1998 Tatyana Malinina - Uzbekistan Worlds SP

One of the unforseen advantages of the breakup of the Soviet Union in the late 90's was the entry of a large number of quality skaters from former provinces of Russia. Some thought it unfair that Russia would end up with so many entries, but I think if you ask a Ukranian, he would not say he was Russian....nor Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,Georgia, Belarus, Moldavia, or Turkministan! Even the strange country of Uzbekistan emerged to place a lovely young lady in the Worlds top 10.

Of course, many were training in Lenningrad and Moscow, but we would never have seen these fascinating skaters had they been required to fight their way thru the Russian Nationals.

Tatyana was an exciting jumper, but had only a few successful programs. Fascinating that she understood American Jazz artist Louie Armstrong!!???! How did that happen?? But the love of skating shines thru, and she had a winning, overwhelmed, underdog kind of way about her that endeared her to audiences. I always wondered if they even had a skating rink in Uzbekistan, as all the pictures I have ever seen of it were camels, blowing sand, and oil rigs. But, if there was water and cold temperatures, I am sure someone "figured" out how to skate on the resultant frozen ice. Maybe that's where the name comes from???

I always cheered for Tatyana!!!!! and I hope she is doing well!!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• figure
• skating
• 1998
• Tatyana
• Malanina
• Uzbekistan
• Worlds
• SP
• Russia
• Soviet
• Union

[pooguy77]

99 Fantastic Year. NHK Trophy Winner, GP Final Winner of eventual World Champ Butyrskaya, and 4cc Winner. Her, Kwan, and Butyrskaya were the favorites heading into 99 Worlds. A 2ft. in the placed her 5th behind a very flaw Kwan. Then in a close FP battle, Kwan edge Malinina in an 5/4 controversial split for 2nd place. Malinina needed the 2nd place FP to get the silver, but instead had to settle for 4th behind Soldatova.

She was a 2000 Preseason favorite, but an achilles injury ruin her career.

[k9henrydog]

Thanks for the info!....it is hard to get information about people sometimes here in the west!!  It was a much closer event than the end results presented!! best wishes.

[suraaldy]

I believe this was actually a short program. Thanks for posting. Obviously a good skater, although I don't remember her.

[k9henrydog]

Thanks for catching that!! Yet another "Senior" moment on my part!! best wishes

[sschimel]

She kind of looks like a deer caught in headlights. I'm curious when this was from. I've been watchging skating since Dorothy Hamill and I never heard of her. I'm guessing she was roughly contemporary to Jill Trenary.

[k9henrydog]

I think you just missed my updated post!! Perhaps the notes will explain a few things for you. Time period is a little later than Dorothy, 1998. Yes, her nerves earned her quite a few fans around the world!!! best wishes

[JP852]

How was this only 7th in the short?! *sigh*

[Tashkent4]

Malochik Spasibo

[k9henrydog]

That is wonderful to hear. I hope she and her skaters meet with great success....and a wonderful family life is a blessing of its own!! thanks for the information!! best wishes