Teenage Ladies Olympic Champions

[jesslily]

The trend is, for the past 15 or 20 years, the Olympic gold medalists of both men and ladies, just getting younger and younger. Younger age does give the skaters a lot of confidence running a clean programs. Also when the skaters are younger, the body weight is much lighter to rotate, so they hardly fall. Younger skaters also show so much enthusiastic toward the competitions.

 

[PrincessLeppard]

Um, Toni, I didn't see any "disdain" for teens in this thread. I thought it was an interesting discussion of the trend toward younger female OGMs. Before I make my next statement, let me just clarify that I teach teenagers, and I love them, so having said that, I would like to see a *woman* with an OGM around her neck in Turin. However, if Mira Leung gets some polish, she could well be the next teenage sensation to walk away with that gold. Assuming she's old enough. I have no idea what her age is....

Laura

 

[SkateFan4Life]

Because of these young age girls winning the Olys, the Sport has been written off as the Teenyboppers Sport. While I understand the Sportscasters views on this, I am hoping we get a Senior Lady who is over the age of 18, from anywhere in the world and wins the next Oly and we get back to sincere ladies figure skating and not a children's pagaent with triple combos and quads and the biggest dimples as the talent.

Joe

I agree with you, Joe. I would like to see a mature young woman in her 20s win the next Olympics. I am NOT in any way bashing Oksana, Tara, or Sarah, all of whom were tremendously competitive and won their gold medals fairly and squarely.

 

[Vash01]

Katarina had to have been over 20 when she won her second gold medal. I don't remember her being 15ish when she won in 1984. Also, Oksana wasn't the only champion who didn't show up for Worlds in 94. G&G didin't either. I'm not sure about Urmanov. It seems that almost all OGM winners went pre-1994, and hardly any have bothered to go since.

I don't have a problem with a teenager winning if they deserve it that night. However, something different next time around would be nice, just for a change of pace.

Katarina was 18 in 1984, and 22 in 1988, so you are right.

She too was a teenager when she won her first OGM but at least she was an adult, and she competed for 4 more years!

Vash

 

[Kuchana]

I think one of the main issues surrounding the concept of Oksana, Tara, and Sarah as OMGs is not necessarily the fact that they were "outa there" once they won the gold (Sarah being an exception, and I'll get back to that), it was what they had accomplished BEFORE they won. Or, more accurately, the length of time they were around at the top before they did so. Oksana blew on the scene out of literally nowhere, wins the silver at Euros, then the Worlds, then one year later she's won the gold and she's "outa there". She certainly was not the first skater to do this, as a matter of fact, it is usually considered pretty standard for skaters to "get out" once they win the OMG -- however, in Oksana's case, a year earlier, it was a case of Oksana Who? so it was like no-one really got a chance to "get to know her" so to speak because she wasn't in the top ranks of eligible skating for very long. Plus winning the gold in a controversial decision over the more established Nancy Kerrigan didn't help much either. So it's easy to dismiss Oksana as a skater who happened to have one fabulous year at just the right time as opposed to perhaps a -- I hate to use this word, but it's the only thing that comes to mind at the moment -- TRUE Olympic champion with a more established record behind her, in the vein of a Carol Heiss or a Katarina Witt (in her 2nd Olympics). Much the same can be said for Lipinski. She was fairly well known in the US by the time she'd won Worlds in '97, but internationally it was much the same -- she had one great year at just the right time, winning the Worlds and OMG; and she, too, won a controversial decision over the more established Michelle Kwan which didn't help either. Then, she, like Oksana, was "outa there". It was another case, like Oksana, of WAIT a minute, we don't even know what you're truly capable of yet. Will history remember you as one of the all-time greats (i.e, Heiss, Fleming, Hammill, Witt) or as someone who just had one fabulous year?

Sarah's case is a bit different. Remember, the Ladies free program in Salt Lake City was NOTHING to write home about. Kwan was mediocre, Slutskaya could have been much better, Cohen was concentrating so much on landing jumps that all her wonderful choreography went right out the window, and Butrskaya had a terrible competition. So this was less a case of Sarah being so terrific (although she was), it was more of a case of everyone else didn't really step up to the plate so Sarah was able to benefit. And even she realized that despite the OMG, she overall really hadn't accomplished much in her career yet, so she stuck around the extra year until school took up much of her time. And by some accounts she actually isn't finished yet, so the jury is still out.

That being said, I too would like to see the gold in Torino go to a lady with a more established top-level record than what we've seen at the last 3 Olympics. It used to be that an Olympic Gold Medal was the capoff of a good or great career, not part of the start of one that never really took off.

I enjoyed reading your post immensely. I believe that just because you win the OGM does not automatically make you a legend or have people remember your accomplishments compared to someone who's been established and in there for the longetivity. That being said, it would be validating to have someone older with maturity win the gold instead of a teenager as seems the case.

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

I don't know why everyone is objecting about Sarah Hughes winning the olympic gold. Yes, she was young and yes, she didn't have that much experience but that really doesn't matter in a competition like the Olympics. Experience really has nothing to do with it. What it all comes down to is pressure. It was obvious that Sarah had the least amount of pressure on her. She saw the door open and she walked right through it. Michelle Kwan was obviously pressured big time because everyone was expecting her to win gold. Same goes with Irina Slutskaya.

So what it alll comes down to is pressure, who can handle it and who can't.

 

[jesslily]

After the figure was taken off the judge list, it seems the judges just check if you land triple jumps. Artistry is so personal, and it's hard to judge. This is one of the reason teenagers mostly won the past OMG.
The teens won and left mostly because of the economy. The tour and made-for-TV competitions don't give them more benefit as before. On the other hand not every body staying in eligible can make great living as Michelle Kwan and Sasha Cohen.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Are Kimmie Meissner, Katy Taylor, Alissa Czisney, the Asado girls, Cynthia Phaneuf, all who are teenagers, in a better position to win OGM as these threads seem to be saying?

Are the over 20 skters too old to have the high technical content of program?

Joe

 

[jesslily]

It's depend how serious Sasha's injury is. If she can not compete at Nationals this year, it's very likely that one of the American girls Joesitz mentioned win the silver. And then she will compete at worlds and might get a 4th or 5th. People just like a young fresh face, and when they see her, all the technical and artistry requirement they want from a mature lady are forgotten. By 2006 Olympic, if all the ladies fall a couple of times, this young girl will win the gold.

 

[attyfan]

Teenage OGMs

Oksana, Tara, and Sarah had all "been around" for a while, and had acquired a reputation before winning the OGM, medaling not only at Worlds, but also at prior comps (Oksana -- Euros; Tara and Sarah -- GPF). The only "teenagers" who have an opportunity to acquire a reputation in time for 2006 are Miki Ando and (maybe) Cynthia Phaneuf. Does anyone know if that there has ever been an OGM won by a skater who made her senior international debut in an Oly year?

 

[euterpe]

Katy Taylor and Kimmie Meissner just turned 15 in October, so even if both landed on the Senior US podium, neither is eligible to compete at 4CC or Senior Worlds 2005. They won't get exposure to Senior level ISU judges until the 2005-2006 GP, if then. So the probability of an OGM win is extremely low.

Cynthia Phaneuf and Alissa Czisny are older, and if both place in the medals at their respective Nationals, they can compete at Worlds 2005, and if they placed on or near the podium, they'd have OGM potential. However, both are a little iffy in the jump department and could use more seasoning.

 

[mzheng]

I don't know why everyone is objecting about Sarah Hughes winning the olympic gold. Yes, she was young and yes, she didn't have that much experience but that really doesn't matter in a competition like the Olympics. Experience really has nothing to do with it. What it all comes down to is pressure. It was obvious that Sarah had the least amount of pressure on her. She saw the door open and she walked right through it. Michelle Kwan was obviously pressured big time because everyone was expecting her to win gold. Same goes with Irina Slutskaya.

So what it alll comes down to is pressure, who can handle it and who can't.

Yes, pressure is a BIG factor. And most of the time the pressure is what skater put on themselves by desiring to meet public expectation. The younger, the less established skater the less the pressure they have. That explained these three teens winning.

But I will not acuse Michelle and Irina couldn't handle the pressure as well as Sarah. At SLC the degree of pressure was totally different for MK, IS as was for Sarah. On the other hand the three of them leaving the Olympics eligible skating imediately after the OGM (except Sarah, but she diddn't live up to her expectation in her returning 2003 season either) just proved that they can't handle the pressure come with the public expectation of an OGM. They were afraid to lost to the same competetors they against in their Olympics win.

This is another reason I would like to see a mature skater, not only mature in skating and also matured in psycho respect. Look at Michelle and Irina, at this stage of their career they are still competing in a sport where younger skaters were most favorated. They are not afraid to lose to the younger skaters.

 

[SailorGalaxia518]

I am sorry if I was to mean. I would love to see Michelle Kwan win the gold medal at the 2006 Olympics. Unfortunately she has to beat out to rivals, Sasha Cohen and Shizuka Arakawa. I believe 2006 is her time and hopefully she will come through.

 

[Ptichka]

I am sorry if I was to mean. I would love to see Michelle Kwan win the gold medal at the 2006 Olympics. Unfortunately she has to beat out to rivals, Sasha Cohen and Shizuka Arakawa. I believe 2006 is her time and hopefully she will come through.

All three are non-teenagers.

 

[millie]

Don't count out Cynthia Phaneuf at the World's. Under the new judging system, now the skaters will be judged on their skating not the screaming fans.standing ovations and favourtism. Out with the 6.0's and in with true judging of the skaters. Now when the skaters go out on the ice, they will be judged on how they skate not who they are. Enjoy the skating.

 

[jesslily]

Cynthia Phaneuf is a talented new comer. But she still has some area to work on, such as jump combos, connecting moves, and maybe even her hair style. I truly wish she find a hairdo which is suitable to her and also eye appealing to the audience.

 

[Longhornliz]

I would like to see a more mature ladies champion, but with the emphasis on uping the difficulty in routines, I doubt that we will see one. A party of me is still holding on for MK to win in 2006... but I think that it will most likely go to someone making their first trip to the olympics.

 

[Crizzy]

Great post mzheng. Whoever stand on that podium (hopefully) deserved their win despite of how much they've contributed to the sport. I would like to see a more mature skater to win the OGM and from the fields of ladies today that might just come true.

I never knew that the old system, the judges gave extra points for skaters with screaming fans, standing ovations. :sheesh: Even with this new system the component marks is very subjective, plus the secret judging can be biased towards their home country as was with the old system.

And please, Cyntha is good but she's not great. The girl need major tweaking with her spiral sequence, consistent jumps/combo, not to mention she'll need a 3/3 to get a 7 jumping pass that already include a 2 axel. Her marks was not on the high end of the scale. Let's just see what Shizuka and other seeded skaters get this season. Whatever their marks are going to be, that's the mark that will set the standard or tone for this new system.

Look they have potential, but I've seen so many "potential" come and go without making even a scratch on the skating world. So I'll wait until I see the youngsters at Worlds.

 

[mzheng]

Look they have potential, but I've seen so many "potential" come and go without making even a scratch on the skating world. So I'll wait until I see the youngsters at Worlds.

I'm not ready to jump on any new comer wagon. Call me a hard pleased fan, which I addmitt I'm. Let's count the new upcomers showing great "potential" after 2002 Olympics. There are Crolina Kostner and Ota at 2003. There are Pavka, Miki Ando at 2004. And now there is Cyntha. Not sure who will be IT next year. May be or may be not one of them will turn out to have really "potential". I'll wait untill then.

I diddn't become a MK FAN until after SLC, when she came back at 2003.

 

[Mathman]

I never knew that the old system, the judges gave extra points for skaters with screaming fans, standing ovations. :sheesh:

Actually, I think that's true, and will contiue to be true under the new system as well. The judges are only human. They can get swept away in a sea of emotion like everyone else. "Connecting with the audience" must play some kind of a role in evaluating "Interpretation," for instance.

I'm not saying whether it's right or wrong, just human nature. The judges don't want to get booed out of the arena. Look at how many of the Grand Prix winners are from the host countries.

JMO.

Mathman