And World bronze the year before she won the Olymipcs. Kind of similar to Urmanov at the time he won. (Except he stayed in longer afterward and managed to win some more medals at Euros and Champions Series/GP, but never again at Worlds.)
That would make an interesting thread: Olympic champions who skated great at the Olympics to win over more famous rivals who didn't bring the goods. As I recall, Urmanov was well-known in Russia/Soviet Ubion, but was much less in the public eye internationally than Elvis Stojko, Victor Petrenko or Kurt Browning. As a pro he was often cast (in the west and especially the U.S.) in the role of villain, trying to sneak up on the crowd favorite American heroes. I hope he made lots of money.
are you sure you want to reopen this topicThat would make an interesting thread: Olympic champions who skated great at the Olympics to win over more famous rivals who didn't bring the goods. As I recall, Urmanov was well-known in Russia/Soviet Ubion, but was much less in the public eye internationally than Elvis Stojko, Victor Petrenko or Kurt Browning. As a pro he was often cast (in the west and especially the U.S.) in the role of villain, trying to sneak up on the crowd favorite American heroes. I hope he made lots of money.
Sarha Hughes actually had a swift abd steady rise, peaking at the right moment. At 2001 Worlds she overtook Maria Butyrskaya for the position of clear #3 in the world. Irina Slutskaya and Michelle Kwan were the Olympic favorites but neither skated her best at Salt Lake City.
As I recall a lot of people thought that Sarah sholuld have been placed ahead of Michelle at 2000-2001 Skate America and maybe 2001-02 Skate America as well, but she hadn't paid her dues yet. (When you go up against the champion you have to knock her out -- you're not going to win on points. )
That would make an interesting thread: Olympic champions who skated great at the Olympics to win over more famous rivals who didn't bring the goods. As I recall, Urmanov was well-known in Russia/Soviet Ubion, but was much less in the public eye internationally than Elvis Stojko, Victor Petrenko or Kurt Browning. As a pro he was often cast (in the west and especially the U.S.) in the role of villain, trying to sneak up on the crowd favorite American heroes. I hope he made lots of money.
Well, at least they skated great.are you sure you want to reopen this topic
Actually, the event I was thinking of was the the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, when Wolfgamg Schwarz unexpectedly beat the three-time and reigning world champion Emmerich Danzer. The aptly named Danzer had beaten Schwarz at 1966 wolrds, 1967 worlds, 1966 Europeans, 1967 Europeans and 1968 Europeans, taking gold to Schwarz' silver at all five face-tp-face meetings.are you sure you want to reopen this topic
I guess this one would be fine to debate... you may be having a monologue though.. not many people in this forum would remember 1968... I mean, my first Olympics as a very young fan were 1988..
I guess this one would be fine to debate... you may be having a monologue though.. not many people in this forum would remember 1968... I mean, my first Olympics as a very young fan were 1988..
I will stay from such debates
I have given enough blood, sweat and tears over these in the last 2 decades.... blood, sweat, tears and time I will never get back 
His programs were strange and definitely not prepared for American audiences. It seemed like he didn't care whether COI/SOI wanted him or not, which was where all the money was back then. It frustrated me because he was a strong skater with really good lines, but hardly any of his programs showcased that. His chicken leg move, the random meaningless hand flips, and answering the telephone stand out as examples of his poor choreographic choices.
Sarah actually defeated BOTH Michelle and Irina at Skate Canada that season.That would make an interesting thread: Olympic champions who skated great at the Olympics to win over more famous rivals who didn't bring the goods. As I recall, Urmanov was well-known in Russia/Soviet Ubion, but was much less in the public eye internationally than Elvis Stojko, Victor Petrenko or Kurt Browning. As a pro he was often cast (in the west and especially the U.S.) in the role of villain, trying to sneak up on the crowd favorite American heroes. I hope he made lots of money.
Sarha Hughes actually had a swift abd steady rise, peaking at the right moment. At 2001 Worlds she overtook Maria Butyrskaya for the position of clear #3 in the world. Irina Slutskaya and Michelle Kwan were the Olympic favorites but neither skated her best at Salt Lake City.
As I recall a lot of people thought that Sarah sholuld have been placed ahead of Michelle at 2000-2001 Skate America and maybe 2001-02 Skate America as well, but she hadn't paid her dues yet. (When you go up against the champion you have to knock her out -- you're not going to win on points. )
Larkyn Austman, finished 3rd at Nationals... Canada sent her because she had done well enough but I never expected that Alaine wouldn't qualify... As a matter of fact, Larkyn barely beat Alaine at Nationals... (she didn't even have a 3lz if I recall) but Alaine's poor showing in the SP scared the fed enough... that and her poor showing at GPs that season. So this would be for lack of technical arsenal...
