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MSI83
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Flashback- 1996 Worlds
The 1996 World Championships in Edmonton provided us with exciting moments in the men and women division. The 1995-1996 year in skating was a time of drama and excitment (coming off the Tonya-Nancy scandal).
Ladies:
In the ladies competition we had the classic duel between consistent and newly transformed Michelle Kwan of the USA vs beautiful veteran, but sometimes inconsistent Lu Chen of China. We also had the exciting comback of 1989 world champ and 1992 Olympic silver medalist Midori Ito. Many were hoping Ito could make a comeback to amateur skating, and win a medal in her homecountry Olympics in Nagano 1998.
In the Short Programs we had the emergence of new talent in the youthful and powerful Irina Slutskaya of Russia and phenom Tara Lipinski of the USA . Slutskaya had a great year leading up to worlds. She medaled in all her GP events, and grabbed a bronze in the first ever Champion Series Final in February of 1996. Needless to say Slutskaya did not disappoint. She nailed her triple lutz/douple loop combo, triple loop, as well as a variation of a "Tano" 2axel. Irina had great speed, fast spins, and great attack in this program. Lipinski unfortunately didn't have the same fortune. She fell on her double loop in her triple combo, as well as falling on her triple flip. Surya Bonaly of France, reigning world silver medalist was struggling with consistency, and missed her major combo. 2 skaters who had meltdowns at the 1993 worlds came back to Edmonton to prove their worth. Maria Butrskaya of Russia, and Tonia Kwiatkowski of the USA both skated very solid Sp's to remain in the top 10 goin into the LP's. Midori Ito's comeback came crashing down in the SP, where she tried her triple axel, but had a big stumble on the landing, affectively taking her out of the competition. Gold medal faves Chen, and Kwan skated beautiful but very different programs to take 1-2. Michelle skated a very effervescent Flamengo number, and nailed her triple lutz combo. Reigning world champ Lu Chen skated a very soft, elegant program to "Spring Breeze" with beautiful flowing edges, and powerful jumps.
In the Long Programs Michelle and Lu skated back to back and stunned the crowd with perfection. Lulu did her classic "Rach" program, and nailed 6 triples with perfect choreography. Michelle skated her classic "Salome" and threw in a daring triple toe loop at the end if her program knowing she needed it to win, after doubling her triple/triple combo. Both skaters earned 6.0's for presentation, but Michelle won 6 of the judges overall votes. Irina took the bronze in what was a somewhat shaky program for her. she fell on her opening triple lutz, and lacked polish and finesse (very evident here against Lulu and Michelle). Maria B had one glitch on her triple loop but otherwise skated very well to "Malguena" to finish 4th.
Disappointing programs: Surya B, and Midori Ito. Midori doubled out of most of her jumps, and looked to lack the power we're used to seeing from her.
Pleasent surprises: Tanja S of Germany, Tonia K (who was undermarked for a very solid program) and Tara Lipinski who nailed a triple/triple combo to jump up to 15th place.
Other notables: Future world bronze medalist Vanessa Gumeroli (14th), Liashenko (12th),worlds best spinner Lucinda Ruh (19th), Jennifer Robinson who beat Josee Chouinard at nats to make the world team (21st).
Men:
The mens competition also had great performances, and heartbreak. Elvis Stojko of Canada came to these worlds, expected to win. He was reigning world champ. the unthinkable happened in the SP where he fell on the triple axel. The papers all read "The King is dead". He came back in the Lp, and skated a good program but had too much ground to make up. Rudy Galindo of the US, newly minted national champ, landed beautiful triple axels and great choreography to nab his first (and only) world medal. Young upping comer Ilia Kuilk of Russia was a formidable oppent for American vet Todd Eldrege. It was the classic East vs West styles of skating. Ilia had wonderful flow, great edging, and super jumps. Todd had solid skating technique,fast centered spins, if not a bit "mechanical". Todd landed a gorgeous triple axel/triple toe, as well as his nemesis jump the sal. He edged out Kulik for the gold. In what is a classic snapshot, we see him hug his mother and place the gold medal around her neck at the medal ceremony.
Other notables: Reigning Olympic champ Alexie Uramnov had some handowns and stumbles on his jumps for a disappointing (5th), The always exciting but unpredictable reigning Olympic bronze medalist, Phillipe Candeloro (9th), Eric Millot first skater to land triple loop/triple loop at the CSF in Paris (7th), entertaining but inconsistent Dan Hollander of the US (10th).
The 1996 World Championships in Edmonton provided us with exciting moments in the men and women division. The 1995-1996 year in skating was a time of drama and excitment (coming off the Tonya-Nancy scandal).
Ladies:
In the ladies competition we had the classic duel between consistent and newly transformed Michelle Kwan of the USA vs beautiful veteran, but sometimes inconsistent Lu Chen of China. We also had the exciting comback of 1989 world champ and 1992 Olympic silver medalist Midori Ito. Many were hoping Ito could make a comeback to amateur skating, and win a medal in her homecountry Olympics in Nagano 1998.
In the Short Programs we had the emergence of new talent in the youthful and powerful Irina Slutskaya of Russia and phenom Tara Lipinski of the USA . Slutskaya had a great year leading up to worlds. She medaled in all her GP events, and grabbed a bronze in the first ever Champion Series Final in February of 1996. Needless to say Slutskaya did not disappoint. She nailed her triple lutz/douple loop combo, triple loop, as well as a variation of a "Tano" 2axel. Irina had great speed, fast spins, and great attack in this program. Lipinski unfortunately didn't have the same fortune. She fell on her double loop in her triple combo, as well as falling on her triple flip. Surya Bonaly of France, reigning world silver medalist was struggling with consistency, and missed her major combo. 2 skaters who had meltdowns at the 1993 worlds came back to Edmonton to prove their worth. Maria Butrskaya of Russia, and Tonia Kwiatkowski of the USA both skated very solid Sp's to remain in the top 10 goin into the LP's. Midori Ito's comeback came crashing down in the SP, where she tried her triple axel, but had a big stumble on the landing, affectively taking her out of the competition. Gold medal faves Chen, and Kwan skated beautiful but very different programs to take 1-2. Michelle skated a very effervescent Flamengo number, and nailed her triple lutz combo. Reigning world champ Lu Chen skated a very soft, elegant program to "Spring Breeze" with beautiful flowing edges, and powerful jumps.
In the Long Programs Michelle and Lu skated back to back and stunned the crowd with perfection. Lulu did her classic "Rach" program, and nailed 6 triples with perfect choreography. Michelle skated her classic "Salome" and threw in a daring triple toe loop at the end if her program knowing she needed it to win, after doubling her triple/triple combo. Both skaters earned 6.0's for presentation, but Michelle won 6 of the judges overall votes. Irina took the bronze in what was a somewhat shaky program for her. she fell on her opening triple lutz, and lacked polish and finesse (very evident here against Lulu and Michelle). Maria B had one glitch on her triple loop but otherwise skated very well to "Malguena" to finish 4th.
Disappointing programs: Surya B, and Midori Ito. Midori doubled out of most of her jumps, and looked to lack the power we're used to seeing from her.
Pleasent surprises: Tanja S of Germany, Tonia K (who was undermarked for a very solid program) and Tara Lipinski who nailed a triple/triple combo to jump up to 15th place.
Other notables: Future world bronze medalist Vanessa Gumeroli (14th), Liashenko (12th),worlds best spinner Lucinda Ruh (19th), Jennifer Robinson who beat Josee Chouinard at nats to make the world team (21st).
Men:
The mens competition also had great performances, and heartbreak. Elvis Stojko of Canada came to these worlds, expected to win. He was reigning world champ. the unthinkable happened in the SP where he fell on the triple axel. The papers all read "The King is dead". He came back in the Lp, and skated a good program but had too much ground to make up. Rudy Galindo of the US, newly minted national champ, landed beautiful triple axels and great choreography to nab his first (and only) world medal. Young upping comer Ilia Kuilk of Russia was a formidable oppent for American vet Todd Eldrege. It was the classic East vs West styles of skating. Ilia had wonderful flow, great edging, and super jumps. Todd had solid skating technique,fast centered spins, if not a bit "mechanical". Todd landed a gorgeous triple axel/triple toe, as well as his nemesis jump the sal. He edged out Kulik for the gold. In what is a classic snapshot, we see him hug his mother and place the gold medal around her neck at the medal ceremony.
Other notables: Reigning Olympic champ Alexie Uramnov had some handowns and stumbles on his jumps for a disappointing (5th), The always exciting but unpredictable reigning Olympic bronze medalist, Phillipe Candeloro (9th), Eric Millot first skater to land triple loop/triple loop at the CSF in Paris (7th), entertaining but inconsistent Dan Hollander of the US (10th).