- Joined
- Jun 16, 2010
Kwan, Lipinski, and Bobek were pushed as being the next big three in 98 as I recall.
Which was pure delusion. Bobek had done absolutely nothing (and even if I am prone to hyperbole on occasion, this is no hyperbole) internationally since her World bronze in 95. I could barely contain my laughing at the crazy over the top U.S sweep predictions and hype at the time. They were based on pure fantasy. Bobek ultimately finished 17th, about as expected considering she was only 13th at the 97 Worlds, and did not even qualify for the U.S Worlds (beaten out by 15th place finisher at those Worlds Tara Lipinski). In the 3 years of grand prix competition which began the season after the 95 Worlds (and as today had on average 30% of the Worlds top skaters per event), Bobek had managed 1 bronze medal. From every standpoint she wasn't even a top 10 World skater anymore, and Kwiatkowski who she beat out to make the team produced better international results by then.