Chen Lu 陈露 (CHN) - 1996 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Long Program

Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA - 1996 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Long Program - Chen Lu of China skated a perfect program here that was brilliantly choreographed by Sandra Bezic. She would earn two 6.0s for Artistic Impression. However, she would be eclipsed by Michelle Kwan's performance and would have to settle for 2nd in the Long Program and ended up winning the Silver Medal. Though her spins were a little weak in execution, the artistry and elegance was phenomenal. In my opinion, I would have scored this ahead of Michelle's Long Program.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Chen
• Lu
• 陈露
• 1996
• figure
• skating

[ffartisan]

Do you have Tanja Szewczenko's Long program from that year?

[3Axel1996]

@ffartisan I had somehow accidentally taped over the live broadcast on ABC, when they did show Tanja's program after Midori Ito's skate. But it was not shown on ESPN.

[kikot84]

do u have the abc version?

[3Axel1996]

@kikot84 Not a very good version.  I found a file online which I downloaded, since I accidentally taped over the ABC broadcast of the final group of ladies years ago!

[russianskatingfan]

@skaterfan1 The 4 judges who gave only 5.8 for presentation should have been suspended for both incompetence, and pre judging the event. Shameful.

[russianskatingfan]

If Chen had won nobody would have complained, not even those who agreed with Kwans win. While many do complain about Kwans win. That alone shows who probably should have won. Also for those who say Kwan won on technical, if Chen were given all 5.9s and 6.0s for artistic presentation as she CLEARLY should have been, rather than ridiculous 4 5.8s and 5.9s, and all other marks remained the same (I thought Kwans were a bit higher than should have been on both sets but anyway) Chen would have won.

[russianskatingfan]

Chens executed jumps were much better too, higher and more graceful than Kwans.

[russianskatingfan]

@Jude74 Her footwork often is better but was definitely not better in these programs. Kwans footwork sequence in her Salome wasnt hard at all in fact, mostly just a couple counter turns. Choreography, you must be on crack. This was by far the best choreographed program of the event and one of the best ever.

[russianskatingfan]

@Jude74 Michelle did not have better jumps. They were smaller and less beautiful. Her footwork often is better but was definitely not better in these programs. Kwans footwork sequence in her Salome wasnt hard at all in fact, mostly just a couple counter turns. Choreography, you must be on crack. This was by far the best choreographed program of the event and one of the best ever.

[Jude74]

They both performed pretty close to the best of their abilities, the problem is that Michelle's abilities were better. She had better spins, footwork, choreography, spirals and jumps. This was an athletic competition and the better athlete won. I enjoyed Chen Lu but as a skating fan I recognize when someone got beat fair and square.

[RevShaqueefa]

This is event had some fierce competition. Chen and Michelle were both magnificent.

[gonzo77ffm]

LU CHEN forever

[foresure88]

Pure elegance!!

[JNagarya]

@3Axel1996 For crucial insight into the fact that Kwan innovated, see the interview in which Nichols describes the process of transformation to "Romanza" and "Salome". Nichols was a brilliant choreographer who wisely built on Kwan's preferences, not on her own. So Kwan contributed to the innovation; Nichols in part "edited" raw material Kwan provided.

And Kwan always gave credit to her support system -- coach, choreographer, and family; she didn't claim to do it all by herself.