1992 Elvis Stojko - Olympics SP Men

Elvis, the powerhorse (errr..powerhouse) men's skater of all time, took technical skating strengths to the highest levels of competitive success at a time when "jumping" was the thing! Winning three (3) World Championships places a person in the highest echelons of the sport, and I am sure he enjoys his many World and Olympic medals as well.

This early SP demonstrates how all the little tiny, slips and stumbles, bobbled spins and unstretched camel positions, can really knock a deserving skater down in the standings. He landed 3axel/3toe all week flawlessly, but not here! Prosaic, uncouth movement over the ice detracted from his powerful stoking and the explosiveness of his jumping technique, unfairly saddling him early on with the label, artless. Nothing could have been further from the truth, and I think he showed with his skating that "arty", doesn't have to be "sissy!" His courageous, innovative "Kung Fu" programs brought skating to new audiences, and illuminated the 'warrior' path for many skaters.

I know I seem a bit of a name dropper here sometimes, but I did also skate on the same ice with Elvis one day......and it was a memorable experience. I decided to practice at a double rink in the Philadelphia area, and the skate guard for the public session kicked me off the ice!! She said I was "too good" to skate on public ice and was NOT allowed to do 'double' toe loops on this rink!! I would have to go the other, "skaters" surface. So I get over there and see I have to fit in a practice with about 18 nationally competitive free skaters, including one ELVIS STOJKO! I can't skate on the same ice as Elvis Stojko!! (did you hear my inner voice talking?) I tried to fit in and managed a few dance patterns. (I find if you solo an International Dance, even free skaters will stand back in awe...no matter how lousy it is) Of all the people there, Elvis was the most outgoing, engaging, and pleasant person I have ever met, and he actually managed to seem genuinely interested in MY skating, conveying a sympathetic sense of understanding commraderie and support. That let me know this is a true champion of great stature......

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• figure
• skating
• 1992
• Olympics
• SP
• Elvis
• Stojko
• Canada
• men

[KatrianaAshley]

does anyone know where i can find his long program from these games?

[k9henrydog]

I am not sure if it was televised in America or not???? I will check and see...if I have it I will post it soon...best wishes

[k9henrydog]

Yes, it used to be quite a factor, but not so much anymore....at least in the US....thanks for you comments, best wishes

[HowDareThey1970]

@KatrianaAshley Do a search on YouTube. I'm pretty sure it's up. I've seen it.

[pellebravesskylar]

I'm sure that the bye was the main thing and he, too had a bad back injury he was recovering from so I'm betting neither his nor Kurt Browning's practices were very impressive. Poor guys.

[lambielkwanfan]

Eldredge I think was punished by the judges for getting the bye to the Olympics. I also think he didnt do well in practices hurt him since judges seemed to value practices highly back then.

[pellebravesskylar]

Even tho we disagree about Petrenko's win in 92, I absolutely agree with your takes on this! Love Kurt - his back injuries hurt his chances - but still no excuse for those high marks he got. And I agree Kurt's TL was two footed.

And why did Todd Eldredge get such awful marks in the short that year - fell on a double axel but the rest of his program was clean and quite difficult. Think it was a punishment for being picked for the team when he wasn't able to compete in the U.S. Nats?

[pellebravesskylar]

You're probably right but not real responsible of CBS - especially when knowledgeable fans are watching!

[russianskatingfan]

It was convenient for U.S broadcasters with the draw working out that Urmanov skated first and Stojko last in the final flight. They are the two that the U.S broadcasters probably figured had no shot whatsoever of a medal anyway so it was a convenient way to show the important 4 in the middle. They were probably just fillers in the mind of the broadcast editors for were Bowman and Eldredge were supposed to be, the final flight fighting for medals.

[pellebravesskylar]

It wasn't. I always thought the CBS commentary after Barna's performance was either taped or flubbed - Stojko was still to skate with a decent chance at a medal and yet Vern Lundquist says that Wylie "knows he has a medal" even tho Barna's marks hadn't been announced and Elvis was still to skate. I wish I could have seen Elvis' LP - I heard he was amazing and skated perfectly, but they didn't show it in the US.

Elvis should have won the gold in 1994 - rip off, sorry Alexi.

[ft192]

I taped those Olympics from the US CBS broadcast and they did not show his free program. They probably from on the Canadian broadcast.