Top 10 Ladies in Skating History?

janetfan · Nov 28, 2009

Here is a list of the Top 10 Lady figure skaters.
Compiled in 2008 it considers skaters from all eras.

Did they get it right?

http://sportales.com/skating/10-greatest-female-figure-skaters-of-all-time/

kandidy · Nov 28, 2009

All very well deserved to be called greatest skaters.

berrycute · Nov 28, 2009

I think if they updated it now they might put Yu-Na in.

janetfan · Nov 28, 2009

berrycute said:
I think if they updated it now they might put Yu-Na in.

Yuna's Grand Prix record is out of this world. but I think she needs a few more major titles to make the list.

Obviously Yuna is a better skater than the Ladies from an earlier era but that is because figure skating continues to evolve.

Certainly Plushy is a better skater than Dick Button just as Michelle could do more than Dorothy or Peggy on the ice.

I think Yuna needs an Olympic medal and another WC to make the list.

I think if Yuna wins a few more major titles I would bump Dorothy Hamill off the list and replace her with Yuna. But not yet.

Winning Grand Prix events is not comparable to winning the OGM or multi WC's.

And what of Mao? Does she deserve a spot - maybe in place of Chen-Lu?

I was happy to see Lulu make the list because she was one of my all-time favorite skaters.

Are medals the most important criteria to make this list?
In my mind the two most influential Lady skaters were Sonja and then Janet.

But the list is not about the most innovative skaters but about the greatest.

Mathman · Nov 28, 2009

I would try to squeeze Madge Syers onto the list. The pioneer of women's figure skating, she set the skating world on its ear by entering the 1902 World Championships. The ISU discovered to its horror that there was no specific rule that women could not compete in this sport! (She won silver behind Ulrich Salchow.)

The next year the ISU acted quickly to cover up this scandalous state of affairs by forbidding women to skate, relying on the rationale that a woman's ankle-length skirt prevented the judges from seeing the skaters' feet properly. Syers responded by switching to mid-calf skirts.The ISU had no choice but to institute a women's event.

Sayers won the first two women's world championships (1906 and 1907) and the 1908 Olympic gold medal.

Olympia · Nov 28, 2009

Yum, I love top ten lists! Thanks for posting this.

It almost looks like a list done by an outsider, because it seems to go by medal count. By contrast, I can't imagine any Top 10 list without Janet Lynn, and I think any skating buff would agree, but a general sports expert wouldn't count her because she never won an international gold. I know a lot of people (maybe some of you) who would even put her just a smidge above Peggy Fleming for the quality of her skating. I love both Fleming and Lynn and would have them both on this list. Henie certainly belongs as a pathfinder and a three-time Olympic gold winner. Some might include Barbara Ann Scott as the first North American Olympic gold medalist. Widening the parameters a bit, I'd include Irina Rodnina, also a three-time Olympic gold medalist and arguably the engine of both of the pairs she skated with. Kwan definitely, by every criterion. I'm glad they included Slutskaya instead of Baiul, because I like longevity: a career with persistence gives a better view of both athletic and artistic essence.

I hope that lists of the future are able to include Mao--in other words, that she recovers and continues to grow. YuNa certainly seems the giant of this era, and she'll probably be in, but only time will tell.

Isn't it much easier to make a list of men! Ulrich Salchow (first OGM and inventor of the salchow), Gillis Graftstrom (3 OGMs), Button, Curry, Cranston (included because he and Curry really are the two pillars of modern men's interpretive skating), Hamilton, Browning, Yagudin, fill in two more of your choice.

janetfan · Nov 28, 2009

Mathman said:
I would try to squeeze Madge Syers onto the list. The pioneer of women's figure skating, she set the skating world on its ear by entering the 1902 World Championships. The ISU discovered to its horror that there was no specific rule that women could not compete in this sport! (She won silver behind Ulrich Salchow.)

The next year the ISU acted quickly to cover up this scandalous state of affairs by forbidding women to skate, relying on the rationale that a woman's ankle-length skirt prevented the judges from seeing the skaters' feet properly. Syers responded by switching to mid-calf skirts.The ISU had no choice but to institute a women's event.

Sayers won the first two women's world championships (1906 and 1907) and the 1908 Olympic gold medal.

Thankyou for such a fascinating post. BTW, where was Madge from?

Is it possible for you to squeeze in Madge - and if so - who would you bump from the list?

Informed GS readers want to know

ETA: Here is the list of the Top 10 Men:

http://sportales.com/skating/10-greatest-male-figure-skaters-of-all-time/

silverlake22 · Nov 28, 2009

Yu Na is better than most of those ladies....but I guess it's hard to compare because ladies have started doing much harder jumps recently. Also Mao before this season's meltdown could go on their too...I mean she does triple axels

janetfan · Nov 28, 2009

silverlake22 said:
Yu Na is better than most of those ladies....but I guess it's hard to compare because ladies have started doing much harder jumps recently. Also Mao before this season's meltdown could go on their too...I mean she does triple axels

Many think Midori's 3A had better height was better rotation wise - and it was also done back in the late 80's. Midori did not make the list.......

It is obvious that today's skaters are more tecnically advanced than skaters from previous generations. I don't think that is much of a consideration for this list or Sonja and Peggy, etc would not be on it.

NatachaHatawa · Nov 28, 2009

Obviously Yu-Na should be in there.

I'd say the top 3 are Sonja Neie, Katterina Witt and Michelle Kwan.
People like Peggy Flemming, Dorothy Hamill, Lu Chen and Irina Slutskaya should obviouslt be in there. However, ther being only ten spots, ther was no space for people like Midori Ito. It's always hard to choose a specific number of people.

Olympia · Nov 28, 2009

Gaak! The men's list doesn't have Curry on it. That's just ridiculous. I think they put some guys on the list for jumps they either pioneered or advanced--hence Stojko's presence--but Curry really changed men's skating in a fundamental way, and he did win an OGM. I'd put him on there, maybe even instead of Boitano. (No offence meant at all to Boitano or to his fans, of whom I am one.)

I definitely agree that Madge Syers should be on the list. I'd put her on instead of Herma Szabo.

Much as I love Chen Lu (and that second Olympic bronze was one of the most satisfying moments in skating history), I think I'd have to agree with the idea of putting Midori Ido instead of Chen. Ito wasn't just a triple axel on blades. She actually was a very musical, emotional skater. Because she didn't have the long limbs and supple torso people often interpret as graceful, it was easy to assume she was merely a powerhouse. She was powerful, of course, but she was also graceful. And she pioneered the triple axel for ladies.

Mathman · Nov 28, 2009

Olympia said:
Barbara Ann Scott as the first North American Olympic gold medalist.

,,, and inspiration for the all-time classic, "Ba-ba-ba, Ba-barbra Ann." :rock:

Isn't it much easier to make a list of men! Ulrich Salchow (first OGM and inventor of the salchow), Gillis Graftstrom (3 OGMs), Button, Curry, Cranston (included because he and Curry really are the two pillars of modern men's interpretive skating), Hamilton, Browning, Yagudin, fill in two more of your choice.

Seven-time world champion Karl Shafer and Jackson Haines, inventor of the concept of skating to music and performing for an audience.

Olympia said:
I definitely agree that Madge Syers should be on the list. I'd put her on instead of Herma Szabo.

Szabo is one of three ladies to win five world championships. The other two are Carol Heiss and Michelle Kwan.

janetfan · Nov 28, 2009

Mathman said:
Olympia said:

Barbara Ann Scott as the first North American Olympic gold medalist.['quote]

,,, and inspiration for the all-time classic, "Ba-ba-ba, Ba-barbra Ann."

Seven-time world champion Karl Shafer and Jackson Haines, inventor of the concept of skating to music and performing for an audience.

Szabo is one of three ladies to win five world championships. The other two are Carol Heiss and Michelle Kwan.

Click to expand...

Carol won Olympic Silver in 1956 and later that season her first WC. I don't think she ever lost again and she retired in 1960 with Olympic Gold and her 5th straight WC.
She won her last four Natls from 1957-60 and twice won Gold at the old bi-annual North American championship.

What a dominator she was :yes:

NatachaHatawa · Nov 28, 2009

Am I the only one to think that Alexei Yagudin is under-rated?

janetfan · Nov 28, 2009

NatachaHatawa said:
Am I the only one to think that Alexei Yagudin is under-rated?

I am sure many think Yagudin belongs in the top five.

Speaking of underrated skaters, here is 14 year old Janet Lynn from the '68 Olympics.

If anyone is interested she appears to do a combination jump after 1:42 and the on the second jump she raises her arm over her head.

Brian Boitano said he used to study tapes of Janet and I wonder if this little 2Flip +1axle with the arm over her head inspired his "Tano" lutz?

Brian said he used to study her IN and pick up steps/footwork from Janet - but maybe he noticed something else too

Or maybe I need to stop eating so much turkey and gravy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juki...C5B7F455&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=49

billeh · Nov 28, 2009

I agree that Janet Lynn should be on the list, but I'm constantly surprised by how often Denise Biellmann gets overlooked. Not only was she the first woman to perform a 3 Lutz and the inventor of her namesake spin, but she competed professionally for almost 25 years. Her longevity and ability to keep up the triples should trump Olympic titles any day.

Can you imagine if she had competed under the new point system--and without figures?

janetfan · Nov 28, 2009

billeh said:
I agree that Janet Lynn should be on the list, but I'm constantly surprised by how often Denise Biellmann gets overlooked. Not only was she the first woman to perform a 3 Lutz and the inventor of her namesake spin, but she competed professionally for almost 25 years. Her longevity and ability to keep up the triples should trump Olympic titles any day.

Can you imagine if she had competed under the new point system--and without figures?

Denise without the "figures" would have won many titles back in her day.

So what about the clip of Janet from 1968

Should the "Tano" really be called a "Jano" :biggrin:

Olympia · Nov 28, 2009

Oh man, what a clip! Thanks so much for posting the link. Lynn was fourteen then? Oh, my stars, was she amazing. And there's the 'Tano move, arm right up there like the Statue of Liberty holding her torch. I don't care who else we edge off the list, she's got to go on there.

Seeing her also gives me new admiration for Slavka Kohout, her longtime coach.

By the way, it's enlightening to read Ewa Pavlik's commentary to the side: click on "more info" to see it. Pavlik talks about how fit she is and also points out that she's already developed a charismatic artistic presence. She says that both Lynn and Peggy Fleming skate "remarkably fluently." Pavlik may have put her finger on what I love in skating, and how I choose the skaters I love. Tops on my list of more contemporary skaters are Kwan and Yuka Sato, and of course Asada.

As for Bielmann, I do enjoy her and admire her perseverance and technical strength. Maybe the truth of it is that we can't really come up with a top ten list of skaters! Or maybe it's that there could be a top ten list, but we'd have to have at least a two-way tie for each position.

Oh, and about Yagudin: I don't think he's underrated. He's admired and beloved by many, including me. He has a flowing style, wonderful jumps, and a real emotional connection to the music without at all being hysterical or fussy about it. I'd have loved to see him through another Olympic cycle, if his hip had not let him down. Should he go on the Top Ten list? Again, as with the ladies, I think the top ten list needs to hold at least twenty skaters.

seniorita · Nov 28, 2009

Of course yagudin is one of all time greats, but he is on the ten list, isnt he??I mean I see him there, unless I m sleepwalking now. :rolleye:

Blades of Passion · Nov 28, 2009

Katarina Witt is too high. She had one amazing performance in her entire competitive career - 1987 Worlds. I think she should have been a Silver Medalist at both of her Olympics, not winner.

Irina Slutskaya is definitely too high. Probably wouldn't even make my top 20.

Denise Beillmann is a better choice. She was ahead of her time technically and also great to watch. The former can not be said of Katarina and the latter can not be said of Slutskaya.

In the American camp, Peggy Flemming is overrated. Janet Lynn should be there instead. I'd also leave Kristi Yamaguchi off the list, in favor of Yu-Na Kim. No disrespect to Yamaguchi at all...but Yu-Na is basically Kristi Yamaguchi with more height and power.

Midori Ito was ridiculously snubbed. Some of the best jumps in history and a completely unique personality on the ice.

I'm very happy that they at least included Chen Lu.

It's hard to compare the skaters across time but my list would probably look like:

01. Michelle Kwan
02. Midori Ito
03. Sonja Henie
04. Janet Lynn
05. Herma Szabo
06. Chen Lu
07. Carol Heiss
08. Yu-Na Kim
09. Denise Beillmann
10. Dorothy Hamill

Top 10 Ladies in Skating History?

janetfan

Match Penalty

kandidy

berrycute

janetfan

Match Penalty

Mathman

Olympia

janetfan

Match Penalty

silverlake22

janetfan

Match Penalty

NatachaHatawa

Olympia

Mathman

janetfan

Match Penalty

NatachaHatawa

janetfan

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billeh

janetfan

Match Penalty

Olympia

seniorita

Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be

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