S
SkateFan4Life
Guest
I watched my videotape of the 1995 World Figure Skating Championships, which were contested in Birmingham, England, last evening. It was a very memorable championships!
Fourteen-year-old Michelle Kwan, the 1995 US silver medalist, was in fifth place after the short program and, mathematically, had a shot at winning the gold medal with a victory in the long program. She landed six strong triples and showed some real artistry, albeit a youthful artistry. Sandra Bezic, commentating, said, "The only thing the judges can fault Michelle for is being fourteen." She skated like a young girl - not quite like a young woman. Michelle was ecstatic when she landed her second triple lutz, and she was in tears in the kiss and cry area. Her marks were very high, but not high enough to win the long program. She finished second in the long and fourth overall. She showed a great deal of class and grace by not bemoaning the fact that she did not win a medal. She told the commentators that she was thrilled with her performance and was happy to have placed as high as she did.
Seventeen-year-old Nicole Bobek, the 1995 US champion, came into the long program in first place, after skating a terrific short program. Unfortunately, she lost her focus halfway through the program. Nicole fell twice and stumbled on a third jump, as she seemed to unravel towards the end of the program. She was very upset, understandably, and was filmed crying and crying, in the kiss and cry area and afterwards. Bobek collected herself and told the commentators that she was happy to have won her first World medal.
One of those "up close and personal" segments was shown of Bobek. It began, to paraphrase, "Nicole Bobek has everything an American champion figure skater is supposed to have. Blond hair, pizazz, and a police record. " Bobek had been arrested for "home invasion" a few weeks before Nationals, but the charges had been dropped. I give her a lot of credit for showing up at Worlds to face the media with their barrage of questions. I thought that Nicole's blue costume to her "Dr. Zhivago" long program was stunning. Beautiful!
Lu Chen of Chin won her first and only World title in that competition. She came into the long program in third place and skated the long program of her life. Great jumps, gorgeous spins, lots of energy. As she came to the end of her program, Bezic said, "Lu Chen has successfully checked off all of her triple jumps." She certainly did. What a wonderful victory for her!
Sometimes you can't figure out the judges. Steven Cousins of Great Britain skated a tremendous short program, with a solid triple axel/double toe combination, yet received technical marks of 5.2 , 5.3, and 5.4. It was a matter of thinking, "What do I have to do to get good marks?"
Elvis Stokjo of Canada successfully defended his World title with two great programs. Elvis had injured his ankle at the 1995 Canadian Championships and had re-injured the ankle at practice at Worlds. Somehow he managed to skate through the pain and discomfort. Way to go, Elvis!
It was nice to see Todd Eldredge, the 1995 US Champion, win the silver medal that year. Todd had had three miserable years, competitively speaking, and he skated as though he had something to prove.
Fourteen-year-old Michelle Kwan, the 1995 US silver medalist, was in fifth place after the short program and, mathematically, had a shot at winning the gold medal with a victory in the long program. She landed six strong triples and showed some real artistry, albeit a youthful artistry. Sandra Bezic, commentating, said, "The only thing the judges can fault Michelle for is being fourteen." She skated like a young girl - not quite like a young woman. Michelle was ecstatic when she landed her second triple lutz, and she was in tears in the kiss and cry area. Her marks were very high, but not high enough to win the long program. She finished second in the long and fourth overall. She showed a great deal of class and grace by not bemoaning the fact that she did not win a medal. She told the commentators that she was thrilled with her performance and was happy to have placed as high as she did.
Seventeen-year-old Nicole Bobek, the 1995 US champion, came into the long program in first place, after skating a terrific short program. Unfortunately, she lost her focus halfway through the program. Nicole fell twice and stumbled on a third jump, as she seemed to unravel towards the end of the program. She was very upset, understandably, and was filmed crying and crying, in the kiss and cry area and afterwards. Bobek collected herself and told the commentators that she was happy to have won her first World medal.
One of those "up close and personal" segments was shown of Bobek. It began, to paraphrase, "Nicole Bobek has everything an American champion figure skater is supposed to have. Blond hair, pizazz, and a police record. " Bobek had been arrested for "home invasion" a few weeks before Nationals, but the charges had been dropped. I give her a lot of credit for showing up at Worlds to face the media with their barrage of questions. I thought that Nicole's blue costume to her "Dr. Zhivago" long program was stunning. Beautiful!
Lu Chen of Chin won her first and only World title in that competition. She came into the long program in third place and skated the long program of her life. Great jumps, gorgeous spins, lots of energy. As she came to the end of her program, Bezic said, "Lu Chen has successfully checked off all of her triple jumps." She certainly did. What a wonderful victory for her!
Sometimes you can't figure out the judges. Steven Cousins of Great Britain skated a tremendous short program, with a solid triple axel/double toe combination, yet received technical marks of 5.2 , 5.3, and 5.4. It was a matter of thinking, "What do I have to do to get good marks?"
Elvis Stokjo of Canada successfully defended his World title with two great programs. Elvis had injured his ankle at the 1995 Canadian Championships and had re-injured the ankle at practice at Worlds. Somehow he managed to skate through the pain and discomfort. Way to go, Elvis!
It was nice to see Todd Eldredge, the 1995 US Champion, win the silver medal that year. Todd had had three miserable years, competitively speaking, and he skated as though he had something to prove.
