Jay Leno thought Michelle was Nancy Kwan (an actress).
The line about Dorothy Hamill from Friends made me
Re: TV shows, there's an episode of M*A*S*H where the 4077th is watching a Sonja Henie film. At one point, Col. Potter says something like "I think this is where she does a triple axel." I got all bent out of shape and started yelling (sort of) at the TV: "Henie didn't even do double axels!"
And something tells me you're right about Yulia...
Your post raises an interesting question about men in figure skating. Is figure skating seen as a "girl" sport all around the world? It's certainly seen that way in the US, but do Russia (who has more decorated male skaters than female), other European countries, or Japan perceive it that way?
I was thinking of a poll something like this. Here is a list of athletes. What sport is each associated with.
1. Babe Ruth
2. Marina Navrotalova
3. Scott Hamilton, etc.
I think most Americans would get Sonje Henie (even if they knew nothing else about her), Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, Brian Boitano, Kristi Yamaguchi, and Michelle Kwan. I am not sure about Janet Lynn, Katarina Witt, Dick Button and the great Kurt Browning. No for Alexei Yagudin and Evgeny Plushenko. No for Mao Asada and Yuna Kim.
At least I think this would be true of old people taking the poll.
It would be interesting to take a poll and see how many Americans recognize the names Brian Boitano and Scott Hamilton, versus Dorothy Hamill and Peggy Fleming. Also Evan Lysacek versus Sarah Hughes.
I've chosen skaters who I think became famous also outside figure skating world.
Dance
Torvill and Dean
Pairs
Gordeeva and Grinkov
Ladies
Katarina Witt
Men
Evgeni Plushenko
totally agree.
The most "popular" skaters were Tonya and Nancy, with most feeling that Tonya got a rough deal. We were all surprised about that... but that had more to do with her life story, never really getting her stuff together, and you gotta admit any interview done with her, she always comes across as a victim of bad parenting, bad marriage, bad management and a corrupt sport that likes to tear young women apart. People, esp women, identify with Tonya. The psychology is fascinating.
The most "popular" skaters were Tonya and Nancy, with most feeling that Tonya got a rough deal. We were all surprised about that... but that had more to do with her life story, never really getting her stuff together, and you gotta admit any interview done with her, she always comes across as a victim of bad parenting, bad marriage, bad management and a corrupt sport that likes to tear young women apart. People, esp women, identify with Tonya. The psychology is fascinating.