Amazing Skaters Who Never Won An Individual World Or Olympic Medal

[Diana Delafield]

Naw, he's got a drawer full medals, plus he's "first in the hearts of his countrymen" (both countries), and first in the hearts of Wyatt and Mia. Nothing for us to feel sorry about.

@Diana Delefield Is your avatar you and your partner?

I wish! No, it's Jessica Dube and Bryce Davison at, I think, the 2010 Olympics (judging by the board paint). We did do that pair sit spin that seems to have been abandoned, though, but if I'd tried to hold his face I'd probably have poked him in the eye by accident .

 

[Jontor]

Alena Kostornia really did have bad timing. In 2020 she won the Grand Prix final and Europeans, but Worlds was cancelled that year because of covid.

I am not so sure Kostornaia would have won Worlds 2020. Shcherbakova was closing in on her, and with the grit and determination Anna has, I think she would have beaten Kostornaia.

 

[Karoltyna]

Yebin Mok was a marvelous skater at the junior level in the 1990s. Various difficulties curtailed her senior career. She had a wonderful "ballet on ice" style. If you do a Google image search you can see her doing a split jump -- with pointed toes! (For some reason i wasn't about to link it directly here.)

Now 40, she moved to the UK and started a "Master's Class" studio where she gives classes in off-ice training, core strengthenig and that sort of thing for adults.

https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/447491994_18337593868190067_338497842340585962_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s1080x2048&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=EvA3CUWZNswQ7kNvgHPc7fS&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.xx&oh=00_AYBGc65YqbJYudOlophh7HRcaX63Yv55qjn0defCT2FrYQ&oe=6678073E

I love her content on ig, next year I'll try to enroll to her classes.

 

[Skater Boy]

I am not so sure Kostornaia would have won Worlds 2020. Shcherbakova was closing in on her, and with the grit and determination Anna has, I think she would have beaten Kostornaia.

But Kostornaia would still have won a medal at the 2020 Worlds. Life is about timing. Medeveda, Asada et al would have had olympic titles depending on when the olympics were held.

 

[Seven Sisters]

I always think it’s kind of useless to speculate though.

How many times have we seen someone who has been skating brilliantly all season, and who seems to be a lock for that big season-ending win, encounter some injury, illness, uncharacteristic mistake—or just have a generally off day—and not win.

Examples are legion! And Russian skaters are not immune.

 

[el henry]

What a skater brings to the ice *that day* is what counts.

That is, in fact, what makes figure skating a sport. Any given Sunday, or any given comp.

Of course Monday morning quarterbacking is a feature of any sport as well.

 

[withwings]

I am not so sure Kostornaia would have won Worlds 2020. Shcherbakova was closing in on her, and with the grit and determination Anna has, I think she would have beaten Kostornaia.

...and yet the world will remember Kostornaya because she was and is unforgettable skater; she had what no one else had-uniqueness

 

[Jeanie19]

Here is another thought if the Olympics stayed 92, 96, 00, 04, 08, 12, 16, 20, 24. Instead of 94,98,02, 06, 10, 14, 18, 22. Would some of the outcomes been different? I think timing, peaking at the right time makes a difference.

 

[Mathman]

Here is another thought if the Olympics stayed 92, 96, 00, 04, 08, 12, 16, 20, 24. Instead of 94,98,02, 06, 10, 14, 18, 22. Would some of the outcomes been different? I think timing, peaking at the right time makes a difference.

In 1996 Tara Lininshi got 15th at worlds. By 2000 she was out of competitve figure skating altogether.

Muchelle Kwan was world champion in 1996 and again in 2000.

What-ifs are tricky, though.

 

[labgoat]

Naomi Lang & Peter Tchernyshev 2000 4CC FD

 

[Skater Boy]

I disagree. Keegan had many chances and came very close to standing on the World Podium, and of course he won't have a chance b/c he retired a few seasons ago. Balde and Sawyer more than had the talent and skating skills to be on the podium, but sadly skated at a time that the field was too stacked.

These are my choices in this thread. If you disagree, feel free to do a separate post with your own choices, but these were some of mine and I stick by my choices.

I totally respect your choices but I don't think Balde, Sawyer, Ten had the content to win a medal a tthe world level on their best days. That's just an opinion. PLease don't take it so personally. But we can all look at it in different ways.

Here is another thought if the Olympics stayed 92, 96, 00, 04, 08, 12, 16, 20, 24. Instead of 94,98,02, 06, 10, 14, 18, 22. Would some of the outcomes been different? I think timing, peaking at the right time makes a difference.

It's analytlical deduction but I believe

1992 Yamaguchi (no change)
1996 - Lu Chen
2000 -Michelle Kwan
2004 - Michelle Kwan
2008 - Mao Asada if eleigble
2012 - Yuna Kim
2016 - Evgenia Medeveda
2020 - Kostornaia
2024 - Sakamoto/Russian if allowed to compet

 

[Mathman]

2004 - Michelle Kwan

Oooo, I don't know. Shizuka Arakawa was at her absolute peak at 2004 worlds. If that ahad been "2004 Olympics"...

 

[Jammers]

I totally respect your choices but I don't think Balde, Sawyer, Ten had the content to win a medal a tthe world level on their best days. That's just an opinion. PLease don't take it so personally. But we can all look at it in different ways.

It's analytlical deduction but I believe

1992 Yamaguchi (no change)
1996 - Lu Chen
2000 -Michelle Kwan
2004 - Michelle Kwan
2008 - Mao Asada if eleigble
2012 - Yuna Kim
2016 - Evgenia Medeveda
2020 - Kostornaia
2024 - Sakamoto/Russian if allowed to compet

How does Kwan not win in 1996?

 

[noskates]

I think Michelle Kwan's track record really points out that it all depends on how you skate "that day!" When Michelle was "on" I don't think anyone could beat her in her prime. Unfortunately, she wasn't "on" when it counted sometimes. I still think she's one of the best there ever was or will be - she had it all - beauty, grace, athleticism and usually consistency. I remember crying with her during her exhibition to "Fields of Gold!"

 

[Skating47]

But he's still competing, so we can hope.

Hawayek and Baker

Jason Brown is still competing so hopefully he will soon!

Hawayek and Baker