In honor of Kwan's Hall of Fame induction

[blue dog]

What's so impressive is that she managed to be the greatest skater of her time without the difficult 3-3s and super flexible spins. So to answer your question, she attempted to up the ante for a bit, but in the end figured it was better to stick to her strengths. And by doing that she ended up with 3 world titles and 7 US titles after Nagano. Not too shabby for a skater with only 3t-3t.

Could Michelle have beaten this:

http://youtu.be/dt56O-eFWDw

 

[ladybug]

You are kidding right??? If Michelle ever skated a program exactly as Laura did, Michelle would have ended in last place.

To answer your question, Michelle would have beaten that program hands down.

 

[Mathman]

Michelle was said, in another thread, to be leery of skating under CoP. How many feel as I do that she felt anger toward her team (Frank) for not pushing her to a more difficult triple triple? MK was winning without them, or at least always on Podium. Do you fans/non-fans feel she could have upped the ante right after Nagano to compete with Irina/Sarah/whoever had a stronger triple triple? Why did she stay with the easiest when she had such solid technique? Was that not the reason she went to Artunian?

Conjectures have gone both ways. That Frank Carroll wanted to work the triple Lutz/triple loop into Michelle routine and it wasn't working from Michelle's point of view. And the opposite, that Michelle was the one pushing for tougher content, while Frank was the one saying, if it's not broke don't fix it.

At 2001 Skate America Michelle missed her 3T/3T. The next week at Skate Canada, having announced the split with her coach, she fell on the first jump of her 3T/3T and tried a 3Lz/3L but was unsuccessful. She finished third for the first time in years. A few weeks before that was the famous press conference in which they asked Michelle and Frank how training was going. Frank said, everything is going fine. Michelle, almost in tears, burst out, no, nothing is going fine!

To me it seems likely that team Michelle was working on the 3Lz/3L that fall but had not developed the 80-90% consistency that Frank required before putting it in a program.

I don't think that was the cause of the breakup of the team, though. I think Michelle was just going through that period in a young person's life when the burden of the world seems crushing, when you are torn between independence and relying on the advice of parents and teachers, when every decision you make seems like the wrong one. Michelle was afraid of losing out on a normal life, but also wanted her special life. She wanted to go to college and to live in the dorm like everyone else -- but then again, she didn't.

The only thing Michelle ever said about why she split with her choreographer and coach was, "I want to take control of my own skating."

Substitute "life" for "skating," and I think that is as close as we will ever come to getting inside Michelle's head.

 

[dorispulaski]

Perhaps her hip difficulties started earlier than we know, and maybe the 3lz3lp was very painful to work on.

 

[Jo1]

Skating Hall of Fame

Congratulations Michelle on your induction into the Skating Hall of Fame. I don't know anyone who deserves it more!!!

 

[KKonas]

No one reallly knows the reason for Michelle's split with Frank as neither are talking about it. Some guessed it was about money, but I very much doubt it. I was there at that Skate America and Frank was devastated to be there without Michelle. There were tears in his eyes when I went to talk to him. Perhaps the best answer is that she did want more control of her training for whatever reason.
Frank always staunchly supported Michelle even after their split and these days they both have a comfortable relationship. Time heals.

 

[Olympia]

Conjectures have gone both ways. That Frank Carroll wanted to work the triple Lutz/triple loop into Michelle routine and it wasn't working from Michelle's point of view. And the opposite, that Michelle was the one pushing for tougher content, while Frank was the one saying, if it's not broke don't fix it.

At 2001 Skate America Michelle missed her 3T/3T. The next week at Skate Canada, having announced the split with her coach, she fell on the first jump of her 3T/3T and tried a 3Lz/3L but was unsuccessful. She finished third for the first time in years. A few weeks before that was the famous press conference in which they asked Michelle and Frank how training was going. Frank said, everything is going fine. Michelle, almost in tears, burst out, no, nothing is going fine!

To me it seems likely that team Michelle was working on the 3Lz/3L that fall but had not developed the 80-90% consistency that Frank required before putting it in a program.

I don't think that was the cause of the breakup of the team, though. I think Michelle was just going through that period in a young person's life when the burden of the world seems crushing, when you are torn between independence and relying on the advice of parents and teachers, when every decision you make seems like the wrong one. Michelle was afraid of losing out on a normal life, but also wanted her special life. She wanted to go to college and to live in the dorm like everyone else -- but then again, she didn't.

The only thing Michelle ever said about why she split with her choreographer and coach was, "I want to take control of my own skating."

Substitute "life" for "skating," and I think that is as close as we will ever come to getting inside Michelle's head.

I think you're right, Math. And though it's frustrating for me personally not to know why this breakup happened at what seems like such an inopportune time (I really feel that had she stayed with him, she would have won the gold--but maybe she wouldn't have stayed in skating for those subsequent years, so things worked out in their odd way), I admire Michelle for NOT airing in public whatever issues there were. She never said anything rash against Frank, nor he against her, and I gather they later were on friendly terms. I'm sure Michelle acknowledges Carroll's contributions to her stellar career, and I'm sure Carroll looks back fondly on the time he had such an inspired and hardworking student. Both of them displayed a maturity and civility that one doesn't often see in the world.

KKonas, I just looked back and spotted your post, which verifies my thoughts on the matter. What a heartrending image you give us from that competition, with Frank tearing up. The one thing I remember from that time (besides my absolute shock at the announcement) was Frank saying that if she ever wanted to ask him something or come to him, he would be at her service. I've had a soft spot for him since that time.

 

[Tonichelle]

Frank always staunchly supported Michelle even after their split and these days they both have a comfortable relationship. Time heals.

hopefully Orser and Yuna's split will become that way over time... one can hope.

 

[Olympia]

Oh, Tonichelle--I hope and pray. The YuNa-Brian split was so unsettling. Their relationship seemed so symbiotic—each of them giving a new career to the other. And the personal bond seemed so strong and even intense.

I was distressed when Michelle left Frank but mainly because I feared that this move might cost Michelle the gold. The emotional factor didn't upset me nearly as much because even then, both of them were so circumspect and civil about it.

But YuNa's departure from Orser really stung. There was so much emotion surrounding it, and it was so bewildering. To me it was like hearing that a married couple with a long, close relationship were suddenly divorcing. I even found it hard to enjoy rewatching the events of the last, miraculous year of YuNa's march toward the OGM. And if I felt that way, from this great a distance, I have to wonder whether Brian and/or YuNa also couldn't bear to look back at those years when he gave his all and so did she. Were their memories tarnished by the split as well?

 

[Mathman]

^ I am certain of it. I bet they (Yu-na and Orser) already have.

 

[emma]

Perhaps her hip difficulties started earlier than we know, and maybe the 3lz3lp was very painful to work on.

This is something I have often wondered about --

 

[Sylvia]

MK graudated grad school last May. Anyone know what she has been up to last 6 months?

You can read her own words at MKF : http://mkforum.net/forum/showthread.php?25796-HI-MKF!-xoxo-MK

 

[Mathman]

^ "One reader thanks Sylvia for this post 20 million times."

 

[Olympia]

Thanks so much for this link! How lovely to read Michelle's post and to hear how much she is enjoying life.

I hope that despite all the good years she has had already, 2012 is the best year yet for her.

And for all of GS as well.

 

[skateluvr]

I replied to this thread, it disappeared. What????

 

[skateluvr]

I said Kwanatic would surely say, MK would easily beat lovely Laura's skate. What is wrong with that Moderator?

 

[Tonichelle]

I said Kwanatic would surely say, MK would easily beat lovely Laura's skate. What is wrong with that Moderator?

I'm not seeing anything that suggests a post was moderated on here?

 

[demarinis5]

You can read her own words at MKF : http://mkforum.net/forum/showthread.php?25796-HI-MKF!-xoxo-MK

Thank you Sylvia. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Michelle.

 

[Mathman]

I replied to this thread, it disappeared. What????

Sometimes when two people are replying to a thread at the same time there is a glitch in the software and a post is dropped.

 

[skateluvr]

Oh???