1999 worlds maria butyrskaya lp eng with marks

Well I did not say Irina was the top skater of this era. I said if she had won the Olympic and World golds in 2006 IMO she would have been. Of course she didnt, and as she didnt Kwan stil has the overall edge. However when you compare Kwan to Irina, Kwans only major edge is at the World Championships. Both have an Olympic silver and bronze. Irina has 4 wins in 9 appearances at the Grand Prix final vs Kwan 1 win in 5 appearances. Irina has a better record in grand prix events.

Irina has won the Europeans 7 times, a record surpassing multiple Olympic winners Henjie and Witt. Both have won a Goodwill Games. A big key is Irina has won almost all her meetings with Kwan since 2000. The only ones Kwan won were the 2000 and 2001 Worlds and she had to come from behind after the short with her best and have Irina make mistakes both times to do it. While Kwan has the better World record with 5 golds and 9 medals, Irinas is outstanding as well with 2 golds and 6 medals.

So when you break it down if Irina had won the Olympic Gold Kwan never won, and a 3rd World title in 2006, as most expected around November 2005 she would IMO surpass Kwan as the top skater of this recent era all that I mentioned considered. She didnt so Kwans superior World Championship record still gives her the edge. 

Irina is still by far the greatest Russian skater ever though. Maria is at best a distant 2nd but one could argue Kira Ivanova as well.

Lastly there are many other Irina powerful moments. Her 2005 World title at home with an amazing free skate. Her 2000 Grand Prix final breakthrough win where she became the first women to land a triple lutz-triple loop Her performances in the Grand Prix events in fall 2004/2005. Her first European title in 96 over 5 time champion Bonaly. Her gutsy free skate after a bad short and bad injury in practice at the 97 Worlds where she nearly shook up the whole Tara/Michelle show unexpectedly.

grafgirl27: You are so obsessed with stats (such as who won what medals, and how many). That's not what it's all about. You also seem to be arguing just for the sake of it, and I'm not sure why. I don't think we are disagreeing. We both think Irina is a great skater, period. You keep writing, and writing, and writing, and you seem to be talking only to yourself. Come on, let's end it.

I am only responding to you. If you dont type something I wouldnt respond, LOL!