Michelle Kwan 關穎珊 - 1995 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Long Program

[russianskatingfan]

@skatefan9495 I wouldnt have put Michelle more than .1 ahead on the first mark and Tonia I would have had atleast .1 ahead on the 2nd mark. So Tonia would have been ahead for me for sure. I think the reason Michelle was so overmarked and placed on the team was she was already touted as the U.S teams future while Tonia was an old broad they just wanted to retire already.

[russianskatingfan]

Can someone explain how on earth she finished 2nd here. I saw Tonia's performance and she clearly should have beaten this. Those marks are way too high. First off what is with 5.8s and 5.9s for technical. She had 3 mistakes- falling on a 2nd triple lutz, two footing a triple loop, and stumbling going into her first triple toe. And 5.8s and 5.9s for artistry is too high for this skate too, she didnt even have great artistry too.

[idolfan9495]

Thanks for posting. I'd never seen this performance before. At World's that year, she performed it perfectly and was robbed of a medal.

[russianskatingfan]

She was gifted to even be at this Worlds this year so she should consider herself lucky.

[selesfan30]

@idolfan9495 She wasnt robbed of a medal at Worlds. She was correctly placed 3rd in the long program behind Chen and Bonaly. She lost the bronze to Bobek since Bobek had the best short program at Worlds.

[ja3399]

She really had stepped up and presented herself so well at the competition. And just over a year later, she won her first world championship. Watching a very young but talented skater, it is hard, and probably futile, to try to predict the future. But watching Michelle here, it is hard to resist saying, "I told you so!"

[barkingtree88]

In the warmup I heard she had a 3salchow/3loop planned... perhaps she missed her 3loop because she threw it in as plan B?

[rickram1961]

Pure Perfection! And absolutely First Rate!

[Dylvente]

Yay! This was the only Michelle National long program from 93-05 that was not on Youtube. Thanks!