Tara Lipinski

[Mathman]

Tara Kristen Lipinski is an American former Ladies figure skater who upon retirement developed her career as an actress and sports commentator. She was born on 10 June 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

She is the 1998 Olympic champion, the 1997 World champion, a two-time Champions Series Final (currently GPF) champion (1997 and 1998), and the 1997 U.S. national champion. She is the youngest ever to win a World Figure Skating title, having done so at the age of 14 years, 9 months and 10 days. Until Sochi 2014 she was also the youngest Olympic champion (Yulia Lipnitskaya, who is 6 days younger than Tara won a gold medal in the team event). She is still, however, the youngest individual Olympic gold medalist.

She was particularly famous for her historic triple loop/triple loop combination, which she successfully executed in the LP/FS at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games.

She retired from competitive skating in April 1998, she turned professional and started touring first with the Champions on Ice and then with the Stars on Ice. Among her successes as a professional skater the most notables are the victory at the 1999 World Professional Championships (with 17 years of age she was the youngest skater to achieve so) and three gold medals with the USA team at the Ice Wars events.

Tara also participated in multiple TV films, series and other programs and since 1993, together with Johnny Weir, former US Men figure skater, she's been working as an NBC sports commentator.

During her competitive career, she was coached by Richard Callaghan.

On 24 June 2017 Tara married Todd Kapostasy, a television producer. Lipinski's broadcast partner Johnny Weir was a bridesman at her wedding.

Last updated on 28 April 2019 by Mohacz​

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Lipinski

Olympic.org profile
https://www.olympic.org/tara-lipinski

Encyclopedia Britannica entry
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tara-Lipinski

Socia Media
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taralipinski/?hl=pl
Twitter - https://twitter.com/taralipinski
Web page - https://taralipinski.com/
YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWzBP-0gHkinyXDnfQ__bhg

Programs and Videos
1997/1998
SP: "Once Upon a December" / "Journey to the Past" from "Anastasia" by David Newman; choreo. by Sandra Bezic
FS: "Prelude and Opening" (from "The Rainbow") by Carl Davis / "Scenes of Summer-Festival" by Lee Holdridge, London Symphony Orchestra; choreo. by Sandra Bezic
Ex: "Journey to the Past" from "Anastasia" performed by Liz Callaway
XVIII Winter Olympic Games Nagano 1998

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz3VOFuQ-Ng / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPUE1QtjvmQ
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_lGt6auYDo / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRHzAt2fwqs
Medal Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XghIMDfomu4
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAc-pJvsKpM
​

1998 U.S. National Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGw8RUYP2TQ
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5gaP59enTI​

1997/98 Champions Series (current GP) Final

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46uZeK8uHOM
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNMyZawqRy4 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7alVQ3V170​

1997 GP Trophee Lalique

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tTvI-RjS2M
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Kcl3HyXSs
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6e74FxoLfM
​

1997 GP Skate America

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW8139eopi8
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpWerkMoNgI​

1996/1997
SP: "Little Women" by Thomas Newman; choreo. by Sandra Bezic
FS: "Much Ado About Nothing" by Patrick Doyle / "Sense and Sensibility" by Patrick Doyle; choreo. by Sandra Bezic
Ex: "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves

1997 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUpZBt_x5cQ
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBrMZxhjWVY / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQnchw3YK3I
Medal ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecmP-E3fpSY
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHPNOEeueZg
​

1997 U.S. National Championships

SP: no video found
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSGrLVIbD8k / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GkLbzBQitg / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzej8KE72Xs
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBbDHZOZf2Q
​

1996/97 Champions Series (now GP) Final

SP: no video found
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lcV_UihsFA / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHiG8GZuR6U
Profile on FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D4b7sZryzo
​

1996 GP Trophee Lalique

SP: no video found
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRGPRj83OUY / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXcNh_Hc1i4​

1996 GP Nations Cup

SP: no video found
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3PsXckKipg​

1995/1996
SP: "On the Town" by Leonard Bernstein
FS: "Speed" by Mark Mancina / "The Prince of Tides" by James Newton Howard
Ex1: "On the Town" by Leonard Bernstein
Ex2: "Speed" by Mark Mancina / "The Prince of Tides" by James Newton Howard

1996 World Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn34pAZqC9c
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI028GwtNds / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A31FpynMZT8​

1996 Junior World Championships

SP: no video found
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjfaP6XuaXo​

1996 U.S. National Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHU1ljH2pIw
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRxKCHFeKQ0​

1995 Nebelhorn Trophy

SP: no video found
FS: no video found
Ex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4TwUOoow6E
​

1994/1995
SP: Cirque du Soleil
FS: "Samson and Delilah" by Camille Saint-Saens

1995 World Junior Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AxgLITjPBk
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zmkAQxAB18 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OaXanVdv50​

1995 U.S. Junior National Championships

SP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vnc62K2LPQ
FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPql58mJNG0 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u6R4jfvzKc​

1990 South Atlantic Regionals (Preliminary Girls): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6hDRkistvI

Results

Competition	SP	LP/FS	TS
1997/1998
1998 World Championships	WD
XVIII Winter Olympic Games Nagano 1998	2	1	1
1998 U.S. National Championships	4	2	2
1997/98 Champions Series (now GP) Final	1	1	1
1997 GP Trophee Lalique	1	2	2
1997 GP Skate America	2	2	2
1996/1997
1997 World Championships	1	2	1*
1997 U.S. National Championships	2	1	1
1996/97 Champions Series (now GP) Final	1	1	1
1996 GP Skate Canada International	3	2	2
1996 GP Trophee Lalique	3	3	3
1996 GP Nations Cup	2	2	2
1995/1996
1996 World Championships	23	11	15*
1996 Junior World Championships	7	5	5
1996 U.S. National Championships	5	3	3
1995 Nebelhorn Trophy	6	3	4
1994/1995
1995 World Junior Championships	4	5	4*
1995 U.S. Junior National Championships	2	2	2
1993/1994
1994 U.S. Novice National Championships			2

* Until the 2002/2003 season at the ISU Championships (especially the Worlds), the singles event was composed of the QR (qualifying round A and B), SP and LP/FS. The factorized score of the QR was added to the results obtained in the subsequent segments to give the TS (total score). Since the above table does not contain the QR results, below please find a brief summary of Tara's placings:
- At the 1997 World Championships Tara was 1st in her QB group.
- At the 1996 World Championships Tara was 2nd in her QA group.
- At the 1995 World Junior Championships Tara was 1st in her QB group.

Professional competitions
TP = technical program
AP = artistic program

1997 Pro-Am Nice and Easy

1. "Once Upon a December" / "Journey to the Past"
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7SlRR9P7l0 - "Reach" by Gloria Estefan​

1998 Hershey's Kisses Challenge

1: no video found
2: "Gliding"
3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eU-cRfwRpQ - "If You Believe" from the Musical The Wiz​

1998 Skate TV Championships: 1st

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnt24zDBZhM - "The World Is New" by Save Farris
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxg4FgJuIlw - "Oh Tara" by The Knack​

1998 Ice Wars: 1st (Team USA)

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_RStNIb6rQ - "Head Over Heels" by The Go-Go's
AP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aXlHbv-QZ0 - "The Second Element" by Sarah Brightman (the whole event, starts at 1:23:43)​

1998 Jefferson Pilot Financial Championships: 1st

AP1: "Gliding" / "If You Believe"
AP2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1xbx-Pxvzc - "Second Element II" by Sarah Brightman
AP3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNjB_k92fns - "The World is New" by Save Farris​

1999 Team Ice Wars: 2nd (Team USA)

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJQwUr_V914 - "I Could Have Danced All Night" from "My Fair Lady"
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRrJ1Adf0pU - "Dreamcatcher" by Secret Garden​

1999 Ice Wars: 1st (Team USA)

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEKDHCu5iYM - "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera
AP: "Dreamcatcher"​

1999 Grand Slam Super Teams of Skating: 1st

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u80knrUmV6w / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kze76uEBqv0 - "Second Element II" by Sarah Brightman
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdE4BeNuv5E / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZQ_ZYyI-Og - "Dreamcatcher" by Secret Garden
3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PMpYWEr2y4 - "Second Element II" by Sarah Brightman​

1999 World Professional Championship: 1st

TP: "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera
AP: "Dreamcatcher" by Secret Garden​

2001 World Ice Challenge: 1st (Team USA)
2002 Ice Wars: 1st (Team USA)

TP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdrUeBVyOwM - "Paint it Black" medley performed by Angele Dubeau & La Pieta / Vanessa Carlton
AP: "To Where You Are"​

Selected Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Remarks
1999	Touched by an Angel	Alex Thorpe	Season 5 Episode 15, "On Edge"
1999	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	Herself	Season 4 Episode 3, "Jealousy"
1999	The Young and the Restless	Marnie Kowalski	11 episodes between episodes number 6561 and 6747
2000	Ice Angel	Tracy Hannibal	Television film
2000	Are You Afraid of the Dark?	Ellen	Season 7 Episode 7, "The Tale of the Lunar Locusts"
2001	Vanilla Sky	Girl at Party	Uncredited
2002	Arli$$	Herself	Season 7 Episode 5, "Playing It Safe"
2002	At Home with Tara Lipinski	Herself	Television short
2003	7th Heaven	Christine	Season 7 Episodes 21 & 22, "Life and Death: Part 1 & 2"
2003	Generation Jets	Jessica (voice)
2004	The Metro Chase	Natalie Jordon	Television film
2005	Still Standing	Sarah	Season 3 Episode 18, "Still Admiring"
2005	What's New, Scooby-Doo?	Camp Counselor Grey (voice)	Season 3 Episode 9, "What's New, Scooby-Doo?"
2006	Malcolm in the Middle	Carrie	Season 7 Episode 20, "Cattle Court"
2016	Superstore	Herself	Episode "Olympics"
2018	Lip Sync Battle	Herself	Season 4, Episode: Johnny Weir vs. Tara Lipinski
2018	Kidding	Herself	Season 1, Episode: "The New You"
2018	Family Guy	Herself	Season 17, Episode 7, "The Griffin Winter Games"

Galas and Exhibitions
2001/02 Stars on Ice - "American Tribute" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQkswRLIKeM
2000/01 Stars on Ice - "Dance With Me" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSjy922cT7w
2000/01 Stars on Ice - "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCTX7075e0s
2000/01 Stars on Oce - Tara Lipinski & Ilia Kulik "Moanin" by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIyGhW36ELw
2000/01 Stars on Ice - Cast performance "Tunnel Vision" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlREOQATMVI
2000 Stars on Ice - Tara Lipinski and Kurt Browning "La Valtz" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_NoBVbixLY
2000 Christmas in Rockefeller Center - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6y9ZPhra-U
2000 Canadian Stars On Ice - "Genie in a Bottle" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ3m7tk1ySM
1999 Divas On Ice - "Angel of Mine" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxIRzlQV6no
1999 Divas On Ice - "Genie In A Bottle" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sDQN5-Em8I
1999 Stars On Ice - "Rock This Town" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF3Y-5_glpk
1999 Canadian Stars on Ice - Tara Lipinski and Kurt Browning "Malagueña - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrEn7wWDiYc
1998 Champions On Ice - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKXwrugvtco
1998/99 Stars on Ice - "Second Element" by Sarah Brightman -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4MpdhjdFKk
1998/99 Stars on Ice - "I Could Have Danced All Night" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlD4xDIaFgI
1998 Ice Girls - "The World Is New" by Save Farris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZTnZpmwGkk
1998 Ice Girls - "Second Element II" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxCWn1xQm10
1997 (?) - "Walking On Sunshine" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_7BwRX_n8
1997 (?) Too Hot to Skate - Tara Lipinski and Michelle Kwan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RawkyIHURmA
1997 Tour of Champions - "Reach" by Gloria Estefan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ukJJ361CFI
1996 Champions On Ice - "Pocahontas" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVllvBuxE0g
1996 Cook's Champagne On Ice - "The Bells of Christmas" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOTBMD7gB9E
1996 (?) Too Hot to Skate - "Surfer Girl" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ljwUs6XL3s
1996 Too Hot to Skate - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-NuvrZ0z94
1994 An Evening with Champions - "Cirque du Soleil" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydt6Q1NxerY
(?) Stars On Ice - "The Color of Roses" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evc0jdISJJE

Articles and Interviews
7 November 2018 - How Ice Skating Bonded Tara Lipinski & Jim Carrey on the Set of 'Kidding' | In Studio with THR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAvpZbyCfFk
31 October 2018 - "Tara Lipinski: I Love LeBron James" l Fair Game - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RxK3HrIunM
30 October 2018 - Tara Lipinski Spotlight - Last Call with Carson Daly (Interview) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnRMzq0nLe4
24 October 2018 - "Life After the Winter Olympics & Successes: Tara Lipinski Answers Your Questions" by Larry King - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKXkE-MQJk0
7 October 2018 - "Tara taught me to ice skate" ep. 6 official clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea_mWC3nJxw
12 July 2018 - #Daily Denny Live with Tara Lipinski by Entertainment Tonight - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFIhGAWe1NY
16 May 2018 - Lip Sync Battle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3lMAfhzQYM
16 February 2018 - "In the Chair with Tara Lipinski" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5TImg7JZI
29 January 2018 - Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir Take Korea PREVIEW - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwukYAR5nTc
11 January 2018 - Tara Lipinski on the 20th anniversary of her 1998 Olympic gold medal win - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oVb7F5nfoI
9 November 2016 - "I Always Doubted Myself" - Tara Lipinski l The Inside Track by The Olympic Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNdqNtcSles
14 August 2016 - Superstore Season 2 "McKayla Maroney and Tara Lipinski" Olympic Episode Promo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oR8GWFHuRU
25 May 2016 - "Exclusive: Inside Tara Lipinski's Engagement Party! l Access Hollywood" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGVMQ1lXnzU
15 August 2014 - Tara Lipinski ASL Ice Bucket Challenge - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KJmZvyX8bU
March 2014 - Tara Lipinski visits St. Judes and skates as the soldier who forgets his pants - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEFYrwnlKfQ
7 March 2014 - Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski: 30 Rock Skating Commentary - Late Night with Seth Meyer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtPnvRJ6YKY
29 December 2013 - "15 Year Old Tara Lipinski Wins Figure Skating Gold l Olympic Rewind" by the Olympic Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvoKOdioU1o
1999 - "From This Moment 8" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9yRUIwqC5k
1999 - "From This Moment 7" -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kze76uEBqv0
1999 - "From This Moment 5" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiofHuoSIqw
1999 - "From This Moment 4" -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6btmh3W5zw
1999 - "From This Moment 3" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94zmHksmKgM
1999 - "From This Moment 2" -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4icpToJRkM
1998 - Tara Lipinski on Oprah - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riDGY4u_Wo8

Original Post by Mathman
U.S. figure skater Tara Lipinski was born on June 10, 1982, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the 1998 Olympic gold medalist, 1997 World Champion, and 1997 U.S. Champion.

Tara's career has gotten new life with her commentating gigs with Johnny Weir. Here she is looking pretty.

https://twitter.com/GDLA/status/481834991312064514/photo/1

 

[Sandpiper]

I, umm, love the pastel colour of her shirt!

No, seriously though, I think we don't appreciate retired skaters enough. Diehard Michelle fan here, but Tara was incredible in Nagano. I hope we'll be able to discuss old programs in the Fan Fests section in the future.

 

[Meoima]

Is Tara still skating in ice shows at the moment, or she has stopped already? I am still seeing her update on Instagram, but not so much following her activities. :think: What a pity for her to stop career at such young age.

 

[Mathman]

Tara was forced to stop doing the Stars of Ice tour by a recurring hip injury around 2002 and I don't think she has skated at all since then.

Hey, I just now saw her on Dancing with the Stars as a judge. She must have a good agent these days.

 

[Enero]

Mathman - Though she hasn't done shows since 2002, I believe she has skated since then. I seem to remember her being on The Today Show in 2011(?), 2012 (?), where she skated a brief but impressionable routine.

 

[Sandpiper]

Ouch, Tara retired from shows that early? I seem to remember a clip from Sochi where she and Johnny exchanged clothes with these two ladies (TV hosts?) and Tara said her outfit from a skating costume from several years ago. Did several years = 12 years ago?

 

[Mathman]

I found these two clips of Tara on the Today Show twice in 2011. (It looks like the same choreography.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9GJTdyhakk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPR0hh8gRbA

Also, here is one from 2011 titled “Tara practicing.” It doesn’t say what she is practicing for, but from the sheets of cloth hanging from the rafters I wonder if she was in one of those shows organized by Oxana Baiul’s agency that featured circus acts along with skating. Ben Agosto and Tanith Belbin put on a show like that in 2011 to raise money for victims of the tsunami and earthquake that forced a relocation of Worlds that year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LouU9OyBdo

 

[dorispulaski]

Did she perform in the show, perhaps in Atlantic City, that included US Olympic medalists back through Tenley Albright?

 

[Manitou]

Tara just appeared as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance. My favorite show of all!
She didn't seem to contribute much to the judges decisions, the main focus was on dancers, but it might be a good indication of Tara being invited as a host judge later in the season.

 

[Manitou]

Here is the photo of her in the judging panel:
https://www.facebook.com/SoYouThinkYouCanDance/photos/a.125185344303.99264.9748634303/10152508794334304/?type=1&theater

 

[Mathman]

Did you all notice that Tara was a judge at the Miss America contest? "rock:

In the "controversial questions" session she asked Miss New Jersey what she thought about Confederate monuments.

 

[KwanIsALegend]

Tara and Johnny now have a You Tube channel for all their Olympic reporting and shenanigans.

I can't handle too much of them but it should be interesting none the less.:confused2:

 

[Crossover]

Tara and Johnny now have a You Tube channel for all their Olympic reporting and shenanigans.

I can't handle too much of them but it should be interesting none the less.:confused2:

The channel looks so fun.

 

[lordziax]

I was hoping someone could find me locate some old SOI pictures of Tara from 2002. They we're hq/uhq shots from "Lady Marmalade". In particular there was one of Tara and Jenni Meno next to one another that was quite sexy. If anyone has some of these please let me know... Would be much appreciated!

 

[Mohacz]

Since I think that each and every Olympic/World/European or Four Continents Champion with a fan fest on the GS forum deserves a comprehensive summary of his/her carrer as a sort of our tribute to his/her achievements, I've just updated Tara's OP. I've added the results table, programs (both competitive and professional), links to her social media, galas videos and a handful of links to the interviews. Since Tara is very active in the US media and there are plenty of video interviews with her, I find it impossible to include all of the in the OP. So this section only includes some of them. The rest may be found on YouTube or Tara's YouTube channel.

Enjoy