Archive of newspaper articles

[Walt FSHunter]

1988

A BLOW TO SPORTS

(the article published in Ukrainian 'Sportyvna Hazeta' on February 4, 1988)​

SAD news was recently published by the Western sports press. The talented English figure skater John Curry became the first well-known athlete to fall ill with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).​

The disease has taken a threatening form. Currently, the athlete's health is causing serious concern...

 

[Walt FSHunter]

1988
WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES
PRE-START REVIEW: WHO IS WHO

FOUR BRIGHT FLOWERS

(the article published in russian 'Sovetskiy Sport' on February 4, 1988)​

I must admit, many events of the upcoming Olympic figure skating tournament are unpredictable, and this circumstance should be noted especially, since it reflects above all the rapid qualitative growth of world figure skating. Four beautiful flowers make up the Olympic "bouquet": pairs skating, ice dance, and men’s and women’s singles. I am sure that in none of these disciplines will experts risk "handing out" podium spots ahead of time.
On the other hand, we can confidently talk about the trendsetters. Among them, representatives of traditionally strong schools stand out—national teams from the USSR, USA, Canada, and the GDR.

SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, the sympathies of the audience belonged to those masters who conducted a dialogue on ice, filled with internal passion, and knew how to express the beauty of pairs skating. The Olympic ice sparkled with new colors when Soviet figure skaters Irina Rodnina and Alexei Ulanov, the winners of the 1972 Games, swiftly flew into the arena. Since that time, many victories have been achieved.
Recently, the perfection of styles in pairs skating has followed two directions: athletic and artistic, but with a constant search for the 'golden middle.' In 1986, the programs of the new world champions Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov captivated everyone. They captivated, first of all, with harmony, a combination of athleticism and choreography. Even now, they confidently won the European Championship.
Experienced duets are in a fighting mood—Larisa Selezneva and Oleg Makarov, as well as representatives from GDR—Peggy Schwarz and Alexander König. Let me remind you that the first pair took bronze at the '84 Games in Sarajevo, and the second took bronze at the European Championship. And, the 1984 Olympic champions Elena Valova and Oleg Vasiliev have not yet said their word this season (they missed the European start in Prague).
Across the ocean, the Americans Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard, and Canadians Denise Benning and Lyndon Johnston, Christine Hough and Doug Ladret, are training hard.
The Americans, considering the specific nature of Olympic season, held their national championship during the dates of the European Championship—in mid-January.

THE PROGRESS of world figure skating is especially noticeable when watching modern ice dance. There are so many original ideas! Some skaters, seeing videotapes with recordings of old programs, would smile condescendingly: "Is this really the Stone Age?" But very much is learned by comparison. The main thing is that we have come a long way forward. Today it is more clearly seen how fundamental the first Olympic victory of Soviet duet Lyudmila Pakhomova and Aleksandr Gorshkov in 1976 was.
Twelve years later, our ice dance school woke up and gave life to many interesting styles and distinctive handwritings. They were brought to life in the dances of current world champions Natalia Bestemianova and Andrei Bukin, second-prize winners of the European and World Championships Marina Klimova and Sergei Ponomarenko, and silver medalists of the 1988 European Championship Natalia Annenko and Genrikh Sretenski.
The Olympic ball for ice dancers in Sarajevo left a bright mark on figure skating. The "Bolero" of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean showed everyone how vast the possibilities of ice dance are. It is no accident that in recent years, programs have appeared where the refinement and fantasy of the skaters are uniquely reflected in the music of Bizet, Shchedrin, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Strauss, Gershwin, and Shostakovich.
In Calgary, three Soviet duets will play the main roles. Their competitors will be figure skaters from Canada, the USA, and France. But it seems that the battle for the highest awards is within the reach of only two Soviet duets—Bestemianova-Bukin and Klimova-Ponomarenko. And here, Canadians Tracy Wilson and Robert McCall, Americans Suzanne Semanick and Scott Gregory, as well as the French Isabelle Duchesnay and Paul Duchesnay, who are now helped by Englishman Christopher Dean will strive for bronze medals. However, these duet still need to "settle scores" with our ice dancers Annenko and Sretenski, who over the last two years have achieved impressive progress.

AN EXCITING intrigue awaits us in the men's event. Three unique masters with strong characters will clash in an ice battle. I am talking about the world championship winners: Brian Orser (Canada), Brian Boitano (USA), and Alexander Fadeev (USSR). The intrigue is not just about how they share the medals, but whether someone else can interfere in this battle. After all, the Olympic debutants must also show a fighting character!
What trump cards do the leaders hold? The top skaters from Canada, USA, and the USSR practically have no flaws in their multi-discipline training: they are focused on first place in the "school" (compulsory figures), short program, and free skate. All three favorites have a combination with a reliable 'triple axel' jump in their arsenal. True, Orser has an undeniable advantage—the support of thousands of compatriots. Canadians passionately know how to cheer for 'their own,' no wonder a whole fan club for Orser has been created in the country. And yet...
Yet five-six skaters are ready to claim their right to a medal: our Vladimir Kotin, Viktor Petrenko, Americans Paul Wylie, Christopher Bowman, and Canadian Kurt Browning.
It seems to me that a lot can be decided by even a single mistake made in the heat of battle. After all, under the new rules, a fall after a jump is penalized very harshly.

THE RELIABILITY of their programs needs to be taken care of by our skaters Kira Ivanova and Anna Kondrashova. Let me remind you that at the Olympic tournament in Sarajevo, Ivanova won a bronze medal. Both skaters have repeatedly reached the podium of European and World Championships. However, in 1987, failed to cope with their free program and ended up in 5th and 9th place in Europe. From these positions, they will have to start a new attack on the Olympic podium. This will not be easy, considering that their competitors include Olympic champion Katarina Witt (GDR), three American skaters—Debi Thomas, Caryn Kadavy, Jill Trenary, Canadian champion Elizabeth Manley, Japanese Midori Ito.
Among those who will take the start in Calgary, there are figure skaters capable of receiving the highest scores — 6.0 in practically each of the four program segments. This alone already characterizes the sports level of the tournament as a high-class event. The sporting world is waiting for an ice fireworks display, the likes of which have never been seen before.​

A. GORELIK,
Honored Master of Sports.​

 

[Walt FSHunter]

1988
SOFIA PRESS AGENCY CUP JUNIOR INTERNATIONAL

FIGURE SKATING

(the article published in russian 'Sovetskiy Sport' on February 9, 1988)​

SOFIA. Ukrainian figure skaters competing in the international youth tournament for the Sofia Press Agency Cup won in the singles discipline (Svetlana Starodub and Dmitri Dmitrenko). Vasili Eremenko became the second-prize winner, and the ice dance couple Irina Romanova and Igor Yaroshenko took third place.
​

 

[Walt FSHunter]

1988
WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES
WHO WILL RISE TO THE PODIUM?

The Demons of Brian Orser

(the article published in russian 'Sovetskiy Sport' on February 9, 1988)​

On the evening of February 20 of this year, Canadian sports fans will either breathe a sigh of relief or, conversely, a sigh of grief. It is on this very evening that the name of the new Olympic men's figure skating champion will become known. And a world champion, Canadian Brian Orser, is considered one of the main and most likely contenders for the "gold" of the White Olympics.
Orser first made a name for himself on the international stage in 1981 at the World Championships in Hartford (USA), where he conquered the "triple axel"—a jump considered the most difficult in figure skating. After the Hartford championship, the nickname "Mr. Axel" stuck firmly to Orser.
But brilliant victories were still a long way off. Perfectly prepared in technical terms, artistic, and a highly gifted figure skater, Brian suffered defeat after defeat in the most crucial competitions. In the presence of a huge audience and judges, Brian lost his self-control; his nerves could not withstand the immense pre-start tension, and his entire program went down the drain. "Eternally second"—that is what they began to call Orser back then.
After another defeat at the World Championships in Geneva in 1986, Brian came to the conclusion that he needed to consult a psychologist. He began attending hypnosis sessions, underwent a course of psychotherapy, and at the same time invented his own training model—during training sessions, the public sits in the stands (numerous friends and admirers of Orser), and judges (figure skaters free from training)...
"At first I felt stage fright, just like in real competitions," Brian admitted to journalists, "but gradually I got used to it, and the result was not long in coming."
In 1987, in the American city of Cincinnati, the 26-year-old Canadian finally won the world champion title.
Now, Orser pays special attention to choreographic training. His programs are rightfully considered the most balanced in terms of technique and artistry, and he is regarded as the most elegant figure skater of recent years.
Many specialists predict victory for Orser. But he himself is not sure if, on the crucial day and hour, he will be able to defeat his own evil demons—shattered nerves and slipping self-control.
Whether this is true or not, we will find out on Saturday evening, February 20.​

O. ANISIMOVA.​

 

[Walt FSHunter]

1988
WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

Olympic Kaleidoscope

(the article published in russian 'Sovetskiy Sport' on February 10, 1988)​

Sports commentators in Japan are offering to make a bet that many Japanese people, who usually show not too much interest in the Winter Olympic Games, will find it difficult in February to tear themselves away from the nighttime (due to the time difference) television broadcasts from the capital of the White Olympics — Calgary. And the reason for this is the hopes of Japanese fans for the success of 18-year-old figure skater Midori Ito, who, as they believe here, can pose a serious competition to athletes from socialist countries and North America.
​

 

[Walt FSHunter]

1988
WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

In the Lead — the Soviet Quartet

(the article published in Ukrainian 'Sportyvna Hazeta' on February 16, 1988)​

Immediately after completing their performance, without waiting for the judges' scores, Larisa Selezneva hurriedly headed to the dressing room. But even so, she could not hide her despair and tears. How hard they had worked, polishing their technique, selecting the music — and all for nothing. One gross mistake during the execution of the short program in the pairs competitions cost, naturally, a medal. And although the judges awarded the Soviet duet fairly high marks for execution technique, ranging from 5.6 to 5.8, the scores for technical merit were only 5.0 – 5.3.
BUT IT ALL STARTED so wonderfully for the former European champions from Leningrad. To the fiery music of the "Csárdás," the students of Honored Coach Igor Moskvin skated the first part of the program with great inspiration and drew applause in the stands. And then came that fatal jump, after which Oleg Makarov fell on the ice and crossed out all hopes for a podium finish.
As for the performances of the other contenders for Olympic medals, as expected, a sharp rivalry broke out between the Soviet and American pairs. The Muscovites Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov performed most brilliantly; in one breath, powerfully and flawlessly, they executed their composition, packed with complex elements. The Leningraders Elena Valova and Oleg Vasiliev also felt quite confident on the ice. This is very pleasing, considering that this duet had not competed at this year's European Championship in Prague due to the female partner's illness. Therefore, the national team's coaches were seriously concerned about whether the Olympic champions would have time to recover their top athletic form. As we can see, Elena and Oleg are seriously determined to fight for the gold medals and do not abandon their ambitious intentions to become two-time Olympic champions. What remains is to wish our quartet success in the free program as well. After all, the American duets Jill Watson – Peter Oppegard and Gillian Wachsman – Todd Waggoner are literally hot on their heels.​

OLYMPIC SCOREBOARD
FIGURE SKATING​

Pairs. Short program. 1. E. Gordeeva — S. Grinkov (USSR) — 0.4 points; 2. E. Valova — O. Vasiliev (USSR) — 0.8 3. J. Watson — P. Oppegard (USA) — 1.2; 4. G. Wachsman — T. Waggoner (USA) — 1.6; 5. D. Benning — L. Johnston (Canada) — 2.0; 6. L. Selezneva — O. Makarov (USSR) — 2.4.​

 

[Walt FSHunter]

1988
WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

THIS TREACHEROUS DOUBLE FLIP

(the article published in russian 'Sovetskiy Sport' on February 16, 1988)​

The figure skaters—participants of the Olympic tournament in Calgary—performed their short program in a small, but very cozy Palace of Sports called "Stampede Corral." It is located on the territory of the agricultural exhibition famous all over Canada, where traditional cowboy competitions and exciting rodeos take place. "Stampede Corral" is unusual in another way: to get onto the ice, the athletes have to walk through the spectator foyer and warm up right in front of the public. So the ice show begins long before the announcer's voice invites the first pair onto the ice. By draw, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov were placed first among the main contenders for the Olympic "gold." Therefore, the athletes did not have the right to even the smallest, most insignificant mistake. After all, the ice was still to be taken by no less famous figure skaters, and among them, the only ones who took part in the previous Olympic Games in Sarajevo—Elena Valova and Oleg Vasiliev. Hardened, experienced "old guards."
Gordeeva and Grinkov made a very favorable impression on the judges during training sessions. Their confidence, lightness, and, most importantly, the stability with which they executed all elements won everyone over. After the short program, nine judges placed them in first place. But, as the athletes say, at the White Olympics it is not so much about skating a flawless program. The hardest thing is to maintain psychological energy, not to lose confidence and drive for the fight in the whirlpool of events, and impressions. Katya Gordeeva, having entered the crucible of the Games for the first time, still managed to retain her childlike spontaneity, charm, and not a single muscle on her face showed fatigue from many hours of training, immense nervous tension, which she, of course, experienced. And not everyone managed to do this.
Elena Valova and Oleg Vasiliev, competing for the first time in official competitions of this season, also started their program quite confidently. But, alas, a series of small, frustrating inaccuracies didn’t let them get their usual high scores. The Americans Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard, bronze medalists of the World Championship in Cincinnati last year, tried to take advantage of this. They skated their program, which looked like a variety show, quite well. The judges faced a difficult choice. Neither one nor the other pair managed to get an absolute majority of second places—it turned out to be split, four to four. According to the rules, they had to count the third-place rankings, and only this indicator brought the Leningrad duet forward.
A pleasant surprise for the American fans was the performance of the young figure skaters Gillian Wachsman and Todd Waggoner. Their short program, accompanied by Ukrainian national melodies, won the approval of the audience and the judges. For now, the figure skaters occupy fourth place.
The compatriots of Valova and Vasiliev, former European champions Larisa Selezneva and Oleg Makarov, performed unsuccessfully. Makarov made a mistake while executing a double flip and fell, and this fall threw the bronze medalists of the '84 Olympic Games down to a distant sixth place. Disappointed, Larisa left the ice after the completion of the program without even waiting for the scores, realizing that the judges would be extremely strict and stingy with points, and in tears ran away to the locker room. It is truly frustrating. Four years of preparation for the White Olympics turned out to be blurred by a single mistake.
Exactly the same mistake—a botched double flip—was made by the pair from the GDR, Peggy Schwarz and Alexander König, who were hoping to compete for a podium spot. As a result, they are forced to settle for only eleventh place.
After the end of the competition, before the draw that was supposed to determine the starting order in the free program, unusual exhibition performances took place. A group of twenty girls performed a modern dance. Participants of this number—medalists of the championships of Canada in group figure skating—yes, there is such a discipline in this beautiful sport. And the last pair to perform on the ice that day at the "Stampede Corral" were bears Heidi and Howdy. The number of applause they received was no less than that of the leaders of the Olympic tournament.​

S. CHESKIDOV,
(Corr. of Gosteleradio for "Soviet Sport").​

CALGARY, February 15.
Express-commentary by three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina:

"It is absolutely clear that the main struggle for the podium spots will unfold between the representatives of the USSR and the USA. Schwarz–König and Selezneva–Makarov will hardly be able to intervene in the fight of the strongest. At the present time, Gordeeva–Grinkov are in excellent form. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to get ahead of them. But the fate of the second and third place will be decided, apparently, in a tense struggle in the free program. Will Valova and Vasiliev be able to cope with the tension and cleanly skate their free program?"
​