Who would you consider to be better, Imagine?
While there are a few times Kwan got a higher placement than deserved, she was also held down after the 1999/2000 season GPF, as someone was saying. The judging got dumb during that period, with Slutskaya receiveing way too high of scores on the second mark. Kwan should have won that SP at 2000 Worlds, she just made a tiny mistake, the overall program was still superior to everyone else.
2000/2001 season she should have beaten Slutskaya everywhere, both SP and LP....except for the 2000 Masters LP, where Slutskaya did one of her best performances ever and Kwan's program was total vanilla. Then in 2001/2002 Kwan definitely, definitely should have beaten Slutskaya at the GPF. The Olympics is more debatable, but still not very close to me, Kwan had actual choreography and interpretation, whereas Slutskaya gave one of her most dour LP performances. Kwan definitely should have beaten her in the LP at 2002 Worlds too (and overall, realistically, but the placement system with the qualification round during this time period deflated the relative value of the LP).
1999 Worlds SP wasn't a good competition but talking about the placements can be amusing, there were a lot of variables happening. I would have scored those Short Programs like this:
01.
Maria Butyrskaya, 5.6/5.7 - a totally average program and technically there were small flaws (weak landings on the Lutz and Axel, free leg on the Layback), yet in this competition that's enough just because she skated relatively clean with some maturity.
02.
Vanessa Gusmeroli, 5.6/5.6 - the tech elements were pretty much equal to Butyrskaya, the jump combo was slightly more shaky but the spin combo was more difficult. The transitions are just a little weaker here and the musical interpretation a little less on point.
03.
Julia Soldatova, 5.6/5.5 - a technically solid SP (but not good technique on the Flip), which is enough to put her up here despite a superficial presentation.
04.
Michelle Kwan, 5.3/5.8 - not a very good showing for her, but still considerably better skating quality, musicality, and refinement than most of the people here.
05.
Anna Rechnio, 5.5/5.5 - tons of speed, strong edges, and huge jumps, but slightly two-footed on the Lutz and where is the required footwork going into the Flip? She does one forward cross and that's it. Also a weak layback spin and not a memorable program.
06.
Diana Poth, 5.5/5.5 - the 3Toe+3Toe can be considered equal to 3Lutz+2Toe, but the 2Axel here was wonky. A fairly enjoyable program, because she is energetic and the choreography itself is mostly good (just not that last spin position), but it's rather cheesy when set to this music. Her posture at times and the way she rushes a couple of the moves doesn't help.
07.
Lucinda Ruh, 5.2/5.8 - THIS WAS THE BEST PERFORMANCE. Unfortunately her jumps were not competitive but the spins must be accounted for on the technical mark; I'd say she deserves anywhere from 4th to 7th place here depending on how you credit them.
08.
Elena Liashenko, 5.4/5.5 - a fine enough performance, but small technical flaws all over the place - no flow on the jump combo, wrong edge on the flip, squeaky axel landing, last spiral position shaky, slightly short on required sit spin revolutions if you want to get picky.
09.
Yulia Lavrenchuk, 5.5/5.3 - speedy but very simplistic and back-pumping. Huge triple jumps although wrong edge on the Flip.
10.
Sarah Hughes, 5.4/5.4 - flawed technique on the triple jumps and immature musical interpretation and edge work, but her positions and attention to choreographic detail is good.
11.
Tatiana Malinina, 5.4/5.3 - significant mistake on the jump combo, lack of flexibility in the spiral sequence, lackluster spins, a bland program, and she skated scared.
). Not to mention, they trot her out whenever the need someone to give a tour of the national campaign headquarters in Brooklyn to representatives of the press. 