Ladies' Long Program - 1996 World Figure Skating Championships (USA ESPN)

Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA - 1996 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Long Program - This was the secondary broadcast on ESPN with commentators Bob Varsha and Peter Carruthers, and not the main broadcast on ABC. This was an exciting final flight of skaters as both China's Chen Lu and the United States' Michelle Kwan both skated clean and amazing skates, with each earning two 6.0's for Artistic Impression. However, the majority of the judges favored Michelle, and she would win the first of five World titles. On the other end of the spectrum was Japan's Midori Ito's comeback. She was encouraged to reinstate as an Olympic eligible skater with hopes of becoming Japan's best hope for a medal at the upcoming 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Unfortunately, the pressure and expectations by the Japanese media stressed Midori out, much like she was in Albertville in 1992. She would arrive too thin and anemic, which prevented her from being able to skate well. After this competition, she would once again retire from Olympic eligible competition.
Skater (Nation) (LP Placement) (Overall Placement) Start Time
Surya Bonaly (FRA) (5th) (5th) 1:23
Irina Slutskaya (RUS) (3rd) (3rd) 7:03
CHEN Lu (CHN) (2nd) (2nd) 12:08
Midori Ito (JPN) (7th) (7th) 18:15
Michelle Kwan (1st) (1st) 23:55
Maria Burtyrskaya (RUS) (4th) (4th) 30:35

[@timsilver]

This was a fantastic competition. I'll always remember that Michelle Kwan LP as one of the best of all time.

[@Itstonytime77]

Can we just give Surya her props for attempting those quads way before any other women even if they werent completed…she was still pushing things forward

[@ddjr6673]

Always loved Surya - still do❤ exciting unpredictable athletic actually thrilling to watch

[@mikelara8306]

I would have given Chen Lu the title. Michelle had the momentum going into the Worlds but this program flows. It was effortless.

[@xavierpierredeau2840]

I would have given the title to Bonaly in 1995

[@samuelgedevanishvili1981]

Chen Lu was so exquisite and perfect. The best of the night for me.

[@tresslercreed]

My only critique of Chen Lu is how wobbly her upper body was when doing back crosscuts.
Swan Lake was choreographically Surya's best program.
Michelle's Salome -- divine!

[@dbulc5171]

I would not want to be a judge choosing between those 2 masterpieces.

[@sgsmozart]

I always loved Lu Chen's skating but this time Michele's choreography and program was more engaging !

[@TaushaTW]

Thank you!

[@Dylvente]

Thank you for sharing!

[@jumikim4857]

Wow. Didn't know that Bonaly did her footwork sequence to the exact same music that Sato used for her footwork in 94.

[@Demetri450]

Her program was more mature & it was not forced!

[@scottw6704]

ESPN forgot how to spell "presentation".

[@norcaliboy99]

Maria deserved the bronze over Irina, hands down!

[@jiromarc7873]

Chen Lu should have won here.

[@KoKi2021]

Most of the time, all things equal, the reigning world champion would be given the edge. Not the case for Chen Lu. Still say this was the greatest skate off between two women on the world or Olympic stage

[@jiromarc7873]

@@KoKi2021 what's your opinion on Yuna Kim vs sotnikova 2014 Olympics?

[@erivera4928]

Different story, that was highway robbery. Sotnikova was not artistic and had errors.
Here, Michelle landed everything cleanly and had great artistry. The only difference between her and Chen was that 7th triple. Without it, the judges would have had a very difficult time with placement and I think Chen would have won.

[@trytobenice7234]

☪️ 23:55 ⚜️ 29:26 ☺️ 29:56 🗽 30:05

[@Demetri450]

This broke her! She was never the same mentally when she lost.

[@erivera4928]

Her federation broke her. She was injured and they forced her to compete.