Maria Butyrskaya

**Mathman** · 06-02-2005, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Doggygirl

And on point two, now I'm going on the hunt for 2000 World videos to refresh my memory for that year. Jeez. More work.

And well will your effort be rewarded, if you get Michelle's Red Violin LP! The all-time great clutch Kwan performance (plus the prettiest dress in her extensive wardrobe).

Michelle, as usual, was behind the eight ball. With only a so-so qualifying round performance, she finished second to Irina Slutskaya in her group, while Maria was winning the second group. This put Michelle tied for third/fourth (with Mikilin Kierkgaard) overall.

Disaster struck in the short program. With a wonky landing or two, Michelle finished third behind Maria (first) and Irina (second). This gave Maria two firsts and Irina a first and a second after two rounds, with Michelle struggling to keep the leaders in sight.

And then...and then...and then... Our sweetie came up with perhaps the most astonishing performance of her career, nailing her triple-triple for the first time all season, landing seven triples in all, and skating with a joyous abandon that swept all before it.

But she was so far behind Maria that she was not "in control of her own destiny" as they say. Maria skated after Michelle and was good enough for second in the free up to that point. If Maria could hold on to second, she would win the championship.

Last to skate was Irina. If she won the LP, she was world champion. If she finished third behind Kwan and Butyrskaya, then Butryrskaya would win. The only way for Michelle to win was if Irina managed just to insert herself into second place between Michelle and Maria.

Aaaggghh! How can we stand the tension?

I love this sport!

Here is the ISU's write-up of the LP.

http://ww2.isu.org/figure/events/9900/worlds6.html

Mathman

**RIskatingfan** · 06-02-2005, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by Doggygirl

I can really envision her as an interesting professional skater with all of her flairs. If my dream of a "Masters" pro series ever happens, I hope she is a contestant!!

Again, I don't see this happening, unfortunately. She doesn't seem to have the drive to skate as a professional skater and her performances suffer because of it. This last season at World Team Challenge, in the artistic portion of the program, she tried two jumps in the beginning of the program and fell on both. It almost seemed as she wanted to give up of the performance at that point. She got through the program smiling because Yagudin and Sikharulidze were at the boards dancing to her music and cheering her on, but when the program was over you could see her so disappointed with herself.

She often said competing was what mattered, it's one of the reasons she stayed in the sport for so long. It's somewhat odd, actually. With all her nerve problems, one would think she would shine as a professional, once she no longer had to deal with the pressure, but it hasn't been this way.

**Eeyora** · 06-03-2005, 01:10 AM

I thinki if pro skating returns she could contribute a lot. I often saw her as the Khorkina of figure skating.

**JonnyCoop** · 06-03-2005, 05:24 PM

Maria, to me, was one of those skaters who's "great on the ground, scary in the air", much like Silvia Fontana. She IMO never got enough credit for the way her skating flowed (around a lot of stiff-legged jump landings, granted) and especially for her hand and arm positioning. I really wanted to see her medal in SLC, but she gave one of her worst performances there. "17 Moments in Spring" (her long program in 99-00 and 00-01 is one of my all-time favorite Ladies long programs. It is surprising how few truly ELEGANT skaters we see among the ladies, and Maria was one of them.

**Doggygirl** · 06-03-2005, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by Eeyora

I thinki if pro skating returns she could contribute a lot. I often saw her as the Khorkina of figure skating.

LOL - Svetlana was the one who came to mind for me...but we're obviously thinking alike!

**Doggygirl** · 06-03-2005, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by JonnyCoop

Maria, to me, was one of those skaters who's "great on the ground, scary in the air", much like Silvia Fontana. She IMO never got enough credit for the way her skating flowed (around a lot of stiff-legged jump landings, granted) and especially for her hand and arm positioning. I really wanted to see her medal in SLC, but she gave one of her worst performances there. "17 Moments in Spring" (her long program in 99-00 and 00-01 is one of my all-time favorite Ladies long programs. It is surprising how few truly ELEGANT skaters we see among the ladies, and Maria was one of them.

You have really summed it up - ITA with your opinion. I just watched her SP from 2000 World's today, and am going to watch it again. Her Otonal from 99 Worlds nearly brought me to tears yesterday. I wonder if Johnny was influenced at all by that performance when he chose that music.

DG

**brad640** · 06-03-2005, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Mathman

And well will your effort be rewarded, if you get Michelle's Red Violin LP! The all-time great clutch Kwan performance (plus the prettiest dress in her extensive wardrobe).

I loved reading your recap of the 2000 worlds! Competitions with Maria were so exciting because she always faught to win and she was always outspoken about injustice in the sport.

That was one of the years that Peggy actually got it right with her prediction, and she showed uncharacteristic attitude by being honest for once about her disdain for the Russian ladies. Michelle had wonderful speed in the LP, but watching it back I could tell how much she has improved her jump technique with Raphael this year because all of her jumps were very low back then. I loved her hair and makeup that year, and I would not mind at all if she revived Red Violin for her Olympic LP.

**Doggygirl** · 06-03-2005, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by Mathman

And well will your effort be rewarded, if you get Michelle's Red Violin LP! The all-time great clutch Kwan performance (plus the prettiest dress in her extensive wardrobe).

Mathman

I have since watched MK's LP which was outstanding, and also the SP's from MK, MB, IS, SH, and AN thanks to a kind person on the Skating Video's site that posted those 5.

You are right - what a "come from behind" stellar victory for MK.

Since this IS Maria's thread, I will say that I LOVED re-watching that SP. WOW. I will say again that I wish she had strong interest in being a choreographer. So many skaters just sort of skate with music in the background, and I think that's especially true in the SP with all the legitimate concerns about element completion. IMO, Maria was commited to the choreography and the music no matter what, and I give her huge props for that.

DG

**IDLERACER** · 06-03-2005, 08:10 PM

[CENTER]Along with Yamaguchi, Kadavy and Baiul, my guess is that she will continue to show up on year end Christmas specials for the next few years. Unlike Irina and Oksana, learning English has always been a bit of a struggle for her, which also limits her press exposure in this country.[/CENTER]

**mzheng** · 06-03-2005, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by ChiSk8Fan

Maria was a fantastic jumper, but a nervous competitor. In practices and through years of effort, she did learn the triple axel. But, she never mastered it enough to try it in competition.

Not only herself appeared so nervous. She made ppl look at her nerve wracking.

**emma** · 06-04-2005, 12:28 PM

mathman....thanks for that recap...i got butterflies reading it just remembering how exciting that competition was and in all the phases....WOW!

redviolin and that performance of it really were special. But this is about Maria, and I too thought she was amazing...but god, when she was off she was off, and her stiff knees in competition were down right unpleasant and distracting (imho), that only seemed 'stiffer' when she was off/falling...that's why i made the comparison between her and sasha in another thread...but thinking about what Doggygirl said earlier here, I think would now agree that the better comparison might be with Eman, brilliant skater but when he makes a mistake, the whole thing unravels and we can't even catch a glimpse of his solid technique and great choreography...so thanks doggygirl, i hadn't thought of that.

And yes...it would be wonderful to see Maria involved in choreography....her eye for detail plus fashion sense could make some wonderful 'total packages'.

Finally, her diva-personality: i hate working with diva's, but love watching them in action when I'm not involved...I miss her too.

**Doggygirl** · 06-04-2005, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by emma

Finally, her diva-personality: i hate working with diva's, but love watching them in action when I'm not involved...I miss her too.

I totally, totally totally agree with that!!!

**Ladskater** · 06-04-2005, 05:36 PM

Maria was and is a seasoned pro. Unfortunately, she suffered from her nerves when it came to competing. She sometimes tended to become ploddy at the end of her programs. I did get a chance to see her skate live in a pro competition held here in Vancouver, and I must say I had a better impression of her abilities watching her skate live than I ever did watching her skate via the television. She came across as a true performer.

In a way she reminds me of Surya B. - struggling to be at the top of her game, but not quite getting there. One has to applaud her tenacity. These kind of skaters are often painful to watch. It's kind of like watching a boxer take his final blows but he keeps getting up to fight to the finish.

I think Maria would make a good coach. She has the dedication and drive needed to develop a champion. Who knows maybe we will see a great skater come along someday coached by none other than Maria Butryskaya!!

**Doggygirl** · 06-04-2005, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Ladskater

Maria was and is a seasoned pro. Unfortunately, she suffered from her nerves when it came to competing. She sometimes tended to become ploddy at the end of her programs. I did get a chance to see her skate live in a pro competition held here in Vancouver, and I must say I had a better impression of her abilities watching her skate live than I ever did watching her skate via the television. She came across as a true performer.

In a way she reminds me of Surya B. - struggling to be at the top of her game, but not quite getting there. One has to applaud her tenacity. These kind of skaters are often painful to watch. It's kind of like watching a boxer take his final blows but he keeps getting up to fight to the finish.

I think Maria would make a good coach. She has the dedication and drive needed to develop a champion. Who knows maybe we will see a great skater come along someday coached by none other than Maria Butryskaya!!

I hope so!! I have no idea if she has the sort of personality and business acumen to translate her personal skills to *management* skills. But if she does, I hope to see it one day!! ITA with everything you said, and I'm pea green that you've seen her perform live.

DG