Top 10 World or Olympic Freeskates regardless of era

[GreySox]

Completely disregarding the era of the skater or final placements, in your unbiased opinion, which freeskates are the best ever performed at an Olympics or Worlds. That means a triple lutz would probably be required for the ladies and a triple axel would be required for the men. Here's my opinion on the ladies. The scores are as if all of these performances were in the same competition. The first mark is technical and the second is for presentation. I know that lists are somewhat egotistical, but I'm genuinely interested in what you all think. Feel free to add your opinion on the other skating disciplines as well.

1. 5.8 6.0 Chen - 1996 Worlds - Magical interpretation of the music and a clean skate.

2. 6.0 5.7 Ito 1989 Worlds - Triple axel, 3t-3t, HUGE jumps, and a clean skate.

3. 5.8 5.9 Kwan 1996 Worlds - Salome. Powerful and intense presentation.

4. 5.9 5.8 Lipinski 1998 Olympics - 3lp-3lp, flawed lutz, energetic presentation.

5. 5.8 5.8 Hughes 2002 Olympics - two 3-3 combos, flawed lutz, joyous presentation.

6. 5.7 5.8 Kwan 2001 Worlds - Black Swan, 3t-3t, clean skate, elegant presentation, bland music.

7. 5.6 5.9 Kerrigan 1994 Olympics - 3t-3t, double flip, elegant dress and presentation.

8. 5.6 5.8 Yamaguchi 1992 Worlds - 3lz/3t combo, fall on salcow, good speed, and confident presentation.

9. 5.5 5.8 Kwan 2003 Worlds - Aranjuez, superb jumping technique, no 3-3 combo, footwork from Heaven, great musical choice, choreography too simple in the beginning.

10. 5.5 5.7 Butyrskaya 1999 Worlds - Clean skate and lovely presentation.

Honorable mentions
Sokolova 2003 Worlds
Kwan 2000 Worlds - Red Violin
Kwan 1997 Worlds - Taj Mahal
Ito 1992 Olympics
Lipinksi 1997 Worlds
Kwan 1998 Olympics - Lyra

--GreySox

[sk8ing is lyfe]

WOW,.... looks like you've done your research!

i think that for pairs,

1. Shen and Zhao... 2003 worlds , long prog.

2. Sale and pellitier... 2002 olympics, long prog.


....

...
...
i donno from there... nothing sticks out in my mind

[JDawg]

I can't believe u think shen and Zhao's long was more better than salle's and peltiers long!!!!!!!!!!8O

[GreySox]

Originally posted by sk8ing is lyfe
WOW,.... looks like you've done your research!

LOL! No, just a lifetime of loving skating. Like most of us.

For Pairs, I think:

1. Sale & Pelletier 2001 Worlds

2. Shen & Zhao 2003 Worlds

3. Mishketunok & Dmitriev 1992 Worlds - Best performance of Liebestraum.

4. Sale & Pelletier 2002 Olympics

5. Mishketunok & Dmitriev 1994 Olympics

6. Gordeeva and Grinkov 1994 Olympics - Might be higher except for his bobble on a double flip and lack of a side-by-side triple.

7. Brasseur and Eisler 1993 Worlds

8. Brasseur and Eisler 1994 Olympics

9. Bereznaia & S?? 2002 Olympics - I can't remember if they skated better at a Worlds. Did they ever skate clean at Worlds?

10. Kazakova and Dmitriev 1998 Olympics

I didn't see G&G skate as eligibles before 1993-94. They might have some other performances that belong here. Also I recall Bechke & Petrov skating really well at the 1992 Olympics, but it's a vague memory. I was like 12 yrs. old.

--GreySox

[love2sk8]

Originally posted by sk8ing is lyfe
i think that for pairs,

1. Shen and Zhao... 2003 worlds , long prog.

2. Sale and pellitier... 2002 olympics, long prog.



I couldnt agree with you more, sk8ing...

#3 would be Jaime and David's 2001 Worlds long program

[sk8ing is lyfe]

i think it was... they were perfect, and had the power jamie and david lack... i got chills... and it even brought tears to my eyes.. i think that is the bets performance in SKATING history... mens womens, pairs dance...THE BEST!!!!! 6.0/6.0!!!!too bad i want a judge

[Fliple Trip]

WHERE ARE THE GUYS???

[Canadian Chick]

1) Jamie and David Olympic LP

no contest.

:)

[Susan]

Originally posted by Greysox

Completely disregarding the era of the skater or final placements, in your unbiased opinion, which freeskates are the best ever performed at an Olympics or Worlds....


List removed as a lot of thought went into it and in my opinion I gave what I thought were the best Olympic or Worlds performances disregrading era not a list of favourites!

I much prefer threads with healthy discussion versus being slapped on the wrist and condescended to for "breaking the rules"

[GreySox]

Quoted list removed by request of original poster. ~Lee

That's a great list of your favorite World or Olympic performances, but I don't think it quite follows the rules of this thread. Plz read original post. Is Hamil's 1976 perfomance really one of the top 10 technical performances of all time. For that time, yes, but it would not be competitive today. Ito's 1989 worlds performance, by contrast would still be technically competitive today.

Respectfully,
GreySox

[Spinner]

Well, you have to admit that the phrases "regardless of era" and "a triple lutz would probably be required for the ladies" are quite contradictory since the 3Lutz wasn't really a standard in women's skating until the early-mid 90s.

[GreySox]

Originally posted by Fliple Trip
WHERE ARE THE GUYS???

Feel free to add lists of the other disciplines.

For the men, I think it would be hard to make the list without a quad or a clean skate.

1. Yagudin 2002 Olympics
2. Kulik 1998 Olympics
3. Yagudin 2002 Worlds
4. Plushenko 2003 Worlds
5. Goebel 2003 Worlds
6. Stojko 1997 Worlds
7. Boitano 1988 Olympics
8. Eldredge 1996 Worlds
9. Browning 1993 Worlds
10. Goebel 2002 Olympics

[Vash2003skate]

Here is my list, for all 4 disciplines combined:

1.Michelle, worlds 2003 (Aranjuez)
2.Mishkutenok-Dmitriev, Olympics 94 (Rachmaninoff 2)
3.Chen Lu-Worlds 96 (Rachmaninoff 2)
4.Boitano- 88 Olympics (Napoleon)
5.Kulik- 98 Olympics (Rhapsody in blue)
6.Klimova-Ponomarenko- 92 Olympics (Bach)
7.Berezhnaya-Sikharulidze- 99 worlds (Concert for Coloratura)
8.Midori Ito- 1990 worlds (Scheherzade)
9.Michelle-2001 worlds (Song of the black swan)
10.Gordeeva-Grinkov 1989 worlds (Die Feldermaus)

Perhaps it is better to break it down by discipline, because so many deserving ones had to be left out.

Vash

[GreySox]

Originally posted by Spinner
Well, you have to admit that the phrases "regardless of era" and "a triple lutz would probably be required for the ladies" are quite contradictory since the 3Lutz wasn't really a standard in women's skating until the early-mid 90s.

I don't think those criteria are contradictory at all. "Regardless of era" means the relative standards of the skater's time period are not considered in this ranking. We are looking purely at technical and artistic merit, therefore ladies' programs without a 3lutz probably wouldn't make the cut. What I find interesting is that some ladies and pairs programs from more than a decade ago would still be competitive today, but men's skating has advanced so much technically that this is not true for the men.

--Greysox

[Vash2003skate]

"...9. Bereznaia & S?? 2002 Olympics - I can't remember if they skated better at a Worlds. Did they ever skate clean at Worlds?"

Worlds 2001 was clean and among their top performances. However, their performance at COR 01 was incredible. Of course it does not qualify for this list, since it was not at worlds. Olympics 2002 was great.
To me, it is the whole performance that counts, and skating clean does not always translate into a great program.

Vash

[Vash2003skate]

Here is my list for ice dance:

1.Klimova-Ponomarenko: 92 Oly (Bach)
1.Torville-Dean: 84 Oly (Bolero)
3.Usova-Zhulin: Oly (Four seasons)
4.Grishuk-Platov: 97 worlds (Arabian/a cool wind is blowing)
5.Krylova-Ovssianikov: 97 worlds (Masquerade waltz)
6.Anissina-Peizerat: 2000 worlds (Carmina Burana)
7.Grishuk-Platov: 98 Olympics (Memorial)
8.Bestemianova-Bukin: 88 Oly (Prince Igor)
9.Wilson-McCall: 88 Worlds (Joplin)
10.Dushenays: 91 worlds (Missing)

Vash

[GreySox]

Originally posted by Vash2003skate
Here is my list, for all 4 disciplines combined:

1.Michelle, worlds 2003 (Aranjuez)
2.Mishkutenok-Dmitriev, Olympics 94 (Rachmaninoff 2)
3.Chen Lu-Worlds 96 (Rachmaninoff 2)
4.Boitano- 88 Olympics (Napoleon)
5.Kulik- 98 Olympics (Rhapsody in blue)
6.Klimova-Ponomarenko- 92 Olympics (Bach)
7.Berezhnaya-Sikharulidze- 99 worlds (Concert for Coloratura)
8.Midori Ito- 1990 worlds (Scheherzade)
9.Michelle-2001 worlds (Song of the black swan)
10.Gordeeva-Grinkov 1989 worlds (Die Feldermaus)

Vash

Vash, I really like your list. I wish I could have seen G&G 1989 Worlds performance. If that was their best, it must have been great.

--GreySox

[slimpme]

With respect to the men, may I put in a plea for Kurt Browning's "Casablanca" program from 1994 Olympics? In my opinion, it is the finest performance he gave in amateur competitive skating, and the most poignant, in view of the fact that his disasterous SP meant he had no chance of medaling.

[Vash2003skate]

Since Pairs is my most favorite discipline, I cannot resist the urge to post this list:

1.Mishkutenok-Dmitriev- 94 Oly (Rach 2)
2.Gordeeva-Grinkov- 88 Oly (Mendelsohn/Chopin/Mozart)
3.Gordeeva-Grinkov- 89 worlds (Die Fledermaus)
4.Berezhanya-Sikharulidze- 2002 Oly (Meditation from Thais)
5.Gordeeva-Grinkov- 94 Oly (Moonlight Sonata)
6.Mishkutenok-Dmitriev- 92 Oly (Lieberstraum)
7.Berezhnaya-Sikharulidze- 99 worlds (Concert for Coloratura)
8.Bechke & Petrov- 91 Oly (The nutcracker)
9.Kazakova-Dmitriev- 98 Oly (Handel)
10.Valova-Vasiliev- 88 Worlds

Vash

[Vash2003skate]

Kurt's Casablanca was wonderful, but I would put the worlds 93 performance ahead of the 94 Oly. I do respect the circumstances he skated the 94 Oly, however.

Vash

[Vash2003skate]

Grey,

The way Scott H. described their performance in 1989 was:

"There wasn't a foot ahead or a hand out of place. It really was a wonderful performance and they are still improving!"

We just did not know how far they would take it.

The fact that they had not competed for a whole year due to Katia's injury made this performance extra special.

Vash

[GreySox]

Originally posted by Vash2003skate
Grey,

The way Scott H. described their performance in 1989 was:

"There wasn't a foot ahead or a hand out of place. It really was a wonderful performance and they are still improving!"

We just did not know how far they would take it.

The fact that they had not competed for a whole year due to Katia's injury made this performance extra special.

Vash

Vash, hopefully I'll find a video online someday. And it's nice to find someone who shares my enthusiasm for M&D 1994 Olympic long. Sure there were some unison problems, but the passion and originality was incredible. I'm surprised that a Sale & Pelletier performance didn't make your pairs list. They have strong positions, flow, and choreography ala G&G.

[whiterose]

Here ist my list:

1. Alexei Yagudin Olys02
2. Torvill/Dean Olys 84
3. Lu Chen Worlds 96
4. Shen/Zhao Worlds 03
5. Grishuk/Platov Worlds 97
6. Alexei Yagudin Worlds 99
7. Kati Witt Olys 88
8. Sale/Pelletier Olys 02
9. Anissina/Peizerat Worlds 99
10. Maria Butyrskaya 99

[bcskater]

ok sorry, I no that it was supposed to be top ten, but once I started I couldn't stop. The list could go on and on and on and on..................

1 Jamie & David - 2002 Olympics LP
2 Michelle Kwan - 2001 Worlds LP
3 Shen & Zao - 2003 Worlds LP
4 Sarah Hughes - 2002 Olympics LP
5 Brian Orser - 1988 Worlds LP
6 Kurt Browning - 1991 Worlds LP
7 Jamie & David - 2001 Worlds LP
8 Elizabeth Manley - 1988 Olympics LP
9 Brian Boitano - 1988 Olympics LP
10 Kristi Yamaguchi - 1991 Worlds LP
11 Michelle Kwan - 2003 Worlds LP
12 Tara Lipinski - 1997 Worlds LP
13 Gordeeva & Grinkov - 1988 Olympics LP
14 Alexie Yagudin - 2001 Worlds SP
15 Shae & Vic - 2002 GPFinal FD
16 Bereznaya & Sikhauredlize - 2002 Olympics LP
17 Alexie Yagudin - 2002 Olympics LP

[duane]

MEN

1. Kulik (98 Olympics)
2. Stojko (97 Worlds)
3. Plushenko (02 Olympics-the amazing 3axel/.5loop/3flip!!)
4. Goebel (03 Worlds)
5. Philippe (98 Olympics)
6. Eldredge (96 Worlds)
7. Galindo (96 Worlds)
8. Yagudin (02 Olympics)
9. Plushenko (01 Worlds)
10. Goebel (02 Olympics)

WOMEN

1. Chen Lu (96 Worlds)
2. Kwan (00 Worlds)
3. Lipinski (98 Olympics)
4. Hughes (02 Olympics)
5. Kwan (98 Olympics)
6. Bonaly (95 Worlds)
7. Chen Lu (94 Olympics)
8. Kwan (95 Worlds)
9. Chen Lu (95 Worlds)
10. Baiul (94 Olympics)

PAIRS

1. Dmitriev/Mishkutenok (94 Olympics)
2. Shen/Zhao (03 Worlds)
3. G&G (94 Olympics)
4. B&S (02 Olympics)
5. Shen/Zhao (02 Olympics)

[Vash2003skate]

Grey,

I respectfully disagree about S&P. They do not have anything in common with G&G except for being a couple off the ice. The styles of the two pairs you mentioned are completely different. The reason they did not make my list is that I consider lines, postures, unison, and fluidity to be primary requirements for a great pair. Those happen to be S&P's weaknesses. They have a couple of very good performances to their credit, but they did not make my top 10 list because others were better. Obviously I don't put a lot of weight on skating a clean performance.

Vash

[memememe76]

I will mention a skater or team once.

Pairs:
1) Gordeeva/Grinkov - 1988 Olympics
2) Sale/Pelletier - 2002 Olympics
3) Mishtukinek(sp?)/Dmitriev - 1991 Worlds
4) Underhill/Martini - 1984 Worlds
5) Bereznaya/Sikhkularidze - 2001 Worlds
6) Babilonia/Gardner - 1979 Worlds
7) The Carruthers - 1984 Olympics
8) Brasseur/Eisler - 1990 Worlds
9) Shen/Zhao - 2003 Worlds
10) Meno/Sand - 1995 Worlds

Dance
1) Torvill/Dean - 1984 Olympics
2) Klimova/Ponomarenko - 1992 Olympics
3) The Duschesneys - 1990 Worlds
4) Usova/Zhulin - 1992 Olympics
5) Wilson/McCall - 1988 Olympics
6) Racogzy/Sallay - 1980 Olympics
7) Anissina/Peizerat - 1999 Worlds
8) Bourne/Kraatz - 1997 Worlds
9) Bestiamova/Bukin - 1985 Worlds
10) Krylova/Ovsianikov - 1998 Worlds

Men
1) Brian Orser - 1988 Worlds
2) Brian Boitano - 1988 Olympics
3) Ilia Kulik - 1998 Olympics
4) Elvis Stojko - 1995 Worlds
5) Alexie Yagudin - 2002 Worlds
6) Kurt Browning - 1993 Worlds
7) Robin Cousins - 1980 Worlds
8) Alexander Fedeev - 1985 Worlds
9) Todd Eldridge - 1996 Worlds
10) Evgeni Plushenko - 2001 Worlds

Women
1) Midori Ito - 1990 Worlds
2) Elizabeth Manley - 1988 Olympics
3) Lu Chen - 1996 Worlds
4) Sarah Hughes - 2002 Olympics
5) Michelle Kwan - 2001 Worlds
6) Tara Lipinski - 1998 Olympics
7) Nancy Kerrigan - 1994 Olympics
8) Kristi Yamaguchi - 1992 Worlds
9) Katarina Witt - 1987 Worlds
10) Rosalyn Sumners - 1983 Worlds

[Vash2003skate]

Here is my list of top 10 performances by men in Oly/Worlds:

1.Boitano 88 Oly
2.Kulik 98 Oly
3.Orser 88 worlds
4.Wylie 92 Oly
5.Plushenko 2001 worlds
5.Yagudin 2002 Oly
7.Browning 93 worlds
8.Petrenko 94 Oly
9.Goebel 2003 worlds
10.Sandhu 2001 worlds
10.Honda 99 worlds

Vash

[Vash2003skate]

Top 10 ladies:

1.Michelle-worlds 2003
2.Chen Lu- worlds 96
3.Midori- worlds 90
4.Michelle-worlds 2001
5.Midori-worlds 89
6.Caryn Kadavy- worlds 87
7.Kristi Yamaguchi-worlds 92
8.Michelle- Oly 98
9.Tara Lipinski-Oly 98
10.Sarah Hughes-Oly2002

Vash

[DBZ]

Not very familiar with freestakes prior to the 90s, so that's obviously reflected in my choices.

Top Ten Ladies Freeskates:

1. Michelle Kwan - 1997 Worlds
2. Chen Lu - 1996 Worlds
3. Michelle Kwan - 2001 Worlds
4. Michelle Kwan - 2000 Worlds
5. Midori Ito - 1989 Worlds
6. Yuka Sato - 1994 Worlds
7. Nancy Kerrigan - 1994 Olympics
8. Kristi Yamaguchi - 1991 Worlds
9. Tara Lipinski - 1998 Olympics
10. Sarah Hughes - 2002 Olympics

[GreySox]

Originally posted by DBZ
Not very familiar with freestakes prior to the 90s, so that's obviously reflected in my choices.

8. Kristi Yamaguchi - 1991 Worlds

I haven't seen 91 worlds. What were Yamaguchi's music and elements? Was she already doing 3lutz-3t then?

--GreySox

[DBZ]

Originally posted by GreySox
I haven't seen 91 worlds. What were Yamaguchi's music and elements? Was she already doing 3lutz-3t then?

No, Kristi didn't do the 3Lutz/3toe in her 91 freeskate. Here are the jumps she completed, in order:

2Axel
3Lutz/2Toe
3Flip into 3Toe
1Salchow
3Loop
3Lutz
2Axel
3Toe

Her only mistake was singling the salchow. I'm not sure what her music was. I believe it was the same music Elena Sokolova used in her SP this year -- Samson and Delilah. At least, the final cut of the music was. The rest I'm not sure. Maybe selections from Laurence of Arabia?

[arena_gal]

Dick Button 1952 - First Triple Jump (and another Gold medal) although I've never seen video it is definitely worth a technical mention

Donald Jackson 1962 First triple Lutz and also received seven perfect marks for freeskating, which has never been equalled. Video is at http://www.jacksonskates.com/html/frames/frameset-Triple-Lutz-to-bio.htm

Also Kurt Browning - 1993? Whatever the worlds he won where he did three triple/triple combinations.

[Scribe]

Originally posted by Spinner
Well, you have to admit that the phrases "regardless of era" and "a triple lutz would probably be required for the ladies" are quite contradictory since the 3Lutz wasn't really a standard in women's skating until the early-mid 90s. I agree. Also, the triple axel wasn't required for men until the mid '80s, and dance and pairs do neither. We are almost being limited to just one era, the post-figures era. I think Kat's '88 Olympics LP is one of the best Olympic LPs ever, but she didn't do a triple lutz in it. I guess Grey hasn't caught them yet, but there are other ladies listed on this thread besides Hamill who didn't triple lutz and men who didn't triple axel.:lol:

[JDawg]

1 Jamie & David - 2002 Olympics LP
2 Michelle Kwan - 2001 Worlds LP
3 Shen & Zao - 2003 Worlds LP
4 Sarah Hughes - 2002 Olympics LP
5 Brian Orser - 1988 Worlds LP
6 Kurt Browning - 1991 Worlds LP
7 Jamie & David - 2001 Worlds LP
8 Elizabeth Manley - 1988 Olympics LP
9 Brian Boitano - 1988 Olympics LP
10 Kristi Yamaguchi - 1991 Worlds LP
11 Michelle Kwan - 2003 Worlds LP
12 Tara Lipinski - 1997 Worlds LP
13 Gordeeva & Grinkov - 1988 Olympics LP
14 Alexie Yagudin - 2001 Worlds SP
15 Shae & Vic - 2002 GPFinal FD
16 Bereznaya & Sikhauredlize - 2002 Olympics LP
17 Alexie Yagudin - 2002 Olympics LP


JAMIE AND DAVID AT OLYMPICS WERE AMAZING I CANT BELIVE U GUYS DON'T SEE THAT AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH:evil:

[XPEG]

Question: Lu Chen didn't win the LP at 1996 Worlda and Tara didn't win the LP at 1997 Worlds. Thus how come folks are listing them so high?

[GreySox]

Originally posted by Scribe
I agree. Also, the triple axel wasn't required for men until the mid '80s, and dance and pairs do neither. We are almost being limited to just one era, the post-figures era. I think Kat's '88 Olympics LP is one of the best Olympic LPs ever, but she didn't do a triple lutz in it. I guess Grey hasn't caught them yet, but there are other ladies listed on this thread besides Hamill who didn't triple lutz and men who didn't triple axel.:lol:

No, I wasn't trying to limit people to the post-figure area, and I'm not trying to police this thread because I just wanted some opinions. I just wanted people to imagine that all the Worlds and Olympic performances were given in one big competition. Then, pretend you are the figure skating judge and evaluate each program by the same technical and artistic standards. If it's your opinion that Kat's 88 Olympic LP is one of the ten most technically and artistically impressive programs compared to all the long programs ever performed, then that 's your opinion and I respect that.

I also hoped that people would separate their rankings into the different skating disciplines, like a real competition, but I guess I didn't make that clear to some.

I think some people understood, like Vash, DBZ, memememe76, duane, and others. Look at their posts for examples.

This thread has made for some interesting competitions and comparison like:
the best of Kwan vs. the best of Midori Ito
the best of Kulik vs. the best of Boitano
the best of B&S vs. the best of G&G

Respectfully,
GreySox

[GreySox]

Originally posted by XPEG
Question: Lu Chen didn't win the LP at 1996 Worlda and Tara didn't win the LP at 1997 Worlds. Thus how come folks are listing them so high?

I guess some people were really impressed with those skates. Chen did take some first place ordinals from Kwan that year, so some judges there did prefer Chen's LP as well. I think Chen's 1996 LP was the finest freeskate by a lady at a Worlds or Olympics. But I don't think she was robbed of gold or anything. I think the reasons for giving the gold to Kwan are also valid--extra triple toe, better spins etc. It was very close.

Similarly, Kerrigan's 1994 Olympic LP made my Top 10, but Baiul's Olympic free did not. In that case, I would say that Kerrigan was robbed.

--GreySox

[duane]

Originally posted by DBZ
1. Michelle Kwan - 1997 Worlds

DBZ,
did you mean 96 Worlds? Just curious. thanks.

XPEG,
everyone is simply voicing their personal opinion, which sometimes agrees with what the majority of judges felt, and sometimes not.

[Germanice]

Here we go ..... an "overall" list ...

01. "Man in the iron mask"/LP - Alexei Yagudin - Olympics 2002
02. "Lawrence of Arabia"/LP - Alexei Yagudin - Worlds 1999
03. "Piano concerto No. 2/Rachmaninov"/LP - Lu Chen - Worlds 1996 :p
04. "Turandot"/LP - Xue Shen & Hongbo Zhao - Worlds 2003
05. "Revolution's Etude"/SP - Alexei Yagudin - Worlds 2001
06. "Rhapsody in Blue"/LP - Ilia Kulik - Olympics 1998
07. "Missing"/FD - Isabelle- and Paul Duchesnay - Worlds 1991
08. "Winter"/SP - Alexei Yagudin - Worlds 2002
09. "Chaplin"/LP - Elena Berezhnaya & Anton Sikharulidze - Worlds 2001
10. "Liebestraum"/LP - Natalia Mishkotionok/Arthur Dmitriev - Worlds 1991

Anke

[olivia]

Originally posted by duane
DBZ,
did you mean 96 Worlds? Just curious. thanks.

XPEG,
everyone is simply voicing their personal opinion, which sometimes agrees with what the majority of judges felt, and sometimes not.

Can't speak for DBZ, but Kwan's 97 Worlds LP was magnificent and beat Lipinski's LP, but didn't win it for Kwan overall (it was the SP Kwan bombed).

A list? I don't even think I can go there. Two of my favorite men's LPs were: Boitano 1988 Olympics and Ilia Kulik 1998 Olympics.

Also adored both Lu Chen and Kwan at 1996 Worlds, Liz Manley's stunning and inspiring Olympic LP, Gordeeva/Grinkov's Olympic LPs, and Mishketuniok/Dimitriev Olympic LP, Krylova/Ovsiannikov 1998 Olympic Free Dance, the timeless Bolero by Torvill/Dean. Just some random thoughts.

O-

[duane]

olivia,
maybe i'm thinking of michelle's State International Finals LP.

[GreySox]

Originally posted by olivia

A list? I don't even think I can go there. Two of my favorite men's LPs were: Boitano 1988 Olympics and Ilia Kulik 1998 Olympics.

Also adored both Lu Chen and Kwan at 1996 Worlds, Liz Manley's stunning and inspiring Olympic LP, Gordeeva/Grinkov's Olympic LPs, and Mishketuniok/Dimitriev Olympic LP, Krylova/Ovsiannikov 1998 Olympic Free Dance, the timeless Bolero by Torvill/Dean. Just some random thoughts.

O-

With all due respect, this thread is not intended to be for favorites lists. It's meant to be an imaginary competition, separated by discipline, between all Olympic and Worlds Long Progam performances.

For example, I would judge all LADIES freeskates like this:
1. 5.8 6.0 Chen - 1996 Worlds
2. 6.0 5.7 Ito 1989 Worlds
3. 5.8 5.9 Kwan 1996 Worlds
4. 5.9 5.8 Lipinski 1998 Olympics
5. 5.8 5.8 Hughes 2002
6. 5.7 5.8 Kwan 2001 Worlds
7. 5.6 5.9 Kerrigan 1994 Olympics
8. 5.6 5.8 Yamaguchi 1992 Worlds
9. 5.5 5.8 Kwan 2003 Worlds
10. 5.5 5.7 Butyrskaya 1999 Worlds

The first mark is for technical & the second mark is for presentation, and the skaters are ordinaled like in a real competition. You don't have to show your marks, just your final placements.

This is the last time I'll try to explain this because I'm sure I'm annoying some people. ;)

--GreySox

[sk8ing is lyfe]

14 Alexie Yagudin - 2001 Worlds SP 08. "Winter"/SP - Alexei Yagudin - Worlds 2002 05. "Revolution's Etude"/SP - Alexei Yagudin - Worlds 2001

i think its funny that alexei is the only one to have a short program mentioned, and yet 2 different programs are mentioned... this should be brought up in the legend status thread!!!!!

2001,2002, and im sure 2003 would've been, except for his injury... it was very good...

dont get me wrong, i am NOT an alexei fan... however i do respect (highly) his skating

[arena_gal]

OK, I obviously missed the point of the thread but I'm not annoyed.

Shouldn't it be moved to chat&discussion btw? Not much discussion of current worlds in it.

[GreySox]

Originally posted by arena_gal
OK, I obviously missed the point of the thread but I'm not annoyed.

Shouldn't it be moved to chat&discussion btw? Not much discussion of current worlds in it.

Thanks for not being annoyed arena_gal. And yeah, I definitely posted it in the wrong forum. If a moderator would kindly move it, thanks.

--GreySox

[olivia]

GreySox: I'm not annoyed, just a rebel at heart who usually fails miserably to follow instructions! :evil: :D

You know the old saying, it's not you, it's ME! (hee hee)

O-

[drdave98]

1. 6.0 6.0 Kwan Worlds 2003
2. 6.0 6.0 Kwan US Nats 2002
3. 5.9 6.0 Kwan US Nats 1998
4. 6.0 5.9 Lipinski Olympics 1998
5. 5.9 5.9 Kwan Olympics 1998
6. 5.9 5.9 Kwan Worlds 2000

[DBZ]

Originally posted by duane
DBZ,
did you mean 96 Worlds? Just curious. thanks.

Duane,

To answer your question, I was indeed referring to 97 worlds. Although Michelle's Salome program from 96 was wonderful (probably ranking just outside my top 10), her 97 Taj Mahal LP was simply, in every sense of the word, a masterpiece. Not only did the choreography perfectly suit the music, but it was also extremely intricate and difficult in terms of execution. There were so many little nuances in the music that Michelle couldn't afford to fall out of sync with it even just a little. Her elements needed to be timed and executed with exact precision, otherwise the program wouldn't be effective. Not to mention the program had practically no rest-stops for her to catch her breath. It was an incredibly demanding program to pull off, with very little margin for error, and Michelle skated it brilliantly at worlds that year.

In my humble opinion, to this day -- with the exception of Chen Lu's Rach program -- no other Ladies freeskate has come close to matching it.

Most people think of Salome as Michelle's defining program, but for me, it's Taj Mahal. It's so unfortunate that 97 worlds was one of the rare times we saw the program performed to its potential.

[lBrokenAnkle]

All LPs. If someone is missing, like G&G, it's because I didn't watch much pairs and dance till recent years.


1. Elvis Stojko, Dragonheart '97 Worlds
2. Brian Boitano, Napolean, '88 Olympics
3. Yaguden, Lawrence of Arabia, 1999
4. Brian Orser, 1988 Olympics
5. Phillipppe Candeloro, Dartagnan, 1998 Olympics
6. Elvis Stojko, 1492, 1996 Worlds
7. Ilia Kulik, Rhapsody in Blue, 1998 Olympics
8. Todd Eldredge, 1996 Worlds
9. Kurt Browning, 1993 (?) Worlds, Casablanca
10. Tim Goebal, 2002 Olympics. American in Paris

1. Michelle Kwan, Red Violin, 2000 Worlds
2. Michelle Kwan, Lyra Angelica, 1998 Worlds
3. Liz Manley 1988 Olympics
4. Tara Lipinski 1998 Olympics
5. Sarah Hughes 2002 Olympics
6. Yuka Sato, 1994 Worlds
7. Lu Chen 1995 Worlds
8. Katt Witt, 1998, Carmen
9. Michelle Kwan, Song of the Black Swan , 2001 Worlds
10. Lu Chen, 1998 Olympics

1. S&P 2001 Worlds
2. S&Z 2002 Worlds
3. B&S 1999 Worlds
4. S&P 2002 Olympics
5. B&S 2002 OlympicG

1. A&P 2000 Worlds
2. K&O, 1999 Worlds (?) the Jungle dance
3. B&K, 2002 Olympics, Michael Jackson program
4. A&P, 1998 Olympics
5. P&S, 1998 Olympics

[GreySox]

Originally posted by lBrokenAnkle
All LPs. If someone is missing, like G&G, it's because I didn't watch much pairs and dance till recent years.

3. Yaguden, Lawrence of Arabia, 1999

2. Michelle Kwan, Lyra Angelica, 1998 Worlds

2. S&Z 2002 Worlds

1. A&P 2000 Worlds
2. K&O, 1999 Worlds (?) the Jungle dance
3. B&K, 2002 Olympics, Michael Jackson program
4. A&P, 1998 Olympics
5. P&S, 1998 Olympics

BrokenAnkle, your placements make me want to re-evaluate my placements. I had forgotten about Yagudin's Lawrence of Arabia. That was a strong program, and I really liked the costume.

I respectfully disagree with the high placement of Michelle's Lyra Angelica, 1998 worlds. As I recall, she skated almost as tentatively as in the Olympics and fell out of a double axel. JMHO.

Do you mean S&Z 2003?

Interesting dance placements. I loved A&P's 98 Olympic performance, but standing around in the beginning I think hurt them technically.

I don't really care for K&O's Jungle dance. What did you like about it?

:)

--GreySox

[supersk8er]

Hey! I want to play too! Okay, I don't really know all of the music of the programs like some of the crazy people here...but here are my picks in all disciplines:

1. Sale/Pelletier: 2002 Olympic long program
2. Bourne/Kraatz: 1998 Olympic free dance
3. Michelle Kwan: 2001 Worlds long program
4. Alexei Yagudin: 2002 Olympic short program
5. Kristi Yamaguchi: 1992 Olympic long program (3z/3t!!)
6. Zhen/Zhao: 2003 Worlds long program
7. Berezhnia/Sikhulizia: 2002 Olympic long program
8. Evgeni Plushenko: 2002 Worlds long program
9. Tara Lipinksi: 1998 Olympic long program
10. Ilia Kulik: 1998 Olympic long program

Man...I wish I could keep going...:??

[GreySox]

Originally posted by supersk8er
Hey! I want to play too! Okay, I don't really know all of the music of the programs like some of the crazy people here...

LOL! :)