Chen Lu 陈露 (CHN) - 1996 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Long Program

[russianskatingfan]

If Chen had won nobody would have complained, not even those who agreed with Kwans win. While many do complain about Kwans win. That alone shows who probably should have won. Also for those who say Kwan won on technical, if Chen were given all 5.9s and 6.0s for artistic presentation as she CLEARLY should have been, rather than ridiculous 4 5.8s and 5.9s, and all other marks remained the same (I thought Kwans were a bit higher than should have been on both sets but anyway) Chen would have won.

[russianskatingfan]

Chens executed jumps were much better too, higher and more graceful than Kwans.

[Jude74]

They both performed pretty close to the best of their abilities, the problem is that Michelle's abilities were better. She had better spins, footwork, choreography, spirals and jumps. This was an athletic competition and the better athlete won. I enjoyed Chen Lu but as a skating fan I recognize when someone got beat fair and square.

[russianskatingfan]

@Jude74 Michelle did not have better jumps. They were smaller and less beautiful. Her footwork often is better but was definitely not better in these programs. Kwans footwork sequence in her Salome wasnt hard at all in fact, mostly just a couple counter turns. Choreography, you must be on crack. This was by far the best choreographed program of the event and one of the best ever.

[russianskatingfan]

@Jude74 Her footwork often is better but was definitely not better in these programs. Kwans footwork sequence in her Salome wasnt hard at all in fact, mostly just a couple counter turns. Choreography, you must be on crack. This was by far the best choreographed program of the event and one of the best ever.

[RevShaqueefa]

This is event had some fierce competition. Chen and Michelle were both magnificent.

[gonzo77ffm]

LU CHEN forever

[foresure88]

Pure elegance!!

[ffartisan]

Do you have Tanja Szewczenko's Long program from that year?

[3Axel1996]

@ffartisan I had somehow accidentally taped over the live broadcast on ABC, when they did show Tanja's program after Midori Ito's skate. But it was not shown on ESPN.

[kwanlover0]

i agree that this program had the edge on kwan's artistically, but not by a very large margin. i think she also allowed michelle the chance to skate past her by doing only 6 triples to michelle's 7. in all respects, the one extra 3toe in michelle's program made the difference in the majority of the judges' minds... and trying to be unbiased, mine as well. though you can imagine any number of past world championships that her programs from these worlds would have easily taken the title.

[calphurnia2007]

Michelle had the more difficult program but Lulu had the most beautiful and elegant program in the history of figure skating. I remember watching this fifteen years ago and I was very disappointed that Lu didn't win.

[skaterfan1]

this was so perfect......who were the morons that gave this 5.8 for artistic impression.....i will never enter a debate that suggests she should have beaten michelle, although i personally believe that, one could argue for both.....but 5.8 for presentation???? go figure!!

[russianskatingfan]

@skaterfan1 The 4 judges who gave only 5.8 for presentation should have been suspended for both incompetence, and pre judging the event.  Shameful.

[muscleboi4use]

Beautiful! Always love watching this performance. Thank you for the upload. Still unbelievable that this was only a Silver medal performance but Michelle Kwan DID skate spectacularly well too!

[DaTallOne25]

@muscleboi4use This is one of the greatest battles in World Championship Figure Skating history, but I strongly believe that Michelle Kwan's performance. She had better spins and spirals so that may have made the difference? Lu Chen performance was magnificent as well. Great contest!

[DaTallOne25]

@muscleboi4use This is one of the greatest battles in World Championship Figure Skating history, but I strongly believe that Michelle Kwan's performance. She had better spins and spirals so that may have made the difference? Lu Chen performance was magnificent as well. Great contest!

[muscleboi4use]

@DaTallOne25 Yes, I couldn't help watching Michelle Kwan's performance again after this, and you are right, she had better spins, spirals and even better choreography and the triple toe loop at the end was something so perfectly exciting to leave the judges and audience with. Agreed: GREAT contest!

[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. in the abc version, dick button was almost speechless and that says a lot.

[JNagarya]

@kikot84 A key difference is that Kwan's programs had greater detail, and variety of detail.  They were also distinctive: Who before her had skated the delightful "Romanza" and the even more distinctive "Salome"?

And who has time, otherwise, to distingusih Chen's traditional program and music from all those that went before?

Kwan had the technicals. And Chen was magnifident. But Kwan stood out as the more innovative and capivating. Kudos also to Lori Nichols.

[kikot84]

@JNagarya i believed michelle kwan won for 2 reasons, one extra triple toe and that she was more consistent throughout the season. i was moved by lulu's performance and i haven't felt that way since therefore that's why i consider it the greatest performance of all time.

[JNagarya]

@kikot84 I too am moved by Chen Lu's skate. However, as I noted, Kwan had the edge -- also -- in innovation. Chen Lu's program was "classical" -- traditional. Creativity does count for something more than repeating tradition.

There are those who believe it a put-down by asserting their phony doubt that Kwan could do a Bielmann. Kwan could doubtless do a Bielmann, but didn't need to copy or imitate: she innovated.

[3Axel1996]

@JNagarya Kwan was only innovative with the help of Lori Nichols. After she fired Nichols, her programs and music choice were just as cookie cutter as everyone else.

[JNagarya]

@3Axel1996 For crucial insight into the fact that Kwan innovated, see the interview in which Nichols describes the process of transformation to "Romanza" and "Salome". Nichols was a brilliant choreographer who wisely built on Kwan's preferences, not on her own. So Kwan contributed to the innovation; Nichols in part "edited" raw material Kwan provided.

And Kwan always gave credit to her support system -- coach, choreographer, and family; she didn't claim to do it all by herself.

[kikot84]

do u have the abc version?

[3Axel1996]

@kikot84 Not a very good version. I found a file online which I downloaded, since I accidentally taped over the ABC broadcast of the final group of ladies years ago!

[mopme2008]

This performance rightfully deserved second. It was beautiful, had all the elements, but left me totally unmoved. Whatever story she was trying to tell, I wasn't feeling.

[fjn219]

@mopme2008 You are unmoved because you are an insensitive idiot.

[JNagarya]

@fjn219 I was -- and still am -- moved by Chen Lu's delicate and lovely performance. But I still give it to Kwan for the reasons I've stated.

I also believe Chen Lu's career was essentially disrupted and shortened, first by the foot injury that required surgery, sabotage by her coach which caused conflict between Chen and the Chinese Skating Federation, and the unfounded rumor that Chen was planning on defecting. I would have loved to see much more of her.

[trav16z]

LuLu should have won

[DaTallOne25]

@trav16z Sorry I would have to disagree. :-/

[uky1985]

One of the best figure skating programs ever :)