whats with Americans labelling people from low economic groups "White Trash????? I can never understand why that has anything to do with the real person!! Tonya was an excellent skater better to watch than the others at that time. I feel sorry for Tonya!
True, wonderful talent. Probably was top 5 freeskater in the world at that time before she even hit the big time. Great spins & jumps, *remarkable* composure for 15. She was so sharp in her choreography. I think this is one of her best programs.
It's a shame how it all turned out. Politics aside, we all choose the path we go down. She came from the wrong crowd (bad parents) and left with the wrong crowd (Giloolly). I wonder how much farther she would've gone if she had a normal life.
This is really sad. So much talent. I loved her skating and I still like her a lot. For a moment here I see a lot of Janet Lynn in her skating. She was so much better than Trenary and Kristi.
She was probably the best skater in the World in reality at the time even if with figures and the stupid protocals of skating at the time she was virtually an unknown who had no hope of even getting to a big meet out of the U.S.
This is a wonderful clip, and it's especially great to hear the commentators so positive about her. Her jumps were just exquisite. What an amazing talent. One of the best the US has ever produced.
Tonya may have not come from a good home life, however she was one heck of a figure skating. Great jumps and wonderful excuted spirals. The full package in short!
What a tragedy her life is. I think if the politics had been taken out of skating, she would have won this competition. The commentator says that she is developing into a great skater. Hello. What do they think she is now? She was one of the most talented skaters ever and she mentioned that people always looked down at her. It is no doubt to me that this had a lot to do with the development of her ideas. She deserved to be where she should have been - a champion.
What a tragedy her life is. I think if the politics had been taken out of skating, she would have won this competition. The commentator says that she is developing into a great skater. Hello. What do they think she is now? She was one of the most talented skaters ever and she mentioned that people always looked down at her. It is no doubt to me that this had a lot to do with the development of her ideas. She deserved to be where she should have been - a champion.
Nicole Bobek was just sentenced to five years in jail for selling drugs and meth.I am sure this will not made the media news like anything Tonya did.The media treats Tonya worse.
So thin.......it must have been a traumatic transition into her adult body.......such a change........this was a talent for the ages. Had she been able to add a few years of serious dance training, and a little music appreciation education.....she would have been a serious sensation! best wishes
I have no problem criticizing the adult that Tonya became because at some point adults must take responsiblity for the person they are.
However, this video is when she is an immensely talented child of white trash parents. I post this video to celebrate that talented child, who is so unaffect by her background that she shows no hesitation in letting her talent shine.
Okay, Ill buy that explanation. This was her best skating performance, and she actually regressed as a skater as she got older. No grace or graciousness as she got older. It is unfortunate that she was not able to overcome her inadequecies as an adult and an athlete
@bardtoob So Tonya came from white trash.We can't chose our parents.I got to meet her old coach Dodie Teachman at Sun Valley in 1991.The woman was very nice.It must have been hard to coach Tonya but still a thrill to see her land the triple axel.
@bardtoob Its sad that she had a sucky personality and mingled with losers like her ex.I do enjoy her on The Dummiest Criminals show.LOL The others are a hoot too and the videos are something else.I have talked to ppl that knew Tonya and its sad she wasn't a happy person.If she had been adopted,maybe life would have been easier but you can't take the personality out of them.I also meet Chris Bowman,what a sweetie he was.I hope he is at peace now.
She was such a talent and like the late Chris Bowman ( whom I got to meet years ago ),had bad habits and hung out with losers.I met CB coz I knew his old next door neighbor.Chris was very nice and friendly.The USFSA treated Nicole Bobek better than they treated Tonya.
Besides her obvious and groundbreaking technical talent, they noted her "artistic talent and technique". She was all-around and complete, but as soon as she broke through in the late 80s/early 90s the media and usfsa tagged her as a harsh, tomboy simply a jumper.
Tonya's Jr. High was 7th through 9th grade, and she turned 15 years old in the November of her 9th grade year, which was also the same month as Skate America 1986.
Chin did not even come close to beating this, even with the judges. Chin finished a very distant 2nd to Harding in the LP with far lower marks. However since it was a weak free skating field she was able to barely finish 2nd in the LP scoring far below Harding. In figures Harding was way down in 5th while Chin was 1st. That is how Chin won overall. Without figures Harding wins easily. Gosselin even came close to beating Chin in the LP and would have won overall due to figures as well then.
She did better than all the others with privileges
pelicanus11 2 months ago
whats with Americans labelling people from low economic groups "White Trash????? I can never understand why that has anything to do with the real person!! Tonya was an excellent skater better to watch than the others at that time. I feel sorry for Tonya!
pelicanus11 2 months ago
Best female Skater ever. You are missed.
tasceaie1493 4 months ago
True, wonderful talent. Probably was top 5 freeskater in the world at that time before she even hit the big time. Great spins & jumps, *remarkable* composure for 15. She was so sharp in her choreography. I think this is one of her best programs.
It's a shame how it all turned out. Politics aside, we all choose the path we go down. She came from the wrong crowd (bad parents) and left with the wrong crowd (Giloolly). I wonder how much farther she would've gone if she had a normal life.
officeaddict33 8 months ago
This is really sad. So much talent. I loved her skating and I still like her a lot. For a moment here I see a lot of Janet Lynn in her skating. She was so much better than Trenary and Kristi.
salome7580 1 year ago
She was probably the best skater in the World in reality at the time even if with figures and the stupid protocals of skating at the time she was virtually an unknown who had no hope of even getting to a big meet out of the U.S.
grafgirl27 1 year ago
This is a wonderful clip, and it's especially great to hear the commentators so positive about her. Her jumps were just exquisite. What an amazing talent. One of the best the US has ever produced.
psbfan01 1 year ago
@psbfan01 And the USFSA treated her like dirt and still does.She made some bad choices but has found happiness now and her baby is due any day.
HattieLovesCattie 1 year ago
Tonya may have not come from a good home life, however she was one heck of a figure skating. Great jumps and wonderful excuted spirals. The full package in short!
rickram1961 1 year ago
What a tragedy her life is. I think if the politics had been taken out of skating, she would have won this competition. The commentator says that she is developing into a great skater. Hello. What do they think she is now? She was one of the most talented skaters ever and she mentioned that people always looked down at her. It is no doubt to me that this had a lot to do with the development of her ideas. She deserved to be where she should have been - a champion.
mrjking 1 year ago
What a tragedy her life is. I think if the politics had been taken out of skating, she would have won this competition. The commentator says that she is developing into a great skater. Hello. What do they think she is now? She was one of the most talented skaters ever and she mentioned that people always looked down at her. It is no doubt to me that this had a lot to do with the development of her ideas. She deserved to be where she should have been - a champion.
mrjking 1 year ago
Nicole Bobek was just sentenced to five years in jail for selling drugs and meth.I am sure this will not made the media news like anything Tonya did.The media treats Tonya worse.
HattieLovesCattie 1 year ago
Tonya skating to classical music... do my ears deceive me!?
barkingtree88 1 year ago
why?
damn Tonya!
romancitoG 2 years ago
wow. she was really fast. all those spins. one jump after another. too bad she had to ruin her career.
chattychar 2 years ago
So thin.......it must have been a traumatic transition into her adult body.......such a change........this was a talent for the ages. Had she been able to add a few years of serious dance training, and a little music appreciation education.....she would have been a serious sensation! best wishes
k9henrydog 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
White trash on ice!
metsdudenj 2 years ago
@metsdudenj,
I have no problem criticizing the adult that Tonya became because at some point adults must take responsiblity for the person they are.
However, this video is when she is an immensely talented child of white trash parents. I post this video to celebrate that talented child, who is so unaffect by her background that she shows no hesitation in letting her talent shine.
bardtoob 2 years ago 7
Okay, Ill buy that explanation. This was her best skating performance, and she actually regressed as a skater as she got older. No grace or graciousness as she got older. It is unfortunate that she was not able to overcome her inadequecies as an adult and an athlete
metsdudenj 2 years ago
@metsdudenj This was not her best,her best was the Nationals when she landed the triple axel.This Skate America tape,she missed one jump.
HattieLovesCattie 1 year ago
@bardtoob So Tonya came from white trash.We can't chose our parents.I got to meet her old coach Dodie Teachman at Sun Valley in 1991.The woman was very nice.It must have been hard to coach Tonya but still a thrill to see her land the triple axel.
HattieLovesCattie 1 year ago
@HattieLovesCattie I imagine that it was thrilling to coach Tonya for most of her career, as it would be to hone the talent of any genius.
bardtoob 1 year ago
@bardtoob Its sad that she had a sucky personality and mingled with losers like her ex.I do enjoy her on The Dummiest Criminals show.LOL The others are a hoot too and the videos are something else.I have talked to ppl that knew Tonya and its sad she wasn't a happy person.If she had been adopted,maybe life would have been easier but you can't take the personality out of them.I also meet Chris Bowman,what a sweetie he was.I hope he is at peace now.
HattieLovesCattie 1 year ago
So great to see her skating here at such a young age....if only those two commentators would shut up for a damn minute!
NorthEast81 2 years ago
She was such a talent and like the late Chris Bowman ( whom I got to meet years ago ),had bad habits and hung out with losers.I met CB coz I knew his old next door neighbor.Chris was very nice and friendly.The USFSA treated Nicole Bobek better than they treated Tonya.
HattieLovesCattie 2 years ago 2
Wow she is an amazing skater.
russianskatingfan 2 years ago
if not for the "figures" back then nobody would or could have beaten tonya...so wonderful....gifted
BobtailTM30 2 years ago 4
Besides her obvious and groundbreaking technical talent, they noted her "artistic talent and technique". She was all-around and complete, but as soon as she broke through in the late 80s/early 90s the media and usfsa tagged her as a harsh, tomboy simply a jumper.
lookscudkill 2 years ago 7
she was 15 in junior high school? whats up with that?
koolaidnhemlock 3 years ago 2
Tonya's Jr. High was 7th through 9th grade, and she turned 15 years old in the November of her 9th grade year, which was also the same month as Skate America 1986.
bardtoob 3 years ago
I think in some places 9th grade is (or was) part of middle school, or junior high. A 15 year old would be about 9th grade.
dylanvalente 2 years ago
Oh, someone already answered your question. Oh well. :-)
dylanvalente 2 years ago
Great program! I love the Iron Man commercial at the end too!
nasaltla 3 years ago
tifnay chin beat this??? Ugh!
thomstephens 3 years ago 3
Chin did not even come close to beating this, even with the judges. Chin finished a very distant 2nd to Harding in the LP with far lower marks. However since it was a weak free skating field she was able to barely finish 2nd in the LP scoring far below Harding. In figures Harding was way down in 5th while Chin was 1st. That is how Chin won overall. Without figures Harding wins easily. Gosselin even came close to beating Chin in the LP and would have won overall due to figures as well then.
russianskatingfan 3 years ago 2
isn't the music from 1:58 "Carmen"? :)
MichelleKwanForever 3 years ago