - Professional Coaching - Professional Choreography - Top quality training facilities would produce better results.

[visceraltuning]

Why don't you try this... go watch Todd Eldredge 1996 US National Silver Medalist, who competed for the same club under a professional coach and professional choreographer and compare him to Jeremy Abbott 2010 National Champion. . . then think to yourself, I wonder what would happen if Rudy had all those priviledges.

[immanuelsIgloo]

You have to remember that Galindo and Abbott competed under different scoring systems. Galindo skated in the time of the 6.0 system, which allowed MUCH more artistry (therefore, skaters weren't constantly moving and had time to rest between jumps), whereas Jeremy is now in the accumulative point system, which demands technicality over artistry...

Jeremy does, however, do a good job of balancing both elements :) He's one of the few skaters left today that's actually pleasant to watch.

[flowergirl1313]

I can't believe he was "old" at 26. I was in my teens when this happened and I'm sure I thought he was old. Now that I'm on the other side of 30, he seems young.

That was a balls out, leave it all on the floor performance.

[koolaidnhemlock]

i know, when i saw this was 15 and thought he was old. now im almost 30 and wish was 26!!

[bibi24]

@koolaidnhemlock 30 years old? I am 26... sigh :(

[No1ZmeskalFan]

This is still technically one of the best ive seen.....this could still win today

[ajb1776]

I will never forget watching this live. The moment he landed the triple combination I knew he had it made and that it would be a magical performance - one for the ages. It certainly was.

[mrshinyshoes]

I am happy for Rudy that he was able to turn everything around!

[xmykeyx]

classic performance.. classic costume!

[iluvpapillions]

wow.  thats all i can say. wow.

[cegtown]

I remember seeing this live. Really couldnt give a shit about mens figure skating at the time. It was on TV at the place I worked. I was blown away. PERFECTION!

[fliptopla]

I still consider this one of the best Men's LPs EVER!

[preciousbash]

Totally agree he kicked the door open for

Johnny Weir!

[preciousbash]

I loved wathing Rudy skate. Fierceness!!

[MTVMANN]

I am so suprised that during his spread eagle sequence Dick Button didn't say "Shades of Brian Boitano!" as he always seems to say the same thing about Peggy Flemming when she is beside him.

Also, his note about Ruby having more flexibility than ANYBODY in skating at that time...weren't Michelle Kwan and Nicole Bobek skating at that time? I guess he meant of all the men skating today.

It is a shame that Rudy didn't continue on to the 1998 Game. He really opened the door for Johnny Weir!

[bardtoob]

Rudy had to make a tough choice.

Unfortunately, he had reason to believe that the politikal powers that be would not allow him to do any better than what he achieved during the 1996 season, particularly after the 1996 Worlds SP.

[nolaughingmatter]

@bardtoob I agree... though based on '98's results, Rudy would have done very well at the Olympics and Worlds. But he knew the game well enough to know that if you don't retire yourself, the judges will retire you. He did better than he ever did and ran with the medals.

[HowDareThey1970]

@MTVMANN Yes, I'm sure he meant more flexibility than the men. Men typically are less flexible than women, and Rudy could do laybacks as well as women could. Interesting he wasn't known for doing a Bielmann very often, which Pluschenko did, tho Pluschenko rarely if ever did a standard layback spin.

[twilliger123]

@MTVMANN Like he and Johnny Weir are the only gay skaters out there! The rest of them are/were closet cases, just like alot of the judges!

[vanfanusa]

ballinagra13 has the full clip posted with the kiss and cry scene! One of the best, if not THE best. kiss and cry moments in skating history!

[StewNWT]

Dang is there no video showing the marks for the long? I want to hear the crowd scream when he wins

[tomass423]

I used to see it on You Tube. It is kind of pointless to watch this without the kiss & cry segment, it's a mjical moment. I guess soemone pulled i cuz I can't find it anywhwere.

[StewNWT]

God if I ever hear Dick Button and his 70 y/o ass orgasm like that again (after the triple axel combo) someone please shoot me. Distubing.

Incredible moment for Rudy though.

[bardtoob]

I think Uncle Dick's commentary is one of the broadcast's best features. I hope Uncle Dick is with us for a long time. He is an American Legend: 1x US Novice National Champion 1x US Junior National Champion 7x US Senior National Champion 3x North American Champion 1x European Champion 5x World Champion 2x Olympic Champion 1st Double Axel 1st Triple Jump (Loop) 1st Flying Camel Spin Friend of Ulrich Salchow BA, Harvard JD, Harvard ... as for his career after the 1950's . . .

[dylanvalente]

I didn't know all that about him. He earned a doctorate? Wow! Of course he can be a bit of curmudgeon. But he's also overflowing with praise for talented skaters. Overall I think he's great.

[flowergirl1313]

I love Dick's reactions while he was commentating.

[mrparke007]

Whoever choreographed the hand movement at the stops in this program should be shot. They're so spastic and arrhythmic, especially at the first introduction to the the theme of the piece. Terrible! And his skating is so wonderful! What a shame.

[bardtoob]

He along with his sister, who where living in a trailer park in East San Jose, choreographed his program, did his coaching, made his costume, bought his equipment, and bought ice time at the now defunct Eastridge Mall Skating Rink. He only had his talent, no high profile coach, choreographer, or fashion designers to get him to a National Championship and World Medal.

This is hardly a shame and more like a MIRACLE.

[mrparke007]

Point taken!

[robinsongentle]

Hopefully he is financially alot better off now. He should be with all the pro tours, shows, and even for awhile competitions he was in. I hope so anyway.

[AliKey]

He's coaching now so I think he's doing okay. He's still looking good too, I saw him on the local news talking about the Olympics and the men's short programs and he looks healthy. There's an article about him on the San Francisco Chronicle's website, just google Rudy Galindo coaching sfgate and it's the first result.

[koolaidnhemlock]

well said!

[lonman80]

that was awesome. I haven't seen that since I was 16 and it brought tears to my eyes all over again watching it 12 years later.