What skating moment broke your heart the most?

[riverflows]

Yes, she opened her eyes before she was taken off the ice to the hospital. There was a live broadcast, but no videos of the fall have yet been made. I've only seen the second skate (http://youtube.com/watch?v=JPPRNH-i4Lk) in a home video, but her determination and emotion make me tear up every time I watch it.

The youtube link has the entire story in the Description.

 

[blue_idealist]

*

I was young/not as much of a skating fan when Sergei Grinkov died so I wasn't affected as much by it.

I'd have to say when Elvis Stojko limped to to the podium to get his silver medal at the '98 Olympics, and when Jamie and David were put in second at the 2002 Olympics. Some of Elvis's other skates after he came back after '98 were heartbreaking too.

 

[SeaniBu]

Yes, she opened her eyes before she was taken off the ice to the hospital. There was a live broadcast, but no videos of the fall have yet been made. I've only seen the second skate (http://youtube.com/watch?v=JPPRNH-i4Lk) in a home video, but her determination and emotion make me tear up every time I watch it.

The youtube link has the entire story in the Description.

Thanks for sharing that. Hard to hear yet so heart warming. Testimony to the spirit of an athlete.

btw, was that a red envelope she picked up? I hope it was big money!

 

[Kelly22]

There certainly have been many highly emotional moments on ice. Sergei's death and the Celebration of a Life that followed is indeed in a different category, it was absolutely gut wrenching. A different sort of touching moment that brought tears to my eyes was Alexei Yagudin's farewell skate and speech at Skate Canada. I felt he so wanted to compete longer but his body wouldn't let him.

 

[Tonichelle]

Things I can look back on and be choked up
only one comes to mind and that's Kurt Browning in 1994 after his short "I guess the Olympics just aren't my thing. I felt so GOOD out there."

Ones I remember affecting me and continue to do so
Sergei's death and every single tribute there after (Scott raising his glass to toast Sergei in "One for my Baby"... SOI leaving G&G's solo in the opening... etc)
Katia's return to the ice/tribute to Sergei...
I also have to list Angela's mom... I was on my way to the arena and my best friend called with the news. When I got to the arena the only ones who knew in my group were me and I think Heather had just found out as well... USFSA officials overheard us and began calling and texting for more info. We were right there by the ABC moniters behind the judges booth and saw footage of the wreck... it still gives me chills and sick feeling in my stomach. They held a moment of silence that night and I don't think anyone had a dry eye.

 

[amateur]

When Josee Chouinard, in her final appearance, bombed and came 2nd at Canadian Nationals to Jennifer Robinson.

 

[Zanzibar]

Just started following skating in 2002, so I'd too have to say Alexei Yagudin's 2003 farewell. At the time I had taped it on tv, not watching it 'live'. It may have even been a couple days later that I was actually able to see it, and it wasn't the speech - it was a 3 minute clip - I think made by a US network (don't know if it's on YouTube...) set to a Phil Collins movie soundtrack song that was just being released called , "Your On Your Way Now'. Oh my, I wept buckets.

I had been with Alexei the year before in Seattle when he left the COI tour due to hip pain, and again later at his last eligible event ever, Skate America 2002, where he withdrew on ice before what would have been his last free skate. During both of those times I kept reassuring him that this would pass, that with an operation his hip would heal, and he'd be back competing in no time. I couldn't have been more wrong. To see that poignant tribute clip, representing all the years of a grand career I'd missed, really touched me. You could see that he was already an icon, destined to go down a legend, all at the tender age of 23.

 

[Ladskater]

Oh boy so many...

Karen Magnussen having to be sidelined by stress fractures in both legs.

Brian Orser fighting back the tears at the Calgary 88 Olympics when he found out Boitano beat him by 1/10th of a point.

Barb Underhill and Paul Martini almost grabbing the gold at the 1984 Olympics when Barb had a terrible fall at the end of the program due to adjusting to new skates.

Elvis at the 1998 Nagano Olympics - The gold medal should have been awarded to Elvis not Urmanov.

Jamie and David at the 2002 Olympics in the Kiss and Cry - after skating the program of the night and seeing their marks.

Jeff Buttle the season before last when he had food poisoning and was not able to skate up to par.

Bourne and Kraatz falling at the very end of their program at the 2002 Olympics - their faces showed their devastation.

There are many other moments but these stand out in my mind.

 

[dutchherder]

Michelle's Olympic exhibition to "Fields of Gold".
When Nicole Bobek had the skate of her life after the death of her coach.
Robin Cousin's final skate.

Good tears:
Todd Eldridge putting his medal around his mom's neck.
Michelle skating to Tosca at Nats.

 

[Kikigirl]

My favorite moment from last season was seeing Brian rock his LP in Calgary. I jumped up and down, screaming happily. Then my heartbreaking moment came after Lambiel skated. I thought for sure that Brian had won...I watch his LP now and almost get teary. He did so well, and I'm still so proud of him. Allez Brian!!

Kiki

 

[Saundy]

My heartbreaks would have to be:
1. Katia's tribute to Sergei.
2. Sale and Pelltier on the first podium at the '02 Olys.
3. Dubreuil's fall at the '06 Olys.
4. Nancy Kerrigan being attacked at the '94 US Nationals.

My tears of joy came from:
1. Dubreuil and Lauzon's "Somewhere in Time" at Skate Canada in St. John's, NL...seeing it live made me so emotional. It was breath taking.
2. Joey Russell winning the Junior Men's Nationals in '06. He is truly the pride of Newfoundland and Labrador.
3. Sale and Pelltier on the 2nd podium at the '02 Olys.
4. Jeff Buttle on the podium at the '06 Olys.
5. Dubeuil and Lauzon's silver performance at the '06 Olys...I had been waiting for that for YEARs.

 

[merrywidow]

My heart "broke" for Todd Eldredge when he missed making the '98 Olympic podium.
I was deeply saddened by the deaths of John Curry, Rob McCall & Sergei Grinkov.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

When Sergi died was bad, but when Angela's mom died ~ that was quite a scene... heartbreaking.

But I cannot lie, my tears have always been Michelle specific... I'm never teary I expect her to win & slam her greatness down her competitors' throats... which is why I'm sucha Nationals junkie, but my God, with her ~ the bad is heartbreaking...

In 2002, watching Michelle's face on the podium receive her bronze... I was a sucky whiny baby... I actually called off work the next day... We don't even want to talk about the FOG performance... my husband walked into the tv room, took one look at me, shook his head & walked out....


The 2006 games... from watching Michelle withdraw, to Irina's meltdown, to Brian Joubert's face after the long, to Shen & Zhoa finishing third... I was a mess. An angry, teary mess.

And then there was the Michelle Kwan tribute... at the Cambell's event... between the tribute & her skating to my favorite song EVER "A Song for You" to a new version I hadn't heard... even my husband was a bit misty...

 

[corey]

My sad heartbreaking moments
1. Todd missing the podium at the 98 Olympics
2. Sasha placing second at 2006 Olympics
3. Jamie and David placing second at 02 Olympics after skating a performance of a lifetime.
4. Evan bombing is short program at the Olympics.
5. Michelle winning Bronze in 02 Olympics
6. Borne and Kratez placing forth in 02 Olympics
7. Finding out Scott Hamelton and Cancer
My happy Heartbreaking Moments
1.Brian Skate at worlds last year.
2. Kimmie winning worlds last year.
3. Sarah winning 02 Olympics
4. Rudy's skate at 96 nationals
5. Todd winning 96 worlds
6. Every time Kurt Browning skates.

 

[Mathman]

Hi Corey. Welcome to Golden Skate and thanks for posting.

Mathman

 

[mackiecat]

1) when brian orser lost to brian boitano
2) when Kurt Browning apologized at the Olympic, then saw his mom and cried

 

[JonnyCoop]

I'd have to go with Tai and Randy's withdrawal from Lake Placid. I hadn't been following skating too long at that point, but it was certainly an early introduction to the concept of "Sometimes, this sport can really BITE...."

Second would be Dubreil & Lauzon's withdrawal from Torino, and the interview they gave shortly thereafter. Since they are two of the few skaters I have actually met, it affected me than just another withdrawal would.

I have to agree with posters who put Sergei's death on an entirely different level other than stuff like this; that's rather in a class by itself.

 

[Jhar55]

The day Sergei died
Mihcelle not winning olympic gold 98
Todd never getting an olympic medal
Todd winning worlds
First time I saw Katia skate alone she looked lost and probably felt lost also
Sure there are more all I can think of at this time

Qusetion why was Irena standing alone on the podium?

 

[SeaniBu]

I have to agree with posters who put Sergei's death on an entirely different level other than stuff like this; that's rather in a class by itself.

:agree: I was wondering at first why no one was mentioning the '61 Plane Crash, aren't there old enough posters to remember that? But this makes sense - that it is in a class of "heart break" all by it's self.

Qusetion why was Irena standing alone on the podium?

3rd went up first, it seemed like a long time to her I am sure. The look in her eyes.... agh I am choking up. It just kills me to think of Fumie not getting there and that kind of day for Ira in one swoop... that is a painful Heart break for me. I can't compare that to a death - death is much more then heart break to me anyway, but I was thinking Ira may have told her mom this one is for.... my Mom was just diagnosed with her latest illness... and Fumies look of why, how, what, pain, strength and turns and goes on (I love that Lady!). Geesh. That with all the falls and Shizuka bringing the only medal period for her country....what a emotional roller coster. Just to much for my emotions at the time I 'spose.

 

[crazy4michelle]

Most heartbreakingly sad:

1. Katias tribute to Sergei. Tears from start to finish
2. Michelles bronze in 2002. I remember staying up late to watch. I couldn't sleep afterwards. I laid on the couch until well after 3am. What a heartbreaker.
3. Michelles FOG in 2002. You have to be made of stone not to have that one affect you!
4. Angelas mom. We had no idea what was going on. We got to the arena before anything had happened and we were completely in the dark until we got back to our hotel.

Tears of joy:
1. Rudy at the 96 Nationals. His perfermance was great, but his reaction in the kiss and cry did it for me. So special.
2. Michelles LP at 98 Nationals. So beautiful and so deserving.

I'm sure there are tons more, but its all I can come up with for now!