Elaine was natural and always so honest in her skating, she did it for the joy of it. She came back from an injury and people were against her because she was a true athlete. I am so proud of her in this performance and it was an honor to be a fan of hers during all those years!
Always enjoyed watching Elaine skate, but I was very nervous when she came back after being away from the sport for 10 years. I remember being so glad she did because she really was a much more complete skater this time around. The jumps maybe weren't quite as strong as when she started, but they were certainly equal or better than most of the competition. Her artistry was MUCH better during her comeback. Just a joy to watch her have so much fun.
This is incredible. What a comeback! I got goosebumps. And I love that she was doing the Ina Bauer- 2a long before Yuna turned it into a bit of a craze.
If she had been given a spot on the Olympic team and had she been able to execute this program to the level she did here, she would have finished well within the top 10, and mostly likely ahead of Harding who went in as the US Champ.
How nice that Peggy Fleming could find something nice to say in THIS competition@Elaine Zayak. The porch light finally came on for fleming-knowing this was our strongest skater in '84 .Still was hard put to say anything,even when Zayak won the Worlds in 1982. Sports Illustrated said ' Fleming still couldn't give the kid a break coming from 7th place to win.' It was all Sumners for Peggy.We know how Sumners finished in'84 @ Sarajevo.Silver's fine but Zayak was the only one who could outjump Witt.
@libralady1010 Sumners tended to like a certain type of skater. She was a big fan of Kondrashova as well who was a beautiful artistic skater but who skated so passively and missed 80% of her jumps most of the time.
I have always liked her because of being so natural and such a fighter. Don't forget that she has only 2 toes on one foot after an accident as a child. She's never been treated nicely by the stupid judges.
After researching this performance further I just discovered that Zayak held onto her 4th place standing going into the LP and finished 4th that yr ('94) at the US NAtionals 10 yrs after retiring from amature competition !! WOW - talk about a comeback -- she was only one place off making the '94 Olympic team -- too bad she didn't make the team as it would have been great to see her along with Witt return to the Olympics - I believe Witt placed 6th in '94 and Zayak's jumps were much stronger
@kevinvisaman She was 3 places from making the team since Kerrigan got a bye and the U.S had only 2 spots. So only the U.S winner got to go this year and that was of course the infamous Harding. As for the Olympics while it would have been great to see there I see her finishing barely in the top 15 if she were there this year. Witt only placed 7th in Lillehammer due to reputation and very high artistic scores aided by her legends status. Both Witt and Zayak were outdated technically by 94.
You are so correct on that comment about "the pure joy" - that is what I always saw in Zayak's performances -- and what a comeback-amazing that she went into the LP in 4th position after being retired from amature competition for 10 yrs-both Zayak and Witt made comebacks in '94- for Zayak it was like time had stood still as she could still jump with the best of them upon her return in '94 - Witt laboured with her jumps and although Witt went on to compete at the '94 olympics, Zayak was better
@kevinvisaman I love Elaine but seriously what are you smoking. Witt finished 7th at the Olympics, that is obviously far higher than Zayak would have finished at the Games considering she couldnt even beat Kwan or Bobek with mistakes at Nationals. Zayak could jump with the best of them in 94? Umm have you seen Tonya Harding at these Nationals for example. The two were Worlds apart as far as jumps at this point. In jumps alone she was probably about on par with say...well Witt at this point.
Sorry I meant Fleming tended to like a certain type of skater. She was a big fan of Kadavy, Kondrashova, Sumners all.
grafgirl27 10 months ago
Elaine was natural and always so honest in her skating, she did it for the joy of it. She came back from an injury and people were against her because she was a true athlete. I am so proud of her in this performance and it was an honor to be a fan of hers during all those years!
metsdudenj 10 months ago
@metsdudenj she should have finished 2nd or 3rd here too. This was better than Bobeks meltdown and comparable to Kwan.
russianskatingfan 2 months ago
Always enjoyed watching Elaine skate, but I was very nervous when she came back after being away from the sport for 10 years. I remember being so glad she did because she really was a much more complete skater this time around. The jumps maybe weren't quite as strong as when she started, but they were certainly equal or better than most of the competition. Her artistry was MUCH better during her comeback. Just a joy to watch her have so much fun.
DormanJRD 1 year ago
This is incredible. What a comeback! I got goosebumps. And I love that she was doing the Ina Bauer- 2a long before Yuna turned it into a bit of a craze.
UnoriginalJess92 1 year ago
i would have given her the silver. Kwan and Bobek made so many mistakes, especialy Bobek, and Kwan skated like a little girl around then.
ants2876 1 year ago
If she had been given a spot on the Olympic team and had she been able to execute this program to the level she did here, she would have finished well within the top 10, and mostly likely ahead of Harding who went in as the US Champ.
sbe79 2 years ago
and likely before Witt!
clarriona 2 years ago
How nice that Peggy Fleming could find something nice to say in THIS competition@Elaine Zayak. The porch light finally came on for fleming-knowing this was our strongest skater in '84 .Still was hard put to say anything,even when Zayak won the Worlds in 1982. Sports Illustrated said ' Fleming still couldn't give the kid a break coming from 7th place to win.' It was all Sumners for Peggy.We know how Sumners finished in'84 @ Sarajevo.Silver's fine but Zayak was the only one who could outjump Witt.
libralady1010 2 years ago 2
@libralady1010 Sumners tended to like a certain type of skater. She was a big fan of Kondrashova as well who was a beautiful artistic skater but who skated so passively and missed 80% of her jumps most of the time.
grafgirl27 10 months ago
Zayak deffinatly deserved the silver medal that year. I would have given her the gold. She handled herself so graciously through this competition.
ffartisan 2 years ago 3
I have always liked her because of being so natural and such a fighter. Don't forget that she has only 2 toes on one foot after an accident as a child. She's never been treated nicely by the stupid judges.
clarriona 2 years ago 2
After researching this performance further I just discovered that Zayak held onto her 4th place standing going into the LP and finished 4th that yr ('94) at the US NAtionals 10 yrs after retiring from amature competition !! WOW - talk about a comeback -- she was only one place off making the '94 Olympic team -- too bad she didn't make the team as it would have been great to see her along with Witt return to the Olympics - I believe Witt placed 6th in '94 and Zayak's jumps were much stronger
kevinvisaman 2 years ago
The US only had to spots for the 94' Olympics (Harding/Kerrigan), but a wonderful comeback indeed. And Witt was 7th.. :)
Uglefanatikeren 2 years ago
@kevinvisaman She was 3 places from making the team since Kerrigan got a bye and the U.S had only 2 spots. So only the U.S winner got to go this year and that was of course the infamous Harding. As for the Olympics while it would have been great to see there I see her finishing barely in the top 15 if she were there this year. Witt only placed 7th in Lillehammer due to reputation and very high artistic scores aided by her legends status. Both Witt and Zayak were outdated technically by 94.
russianskatingfan 1 year ago
THIS is what skating is missing!!!!
the pure joy.
ISU wake up!
davesk8 3 years ago 11
You are so correct on that comment about "the pure joy" - that is what I always saw in Zayak's performances -- and what a comeback-amazing that she went into the LP in 4th position after being retired from amature competition for 10 yrs-both Zayak and Witt made comebacks in '94- for Zayak it was like time had stood still as she could still jump with the best of them upon her return in '94 - Witt laboured with her jumps and although Witt went on to compete at the '94 olympics, Zayak was better
kevinvisaman 2 years ago 7
@kevinvisaman I love Elaine but seriously what are you smoking. Witt finished 7th at the Olympics, that is obviously far higher than Zayak would have finished at the Games considering she couldnt even beat Kwan or Bobek with mistakes at Nationals. Zayak could jump with the best of them in 94? Umm have you seen Tonya Harding at these Nationals for example. The two were Worlds apart as far as jumps at this point. In jumps alone she was probably about on par with say...well Witt at this point.
lambielkwanfan 1 year ago
Amazing
bryan21tx 3 years ago 2