Ok. We can go on forever about the FP clash between Lipinski and Kwan at the Nagano Olympics (and if you're wondering...I picked Kwan). However, I was recently watching some old skating tapes. And when I came across the 98 Olympics, I think the SP in some cases was actually more close between the top ladies, and could have resulted in some different overall results. What do u guyz think:
SP:
1. Kwan : 5.8 - 5.9 (No doubt the clear winner here, simply one of the best SP in the history of ladies figure skating)
2. Butryskaya: 5.6 - 5.7 (Hell yeah! Along with Scene d'Amour, Fever was one of her best SP. She nailed a beautiful T.Lutz-D.LOOP that might have been slightly 2ft., but one hell of a T.Loop with good footwork preceding, and a overall program that had flair and maturity)
3. Chen: 5.5 - 5.8 (So her T.Toe, and lack of speed might have held her back, but I thought this program was effortless and just a masterpiece. Her compulsory was just first rate.)
4. Lipinski: 5.7 - 5.5 ( I know i'm probably going to get rip for this, but honestly..... I thought her chreo / interpretation is on that same par as Kimmie is right now... One could argue that her T.Flip was more difficult, but I don't think her elements was as strong as some of the ladies above her. GOOD, SOLID SP...not Fantastic...
5. Bonaly: 5.5 - 5.5 ( I personally enjoyed her Caravan program, however I guess the T.Toe-T.Toe isn't regarded as difficult as it is today in the points system.
6. Slutskaya: 5.1 - 5.4 (I think she was slightly over marked for 5th place (Doubled her Lutz), I could even see Liashenko placing ahead of her. However, I did think she should have been 3rd in the FP.
Lipinski...4th SP...?? I thought so. Even more so, check out the 97 World Champs, where I thought Gusmeroli should have been 1st, and Lipinski 2nd in the SP. Would have the overall results been different as well....
SP:
1. Kwan : 5.8 - 5.9 (No doubt the clear winner here, simply one of the best SP in the history of ladies figure skating)
2. Butryskaya: 5.6 - 5.7 (Hell yeah! Along with Scene d'Amour, Fever was one of her best SP. She nailed a beautiful T.Lutz-D.LOOP that might have been slightly 2ft., but one hell of a T.Loop with good footwork preceding, and a overall program that had flair and maturity)
3. Chen: 5.5 - 5.8 (So her T.Toe, and lack of speed might have held her back, but I thought this program was effortless and just a masterpiece. Her compulsory was just first rate.)
4. Lipinski: 5.7 - 5.5 ( I know i'm probably going to get rip for this, but honestly..... I thought her chreo / interpretation is on that same par as Kimmie is right now... One could argue that her T.Flip was more difficult, but I don't think her elements was as strong as some of the ladies above her. GOOD, SOLID SP...not Fantastic...
5. Bonaly: 5.5 - 5.5 ( I personally enjoyed her Caravan program, however I guess the T.Toe-T.Toe isn't regarded as difficult as it is today in the points system.
6. Slutskaya: 5.1 - 5.4 (I think she was slightly over marked for 5th place (Doubled her Lutz), I could even see Liashenko placing ahead of her. However, I did think she should have been 3rd in the FP.
Lipinski...4th SP...?? I thought so. Even more so, check out the 97 World Champs, where I thought Gusmeroli should have been 1st, and Lipinski 2nd in the SP. Would have the overall results been different as well....