The MEN (also worth getting excited about). | Golden Skate

The MEN (also worth getting excited about).

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
I was inspired by the women's post, so let's look back at the men!

1976 — Terry Kubicka
1977 — Charles Tickner
1978 — Charles Tickner (W)
1979 — Charles Tickner
1980 — Charles Tickner (OM) (WCM)
1981 — Scott Hamilton (W)
1982 — Scott Hamilton (W)
1983 — Scott Hamilton (W)/B]
1984 — Scott Hamilton (O) (W)
1985 — Brian Boitano (WCM)
1986 — Brian Boitano (W)
1987 — Brian Boitano (WCM)
1988 — Brian Boitano (O) (W)
1989 — Christopher Bowman (WCM)
1990 — Todd Eldredge
1991 — Todd Eldredge (WCM)
1992 — Christopher Bowman
1993 — Scott Davis
1994 — Scott Davis
1995 — Todd Eldredge (WCM)
1996 — Rudy Galindo (WCM)
1997 — Todd Eldredge (WCM)
1998 — Todd Eldredge (WCM)
1999 — Michael Weiss (WCM)
2000 — Michael Weiss (WCM)
2001 — Timothy Goebel
2002 — Todd Eldredge
2003 — Michael Weiss
2004 — Johnny Weir
2005 — Johnny Weir
2006 — Johnny Weir
2007 — Evan Lysacek (4CC)
2008 — Evan Lysacek (4CCM)
2009 — Jeremy Abbott
2010 — Jeremy Abbott

All these are U.S. Nationals performances. I've also added a bold (O) or (W) or (FC) if they went on to win Worlds, the Olympics or the Worlds. I also added an (OM) or (WM) or (FCM) if they medaled.

Speaking of which, a U.S. Champion hasn't moved on to win Worlds or the Olympics since 1998 when Brian Boitano won the triple crown. Evan Lysacek did win 4CC in 2007 after winning Nationals.

Also should note U.S. medalists (1st -4th) that went on to went to win or medal in the Olympics, Worlds or 4CC.

1990 — Christopher Bowman (2nd) (WM)
1981 — David Santee (2nd) (WM)
1992 — Paul Wylie (3rd) (OM)
1996 — Todd Eldredge (2nd) (W)
2001 — Todd Eldredge (2nd) (WM)
2001 — Michael Weiss (4th) (4CCM)
2002 — Timothy Goebel (2nd) (OM) (WM)
2003 — TImothy Goebel (2nd) (WM)
2005 — Evan Lysacek (3rd) (4CC) (WM)
2006 — Evan Lysacek (2nd) (WM)
2006 — Matthew Savioe (3rd) (4CCM)
2008 — Johnny Weir (2nd) (WM)
2009 — Evan Lysacek (3rd) (W)
2010 — Evan Lysacek (2nd) (O)

Evan Lysacek went on to win 2009 Worlds and 2010 Olympics despite placing 3rd and 2nd respectively at the Nationals and several others medaled after winning U.S. Titles. Things that make you go hmmm...

For some reason there seem a vacuum of videos from the late 1990s and early 2000s. If you find those links, let me know, I'll add it. I'll also add more from before 1975 as I find them. Figured this was plenty!

Some great skating here!

ETA to note champions who won medals in the Worlds or the Olympics and linked those programs when available. I also noted U.S. medal winners who also medaled at the Worlds, Olympics or 4CC. Haven't linked those programs. Might do that later!
 
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Layfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Is Sarah the only American singles skater to win Olympic gold but never the U.S. championship?

HTML:
Hopefully Jeremy Abbott can break your drought about US Champion not winning Worlds.

Oh wow, that list does show a long drought ... never realized. Still, it's a bit misleading because several of our champions did win worlds, just not the same year... Todd, Evan..
 
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ImaginaryPogue

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Is Sarah the only American singles skater to win Olympic gold but never the U.S. championship?

I think so. Random side note: Oksana Baiul was the last lady to win her national championship on route to an OGM. Lipinski and Hughes lost to Kwan, Arakawa was third to Suguri and Asada, and Kim didn't compete in her nationals.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Just because it's so exciting, here's Wylie's Olympic Long Program from Albertville, even though he's not on the list of U.S. champions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLhA7CVIok&feature=related

This is one time when Scott Hamilton's excited, admittedly partisan commentary is absolutely right for the occasion. It matches the jubilation of the music, of Wylie's skating, and of the audience. And watch Wylie. He doesn't complete any true combinations (he steps between the first and second jump each time), but look at the tight, straight jumps he does. Look at his beautiful spins, including the immaculate sit spin; also the rapid footwork, the way his movements create a narrative, and that dazzling smile as he defeats his demons. A skate for the ages.
 

genki

On the Ice
Joined
Feb 24, 2010
Thanks, Mrs. P.

But Lysechek won both world and Olympic, right?
Anyway, I am rooting for Jeremy wholeheartedly this season.

He is the only US man's skater now who can deliver the performance which gives me goose bumps.
Ganbare Jeremy!! Go for it.

Wish he can get 80's in PCS that he really deserves, IMO
 

Mrs. P

Uno, Dos, twizzle!
Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 27, 2009
Hey all. Responding to your posts, I also noted U.S. medalists that went on to medal at 4CC, Olympics or Worlds. When you add that in, the men's picture doesn't look so bleak!
 

Layfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Just because it's so exciting, here's Wylie's Olympic Long Program from Albertville, even though he's not on the list of U.S. champions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nLhA7CVIok&feature=related

This is one time when Scott Hamilton's excited, admittedly partisan commentary is absolutely right for the occasion. It matches the jubilation of the music, of Wylie's skating, and of the audience. And watch Wylie. He doesn't complete any true combinations (he steps between the first and second jump each time), but look at the tight, straight jumps he does. Look at his beautiful spins, including the immaculate sit spin; also the rapid footwork, the way his movements create a narrative, and that dazzling smile as he defeats his demons. A skate for the ages.

I just love this video and I agree that Scott's excitement is totally infectious, even if he is over the top, predicting Paul Wylie would win ... but I like how he reminds the audience that Paul Wylie "does nothing badly." It's definitely one of the most memorable Olympic skates ever. Paul Wylie had such a unique style. I really admire that - when a skater develops style. Not easy.

Do I dare hope for a Paul Wylie moment for a certain other U.S. man this season :eek:
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Layfan, I always hope for Paul Wylie moments for skaters. (Not just for the men! Alissa should have one at Worlds, too.)

For years I felt that Wylie should have won the Olympics on the strength of this program. I confess it was partly national partisanship, partly sheer love of Wylie's style, and partly a coolness for Petrenko's "Don Quixote" program, which he was using for something like the third season. I've changed my mind after spending time here on GoldenSkate. You guys have made me pay more attention to details. While my heart still soars when watching Wylie, I see that he did have some mistakes, notably the lack of combination jumps. Meanwhile, Petrenko had a beautiful, meticulous program, with textbook jumps. So I feel that Petrenko rightly got the gold, but that Wylie more than deserved his stunningly achieved silver. As he said at the time when asked about the gold, "How much of a Cinderella story do you guys need?" I'm certainly happy--nay, thrilled--with the one he gave us. Whenever I need a boost, his splendid "Henry V" program is one of the things I come and watch.
 

Blades of Passion

Skating is Art, if you let it be
Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Country
France
Oh, Wylie definitely deserved the Gold. That performance deserved 5.9 across the board on the second mark. Viktor's performance fell apart and was 5.7 quality at best. He didn't have enough tech content to compensate and was given more credit than deserved for that 3Axel-3Toe which wasn't even totally clean.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Either way, Wylie had a career from that Olympics that was the equivalent of a gold medalist's career. And I'd wager that more people re-watch his video than seek out Petrenko's, because of the exhilaration it gives us, so his work lives on in a way that Viktor's does not. So it's great the way it worked out after all. Petrenko is certainly a worthy winner both as a skater and as a man, as well. What more could we ask for?
 

Layfan

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
^ Ah well, maybe, maybe not. But Paul Wylie became a star and even a household name for a while... It was one of those silvers that was really a gold. Kinda like Joannie Rochette's bronze last year.

ETA: Oops - Olympia and I were writing that the same time. But mine is in response to Blades, of course.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
It was not long after the results, that the word was Victor Who? Wiley's best hidden skate came out and surprised the crowd.

Victor was an adequate Technician, and Paul was an Artist. Judging during Soviet times was always questionable but sometimes it was valid. If it were CoP, I would give it to Victor but only by l tenth of a point.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
The judges truly did not know what to do with Wylie's lightning bolt, giving him ordinals from first to fifth in the LP.

Petrenko did not exactly disappear after this victory. He was a mainstay of the Champions tour on Ice for fifteen years. IIRC when the CoP came along he was the very first technical specialist to serve. He is still in the public eye as a coach and President of the Ukrainian Skating Federation..
 

ImaginaryPogue

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Petrenko's a two time Olympic medalist and world champion. He helped shepherd Oksana Baiul onto the senior stage and is generally known as an all-around gentlemen. If people say "Victor who?" that's their loss. I'm glad Wylie had his moment, and there's no denying the impact of that skate at that time to that music, but lets not dismiss Petrenko out of hand here.

And Joesitz, your many posts on the subject attest to this, but judging's always questionable, regardless of era.
 
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