what a freakin talentless mole, she has more numbers on herself than a horse race form guide, oh just a minute, maybe her true calling was the g-g's as a participant and i dont mean as a jockey but something more suite to her equine features. btw i love get real and see.
Observers have questioned why Kwan's father is omnipresent if she is attempting to assert her independence. They wonder why, after making such a point of dropping Nichol, she has returned to the short program she skated in 1998, to Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 ... that was choreographed by Nichol.
Sunday, February 17, 2002
By Lori Shontz, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
****Utter and Total Disregard for the Magnitude of the Olympics****
@smoggle Agreed!!! Total lack of respect for the Olympics to think simple, risk-free, same, and old can still cut it. And unfortunately it did...with the help from the judges who gave her ridiculously inflated marks yet again.
Hello, Tara Lipinski. Nice to see that there is SOMETHING that occupies your time. It must be so therapeutic for your injured ego (imagine, to have an OGM and still remain UNEMPLOYED all these years?) to create so many YT accounts just so you can bash Kwan in all her videos. I hope it helps you recover from the fact that your initials represent the (T)RUE (L)OSER that you are, ha ha ha!
Without that OGM, Tara would be NOTHING. She NEEDED it. Actually, even WITH that OGM, she IS nothing. As one poster eloquently described allenglandlawns, getrealandsea, ithinkformyself, kwansangsog, etc. -- also known as Tara LIpinski -- she is an UGLY, CAREER-LESS HAS-BEEN who has nothing to do but troll in Kwan's videos and bash her. Kwan became a legend WITHOUT needing that OGM. Hard pill to swallow, Tara, huh? Ha ha ha ha ha!
@aldrinhu Oh contraire, Tara is hardly nothing. She is the 1998 Olympic Champion. She is the youngest winner of National, World, AND Olympic titles. She is the first woman to land a triple-loop triple-loop combination and was the pride of the USA in Nagano. Doesn't matter where she is now bc she beat the Kwan favoritism and WON. Kwan? She will NEVER EVER wear the OGM, the only medal anyone (esp Kwan) cares about. Let her have her frufru world and national medals, she will always be the LOL.
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@aldrinhu Oh how very amusing. Tara is a legend and is doing very well for herself. This is one of the most ridiculous of all posts...Tara NEEDED the OGM?...well, she won it!! Kwan is a legend simply because she hung on and on and on trying to win it and failed miserably twice...then she NEEDED it so badly that she lied and cheated her way into a third try and didn't even skate...now that is truly pitiable. Oh, and with all Kwan's tries and the judges help...she didn't reach her goal.
@aldrinhu Hang around forever and you're bound to be a legend and that ain't a compliment. Given lots of cash and bling for participating... not bc your Kween earned them, of course. Tara didn't need to hang around at all. She recognized the moment and NAILED it when it mattered...a trademark of a TRUE champion.
@aldrinhu Don't confuse famous with successful...sure Kwan's well known...she's been around for like centuries....and she is of course a legendary olympic loser (lol)...
Kwan was the favored pre-ordained winner of gold at the 98 Olympics. But just compare this sp to the one Tara did at these olympics. You can already see the spark in Tara's program that is lacking in Kwans. Of course we all know that Tara kicked Kwan in the face at the finish line despite the favoritism for Kwan. Gotta respect that.
@HowsaBowsaYowsa I couldn't have said it better myself =) Kwan couldn't cut it even at her best and with all the favoritism in the world. Tara faced down all the odds and blew Kwan out of the water.
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"I wanted to be the Michael Jordan of my sport," she said. "I dreamed of being a legend." … But legends are not made by points alone, in the rink or on the basketball court. For figure skaters, the door to that mythic realm of eight-figure endorsement deals, of celebrity that transcends sports itself, opens only once every four years.
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And Kwan knows this better than anyone. "Tothe public," she tells you, "the Olympics is the supreme of the supreme, and I don't believe you can ever truly be a legend without winning it."
Source: Mark Starr, Newsweek, February 18, 2002, p. 50.
If you want to see a real standing ovation and cheers from the crowd...watch Rudy Galindo's 1996 Nationals LP...he deserved it...and it was louder and longer than anything ever bestowed upon this LOL:):) And again the comments are that she is a legend...that Tara and Sarah are forgotten...every time anyone posts they seem to remember...and yes, Kwan is a legend...Legendary Olympic Loser!
@getrealandsee I find your obsession with Michelle Kwan very disturbing and sad (I read that you have been doing this for over 10 years!). I find it very strange that you're quoting her. You actually look up and read about someone that you hate over and over??? What did she ever do to you? You just nit pick at her over and over. You seem very jealous and bitter over a stranger!
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@Karosanyo I am quoting her to show just what a self serving PHONY the LOL really is...the underbelly...the real deal under all the PR scripting...I am not obsessed, Karosanyo...that would be the crazed Kwanatics who have attacked ME...made threats...sworn at me...and I haven't been doing this for 10 years...I think I told you that I had a user name before this...actually two...ithinkformyself and fairplaywanted...they have long since been shut down because of email issues...
@Karosanyo I didn't know youtube even existed 10 years ago..I do what I do for integrity's sake and I have been accused of hating Michelle because I am a racist..not true...anyway....yes, I am sick of the phony garbage but no, I am not bitter and certainly absolutely not even a little jealous...I hate that she made so much money...I hate that she still represents our country in any way...(and that I believe is due in large part to her being Chinese American)...she is a phony and a narcissist.
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@Karosanyo And for what it's worth to you there are some crazed posters out there to whom I don't even bother to respond...hateful, vicious towards me and Tara and Sarah....again...please watch Rudy's 1996 Nats...now THERE is an athlete who was slammed and really did overcome obstacles...that's why it's sickening to hear Kwan talk about being knocked down and getting back up...BLECH....she was given every break possible and it's so obvious in some videos...so totally wrong!
@Karosanyo Let's see the 00 & 01 Skate America where the clear winner was Sarah Hughes. I love Michelle and consider her one of the greatests of all time, but she too was held up & given a gold medal or two without deserving it. The mistake everyone makes is saying Michelle's style is the way everybody should skate. Which is why people put down both Tara & Sarah for their styles. I feel for alot of female skaters from that time because Michelle was made the standard and that wasn't right or fair
@Letissiaskatetapes24 Yes, I always stated that Sarah Hughes deserved to win those (skate Canada in even more so). Michelle Kwan was never propped up at the majors (Olympics, Worlds and Nationals). She deserved to win Worlds in '96, '98, 2000-2001 and 2003. She landed 7 triples three times out of five times (two times with the triple-triple and she landed six triples for her other two). She also deserved her Olympic silver and bronze (her bronze win is debatable, but I feel she deserved it).
@Letissiaskatetapes24 I would NEVER state that Kwan's style is the way that everyone should skate (I really miss the diverse artistry from the 6.0 days). Tara and Sarah had good artistry. Michelle Kwan was just in a class by herself with her artistry (no other women was as versatile with their artistry as Kwan was).
@Karosanyo I never asumed you did. But to me that's how feel and saw it. Michelle was put on this pedistal and it wasn't fair to her or her competitors. In the end her competitors got the brunt of it, like in these comments and on other videos. I don't blame Michelle, BUT she did benefit every now and then
@Letissiaskatetapes24 Michelle Kwan was thrown a few bones at smaller events, but she was never propped up and gifted wins at the majors. Mediocre skaters like Oksana and Witt (and a few others) were the ones that were gifted their majors. The judges always expected perfection every time she stepped on that ice. Check out her scores at the 2000-2001 Worlds where she landed 7 triples with a triple-triple (they were waiting to gift Irina the title).
@Karosanyo Oh man, she was so gifted at big events too. Did you see 97 nats when she spent half the time sliding her butt on the ice? Or how about 99 Worlds when she bungled her way to silver? And wasn't lovely to see her "win" after wiping ice shavings off her cheeks at 00 nats when Sasha outskated her? Each time, Kwan made off with an undeserved medal and those were just a few of the obvious ones.... and that SLC bronze was another gift...pity points for choking again.
@allenglandlawns Wow you are nasty aren't you. I am not making excuses for Michelle, but in 97 she she was dealing with major body changes which effect most females at that age in sports. I think she handled it all pretty well considering she kinda had to learn to jump all over again due to new hips and thighs. In 99 she was sick at those Worlds and openly didn't use it as an excuse. I've seen the interview and have it on tape. Have you skated a 4 minute program with a fever while congested?
@allenglandlawns Kwan was never gifted a gold at the majors... I agreed with you about her 1997 National skate. There IS NO WAY she should have went to Worlds with that half-baked performance. Her winning the silver at the 1999 Worlds is debatable (that program was so masterful). I have to see Sasha and Michelle's LP at the 2000 Nationals again. I still think that Michelle deserved her bronze at SLC (her jumps were better than Sasha's).
@Karosanyo You are right was never propped at a Nationals, Worlds or Olympics. Her performance at Worlds in 01 I've seem, taped and watched many times. It still has me shaking my head in disbelief. I held my breath praying her skate boot would hold up. Not my favorite program, but damn did she have nerves of steel. I would have been terrified to skate on a boot that could break at any moment on the ice.
@Letissiaskatetapes24 AMEN to that! :). Kwan has been praised for trips, slips, splats, and downgrades (as Dick would say--what a graceful fall it doesn't make any difference) when others would pay DEARLY for such mistakes. Tara and Sarah proved that its not about reputation but the actual performance that mattered and they walked out of the sport true champions for that.
@Letissiaskatetapes24 You are completely correct. There are so many talented skaters during the Kwan era. They paid for their mistakes and EARNED what they could get but just never got recognized for the effort they put in to push the sport to higher levels. None of those applied to Kwan as she was handed title after title. It's sad and sickening that Kwan got so much attention and praise when real athletes had to do all the dirty work to make the sport credible.
@allenglandlawns I never ever said she was handed title after title. I watched Michelle starting in 97/98 and have seen all her performances before that. I have them all recorded and watched them too many times to count to know this. When I say she ws put on a pedistal I mean she was favored more above everyone else to a point that some great skaters were over looled.
@idolfan and @yonjoonhero, the first half is Piano Trio No. 2 in D Op.9, 1st movement. It was written as a memorial to Tchaikovsky, who was a friend and mentor. The theme that Michelle uses comes in after 5-7 min. Actually, I had to get the piece (and several others from Rach) after seeing this program. I like the version by the Borodin Trio.
No matter who anyone thinks should have won the gold medal, this program is one for the ages. I read that Yu Na Kim was inspired by it and tried to emulate it. Everything about the program is perfect, the choreography, the cut of the music and, of course, Michelle's performance.
@wondermeeee Yep, that's Scott Hamilton, 1984 Olympic champ. He's been covering figure skating olympics for cbs and nbc since the early 90s. I hoped they would bring Dick Button back. He's makes both insightful and critical comments instead of screaming in our ears like Scott does :)
@allenglandlawns One thing is certain: Scott Hamilton knows figure skating -- and is an Olympic gold medalist, which is your entire standard for make or break -- unlike you.
Otherwise, we can't hear you: You are drowned out by all the standing ovations given Gold Standard Michelle Kwan.
In 2002 her interpretation was more athletic...here there's something magical...the control of movementes, the use of the arms...even the transitions are so elegant...she is very comfortable here.
Well of course that's how every sport goes though. That's how records are beat. Better technology for training, new and better coaches, better overall. That's what is supposed to happen.
It's a shame that every 1998 Kwan/Lipinski clip is nothing but a debate about who should have won. As a HUGE kwan fan, I for won don't care who won or lost... Kwan will always be the best, a legend, a role model, a true lady, and pretty much the most respected figure skater of all time. Since Kwan is classy, why don't we, as her fans, act classy as well.
Lipinski is a dissapointment too since she retired at 15 when she had already achieved so much and had so much potential to have an amazing career. Even those who dont like her or her skating have to admit that. However since she retired so abruptly so young and went on to a middling pro career as pros was dieing she will be remembered as a flash in the pan. A much superior flash in the pan than Hughes who was truly a 1 hit wonder and not in Lipnski's league but a flash in the pan still.
@mlc2005 Yeah, real classy...NOT! Role model...'kids, now if you want something you step on everyone to get it..not to worry about anyone else's dream..you take it away.' Cheat and lie if you must but grab what you want and then expect people to feel sorry and admire you for your 'class' when you have gotten what you want and throw your victim the leftovers'...make it all about you you you and your wants and needs'...yeah, what a rold model. And Olympic Gold makes you the best!
getreal: you need help!!!!! This guy is obsesed about Michelle Kwan. You can not watch a video clip of Michelle without seeing his comments. Obsessed is probably not the correct word, psycho is more like it. Talking about chemical imbalance.
I know right... I've stopped responding to getreal bc I think it just wants to provoke people.. why else would it constantly make asinine comments about Kwan. It's not worth it so I'm no longer responding to it, and I think it will stop if we don't give it attention.. I do hope it gets help though, for real.
Lipinsky's name wil never fade no matter who dislike that...just 'couse she was the yongest who ever winn a gold medall, she will allways be mention u just hve to listen well Tie and others even in sumer oympics hr name is still call and remmain like that =))
Tara will ALWAYS be remembered..she took the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics when all the odds were in favor of this other skater..also ran...bridesmaid...runnerup..
Tara Lipinski 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist...this other skater...well, not! Oh Kwan will be remembered too..for NOT ever winning Olympic Gold:) 2 tries..no Gold...so yeah...Kwan is memorable..medicore, but hung around the rinks forever so go figure...Tara Lipinski Olympic Gold Medalist Forever! USA's pride in Nagano.
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@purpleblumoon You keep on believing that..this 'blip on the radar screen' broke records, won Olympic Gold and then got on with her life...unlike this wannabe who hung on and on and still couldn't cut it at the Olympics. Tara Lipinski the USA's GOLDEN girl Nagano 1998. Of course, Kwan is well known...hang around that long and you're bound to be but the best...not no way, not no how!
I love this program for her. Nobody else could do it like that. The perfect example of a chreographer really understanding a skater and playing up their strengths and a skater taking that and skating it all out. When it counted.
This is so true because that's why she did like Oksana did after the 94' Games and opted not to go to the World Championships out of fear she would be labeled a one program one night only Olympic Champion even kATERINA wITT lIZ mANLY & dEBI tHOMAS ALL WENT TO WORLDS AFTER THE GAMES Michelle should have won with Lu Chen 2nd and Tara 3rd!
No matter what place anyone came in, Michelle Kwan is the Achilles of figure skating, and her name will never fade in the way that others have come and gone, like Lipinski's name. She is among the greatest, with Peggy Flemming, Dorothy Hamill, Brian Boitano, and Scott Eldredge. The golden age of figure skating has come and gone with her exit from the arena.
@tiedyefalafel I love Michelle, but I think Kim Yuna has brought back that Golden Age to a certain extent. btw I think you meant Todd Eldridge, he was definitely a great skater.
Funny, Tara was doing commentating for '11 Worlds and all the comments were of how boring she sounded LOL. She didn't endear herself to anyone with all the "when Michelle and I competed" references. We get it Tara, you won the gold
An amazing skater she may well be, but in this programme I see no emotion coming from her. Cautious skating, with all the technical elements wrapped up, but leaving no lasting impression.
I strongly disagree; I was actually in attendance at this competition, and she connected with the audience through her emotions stronger than anybody else... A lot of us in the audience were talking about that even on the way out. Some of her later short programs, however, would show her facial emotions more clearly... But you can see the joy here as well.
fyi: pink & red are related colors! They do go together! What's done is done, 1998 is a long time ago. Michelle Kwan will always be remembered for her many, many accomplishments. She doesn't dwell on the past, why should we? She's moved on, and probably shouldn't come back. Tara Lipinksi, won Gold, then went away, to acting, badly, I might add! Let's see if any of the newest skaters can do in the next few years. I do miss Michelle, but it's time to move on.
lipinskiidol you are so right!BORING!!!!!!!! just BORING!!!!! I still just cant believe that Judges put Kwan in 1 place AFTER THIS!!!!! she should be 3 or 4!!!Tara Lipinski SP deserved to be at the 1 place!!! her SP was far better and more difficult than Kwan's
Kwan is the best ever, but that doesn't mean she should have won the Olympics that year. I don't know if Tara should have won, but she did have a great competition.
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mlc2005 you are so right! as much as those who love michelle wanted her to win the olympics, it's just a pity that she didn't perform as well as tara in the lp (although this is also subjected to debate).
u no hands down in the 98 olympics we had the best team skating...But, we can't judge the scoring or results now because the truth is...The USA sweep the competition away...
I think the reason why so many of us get passionate about this is that Michelle Kwan is a fantastic, brilliant skater (probably the best female skater of all time), and we are upset that she doesn't have an olympic gold, since so many equate that with being "the best." For those of us who follow skating, we know that she IS the best, and we want others to recognize just how brilliant and unique she truly is. I still say that history will categorize her as the best ever.
Its true that the Olympic Gold is what everyone will remember years from now. People always say that they would give up all their world titles for one Olympic gold. Of course it's even better when you have world titles AND an Olympic Gold. Tara was coming off a fantastic year in 1998 and I have no idea why people underestimated her at the Olympics, but Hughes' win was more of a fluke (although a deserving one).
I think the Olympic gold is overrated. Kwan will be remembered more than any other skater because she was a champion many times over. That's what separates her from the rest. Not many skaters can claim nine national championships and five world championships. She just didn't happen to skate her absolute best performances at the Olympics. That matters less than the many things she did achieve.
There are many great female skaters from different eras...figure skating has changed so muh throught the years...remember Dorothy Hammil?...Michelle Kwon is a FANTASTIC skater, but Tara Lipinski deserved to win the gold...she had a better performance with a higher difficulty level
I don't disagree with Tara winning but even with the higher difficulty, I think Michelle would have topped Tara if she hadn't been first in the final group. Tara's difficulty was also higher in the short but she still placed behind Michelle.
Lipinski's technical marks were rightfully higher, but her Presentation marks were too high. Yeah, she was energetic and excited, but her LP was not artistically equal to Kwan's LP. Overall, Lipinski's long program would have won her the Gold anyway since her program was far more difficult than Kwan's. The women's competition is always unpredictable. When was the last time the leader after the SP actually won? The men's competition is usually a given after the SP.
kitkat9288,I TOTALLY disagree Lipinski's LP was amazing, great,unique AND far more artistically than Kwan's LP.Kwan's Olympic programs,make me SICK!they were just BORING!!!!!Tara did absolute best performances at the Olympics.
Lipinski's technical marks were rightfully higher, but her Presentation marks were too high. Yeah, she was energetic and excited, but her LP was not artistically equal to Kwan's LP. Overall, Lipinski's long program would have won her the Gold anyway since her program was far more difficult than Kwan's. The women's competition is always unpredictable. When was the last time the leader after the SP actually won? The men's competition is usually a given after the SP.
one of the greatest programs performed on ice was this. tara/michelle skated great programs...they were beyond their years in technique and skill. too bad the new generation of skaters cant offer what these girls did.
Tara winning one night doesn't take anything away from the decade of Michelle giving the sport beauty, grace, and amazing performances. Let's all stop getting upset over history. Michelle is admired for not retiring but continuing and only getting better. Where's Tara?
tara sells it more than michelle does and has more emotion when she skates. michelle just does what she has to do and gets it done but i can tell that tara does way better than she does and she really deserved it!
She played it safe for this one with the easy triple toe loop compared to Tara's triple flip. It's so hard to judge figure skating because it's all subjective. A beautiful program nevertheless although I'm not a big fan of Kwan's attitude.
well what i feel is that michelle kwan has much more grace than tara lipinsky, but tara's better at doing those technical stuff, only that when she executes them, you can literally feel all her muscles working, whereas michelle does them lightly and effortlessly. it's like technicality versus artistry.
While not as good as her just luminous Nationals performance, Kwan earned her 1st place for her SP performance. Just as she didn't earn the gold for her LP performance and overall. Enjoyable SP and plus I love Rachmaninoff. Solid job by Kwan.
And michelle didn't pull off even one 3/3 combination in the LP, as much as I hoped her to win I knew that judges would be unreasonable to place her before Tara.
I love Michelle and I believe her name has already been marked in the history of Figureskating,(while I doubt after 50 years Tara and Sarah will be remembered anywhere else than the documentary of Winter Games, especially Sarah) but I think Tara won the 1998 gold medal fair and square. Michelle in the long program was a bit conservative and lacked that bit of extra sparks. Anyway I have never been impressed by Lyra Angelica---it's a bit too soft isn't it?
I completely agree, I love Michelle Kwan too, she is probably the most reliable on consistent skater in women's figure skating but lets be honest, the programs spoke for themselves on Olympic night: 2 triple combinations in the long program + no obvious mistakes was enough to take home the gold for Tara
Zuranthium, if you go by the new scoring system, which doesn't really make sense because their programs were not designed for it, Kwan would have won the SP based on her having stronger elements. If you were to judge all 8 of the required elements, Kwan would have easily beaten Tara on 6 of the elements, with the lutz combo debatable (Kwan's was bigger with better technique and run-out while Tara ended with a loop).
There's no way Michelle would have won. It took her 8 jumping passes to get all of her jumps in and only 7 are allowed. Tara completed all of her jumps in 6 passes - she still had room to throw in another double axle somewhere.
If Tara had been a boring skater to watch aside from the jumps I certainly would have given the Gold to Michelle, but Tara pulled out of the best performances ever at the Olympics; simply stunning.
Tara should not have won the short program, she had relatively weak spirals and footwork compared to Kwan's , she had fewer steps and transitons, add that to the fact that she didn't have the triple triple, advantage that she did in the LP and you can see that the results of this SP were actually pretty much correct
I think Tara should have won the short program as well.
She did not have a Triple/Triple, but her jump combination was harder (2 Loop instead of 2 Toe after the Lutz) and her second Triple was a Flip, whereas Michelle opted to do a much easier 3Toe. I have no idea why Michelle didn't do a 3Flip as well, but that's simply what happened and she deserved a lower technical score because of it. The technical mark is the tie-breaker for the short program so Tara deserved to win.
Tara had weaker spirals, footwork and her basic jump technique(re: the, the roller skating the standstill on her flip) was really not as strong as Kwan's.Her Spiral sequence did not have the same difficulty,and her footwork did not have the same use of running edges and variation of body positions. Neither one of them is particularly a favorite of mine(though I respect their work), but IMHO it's a no brainer that Kwan deserved to win the SP
sorry that should read; Her basic jump technique (re:the roller skating technique on her double axel, the standstill on her flip, and her flutz). She did well to upgrade to 3/3s in the long program
The fact that she did a 2Loop instead of a 2Toe makes up for her minor Flutz in that combo. There was nothing wrong with her other jumps - she got the rotations and landed them without any error.
Michelle's Spiral was not much better - the only difference was the change of edge. She absolutely does NOT have more flexibility or extension than Tara...I'd say a little less actually. Kwan's step sequence was slightly more difficult but Tara performed hers with more speed so I'd call that a tie.
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Karosanyo 3 months ago
what a freakin talentless mole, she has more numbers on herself than a horse race form guide, oh just a minute, maybe her true calling was the g-g's as a participant and i dont mean as a jockey but something more suite to her equine features. btw i love get real and see.
johny258 3 months ago
@johny258 Your post is really ignorant and lame. Grow up!
Karosanyo 3 months ago
Beautiful performance. I wish she won the Gold medal but I enjoyed every moment she performed.
1001icetea 4 months ago
her performance gave me goosebumps! What a legend!
oliviacrazyness22 5 months ago
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Observers have questioned why Kwan's father is omnipresent if she is attempting to assert her independence. They wonder why, after making such a point of dropping Nichol, she has returned to the short program she skated in 1998, to Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 ... that was choreographed by Nichol.
Sunday, February 17, 2002
By Lori Shontz, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
****Utter and Total Disregard for the Magnitude of the Olympics****
getrealandsee 8 months ago
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how pathetic that she used the same programme for the 1998 and 2002 olympics!
smoggle 8 months ago
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@smoggle Agreed!!! Total lack of respect for the Olympics to think simple, risk-free, same, and old can still cut it. And unfortunately it did...with the help from the judges who gave her ridiculously inflated marks yet again.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
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@smoggle Absolutely!! Pathetic and downright INSULTING!! This is the Olympics not some fru fru lead up. The real deal. Arrogant, much?
getrealandsee 8 months ago
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Hello, Tara Lipinski. Nice to see that there is SOMETHING that occupies your time. It must be so therapeutic for your injured ego (imagine, to have an OGM and still remain UNEMPLOYED all these years?) to create so many YT accounts just so you can bash Kwan in all her videos. I hope it helps you recover from the fact that your initials represent the (T)RUE (L)OSER that you are, ha ha ha!
sarahgfan24 8 months ago
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sarahgfan24 8 months ago
Without that OGM, Tara would be NOTHING. She NEEDED it. Actually, even WITH that OGM, she IS nothing. As one poster eloquently described allenglandlawns, getrealandsea, ithinkformyself, kwansangsog, etc. -- also known as Tara LIpinski -- she is an UGLY, CAREER-LESS HAS-BEEN who has nothing to do but troll in Kwan's videos and bash her. Kwan became a legend WITHOUT needing that OGM. Hard pill to swallow, Tara, huh? Ha ha ha ha ha!
aldrinhu 8 months ago 4
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@aldrinhu Oh contraire, Tara is hardly nothing. She is the 1998 Olympic Champion. She is the youngest winner of National, World, AND Olympic titles. She is the first woman to land a triple-loop triple-loop combination and was the pride of the USA in Nagano. Doesn't matter where she is now bc she beat the Kwan favoritism and WON. Kwan? She will NEVER EVER wear the OGM, the only medal anyone (esp Kwan) cares about. Let her have her frufru world and national medals, she will always be the LOL.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
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@aldrinhu Oh how very amusing. Tara is a legend and is doing very well for herself. This is one of the most ridiculous of all posts...Tara NEEDED the OGM?...well, she won it!! Kwan is a legend simply because she hung on and on and on trying to win it and failed miserably twice...then she NEEDED it so badly that she lied and cheated her way into a third try and didn't even skate...now that is truly pitiable. Oh, and with all Kwan's tries and the judges help...she didn't reach her goal.
getrealandsee 8 months ago
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@aldrinhu Hang around forever and you're bound to be a legend and that ain't a compliment. Given lots of cash and bling for participating... not bc your Kween earned them, of course. Tara didn't need to hang around at all. She recognized the moment and NAILED it when it mattered...a trademark of a TRUE champion.
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
@aldrinhu Don't confuse famous with successful...sure Kwan's well known...she's been around for like centuries....and she is of course a legendary olympic loser (lol)...
getrealandsee 2 months ago
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Kwan was the favored pre-ordained winner of gold at the 98 Olympics. But just compare this sp to the one Tara did at these olympics. You can already see the spark in Tara's program that is lacking in Kwans. Of course we all know that Tara kicked Kwan in the face at the finish line despite the favoritism for Kwan. Gotta respect that.
HowsaBowsaYowsa 9 months ago
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@HowsaBowsaYowsa I couldn't have said it better myself =) Kwan couldn't cut it even at her best and with all the favoritism in the world. Tara faced down all the odds and blew Kwan out of the water.
allenglandlawns 9 months ago
michelle kwan is the best of all time
pilgrim561 9 months ago 6
@pilgrim561 huh uh...not even:)-:)
getrealandsee 2 months ago
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"I wanted to be the Michael Jordan of my sport," she said. "I dreamed of being a legend." … But legends are not made by points alone, in the rink or on the basketball court. For figure skaters, the door to that mythic realm of eight-figure endorsement deals, of celebrity that transcends sports itself, opens only once every four years.
getrealandsee 9 months ago
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And Kwan knows this better than anyone. "Tothe public," she tells you, "the Olympics is the supreme of the supreme, and I don't believe you can ever truly be a legend without winning it."
Source: Mark Starr, Newsweek, February 18, 2002, p. 50.
getrealandsee 9 months ago
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If you want to see a real standing ovation and cheers from the crowd...watch Rudy Galindo's 1996 Nationals LP...he deserved it...and it was louder and longer than anything ever bestowed upon this LOL:):) And again the comments are that she is a legend...that Tara and Sarah are forgotten...every time anyone posts they seem to remember...and yes, Kwan is a legend...Legendary Olympic Loser!
getrealandsee 9 months ago
@getrealandsee I find your obsession with Michelle Kwan very disturbing and sad (I read that you have been doing this for over 10 years!). I find it very strange that you're quoting her. You actually look up and read about someone that you hate over and over??? What did she ever do to you? You just nit pick at her over and over. You seem very jealous and bitter over a stranger!
Karosanyo 9 months ago 2
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@Karosanyo I am quoting her to show just what a self serving PHONY the LOL really is...the underbelly...the real deal under all the PR scripting...I am not obsessed, Karosanyo...that would be the crazed Kwanatics who have attacked ME...made threats...sworn at me...and I haven't been doing this for 10 years...I think I told you that I had a user name before this...actually two...ithinkformyself and fairplaywanted...they have long since been shut down because of email issues...
getrealandsee 9 months ago
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@Karosanyo I didn't know youtube even existed 10 years ago..I do what I do for integrity's sake and I have been accused of hating Michelle because I am a racist..not true...anyway....yes, I am sick of the phony garbage but no, I am not bitter and certainly absolutely not even a little jealous...I hate that she made so much money...I hate that she still represents our country in any way...(and that I believe is due in large part to her being Chinese American)...she is a phony and a narcissist.
getrealandsee 9 months ago
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@Karosanyo And for what it's worth to you there are some crazed posters out there to whom I don't even bother to respond...hateful, vicious towards me and Tara and Sarah....again...please watch Rudy's 1996 Nats...now THERE is an athlete who was slammed and really did overcome obstacles...that's why it's sickening to hear Kwan talk about being knocked down and getting back up...BLECH....she was given every break possible and it's so obvious in some videos...so totally wrong!
getrealandsee 9 months ago
@getrealandsee Do two wrongs make a right? Some of YOUR posts about Kwan are truly hateful and vicious... When was Kwan given breaks at world level?
Karosanyo 9 months ago
@Karosanyo Let's see the 00 & 01 Skate America where the clear winner was Sarah Hughes. I love Michelle and consider her one of the greatests of all time, but she too was held up & given a gold medal or two without deserving it. The mistake everyone makes is saying Michelle's style is the way everybody should skate. Which is why people put down both Tara & Sarah for their styles. I feel for alot of female skaters from that time because Michelle was made the standard and that wasn't right or fair
Letissiaskatetapes24 8 months ago
@Letissiaskatetapes24 Yes, I always stated that Sarah Hughes deserved to win those (skate Canada in even more so). Michelle Kwan was never propped up at the majors (Olympics, Worlds and Nationals). She deserved to win Worlds in '96, '98, 2000-2001 and 2003. She landed 7 triples three times out of five times (two times with the triple-triple and she landed six triples for her other two). She also deserved her Olympic silver and bronze (her bronze win is debatable, but I feel she deserved it).
Karosanyo 8 months ago
@Letissiaskatetapes24 I would NEVER state that Kwan's style is the way that everyone should skate (I really miss the diverse artistry from the 6.0 days). Tara and Sarah had good artistry. Michelle Kwan was just in a class by herself with her artistry (no other women was as versatile with their artistry as Kwan was).
Karosanyo 8 months ago
@Karosanyo I never asumed you did. But to me that's how feel and saw it. Michelle was put on this pedistal and it wasn't fair to her or her competitors. In the end her competitors got the brunt of it, like in these comments and on other videos. I don't blame Michelle, BUT she did benefit every now and then
Letissiaskatetapes24 8 months ago
@Letissiaskatetapes24 Michelle Kwan was thrown a few bones at smaller events, but she was never propped up and gifted wins at the majors. Mediocre skaters like Oksana and Witt (and a few others) were the ones that were gifted their majors. The judges always expected perfection every time she stepped on that ice. Check out her scores at the 2000-2001 Worlds where she landed 7 triples with a triple-triple (they were waiting to gift Irina the title).
Karosanyo 8 months ago
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@Karosanyo Oh man, she was so gifted at big events too. Did you see 97 nats when she spent half the time sliding her butt on the ice? Or how about 99 Worlds when she bungled her way to silver? And wasn't lovely to see her "win" after wiping ice shavings off her cheeks at 00 nats when Sasha outskated her? Each time, Kwan made off with an undeserved medal and those were just a few of the obvious ones.... and that SLC bronze was another gift...pity points for choking again.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
@allenglandlawns Wow you are nasty aren't you. I am not making excuses for Michelle, but in 97 she she was dealing with major body changes which effect most females at that age in sports. I think she handled it all pretty well considering she kinda had to learn to jump all over again due to new hips and thighs. In 99 she was sick at those Worlds and openly didn't use it as an excuse. I've seen the interview and have it on tape. Have you skated a 4 minute program with a fever while congested?
Letissiaskatetapes24 8 months ago
@allenglandlawns Kwan was never gifted a gold at the majors... I agreed with you about her 1997 National skate. There IS NO WAY she should have went to Worlds with that half-baked performance. Her winning the silver at the 1999 Worlds is debatable (that program was so masterful). I have to see Sasha and Michelle's LP at the 2000 Nationals again. I still think that Michelle deserved her bronze at SLC (her jumps were better than Sasha's).
Karosanyo 8 months ago
@Karosanyo You are right was never propped at a Nationals, Worlds or Olympics. Her performance at Worlds in 01 I've seem, taped and watched many times. It still has me shaking my head in disbelief. I held my breath praying her skate boot would hold up. Not my favorite program, but damn did she have nerves of steel. I would have been terrified to skate on a boot that could break at any moment on the ice.
Letissiaskatetapes24 8 months ago
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@Letissiaskatetapes24 AMEN to that! :). Kwan has been praised for trips, slips, splats, and downgrades (as Dick would say--what a graceful fall it doesn't make any difference) when others would pay DEARLY for such mistakes. Tara and Sarah proved that its not about reputation but the actual performance that mattered and they walked out of the sport true champions for that.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
@allenglandlawns Tara who and Sarah who??????????? Forgettable entities
gentrysnavat 8 months ago
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@gentrysnavat By mentioning them, you seem to remember who they are.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
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@Letissiaskatetapes24 You are completely correct. There are so many talented skaters during the Kwan era. They paid for their mistakes and EARNED what they could get but just never got recognized for the effort they put in to push the sport to higher levels. None of those applied to Kwan as she was handed title after title. It's sad and sickening that Kwan got so much attention and praise when real athletes had to do all the dirty work to make the sport credible.
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
@allenglandlawns I never ever said she was handed title after title. I watched Michelle starting in 97/98 and have seen all her performances before that. I have them all recorded and watched them too many times to count to know this. When I say she ws put on a pedistal I mean she was favored more above everyone else to a point that some great skaters were over looled.
Letissiaskatetapes24 8 months ago
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@Letissiaskatetapes24 Fair enough =)
allenglandlawns 8 months ago
@idolfan and @yonjoonhero, the first half is Piano Trio No. 2 in D Op.9, 1st movement. It was written as a memorial to Tchaikovsky, who was a friend and mentor. The theme that Michelle uses comes in after 5-7 min. Actually, I had to get the piece (and several others from Rach) after seeing this program. I like the version by the Borodin Trio.
thesu 10 months ago
Does anyone know which Rachmaninoff songs she used in this amazing and emotional piece?
yonjooheero 11 months ago
@yonjooheero The second half is the 3rd Piano Concerto. I haven't been able to find the first piece, which is usually referred to just as Piano Trio.
idolfan9495 10 months ago
Michelle's so fluid...her soft landing takes viewers to another dimension of skating
delpa1986 1 year ago
No matter who anyone thinks should have won the gold medal, this program is one for the ages. I read that Yu Na Kim was inspired by it and tried to emulate it. Everything about the program is perfect, the choreography, the cut of the music and, of course, Michelle's performance.
skatefan9495 1 year ago
Cutthroat.
WhataPee 1 year ago
she's superhuman.
annaelizabethedith 1 year ago
Kwan for Olympics 2012?
looker768 1 year ago
the commentator sounds like the same person who was commenting the olympics 2010 for nbc!
wondermeeee 1 year ago
@wondermeeee He IS the same person who was a commentator for NBC at the 2010 Olympics, lol. Scott Hamiltion. :)
pinto89100 1 year ago
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@wondermeeee Yep, that's Scott Hamilton, 1984 Olympic champ. He's been covering figure skating olympics for cbs and nbc since the early 90s. I hoped they would bring Dick Button back. He's makes both insightful and critical comments instead of screaming in our ears like Scott does :)
allenglandlawns 1 year ago
@allenglandlawns One thing is certain: Scott Hamilton knows figure skating -- and is an Olympic gold medalist, which is your entire standard for make or break -- unlike you.
Otherwise, we can't hear you: You are drowned out by all the standing ovations given Gold Standard Michelle Kwan.
JNagarya 10 months ago
Michelle is true beauty on ice!! She totally skates with her heart no question on that =D
TheElizabeth2010 1 year ago
In 2002 her interpretation was more athletic...here there's something magical...the control of movementes, the use of the arms...even the transitions are so elegant...she is very comfortable here.
improvvisamente1 1 year ago
right at 2:25 i don't think i've seen anyone more happy
GirLuvPuffxGlomp 1 year ago
magnificent program!!!
michellequeen1980 1 year ago
Michelle is magic!
markbob120 1 year ago
THAT MADE MY SPiN TANGLE
Sizzy84 1 year ago
Perfect!
luckyxu 2 years ago 2
Simply perfection!
RothdeMan 2 years ago 2
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Compare her jumps to Yuna Kim's. So much more speed and height. I'm not saying Michelle wasn't the best in her time.
plzwakeup 2 years ago
Well of course that's how every sport goes though. That's how records are beat. Better technology for training, new and better coaches, better overall. That's what is supposed to happen.
danigurl8192 2 years ago
I agree that Yuna is technically very very strong, but Yuna's presentation and ice presence is NOTHING compared to Michelle Kwan's or Sasha Cohen's.
applecrisp 2 years ago
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ugly
ynkisno1 2 years ago
I'm sad Michelle isn't coming back to competitve skating. :(
entertainer1987 2 years ago 2
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allenglandlawns 2 years ago
It's a shame that every 1998 Kwan/Lipinski clip is nothing but a debate about who should have won. As a HUGE kwan fan, I for won don't care who won or lost... Kwan will always be the best, a legend, a role model, a true lady, and pretty much the most respected figure skater of all time. Since Kwan is classy, why don't we, as her fans, act classy as well.
mlc2005 2 years ago 18
Lipinski is a dissapointment too since she retired at 15 when she had already achieved so much and had so much potential to have an amazing career. Even those who dont like her or her skating have to admit that. However since she retired so abruptly so young and went on to a middling pro career as pros was dieing she will be remembered as a flash in the pan. A much superior flash in the pan than Hughes who was truly a 1 hit wonder and not in Lipnski's league but a flash in the pan still.
gayskatingfan 2 years ago
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@mlc2005 Yeah, real classy...NOT! Role model...'kids, now if you want something you step on everyone to get it..not to worry about anyone else's dream..you take it away.' Cheat and lie if you must but grab what you want and then expect people to feel sorry and admire you for your 'class' when you have gotten what you want and throw your victim the leftovers'...make it all about you you you and your wants and needs'...yeah, what a rold model. And Olympic Gold makes you the best!
getrealandsee 2 years ago
Getreal: Get help!
mlc2005 2 years ago 2
getreal: you need help!!!!! This guy is obsesed about Michelle Kwan. You can not watch a video clip of Michelle without seeing his comments. Obsessed is probably not the correct word, psycho is more like it. Talking about chemical imbalance.
collegeguy15 2 years ago
the world are probably up side down for the psychotic patients, and perhaps this is how they express love toward the one they like..who knows
collegeguy15 2 years ago
I know right... I've stopped responding to getreal bc I think it just wants to provoke people.. why else would it constantly make asinine comments about Kwan. It's not worth it so I'm no longer responding to it, and I think it will stop if we don't give it attention.. I do hope it gets help though, for real.
mlc2005 2 years ago
wait what are yall talking about?
bronh12 2 years ago
LMAO!! LMAO!! I second that!
bubblinbrownsugar616 2 years ago
Michelle's change of edge is what separates her, others might have better extension but Michelle's spiral has heart and emotion.
dinh 2 years ago 5
Don't forget how deep she rests on the inside edge. She had the most secure edging of any female skater at that time.
crownblkprince 2 years ago
Lipinsky's name wil never fade no matter who dislike that...just 'couse she was the yongest who ever winn a gold medall, she will allways be mention u just hve to listen well Tie and others even in sumer oympics hr name is still call and remmain like that =))
tomojo333 2 years ago
You keep believing that.
Peggy Fleming called Tara a "blip on teh radar screen" No one knows who Tara is anymore, that was 10 years ago, no one cares.
purpleblumoon 2 years ago
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Tara will ALWAYS be remembered..she took the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics when all the odds were in favor of this other skater..also ran...bridesmaid...runnerup..
Tara Lipinski 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist...this other skater...well, not! Oh Kwan will be remembered too..for NOT ever winning Olympic Gold:) 2 tries..no Gold...so yeah...Kwan is memorable..medicore, but hung around the rinks forever so go figure...Tara Lipinski Olympic Gold Medalist Forever! USA's pride in Nagano.
getrealandsee 2 years ago
EXACTLY!!!! WELL SAID!!!
crazyontheisk8tz 2 years ago
i care, someone who has talent like that at such a young age will never be forgotten, they only come around once in a while.
crazyontheisk8tz 2 years ago
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@purpleblumoon You keep on believing that..this 'blip on the radar screen' broke records, won Olympic Gold and then got on with her life...unlike this wannabe who hung on and on and still couldn't cut it at the Olympics. Tara Lipinski the USA's GOLDEN girl Nagano 1998. Of course, Kwan is well known...hang around that long and you're bound to be but the best...not no way, not no how!
getrealandsee 2 years ago
lol 2:28 is funny how shes smiling like that! xD
ToonHQ91392 2 years ago
but kwan still amazing
:D
lipinskiidol 2 years ago 3
purpleblumoon
Yeah i pretty sure if tara was a "ROBOT"
then she would of got gold still? No
Kwan had good jumps spins foot work and everything-she was the favourite and guess who won???
tara coz she had more than jumps
lipinskiidol 2 years ago
Best. Short. Program. Of. All. Time.
kwadruple 2 years ago 5
Nicole maybe, but Sasha's is as slow as molasses and the edges aren't nearly as deep and controlled.
kwadruple 2 years ago
I love this program for her. Nobody else could do it like that. The perfect example of a chreographer really understanding a skater and playing up their strengths and a skater taking that and skating it all out. When it counted.
tinymavy 2 years ago 3
the greatest female skater of the millenium...no one will ever come close to her greatness and artistry. no one. (except yuna kim perhaps.?)
dilahk927 2 years ago
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ohh Please...reel it in honey. Today's skaters would leave Tara in the dust. Have you ever heard of Yuna Kim?
Tara was a robot, she could land her jumps that's is all she had going for her.
purpleblumoon 2 years ago
This is so true because that's why she did like Oksana did after the 94' Games and opted not to go to the World Championships out of fear she would be labeled a one program one night only Olympic Champion even kATERINA wITT lIZ mANLY & dEBI tHOMAS ALL WENT TO WORLDS AFTER THE GAMES Michelle should have won with Lu Chen 2nd and Tara 3rd!
ifusuckilltellu 2 years ago
No matter what place anyone came in, Michelle Kwan is the Achilles of figure skating, and her name will never fade in the way that others have come and gone, like Lipinski's name. She is among the greatest, with Peggy Flemming, Dorothy Hamill, Brian Boitano, and Scott Eldredge. The golden age of figure skating has come and gone with her exit from the arena.
tiedyefalafel 2 years ago 35
@tiedyefalafel I love Michelle, but I think Kim Yuna has brought back that Golden Age to a certain extent. btw I think you meant Todd Eldridge, he was definitely a great skater.
Funny, Tara was doing commentating for '11 Worlds and all the comments were of how boring she sounded LOL. She didn't endear herself to anyone with all the "when Michelle and I competed" references. We get it Tara, you won the gold
victoriaindigo 8 months ago
@victoriaindigo
Sorry, I meant Scott Hamilton, although Todd Eldredge is amazing too!
Definitely agree about Tara.
tiedyefalafel 8 months ago
@tiedyefalafel
Sorry- I meant Scott Hamilton, although Todd Eldredge is incredible too!!!
tiedyefalafel 8 months ago
@tiedyefalafel Great way of putting it. Michelle is a legend and skating was very lucky to have her.
1001icetea 4 months ago
I'm sitting here 11 years later and i still feel the magic :]
this is an absolutely stunning performance
sk84urlife18 2 years ago 9
hi leeann
juuuleeaahh 2 years ago
I love her spiral sequence. There is not another like it today.
Mytrinitysong 2 years ago 7
Wow, this is the video Yuna kim watched over and over again when she was 7-8 years old. Yuna's dream started there!!!!
jelim22 2 years ago 7
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An amazing skater she may well be, but in this programme I see no emotion coming from her. Cautious skating, with all the technical elements wrapped up, but leaving no lasting impression.
Russie77 3 years ago
I strongly disagree; I was actually in attendance at this competition, and she connected with the audience through her emotions stronger than anybody else... A lot of us in the audience were talking about that even on the way out. Some of her later short programs, however, would show her facial emotions more clearly... But you can see the joy here as well.
mlc2005 3 years ago 9
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shayneinsc 3 years ago 5
I agree completely.
turckhater 3 years ago 6
Well with the possible exception of Yamaguchi and Boitano who are also remembered very highly today.
lambielkwanfan 3 years ago 2
fyi: pink & red are related colors! They do go together! What's done is done, 1998 is a long time ago. Michelle Kwan will always be remembered for her many, many accomplishments. She doesn't dwell on the past, why should we? She's moved on, and probably shouldn't come back. Tara Lipinksi, won Gold, then went away, to acting, badly, I might add! Let's see if any of the newest skaters can do in the next few years. I do miss Michelle, but it's time to move on.
nesports13 3 years ago 3
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lipinskiidol you are so right!BORING!!!!!!!! just BORING!!!!! I still just cant believe that Judges put Kwan in 1 place AFTER THIS!!!!! she should be 3 or 4!!!Tara Lipinski SP deserved to be at the 1 place!!! her SP was far better and more difficult than Kwan's
NoMenNoProblem 3 years ago
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and pink and red dont go together
lipinskiidol 3 years ago
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BORING!!!!!!!! Lipinski keeps you on the edge of your seat kwan just bores you in this programe
lipinskiidol 3 years ago
Kwan is the best ever, but that doesn't mean she should have won the Olympics that year. I don't know if Tara should have won, but she did have a great competition.
Can't we just appreciate both?
dattexas 3 years ago 4
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mlc2005 you are so right! as much as those who love michelle wanted her to win the olympics, it's just a pity that she didn't perform as well as tara in the lp (although this is also subjected to debate).
kellerbeecher 3 years ago
u no hands down in the 98 olympics we had the best team skating...But, we can't judge the scoring or results now because the truth is...The USA sweep the competition away...
jpgpro1 3 years ago 4
I think the reason why so many of us get passionate about this is that Michelle Kwan is a fantastic, brilliant skater (probably the best female skater of all time), and we are upset that she doesn't have an olympic gold, since so many equate that with being "the best." For those of us who follow skating, we know that she IS the best, and we want others to recognize just how brilliant and unique she truly is. I still say that history will categorize her as the best ever.
mlc2005 3 years ago 6
after 10 years,i think i can remember kwan did not win the gold.
BUT,,,I can not remember who got the gold!
sara???
i know it's tara and sarah when i go to google!
tylerfang 3 years ago 3
Its true that the Olympic Gold is what everyone will remember years from now. People always say that they would give up all their world titles for one Olympic gold. Of course it's even better when you have world titles AND an Olympic Gold. Tara was coming off a fantastic year in 1998 and I have no idea why people underestimated her at the Olympics, but Hughes' win was more of a fluke (although a deserving one).
kitkat9288 3 years ago
I think the Olympic gold is overrated. Kwan will be remembered more than any other skater because she was a champion many times over. That's what separates her from the rest. Not many skaters can claim nine national championships and five world championships. She just didn't happen to skate her absolute best performances at the Olympics. That matters less than the many things she did achieve.
suraaldy 3 years ago 8
There are many great female skaters from different eras...figure skating has changed so muh throught the years...remember Dorothy Hammil?...Michelle Kwon is a FANTASTIC skater, but Tara Lipinski deserved to win the gold...she had a better performance with a higher difficulty level
guevitevi 3 years ago
I don't disagree with Tara winning but even with the higher difficulty, I think Michelle would have topped Tara if she hadn't been first in the final group. Tara's difficulty was also higher in the short but she still placed behind Michelle.
uncchristine99 3 years ago 4
mlc2005: What a load of crap.
matth001 3 years ago
Lipinski's technical marks were rightfully higher, but her Presentation marks were too high. Yeah, she was energetic and excited, but her LP was not artistically equal to Kwan's LP. Overall, Lipinski's long program would have won her the Gold anyway since her program was far more difficult than Kwan's. The women's competition is always unpredictable. When was the last time the leader after the SP actually won? The men's competition is usually a given after the SP.
kitkat9288 3 years ago 5
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kitkat9288,I TOTALLY disagree Lipinski's LP was amazing, great,unique AND far more artistically than Kwan's LP.Kwan's Olympic programs,make me SICK!they were just BORING!!!!!Tara did absolute best performances at the Olympics.
NoMenNoProblem 3 years ago
Lipinski's technical marks were rightfully higher, but her Presentation marks were too high. Yeah, she was energetic and excited, but her LP was not artistically equal to Kwan's LP. Overall, Lipinski's long program would have won her the Gold anyway since her program was far more difficult than Kwan's. The women's competition is always unpredictable. When was the last time the leader after the SP actually won? The men's competition is usually a given after the SP.
kitkat9288 3 years ago 2
one of the greatest programs performed on ice was this. tara/michelle skated great programs...they were beyond their years in technique and skill. too bad the new generation of skaters cant offer what these girls did.
saireea 3 years ago
Lots of hard core kwanatics posting the usual, terrible lies about Tara. I see that this board should have been closed years ago.
waddleduckie1 3 years ago
Tara winning one night doesn't take anything away from the decade of Michelle giving the sport beauty, grace, and amazing performances. Let's all stop getting upset over history. Michelle is admired for not retiring but continuing and only getting better. Where's Tara?
Amocktus 4 years ago 2
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whatever TARA LIPINSKI is way better than her
tara sells it more than michelle does and has more emotion when she skates. michelle just does what she has to do and gets it done but i can tell that tara does way better than she does and she really deserved it!
plaidpunk123 4 years ago
She Is A Beautiful Skater
Bit92493 4 years ago 4
wonderful :D
sandybeaple 4 years ago 2
what song is this?
joapuck 4 years ago
it is rachmaninoff's piano concerto #3 i believe.
tmc8802 4 years ago
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Maria butyrskaya deserved the first place in this short program
xlutskaya 4 years ago
This is the best performance she ever did. :)
ptrzAlyson823 4 years ago
This is such a lovely short program. And I love the Rach piece she skates to.
JonStewart4President 4 years ago
In a career full of wonderful moments, this program is a real highlight. Such edge control, such solid completion of every move. Beautiful.
LWOPP 4 years ago 3
Michelle's double axel is a thing of beauty.
idolfan9495 4 years ago 7
This entire skate by Michelle is a thing of beauty.
UnoriginalJess92 4 years ago 6
wow i can't believe it's been almost 10 years...seems like yesterday i was cheering her on in front of the TV. this program is still so beautiful.
expectopatr0num 4 years ago
what a great music .........
tommaxtom 4 years ago
She played it safe for this one with the easy triple toe loop compared to Tara's triple flip. It's so hard to judge figure skating because it's all subjective. A beautiful program nevertheless although I'm not a big fan of Kwan's attitude.
donnieboi70 4 years ago
the footwork sequence in this program is amazing!!
pawpaw2977 4 years ago
with the new judging system i feel as if michelle would have definately won gold.
purplefan2 4 years ago
well what i feel is that michelle kwan has much more grace than tara lipinsky, but tara's better at doing those technical stuff, only that when she executes them, you can literally feel all her muscles working, whereas michelle does them lightly and effortlessly. it's like technicality versus artistry.
garden0fgraves 4 years ago
While not as good as her just luminous Nationals performance, Kwan earned her 1st place for her SP performance. Just as she didn't earn the gold for her LP performance and overall. Enjoyable SP and plus I love Rachmaninoff. Solid job by Kwan.
JonStewart4President 5 years ago
And michelle didn't pull off even one 3/3 combination in the LP, as much as I hoped her to win I knew that judges would be unreasonable to place her before Tara.
wangyinan928 5 years ago
I love Michelle and I believe her name has already been marked in the history of Figureskating,(while I doubt after 50 years Tara and Sarah will be remembered anywhere else than the documentary of Winter Games, especially Sarah) but I think Tara won the 1998 gold medal fair and square. Michelle in the long program was a bit conservative and lacked that bit of extra sparks. Anyway I have never been impressed by Lyra Angelica---it's a bit too soft isn't it?
wangyinan928 5 years ago 2
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Wow..a Kwan fan who has something intelligent and fair to say:) What a refreshing change for this forum.
ithinkformyself 5 years ago
I completely agree, I love Michelle Kwan too, she is probably the most reliable on consistent skater in women's figure skating but lets be honest, the programs spoke for themselves on Olympic night: 2 triple combinations in the long program + no obvious mistakes was enough to take home the gold for Tara
hinginator 5 years ago 2
Zuranthium, if you go by the new scoring system, which doesn't really make sense because their programs were not designed for it, Kwan would have won the SP based on her having stronger elements. If you were to judge all 8 of the required elements, Kwan would have easily beaten Tara on 6 of the elements, with the lutz combo debatable (Kwan's was bigger with better technique and run-out while Tara ended with a loop).
vietgrlterifa 5 years ago 2
hey what about the free skate? michelle would have won it as well? pls! answer i wanna know!
sergioayala 5 years ago
There's no way Michelle would have won. It took her 8 jumping passes to get all of her jumps in and only 7 are allowed. Tara completed all of her jumps in 6 passes - she still had room to throw in another double axle somewhere.
If Tara had been a boring skater to watch aside from the jumps I certainly would have given the Gold to Michelle, but Tara pulled out of the best performances ever at the Olympics; simply stunning.
Zuranthium 5 years ago 2
sugoi! sugoi! sugoi desu ne?
lulu9979 5 years ago
I love her grace
riven0 5 years ago
I love the choreography here.
MKFanKarissa 5 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Tara should have taken 1st in the short program
fairplaywanted 5 years ago
Tara should not have won the short program, she had relatively weak spirals and footwork compared to Kwan's , she had fewer steps and transitons, add that to the fact that she didn't have the triple triple, advantage that she did in the LP and you can see that the results of this SP were actually pretty much correct
escaflowne9282 5 years ago
I think Tara should have won the short program as well.
She did not have a Triple/Triple, but her jump combination was harder (2 Loop instead of 2 Toe after the Lutz) and her second Triple was a Flip, whereas Michelle opted to do a much easier 3Toe. I have no idea why Michelle didn't do a 3Flip as well, but that's simply what happened and she deserved a lower technical score because of it. The technical mark is the tie-breaker for the short program so Tara deserved to win.
Zuranthium 5 years ago
Tara had weaker spirals, footwork and her basic jump technique(re: the, the roller skating the standstill on her flip) was really not as strong as Kwan's.Her Spiral sequence did not have the same difficulty,and her footwork did not have the same use of running edges and variation of body positions. Neither one of them is particularly a favorite of mine(though I respect their work), but IMHO it's a no brainer that Kwan deserved to win the SP
escaflowne9282 5 years ago
sorry that should read; Her basic jump technique (re:the roller skating technique on her double axel, the standstill on her flip, and her flutz). She did well to upgrade to 3/3s in the long program
escaflowne9282 5 years ago
The fact that she did a 2Loop instead of a 2Toe makes up for her minor Flutz in that combo. There was nothing wrong with her other jumps - she got the rotations and landed them without any error.
Michelle's Spiral was not much better - the only difference was the change of edge. She absolutely does NOT have more flexibility or extension than Tara...I'd say a little less actually. Kwan's step sequence was slightly more difficult but Tara performed hers with more speed so I'd call that a tie.
Zuranthium 5 years ago