Also this is not Sarah at her best. She is huge a walrus here and not in competitive shape at all. Also even if her best she is not a super short program skater. She has never placed higher than 4th in any World or Olympic short program, including when she won the Olympics. She also only won the Olympics since she had the free skate of her life (10 times better than this skate) and since Kwan and Slutskaya both had shitty outings that night.
Sarah Hughes seems like a really cool chick, and down to earth... She'd be the type of person that I'd want to hang with. That being said, as an American I accept that fact that if she were from, say Poland or Hungary (etc..), her style of skating would NOT have been well received or noticed by the judges. All skating followers have to admit this... The awkward line and underrotated jumps, I mean. She gets taken seriously for being from the US, and that's unfortunate.
@mlc2005 well all U.S women benefit to some degree from being from the U.S. Sure the great ones like Kwan and Yamaguchi would still be contenders, but even they wouldnt do nearly as well with the exact same skating if they were from say Bulgaria. U.S women have the best reputation and thus gain an edge before they even step on the ice, similar to Russian pairs and ice dancers.
@mlc2005 move videos of any women skater you have the obsseed Kwan hater getreal/allengland and the obsessed Kwan lover/fanatic/stalker karonsayo, and eventually the two start arguing again. Those two are beyond pathetic.
Sarah is such a great ambassador for the sport. Doesn't crave attention... earns what she gets... gracious and honest... love the music selection here and beautiful skating as usual from her =)
Sarah paid for her mistakes here unlike that one other skater who can bungle up easy jumps and still lap up 6s. Oh, I think that's the babied loser Kwan who needs those unearned medals and titles to add to her fru fru collection.
@anubethc45 You really are quite a little soldier but not a General who can bark an order at me. I shall post as I please, when I please, and what I please. Might I suggest that YOU confine yourself to another skater's videos:)-) Hint: two time Olympic loser and destroyer of dreams. Hmmm...I am not sure if Torino counts since this skater just held a pity party and iced her groin. If Torino does count make that three time Olympic loser. Your call:)
I just watched the qualifying and it was so like Sarah to be embarrrassed...unlike that other one who beams after skating a cruddy program and accepts accolades. Even at that Sarah's qualifying was risky and very musical even with the mistakes. She just PAID big time and is such a champion that she herself wasn't happy with her skate. She sets very high standards...like Olympic High Standards!!
@getrealandsee: The idea that Kwan can make mistakes and still get amazing marks is completely wrong. Just look to 2004 and 2005 Worlds, where Kwan had similar problems as Sarah Hughes in the qualifying event. What did the judges do? They placed her far back in the pack, and Kwan agreed that she didn't skate well. You just can't support your hatred with any evidence, b/c it's not the reality.
@mlc2005 No way. The evidence is out there in force...some people choose not to see it. It's on the net...and say what you will these are experts on the sport....for just one example see the 1996 splatfest at Nats...Kwan was held up...propped up...babied...pampered...there is absolutely no question about it...none! However, even with all the help she got from the Olympic Judges she will NEVER WEAR OLYMPIC GOLD!! Kwan was judged by a separate set of rules...other skaters paid...but again...no OG!
Tara and Sara never could out skate Michelle, NEVER!!! Where are those two witches now, huh??? In skate recognition-nowhere-land!!! They will NEVER ACCOMPLISH what Michelle has accomplished!!! Don't miss these two no skating puppies and the skating world hardly ever mentions these two nobodies!!! Michelle Kwan rules!!!!!!
@tavias48 Oh they are not nobodies. =) They are and will always be known as Olympic CHAMPIONS, not a 2-time Olympic CHOKER. Of course no one would ever accomplish what Kwan did. All Kwan accomplished was hang around forever stealing the spotlight from real, honest athletes like Tara and Sarah in her desperate attempt to obtain the only medal that matters and instead made off with lots of gifted medals others have earned. She embarrassed herself and left the sport a mess after Torino.
@tavias48 Never outskated Michelle? Tell that to the Olympic judges who saw Tara and Sarah ace TWO history-making triple-triple combos each and saw Kwan skate like a scared cat, 2-foot jumps, and had an oh-so-pretty splat on a simple jump. Tara and Sarah, came, saw, and conquered the most skating event in their lives like TRUE Olympians.
These scores are awful. She, like every real athlete is penalized for every mistake out there while certain others enjoy the luxury of getting 6s even with bungles. Sarah is a great athlete and fantastic role model. Anyway, I love the Rachmaninoff cello sonata. Sarah made a good choice with music that year :)
@allenglandlawns ITA! This is CRAP and Sarah was slammed for mistakes that had Kwan made (and she HAS) would have been overlooked. Or in the words on one video..minor minor mistakes. Sarah really deserved better scores but of course that is reserved for that other skater..umm..what's her name now...you know...the one who LOST the Olympics twice and screwed over another skater so she could try again..boo hoo..darn, what's that overrated and propped up loser's name. Oh yeah Michelle Kwan.
Yes, I agree. That was very unusual for this skater with so many weaknesses to "Win" an OGM! Sarah was given that gold medal by some hard-hearted witches!!! Michelle was cheated out of the 1998 and 2002 OGMs!!! Those are the facts!!! Michelle out skated both those hags....That's my humble, truthful opinion!!! And you all noticed, Tara was too ashamed to show up for Worlds after she cheated Michelle at the Olympics!!! Both are and always will be "no skating cowards"!!!!
@tavias48 Tara and Sarah EARNED their wins by proving that the performance only matters. No reputation or pre-determined results should ever tarnish an athlete's hard work and athletic talent. You saying Tara and Sarah's go-for-broke, clean, athletic, difficult, COURAGEOUS performances were way worse than Kwan's rehashed, scared, safe, simple, and graceful splats on ice? Kwan wins by reputation, NOT skill or merit.
@tavias48 hard-hearted witches? you mean honest judges who actually had the gall to make the right decision to award an athlete that actually skated like a champion whoever it may be? Kwan was given too many breaks in her career. Let her have her powder-puff medals just for showing up at competitions but the Olympics is and should be the real deal where you actually COMPETE for top honors.
@midnightblusky: I love Sarah and this performance, but in all fairness, she would suffer under the new scoring system. If you look at her jumps in this program it appears that she completes her rotation on the ice. Judges these days seem to be dinging skaters on this A LOT. Nonetheless, I love this program. Shows how she really matured from 2002 to 2003.
Actually, Sasha Cohen got a 4.9 for Technical Merit for her SP later that same night. And plenty of the lower-tier senior skaters consistently get marks in the 4's. Not sure what you could be thinking of.
the 6.0 system isn't about points, it's about placing skaters relative to one another. The number is meaningless without considering what ordinal it represents
flutz, sheated jumps, very slow skating... what an olympic champion! Poor Irina who was full of reason when was crying at 2002 olympics after loosing her gold medal.
@MrAmazingness1234567 She took off on the wrong edge on her intended lutz jump, which is a big no-no, not to mention she cheated the landing on her flip jump. So the flip was under-rotated and the lutz was not a lutz. Nice performance otherwise.
the only reason anyone mentioned this about Sarah is because she's female. It's not so uncommon for a man to compete again after winning an olympics but when a girl does it, suddenly it's news...
Kristi Yamaguchi and Dorothy Hamill both competed at World's after winning the OGM. And Kat Witt continued on after 1984 and won another OGM in 1988. So, it's not that unusual. What' was unusual was for a skater with so many weaknesses to win Olympic gold.
Competing at worlds and competing for another season aren't the same thing, and if you notice, you're going back decades to come up w/ examples. I don't find that argument any more compelling than your personal opinion that Sarah is a weak skater.
Plenty of people in the skating community and fan community appreciated Sarah's old-school edging, ease, presentation and competitiveness. Her record and our POV hardly feel threatened.
You're welcome to your opinion so long as you stay respectful
You don't have to. Just most skaters do since they don't want to tarnish their top spot. Sarah opted to do another year and more or less bombed out. Hence she did not go out on a high note.
Sarah is a great athlete, but the reason why her marks are low is because her lutz jump was considered a flutz and apparently her flip was downgraded to a double.
There's no such thing as "downgrading" a jump to a double in the 6.0 system. The marks were low because her triple jumps were not complete, but does anyone remember that there are EIGHT required elements, not TWO? Of course the marks should reflect that her triples had problems, that's not justification for ignoring the quality in the rest of her elements and in her presentation. This is exceedingly difficult music to skate to and deserves recognition IMO
I can't believe how different she looked after the Olympic season. Guess she lucked out and grew outwards AFTER her olympics cuz I think that if she'd done that before the olympics she wouldn't have had a shot.
Also this is not Sarah at her best. She is huge a walrus here and not in competitive shape at all. Also even if her best she is not a super short program skater. She has never placed higher than 4th in any World or Olympic short program, including when she won the Olympics. She also only won the Olympics since she had the free skate of her life (10 times better than this skate) and since Kwan and Slutskaya both had shitty outings that night.
russianskatingfan 5 months ago
Sarah Hughes seems like a really cool chick, and down to earth... She'd be the type of person that I'd want to hang with. That being said, as an American I accept that fact that if she were from, say Poland or Hungary (etc..), her style of skating would NOT have been well received or noticed by the judges. All skating followers have to admit this... The awkward line and underrotated jumps, I mean. She gets taken seriously for being from the US, and that's unfortunate.
mlc2005 6 months ago
@mlc2005 well all U.S women benefit to some degree from being from the U.S. Sure the great ones like Kwan and Yamaguchi would still be contenders, but even they wouldnt do nearly as well with the exact same skating if they were from say Bulgaria. U.S women have the best reputation and thus gain an edge before they even step on the ice, similar to Russian pairs and ice dancers.
russianskatingfan 5 months ago
@mlc2005 Yep, Sarah really is classy, gracious, and humble young woman. She skated like a champion and conquered the Olympics... and a Yale graduate!
allenglandlawns 1 month ago
Comment removed
mlc2005 6 months ago
@mlc2005 move videos of any women skater you have the obsseed Kwan hater getreal/allengland and the obsessed Kwan lover/fanatic/stalker karonsayo, and eventually the two start arguing again. Those two are beyond pathetic.
russianskatingfan 5 months ago
Sarah is such a great ambassador for the sport. Doesn't crave attention... earns what she gets... gracious and honest... love the music selection here and beautiful skating as usual from her =)
allenglandlawns 7 months ago
Sarah paid for her mistakes here unlike that one other skater who can bungle up easy jumps and still lap up 6s. Oh, I think that's the babied loser Kwan who needs those unearned medals and titles to add to her fru fru collection.
allenglandlawns 9 months ago
@anubethc45 You really are quite a little soldier but not a General who can bark an order at me. I shall post as I please, when I please, and what I please. Might I suggest that YOU confine yourself to another skater's videos:)-) Hint: two time Olympic loser and destroyer of dreams. Hmmm...I am not sure if Torino counts since this skater just held a pity party and iced her groin. If Torino does count make that three time Olympic loser. Your call:)
getrealandsee 10 months ago
@getrealandsee you are so deliciously mean.
RevShaqueefa 8 months ago
@RevShaqueefa :)-:)
getrealandsee 8 months ago
@RevShaqueefa :)
getrealandsee 7 months ago
I just watched the qualifying and it was so like Sarah to be embarrrassed...unlike that other one who beams after skating a cruddy program and accepts accolades. Even at that Sarah's qualifying was risky and very musical even with the mistakes. She just PAID big time and is such a champion that she herself wasn't happy with her skate. She sets very high standards...like Olympic High Standards!!
getrealandsee 11 months ago
@getrealandsee: The idea that Kwan can make mistakes and still get amazing marks is completely wrong. Just look to 2004 and 2005 Worlds, where Kwan had similar problems as Sarah Hughes in the qualifying event. What did the judges do? They placed her far back in the pack, and Kwan agreed that she didn't skate well. You just can't support your hatred with any evidence, b/c it's not the reality.
mlc2005 1 month ago
@mlc2005 No way. The evidence is out there in force...some people choose not to see it. It's on the net...and say what you will these are experts on the sport....for just one example see the 1996 splatfest at Nats...Kwan was held up...propped up...babied...pampered...there is absolutely no question about it...none! However, even with all the help she got from the Olympic Judges she will NEVER WEAR OLYMPIC GOLD!! Kwan was judged by a separate set of rules...other skaters paid...but again...no OG!
getrealandsee 1 day ago
i meant "most important skating event in their lives"*
allenglandlawns 11 months ago
Tara and Sara never could out skate Michelle, NEVER!!! Where are those two witches now, huh??? In skate recognition-nowhere-land!!! They will NEVER ACCOMPLISH what Michelle has accomplished!!! Don't miss these two no skating puppies and the skating world hardly ever mentions these two nobodies!!! Michelle Kwan rules!!!!!!
tavias48 11 months ago
@tavias48 Oh they are not nobodies. =) They are and will always be known as Olympic CHAMPIONS, not a 2-time Olympic CHOKER. Of course no one would ever accomplish what Kwan did. All Kwan accomplished was hang around forever stealing the spotlight from real, honest athletes like Tara and Sarah in her desperate attempt to obtain the only medal that matters and instead made off with lots of gifted medals others have earned. She embarrassed herself and left the sport a mess after Torino.
allenglandlawns 11 months ago
@tavias48 Never outskated Michelle? Tell that to the Olympic judges who saw Tara and Sarah ace TWO history-making triple-triple combos each and saw Kwan skate like a scared cat, 2-foot jumps, and had an oh-so-pretty splat on a simple jump. Tara and Sarah, came, saw, and conquered the most skating event in their lives like TRUE Olympians.
allenglandlawns 11 months ago
These scores are awful. She, like every real athlete is penalized for every mistake out there while certain others enjoy the luxury of getting 6s even with bungles. Sarah is a great athlete and fantastic role model. Anyway, I love the Rachmaninoff cello sonata. Sarah made a good choice with music that year :)
allenglandlawns 11 months ago
@allenglandlawns ITA! This is CRAP and Sarah was slammed for mistakes that had Kwan made (and she HAS) would have been overlooked. Or in the words on one video..minor minor mistakes. Sarah really deserved better scores but of course that is reserved for that other skater..umm..what's her name now...you know...the one who LOST the Olympics twice and screwed over another skater so she could try again..boo hoo..darn, what's that overrated and propped up loser's name. Oh yeah Michelle Kwan.
getrealandsee 11 months ago
@getrealandsee LOL! Getrealandsee is still responding to, and agreeing with, her other username Allenglandlawns! You aren't fooling anyone, dear!
MissThingSings 11 months ago
Yes, I agree. That was very unusual for this skater with so many weaknesses to "Win" an OGM! Sarah was given that gold medal by some hard-hearted witches!!! Michelle was cheated out of the 1998 and 2002 OGMs!!! Those are the facts!!! Michelle out skated both those hags....That's my humble, truthful opinion!!! And you all noticed, Tara was too ashamed to show up for Worlds after she cheated Michelle at the Olympics!!! Both are and always will be "no skating cowards"!!!!
tavias48 1 year ago
@tavias48 Tara and Sarah EARNED their wins by proving that the performance only matters. No reputation or pre-determined results should ever tarnish an athlete's hard work and athletic talent. You saying Tara and Sarah's go-for-broke, clean, athletic, difficult, COURAGEOUS performances were way worse than Kwan's rehashed, scared, safe, simple, and graceful splats on ice? Kwan wins by reputation, NOT skill or merit.
allenglandlawns 11 months ago
@tavias48 hard-hearted witches? you mean honest judges who actually had the gall to make the right decision to award an athlete that actually skated like a champion whoever it may be? Kwan was given too many breaks in her career. Let her have her powder-puff medals just for showing up at competitions but the Olympics is and should be the real deal where you actually COMPETE for top honors.
allenglandlawns 11 months ago
@midnightblusky: I love Sarah and this performance, but in all fairness, she would suffer under the new scoring system. If you look at her jumps in this program it appears that she completes her rotation on the ice. Judges these days seem to be dinging skaters on this A LOT. Nonetheless, I love this program. Shows how she really matured from 2002 to 2003.
yodabeesh 1 year ago
@midnightblusky
Actually, Sasha Cohen got a 4.9 for Technical Merit for her SP later that same night. And plenty of the lower-tier senior skaters consistently get marks in the 4's. Not sure what you could be thinking of.
the 6.0 system isn't about points, it's about placing skaters relative to one another. The number is meaningless without considering what ordinal it represents
Arinozian 1 year ago 2
Good challenge after getting gold medal.
yokaroumon1186 1 year ago
flutz, sheated jumps, very slow skating... what an olympic champion! Poor Irina who was full of reason when was crying at 2002 olympics after loosing her gold medal.
xlutskaya 2 years ago
Irina should have been 3rd. She was lucky to get the silver!
JPBENEF 2 years ago
@JPBENEF I think Irina should have won the SP, due to Michelle Kwan's technical mistake of her flip.
However jump for jump, I think that Michelle did land more triples than Irina in the LP in Salt Lake.
MTVMANN 2 years ago
Can anyone find her LP from 2003 Worlds??
purpleblumoon 2 years ago
I agree, I loved watching that program because even though it wasn't perfect, it was still triumphant. I'd love to see it if any one has it... :)
badgoodgirl1 2 years ago 2
what did she miss in that program?? I didn't see it
MrAmazingness1234567 2 years ago
@MrAmazingness1234567 She took off on the wrong edge on her intended lutz jump, which is a big no-no, not to mention she cheated the landing on her flip jump. So the flip was under-rotated and the lutz was not a lutz. Nice performance otherwise.
ShamusMacGuffin 1 year ago
...wait if you won the olympics dont you go pro? and you arent supposed to do like senior events anymore?
neverendingdreamx 2 years ago
its your desicion. if you still think you are good enough you can still compete as an amatuer
mistybabe5489 2 years ago
the only reason anyone mentioned this about Sarah is because she's female. It's not so uncommon for a man to compete again after winning an olympics but when a girl does it, suddenly it's news...
Arinozian 2 years ago
@Arinozian
Kristi Yamaguchi and Dorothy Hamill both competed at World's after winning the OGM. And Kat Witt continued on after 1984 and won another OGM in 1988. So, it's not that unusual. What' was unusual was for a skater with so many weaknesses to win Olympic gold.
idolfan9495 2 years ago
Competing at worlds and competing for another season aren't the same thing, and if you notice, you're going back decades to come up w/ examples. I don't find that argument any more compelling than your personal opinion that Sarah is a weak skater.
Plenty of people in the skating community and fan community appreciated Sarah's old-school edging, ease, presentation and competitiveness. Her record and our POV hardly feel threatened.
You're welcome to your opinion so long as you stay respectful
Arinozian 2 years ago
You don't have to. Just most skaters do since they don't want to tarnish their top spot. Sarah opted to do another year and more or less bombed out. Hence she did not go out on a high note.
purpleblumoon 2 years ago
God, she put on some weight here since SLC
claudineretard 2 years ago
She is a great athlete? With the underrotated jumps? Very funny.
LigaSvobodu 2 years ago
I thought this was better than her SP at Nationals that year. Her marks could have been a bit higher.
formersk8ter 2 years ago
Sarah is a great athlete, but the reason why her marks are low is because her lutz jump was considered a flutz and apparently her flip was downgraded to a double.
PunkBoi1982 2 years ago 2
plus her "lutz" looks pretty underotated as well
mistybabe5489 2 years ago 3
It did! I just saw it now
PunkBoi1982 2 years ago 2
There's no such thing as "downgrading" a jump to a double in the 6.0 system. The marks were low because her triple jumps were not complete, but does anyone remember that there are EIGHT required elements, not TWO? Of course the marks should reflect that her triples had problems, that's not justification for ignoring the quality in the rest of her elements and in her presentation. This is exceedingly difficult music to skate to and deserves recognition IMO
Arinozian 2 years ago
She didn't look as sharp here as at nationals, but I still thought the scores were a bit low.
uwoeric 3 years ago
there is a flutz in the judges flaws.
pinoykiddxoxo 3 years ago
worse than program and uninteresting I did not yet see an olympic title for figure skaters. Horror! Disgrace!
salxow 3 years ago
............what?
Arinozian 3 years ago
Damn, that was rude! Nowhere near a disgrace!
lovestremme 2 years ago
her transitions were amazing! i wish she had stayed to compete a little bit more!
sayalamar 3 years ago 3
I LOVE this SP! Great music choice for her. V different than her typical softer and lighter music selections.
yodabeesh 4 years ago 4
I can't believe how different she looked after the Olympic season. Guess she lucked out and grew outwards AFTER her olympics cuz I think that if she'd done that before the olympics she wouldn't have had a shot.
verlucker 4 years ago
i think she had become a woman and you can se that in her face and on her body
12345671234567899999 4 years ago 4
Arinozian, do you by any chance have this same program just from the national's? I love that one, and can't find it anywhere!
jacksonshredder6664 4 years ago
You have good timing, I just found that event. I'm uploading a few short programs from the event that aren't on here yet, including Sarah's.
Arinozian 4 years ago