Michelle was always overrated. Her setup to jumps are painfully long . her edges are cheated. Her programs were boring and no triple triples. I will say her younger years were better skating than the last 5 or so.
After that night Tara became and always will be the 1998 Olympic gold medalist and Michelle is remembered by a lot of people as bombing . Then she bombed again in 2002 and withdrew in 2006 because she knew her recycled programs would never hold up to the triple triple threats. Michelle was a amazing skater, but you can't stay the best.
I prefer Michelle's style of skating over Tara. Tara was great at her jumps but Michelle had a grace and beauty that can't be touched. Michelle's 36 perfect scores in her career is a record that will never be broken.
Michelle brings tears to my eyes even after all these years. She embodies pure grace, effortless ability, and she is hands down my favorite skater of all time. I am still so hurt for her that she could never seem to capture that gold metal. I feel she deserved it the most.
No one will be able to convince me that Michelle Kwan wasn't robbed. Tara is known now for being a commentator, Michelle is still known for being one of the best US skaters ever. Most can't name who won gold but they know Michelle Kwan.
Michelle Kwan is the Gold Standard! Hasn't skating competitively in over a decade and is still a household name. As Scott said, had she skated last she would have had 6.0's. Despite the stress fracture, she performed amazingly.
Michelle Kwan gave a Gold Medal skate. She had the jumps, but more importantly she had the grace, and the ability to finish each movement, instead of rushing it. She will always be the best Champion I’ve seen on the ice.
Such a beautiful program. It's a shame she could never skate her very best at the Olympics, although, this was pretty damn good. She's probably the greatest skater to never win an Olympic gold.
+EdGringo78 I agree. She's undoubtedly one of the greatest figure skaters ever and she has two Olympic medals to her name, which very few skaters can say. Too bad neither of them is gold.
She did skate at her very best here. She didn't make a mistake in either the short or long here. Tara was lucky enough to skate after Michelle- that's really what won her the gold.
I still watch this and then tara and can’t see her beating this. The same judges that sent a very harsh message to michelle at 95 worlds, wanting a ladies champion, not a girl, thus the drastic makeover and artistry the following season, handed an Olympic Gold medal to a little girl.
Still the G.O.A.T. in my eyes, Olympic gold or not. Her artistry and athleticism balance was like no other, and her humility only makes her more appealing. I TRULY believe she was robbed of gold here, if only for the tiniest of mistakes barely even noticeable in this routine. FOREVER A FAN!!
Michelle use to make me weep with her programs because they were so beautiful and expressive. Tara won with jumps but like Johnny Weir says jumps will only get you so far with the crowd.
Tara was expressive in her program as well. I grew up watching kwan vs Cohen and it felt insane for anyone to state kwan was better. It seems she has her following. There were girls with harder jumps and just as expressive if not more so programs than kwan. Kwan was ok but her programs I always perceived as limited to what was required of a program. Rare were programs where she attempted triple triples
IamJeona she threw n a last minute jump to win points. No one won will remember her skating other than to say she won and that she competed in the era of Kwan.
@@elizabethhurley1129 Yeah, Michelle later fired her coach. He kind of made her a little conservative during that skate or practiced her a little too hard that season, thus the injury.
This is still my favorite figure skating performance of all time. I'll never forget the excitement I felt watching her. Even *if* Lipinski had a harder routine, Michelle was the epitome of grace and was so much more enjoyable to watch. Love this always!
I haven't watched this program in years and yet I'm crying at how beautiful it was. I can't remember the last time I was moved to tears by a figure skating performance.
it breaks my heart that after giving such an amazing performance she felt it necessary to apologize. Michelle Kwan is the most incredible figure skater i've had the privilege of watching during my life.
Michelle Kwan and her choreographer Lori Nichol really took skating back to a sophistication and “high-brow” seriousness in choreography that we haven't seen before. The decades before Kwan, it was mostly Disney/Action movie music, camp and flamboyance. Kwan changed it for a good decade even after she retired. But today, skating couldn’t resist it's inner drag queen roots for Blades of Glory camp and flamboyance and hilarious costumes. God, how figure skating really needs someone like Kwan now more than ever. After her, the tv ratings just died, understandably. Now, the music has just gotten worse.
Kamala Valieva is one of those talents. Better than Michelle Kwan even. Better than most skaters I've ever seen ever. And I'm not talking about her quad jumps. Take those out of the program and she's breathtaking. Incredible Grace, like a ballerina on Ice. It's a shame her coaches have a sick training regimen depriving them and nutrients and hydration, not even allowing them to drink water. No wonder she needs heart medication. I hope she switches coaches that she can maintain her body and continue to Delight us with her majesty
@@primalcritters I agree she is very good, but I personally do not like Kamila, or any of the other newer figure skaters of today as much as I liked Michelle Kwan, Yuna Kim, or for that matter even Sasha Cohen, and Tara Lipinski in their prime even with all their bigger quad jumps. Also, as much as I loved Michelle I think Yuna Kim, and Sasha Cohen were the most beautiful, graceful, and artistic figure skaters ever.
i think as long as i live....she will remain the greatest in my opinion.....when i saw her the first time at 13 years old...i KNEW she was going places!!!
I think if she didn't skate first, some of her technical scores may have been a little higher. A commentator said something similar, saying her scores were a little lower because she was skating first.
I would have given Michelle a 5.8 and 5.9 and Tara a 5.9 and 5.8- the tiebreaker in the long is the artistic so I would have chosen Michelle. Considering she had the better short program, I would have been ok with this. I see how Tara won though and am not upset by this. She had 2 triple triples and was fortunate enough to skate after Michelle. I hate when people say 'Michelle didn't have the spark'. She certainly did and anybody who says that doesn't know what they're talking about. Anyway, Michelle can take solace in the fact that her performance here would have won the gold at any Olympics.
Tara should have actually won the technical program. She had two more difficult elements. She should have won on the technical mark. Michelle won on the artistic mark as she should have in the long but you cant argue against her technical marks. She was a 5.7 at best.
Skating after Michelle had nothing to do with it because in the following Olympics, Sarah Hughes skated first and still beat Michelle. Kwan fans always makes excuses.
plumeria66 Sarah Hughes won because she had a very difficult technical program and she nailed it. She skated clean while everyone else had errors. She would have won whether she skated first or last, and she deserved that win for sure. Totally different situation than Michelle in the 1998 olympics, when she skated FLAWLESSLY and lost to someone with horrible technique and no artistry whatsoever.
Alicia Scott you can still make a case for Michelle winning in '02 though. Remember, Sarah was 4th after the short program, so for her to win gold, not only did she have to win the long (which she absolutely deserved), but she also needed someone else to beat Kwan in the long as well. Slutskaya was put above Kwan in the long and that decision actually is debatable--that was another 6-3 decision, though surprisingly the U.S. judge was one of the 6 who did put Irina ahead of Michelle. But if Michelle had still been given 2nd in the long behind only Hughes, she still ends up 1st overall. This one in '98 truly could legitimately have gone either way--there's valid arguments for each possible result.
Michelle is the greatest skater of all time. 9 u.s. Titles 5 world titles 2 Olympic medals. Sara Hughes is a one hit wonder and Tara skated like a child not a woman she was over scored artistically and should not have won but who cares Michelle has more talent than any one before her and after. There will never be anyone like her again. What a travesty of justice that this performance didn't take gold. The most beloved skater in history.
Yu Na Kim is clearly greater than Kwan. If she were American rather than Korean she would easily be a 2 time Olympic Champion and 4 or 5 time World Champion with that. And that is with her really short career, while the only reason Kwan's career was so long was her continued failure to win Olympic Gold. Even with the huge disadvantage of being Korean she won 8 combined programs at worlds, same as Kwan, Olympic Gold and silver which is much better than Kwan at the Games, and the prestigious Grand Prix final 4 times to Kwan's mere 1 time.
morla vader so what you're saying is the judging was biased? Except, of course, in 2010 when she won gold. Last I checked most of the people that run the IOC and international competitions dislike America so stop with the bullshit excuses.
Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski were both highly talented figure skaters but with completely different styles and personalities. Kwan's classic elegance and balletic grace made her an icon of the sport while Lipinski's bold, aggressive technique completely revolutionized it. It is like comparing a composer from several centuries ago, such as Bach, Mozart or Beethoven, to a more modern composer such as Stravinsky. Both skaters performed brilliantly and wore beautiful costumes, but I personally preferred Kwan's selection of music. Even without Olympic gold, I regard Kwan as more of a figure skating legend than either Lipinski or Sarah Hughes because of her greater longevity in the sport. While the last two each competed in one Olympics and moved on after winning gold, Kwan competed in two Olympics and attempted a third. On top of it all, in addition to Olympic silver and bronze, she has won more National and World titles than almost any athlete in U.S. history. Her position is similar to that of gymnast Shannon Miller, who has also won many Championships and seven Olympic medals in two Games minus all-around gold.
Gorgeous , yes. Technically inferior to Lipinski. She skated before Lipinski so they had to hold back. Either one could have won. Judges gave it to the last impression and that was Tara.
@@01Natalcia01 No. Michelle was a counter-clockwise skater, like most right-handed people. So it was harder for her to spin in the clockwise direction.
Michelle Kwan has a great career. I feel that we should all just keep our mouths shut, b/c 99% of us can't do what she has. And we haven't made it to the olympics. Why can't we just shut up, sit back, relax, and enjoy watching her? Don't like her don't watch. But what she does STILL takes years of training and practice and passion.
They don't make 'em like that anymore. Total package! I miss this kind of artistic program that doesn't feel like a list being checked off. Can't believe it's been 20 yrs!
Michelle had a lot of joy in her skating which helped her artistically. You don't see that in many of the skaters today. Look at all the meltdowns after the Ladies' LP this year.
After watching both performances years later, Michelle is still the one I want to watch. Her skating is mesmerizing. I love Tara but her skating was good but not breathtaking. Michelle had grace and technique.
Michelle should have won. Her program in hindsight was skated with the right amount of speed and fluidity. Even with that small bobble on the flip, and tara had 3 issues technically (major flutz, under on the 3-3, poorly landed 3/3 at the end), Michelle should have won. lol, I will always have sour grapes about this one because they chose the wrong winner. The skating order determined the winner that night. However, no one can ever take away the next 7 years that Michelle competed at a high level. So many wonderful memories. The fact that Tara and Sarah call her "The Great Michelle Kwan" is very telling.
Won that night. No one has done for skating what Michelle has and no one ever will again. What a travesty of justice this didn't win the gold. The greatest skater in history
Travesty of justice?????/ LOL A bit dramatic.It was a sad night for her. She was outskated. Felt sad for her, she had a nice skate but she let her triple triple go and thought her artistry alone was enough and for some time it was but it came back to bite her in the ass later too that she didn't technically improve or challenge herself.
correction she was OUT JUMPED ....NOT out skated tara was better technically but NOT even close artistically to michelle! so michelle should have won overall as the artistic mark broke the tie in the old system go down and look at most every comment on this video most people agreed michelle should have won.
Harvey Chadbourne Nobody wins cuz they have been trying forever. Kwan was great but she never was BEST by far in every little thing for that special 4 minutes. Tara HAD it when it counted and Oksana nailed it with difficult program and SHE got Gold. Kwan’s fans do not do her any favors by being sore losers.
Yunas idol was Michelle and the same thing happened to Michelle happened to Yuna (both got robbed). Yuzuru Hanyus idol is Yuna Kim so I DONT want to think about what might happen at Beijing 2022
"Hello, police? I'd like to report a robbery. No I'm fine, the victim's name is Michelle Kwan who was robbed. Yes, _that_ Michelle Kwan....No, not tonight, it occurred back in 1998. Yes, the judges robbed her of the gold medal that was CLEARLY hers. ...Hello?"
Tara is the technical skater and Michelle is the artistic one. Tara just happened to be abnormally “on” that night; she skated the program of her life and then promptly retired from competitive skating. Michelle went on to win more national and world titles, all while displaying a character and elegance that won the hearts of figure skating fans around the world, and becoming a role model for young hopefuls for years to come. She didn’t have the skate of her career like Tara did that night, but in hindsight....Tara who???
She (Michelle) should have won, it wasn't even close! while Tara did more difficult jumps her performance and artistic qualities were not in the same league and Michelle had a unique presence. While I agree Tara's technical marks are higher due to having two 3-3 combinations, her artistic marks were super inflated. I think Michelle should have had some 6.0 for presentation based on the program's composition.
Tara was great and really artistic. She beat Michelle because she was lucky enough to skate after her and had 2 triple triples whereas Michelle had 0. It was a combination of preparation + luck of the draw.
the simple answer is tara was better technically with triple triple combo etc however, michelle without question was better artistically so not sure how tara was marked above her on the artistic mark by any judge
Michelle was my idol growing up, and hands down is the reason I love figure skating so much. She holds the same place in my heart with ice skating as Mia Hamm does with soccer. Idols.
Good program. And I was just happy to see the American women kicking some ass and taking home some medals. It's what I want to see in the next Olympics. Clean programs and medals. I miss those days, and want them again. So yeah, good for Michelle for being part of that, back in her day.
Still love her..she gives me chills to watch. She was totally robbed. “Harder” routines don’t mean better. Michelle was truly the better skater full of beauty. They obviously left open space on not giving her all 6s on presentation. Robbery
*sigh* So, consistently performing two clean programs in major competitions over 10 years with 6-7 triple jumps in every LP is "simple", isn't athletic, and is "propped" up? Kwan set the standard for those to come after her. Sadly for her, just on those nights in 1998 and 2002, two different women produced great "one off" performances. I have no problem with Lipinski and Hughes winning Golds but Kwan is one of the greats. If she was "propped up" she would've got Gold here.
Hughes maybe produced a one performance, but to say that is an unfair slam and misrepresentation of Tara. Her career was short but she was no one hit wonder in that short career. She won 5 major titles- Olympics, Worlds, 2 Grand Prix finals (a huge event too remember), and a U.S title. She is no one shot wonder like Hughes.
I take issue with the info included in this video. Michelle skated better than Tara and her artistry was way better. This was the start of the end of artistic integrity in skating.
Michelle was robbed of the gold medal. Her skating was extraordinary and full of beautiful artistry. Tara did NOT skate a more difficult program and her artistry was lacking big time. Since she had to skate first, the judges didn't give her high enough scores because they still had other skaters to judge. Either way, she REALLY should've won the gold!!!! Tara knew that she won the gold on pure luck. That's why she stopped competing. She knew that she couldn't do it again. Michelle continued skating because she was such an incredible skater. Michelle REALLY deserved the gold medal!!!!!
Tara had a kid's body and weight so easier to jump, nothing more. Even so, Tara had a incorrect triple triple combo, her technique was overrated. Tara retired because she got hurt by the jumps, then she grew up and everything changed.
She should have won that night ( it's all preference. Tara had the difficulty for sure but Kwan presentation was elegance) , but if she did win she would have retire soon after that like most gold medalist back then, then you wouldn't have 7 more years or so of her competing... :D
Her silver medal made her a legend in the sport. She would not have gone to win so manyworld titles had she won here. I think it was a blessing in disguise for her.
Tara skated last. Because of this, she received a lot of 5.9's for presentation. If you see her other performances, she didn't receive that many 5.9's for presentation. Even though Michelle skated first, she still received all 5.9's.
Tara receiving the marks she did for presentation is one of skating's great mysteries. Her presentation was a joke- junior, junior, junior. If the judges wanted a jumping contest they should not have scored "artistry/presentation"...Tara was nowhere near the senior ladies level in 1998. Gives away how much of a scam these contests are.
I watched this program and Tara's over and over and still don't understand how Tara won the Gold.. this skate was far superior and mature than Tara's. Oh well.. There will never not be controversy in judged sporting events.
I believe the choice came down to perceived marketability myself, or some other factor outside of the skating itself.. Tara would have been a fine junior champion in 1998, but her presentation as NOT worthy of the high marks she was gifted...come on, same as Michelle?? There's no arguing it, you just stare at it dumbfounded. Tara's puny little roller derby jumps (UR, no height) are one thing but how can any judge make the claim Tara's artistry or presentation was even within .5 of Michelle that night. The sport is a disgrace. Basically gave up after this year and the new points system has only made things worse (now, truly an ugly jumping contest). Decisions like this killed the sport.
Yes, I'll always remember this Olympics as the one that didn't award the right and best skater the gold medal. Tara is nowhere near the skater Michelle is. And Tara did NOT skate better. Who really knows why cMichelle didn't win other than some judges made a bad decision.
IT was 6-3, not some judges. It was judged very fairly this competition. Most analysts agree. Tara was just that much technically better and even though artistry mattered the most, Michelle was too far behind technically and she had to not so clean landings.
Tara wasn't the better skater? Tara skated perfectly, Michelle almost landed a triple flip on two feet. And Tara's program was more difficult. Michelle was a great skater, no doubt about that, but she got beaten fair and square on that night.
anitabreakone Tara did more triples and combination triple where Michelle did a triple..double combination. Michelle really went into her jumps slow with step by step almost set up and Tara went into fast like a senior skater. Skating is full of politics so with a close skate a new face was crowned. I prefer Michelle over Tara, but I prefer Sasha Cohen over Michelle. Lol. Once Michelle stopped tugging on her ears at the kiss and cry she seemed to lose her confidence. She always tugged her ears to the cameras.
Michelle Kwan should have won - I always thought she was by far a more fluid skater than anyone else including Tara Lipinski I remember that performance and thought wow how did she ( Michelle) not win?
I dont y I thought she fell that night. Boy Im super pissed Tara didnt deserve that dern medal. Her artistry was nothing compared to Michelles. Sorry Tara Im a fan of yours as well but girlie Michelle is my numero uno. Ill never forget how i felt watching her. Idk y I felt she fell.
Michelle was robbed. Michelle's performance was classic, beautiful and womanly. Tara's performance just like a Disney cartoon. Tara's flip and lutz would be called out for under rotation today. Tara's triples were cheap.
Ｉlove Michelle Kwan of Spiral！😍 I love Michaelle Kwan!!!! I'm Japanese, so I am not good at English. I used Google Translate. But,I heard from the fans of Mao Asada that spiral raised his feet slowly and it is very important and it is very difficult to slide. That's why Michelle Kwan 's and Shizuka' s and Yuna 's Spiral have low difficulty and poor, she said. Is this true！？ I do not believe it. Ｉf you'd kindly teach me.
![[4K60P] Pasha Grishuk and Evgeni Platov 1998 Nagano Olympics - FD "Memorial Requiem"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/toZS4XzXPME/mqdefault.jpg)
after that night, Tara became just a gold medalist among many of them , and Michelle became a legend among a few of them .
Michelle was always overrated. Her setup to jumps are painfully long . her edges are cheated. Her programs were boring and no triple triples. I will say her younger years were better skating than the last 5 or so.
Tara lipinski is the youngest Olympic gold medalist of all time
After that night Tara became and always will be the 1998 Olympic gold medalist and Michelle is remembered by a lot of people as bombing . Then she bombed again in 2002 and withdrew in 2006 because she knew her recycled programs would never hold up to the triple triple threats. Michelle was a amazing skater, but you can't stay the best.
@@emmaatwell3195 You sound like a bitter ole witch. Dang.
Emma Atwell Michelle is the best ever. Most decorated in US history. You are clueless
I prefer Michelle's style of skating over Tara. Tara was great at her jumps but Michelle had a grace and beauty that can't be touched. Michelle's 36 perfect scores in her career is a record that will never be broken.
Michelle brings tears to my eyes even after all these years. She embodies pure grace, effortless ability, and she is hands down my favorite skater of all time. I am still so hurt for her that she could never seem to capture that gold metal. I feel she deserved it the most.
No one will be able to convince me that Michelle Kwan wasn't robbed. Tara is known now for being a commentator, Michelle is still known for being one of the best US skaters ever. Most can't name who won gold but they know Michelle Kwan.
Even Michelle's coach said Tara deserved the gold.
Tara is known as one half of the most obnoxious announcers of any sport. She and Johnny need to be fired already. They’re awful.
agreed!!! Kwans artistry is untouchable! she is a ballerina on the ice and her jumps were perfection.
Artistically, both programs were equally good, but technically, Tara's program was much more difficult and she executed it flawlessly.
@@sunshineland an inside edge lutz is flawless?
Michelle Kwan is the Gold Standard! Hasn't skating competitively in over a decade and is still a household name.
As Scott said, had she skated last she would have had 6.0's. Despite the stress fracture, she performed amazingly.
Michelle Kwan gave a Gold Medal skate. She had the jumps, but more importantly she had the grace, and the ability to finish each movement, instead of rushing it. She will always be the best Champion I’ve seen on the ice.
here we are 2020 and i'm still mad about this.
Such a beautiful program. It's a shame she could never skate her very best at the Olympics, although, this was pretty damn good. She's probably the greatest skater to never win an Olympic gold.
+EdGringo78 I agree. She's undoubtedly one of the greatest figure skaters ever and she has two Olympic medals to her name, which very few skaters can say. Too bad neither of them is gold.
She did skate at her very best here. She didn't make a mistake in either the short or long here. Tara was lucky enough to skate after Michelle- that's really what won her the gold.
ManuelPabloArnao yup. The real champion is Michelle not the ugly troll called tara
Willie Gordon
Success isn't always measured by a gold medal...
I still watch this and then tara and can’t see her beating this. The same judges that sent a very harsh message to michelle at 95 worlds, wanting a ladies champion, not a girl, thus the drastic makeover and artistry the following season, handed an Olympic Gold medal to a little girl.
The elegance and grace no one can parallel Michelle Kwan’s presence on the ice . She has whole package on her time .
Still the G.O.A.T. in my eyes, Olympic gold or not. Her artistry and athleticism balance was like no other, and her humility only makes her more appealing. I TRULY believe she was robbed of gold here, if only for the tiniest of mistakes barely even noticeable in this routine. FOREVER A FAN!!
Team Michelle kwan.
Michelle use to make me weep with her programs because they were so beautiful and expressive. Tara won with jumps but like Johnny Weir says jumps will only get you so far with the crowd.
Tara was expressive in her program as well. I grew up watching kwan vs Cohen and it felt insane for anyone to state kwan was better. It seems she has her following. There were girls with harder jumps and just as expressive if not more so programs than kwan. Kwan was ok but her programs I always perceived as limited to what was required of a program. Rare were programs where she attempted triple triples
IamJeona she threw n a last minute jump to win points. No one won will remember her skating other than to say she won and that she competed in the era of Kwan.
@@Elong. Even Michelle's coach said Tara deserved to win.
@@elizabethhurley1129 Yeah, Michelle later fired her coach. He kind of made her a little conservative during that skate or practiced her a little too hard that season, thus the injury.
@@miumia777 Michelle really did many triples triples , maybe you just missed.
She has remained one of my all time favorite athletes. I always have thought that should have won gold, she is such a beautiful performer!
This is still my favorite figure skating performance of all time. I'll never forget the excitement I felt watching her. Even *if* Lipinski had a harder routine, Michelle was the epitome of grace and was so much more enjoyable to watch. Love this always!
I haven't watched this program in years and yet I'm crying at how beautiful it was. I can't remember the last time I was moved to tears by a figure skating performance.
Very classical and so appropriate for this sportI love the choreography and music
So amazing!🎉❤👏🏼 One of the best performances ever! Congrats Michelle!🎉
it breaks my heart that after giving such an amazing performance she felt it necessary to apologize. Michelle Kwan is the most incredible figure skater i've had the privilege of watching during my life.
Michelle Kwan and her choreographer Lori Nichol really took skating back to a sophistication and “high-brow” seriousness in choreography that we haven't seen before. The decades before Kwan, it was mostly Disney/Action movie music, camp and flamboyance. Kwan changed it for a good decade even after she retired. But today, skating couldn’t resist it's inner drag queen roots for Blades of Glory camp and flamboyance and hilarious costumes. God, how figure skating really needs someone like Kwan now more than ever. After her, the tv ratings just died, understandably. Now, the music has just gotten worse.
She will always be my fav, she deserved gold. And was robbed of it. Even now in 2022...none of the current skaters grab my attention like she did.
Kamala Valieva is one of those talents. Better than Michelle Kwan even. Better than most skaters I've ever seen ever. And I'm not talking about her quad jumps. Take those out of the program and she's breathtaking. Incredible Grace, like a ballerina on Ice. It's a shame her coaches have a sick training regimen depriving them and nutrients and hydration, not even allowing them to drink water. No wonder she needs heart medication. I hope she switches coaches that she can maintain her body and continue to Delight us with her majesty
@@primalcritters I agree she is very good, but I personally do not like Kamila, or any of the other newer figure skaters of today as much as I liked Michelle Kwan, Yuna Kim, or for that matter even Sasha Cohen, and Tara Lipinski in their prime even with all their bigger quad jumps. Also, as much as I loved Michelle I think Yuna Kim, and Sasha Cohen were the most beautiful, graceful, and artistic figure skaters ever.
i think as long as i live....she will remain the greatest in my opinion.....when i saw her the first time at 13 years old...i KNEW she was going places!!!
I miss watching her perform! The greatest American figure skater! Her artistry was absolutely beautiful!
I think if she didn't skate first, some of her technical scores may have been a little higher. A commentator said something similar, saying her scores were a little lower because she was skating first.
But Kim Yuna skated last
@@cakt15us81 different system of scoring.
Yes. The reason being that they wanted to leave room in case someone skated better in their opinion.
Well, she didn’t skate first in the 2002 Olympics and still didn’t do that well. So the theory is flawed.
d'accord!!!!!!!
❤❤❤ soo much class, grace and skill... Dad was so proud... What a great moment... In my eyes she won Gold
I would have given Michelle a 5.8 and 5.9 and Tara a 5.9 and 5.8- the tiebreaker in the long is the artistic so I would have chosen Michelle. Considering she had the better short program, I would have been ok with this.
I see how Tara won though and am not upset by this. She had 2 triple triples and was fortunate enough to skate after Michelle. I hate when people say 'Michelle didn't have the spark'. She certainly did and anybody who says that doesn't know what they're talking about. Anyway, Michelle can take solace in the fact that her performance here would have won the gold at any Olympics.
Tara should have actually won the technical program. She had two more difficult elements. She should have won on the technical mark. Michelle won on the artistic mark as she should have in the long but you cant argue against her technical marks. She was a 5.7 at best.
Skating after Michelle had nothing to do with it because in the following Olympics, Sarah Hughes skated first and still beat Michelle. Kwan fans always makes excuses.
plumeria66 Sarah Hughes won because she had a very difficult technical program and she nailed it. She skated clean while everyone else had errors. She would have won whether she skated first or last, and she deserved that win for sure. Totally different situation than Michelle in the 1998 olympics, when she skated FLAWLESSLY and lost to someone with horrible technique and no artistry whatsoever.
Alicia Scott you can still make a case for Michelle winning in '02 though. Remember, Sarah was 4th after the short program, so for her to win gold, not only did she have to win the long (which she absolutely deserved), but she also needed someone else to beat Kwan in the long as well. Slutskaya was put above Kwan in the long and that decision actually is debatable--that was another 6-3 decision, though surprisingly the U.S. judge was one of the 6 who did put Irina ahead of Michelle. But if Michelle had still been given 2nd in the long behind only Hughes, she still ends up 1st overall. This one in '98 truly could legitimately have gone either way--there's valid arguments for each possible result.
@@plumeria66 Michelle beat Michelle in 2002. If Michelle had skated clean, she would have won.
Michelle is the greatest skater of all time. 9 u.s. Titles 5 world titles 2 Olympic medals. Sara Hughes is a one hit wonder and Tara skated like a child not a woman she was over scored artistically and should not have won but who cares Michelle has more talent than any one before her and after. There will never be anyone like her again. What a travesty of justice that this performance didn't take gold. The most beloved skater in history.
+Willie Gordon Tara's a talentless hack
Yu Na Kim is clearly greater than Kwan. If she were American rather than Korean she would easily be a 2 time Olympic Champion and 4 or 5 time World Champion with that. And that is with her really short career, while the only reason Kwan's career was so long was her continued failure to win Olympic Gold. Even with the huge disadvantage of being Korean she won 8 combined programs at worlds, same as Kwan, Olympic Gold and silver which is much better than Kwan at the Games, and the prestigious Grand Prix final 4 times to Kwan's mere 1 time.
morla vader so what you're saying is the judging was biased? Except, of course, in 2010 when she won gold.
Last I checked most of the people that run the IOC and international competitions dislike America so stop with the bullshit excuses.
Success isn't always measured by a gold medal...
Eh ... I think Kim's (only) problem in Sochi was not being Russian, rather than not being American.
Hermosa!.. con sus saltos perfectamente ejecutados y una interpretación insuperable! la verdadera campeona olímpica 1998.
Wonderful production! Both Tara and Michelle are very talented. I prefer Kwan's style and eloquence more-so.
For me, I prefer the more athletic elements. They’re supposed to be athletes. If the artistry is supposed to be key, then just call them ice dancers
I loved her skating, was so disappointed she lost and had forgotten who won.
Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski were both highly talented figure skaters but with completely different styles and personalities. Kwan's classic elegance and balletic grace made her an icon of the sport while Lipinski's bold, aggressive technique completely revolutionized it. It is like comparing a composer from several centuries ago, such as Bach, Mozart or Beethoven, to a more modern composer such as Stravinsky. Both skaters performed brilliantly and wore beautiful costumes, but I personally preferred Kwan's selection of music.
Even without Olympic gold, I regard Kwan as more of a figure skating legend than either Lipinski or Sarah Hughes because of her greater longevity in the sport. While the last two each competed in one Olympics and moved on after winning gold, Kwan competed in two Olympics and attempted a third. On top of it all, in addition to Olympic silver and bronze, she has won more National and World titles than almost any athlete in U.S. history. Her position is similar to that of gymnast Shannon Miller, who has also won many Championships and seven Olympic medals in two Games minus all-around gold.
She should have won the Gold...
She did better than that. She got a "metal".
right?
@Mountain Lover wasnt simple and wasnt low risk: triple lutz double tow is not simple
Michael Batule yes it is simple. It’s standard for pros. Even in the 90s
Gorgeous , yes. Technically inferior to Lipinski. She skated before Lipinski so they had to hold back. Either one could have won. Judges gave it to the last impression and that was Tara.
Remember when who one gold was debatable with a gray area, unlike Sochi where it was too obvious that Yuna should have won.
She'll always be my favorite.
So beautiful and graceful. She makes it look so easy!!
GOAT.
holy moly, did i just see she spins on right foot in clockwise direction?? 2:48 i didnt know she could do that.
I think it's easier to spins clockwise than the backwise direction.
@@01Natalcia01 NOOOPE definitely is not (unless you are a reverse jumper, which is a much smaller percentage of the skating population)
@@01Natalcia01 No. Michelle was a counter-clockwise skater, like most right-handed people. So it was harder for her to spin in the clockwise direction.
Michelle Kwan has a great career. I feel that we should all just keep our mouths shut, b/c 99% of us can't do what she has. And we haven't made it to the olympics. Why can't we just shut up, sit back, relax, and enjoy watching her? Don't like her don't watch. But what she does STILL takes years of training and practice and passion.
They don't make 'em like that anymore. Total package! I miss this kind of artistic program that doesn't feel like a list being checked off. Can't believe it's been 20 yrs!
Michelle Kwan is so amazing! I skate, so I wish I could be like her.
Michelle had a lot of joy in her skating which helped her artistically. You don't see that in many of the skaters today. Look at all the meltdowns after the Ladies' LP this year.
So graceful! In addition to the technical skill, she has incredible movement, a true dancer and artist on ice.
This is timeless perfection
Such a gorgeous emotion-charged skate. Just lovely.
Omg I haven’t watched her in years and I just got chills just like when I was a child
After watching both performances years later, Michelle is still the one I want to watch. Her skating is mesmerizing. I love Tara but her skating was good but not breathtaking. Michelle had grace and technique.
I loved her
Soooo expressive.
Watching Michelle Kwan skate is like watching soul on ice.
Michelle should have won. Her program in hindsight was skated with the right amount of speed and fluidity. Even with that small bobble on the flip, and tara had 3 issues technically (major flutz, under on the 3-3, poorly landed 3/3 at the end), Michelle should have won. lol, I will always have sour grapes about this one because they chose the wrong winner.
The skating order determined the winner that night.
However, no one can ever take away the next 7 years that Michelle competed at a high level. So many wonderful memories. The fact that Tara and Sarah call her "The Great Michelle Kwan" is very telling.
Won that night. No one has done for skating what Michelle has and no one ever will again. What a travesty of justice this didn't win the gold. The greatest skater in history
If you knew anything about skating you'd get it
+Willie Gordon obviously u don't basketball is a joke skating is talent
Travesty of justice?????/ LOL A bit dramatic.It was a sad night for her. She was outskated. Felt sad for her, she had a nice skate but she let her triple triple go and thought her artistry alone was enough and for some time it was but it came back to bite her in the ass later too that she didn't technically improve or challenge herself.
correction she was OUT JUMPED ....NOT out skated tara was better technically but NOT even close artistically to michelle! so michelle should have won overall as the artistic mark broke the tie in the old system go down and look at most every comment on this video most people agreed michelle should have won.
Harvey Chadbourne Nobody wins cuz they have been trying forever. Kwan was great but she never was BEST by far in every little thing for that special 4 minutes. Tara HAD it when it counted and Oksana nailed it with difficult program and SHE got Gold. Kwan’s fans do not do her any favors by being sore losers.
her costume was so gorgeous. she looks like a freaking angel.
I'm still heartbroken over this silver decades later . Michelle is #1 in my eyes forever!
Yunas idol was Michelle and the same thing happened to Michelle happened to Yuna (both got robbed). Yuzuru Hanyus idol is Yuna Kim so I DONT want to think about what might happen at Beijing 2022
She is absolutely stunning
Michelle kwan was known for her artistry. This program was beautiful, womanly and elegant.
I remember this so well. Does time ever fly
"Hello, police? I'd like to report a robbery. No I'm fine, the victim's name is Michelle Kwan who was robbed. Yes, _that_ Michelle Kwan....No, not tonight, it occurred back in 1998. Yes, the judges robbed her of the gold medal that was CLEARLY hers. ...Hello?"
Same case in Soichi 2014
Michelle should have gotten gold
I got to meet her once. She is an absolutely perfect tiny person
I remember watching this as a kid on TV . Always loved her
Tara is the technical skater and Michelle is the artistic one. Tara just happened to be abnormally “on” that night; she skated the program of her life and then promptly retired from competitive skating. Michelle went on to win more national and world titles, all while displaying a character and elegance that won the hearts of figure skating fans around the world, and becoming a role model for young hopefuls for years to come. She didn’t have the skate of her career like Tara did that night, but in hindsight....Tara who???
Tara gold medal Lipinski. That's who. As in, Sarah gold medal Hughes.
Best silver medal skate ever!
This and Yu-Na's are both very champion silver medal skates!
The ending was quite exotic.
She (Michelle) should have won, it wasn't even close! while Tara did more difficult jumps her performance and artistic qualities were not in the same league and Michelle had a unique presence. While I agree Tara's technical marks are higher due to having two 3-3 combinations, her artistic marks were super inflated. I think Michelle should have had some 6.0 for presentation based on the program's composition.
i had the honor of meeting her at a young age!! she gave me a popsicle on 2 sticks in LA at her office🥰
Any one who thinks Tara beat Michelle doesn't understand what skating is about. Michelle gave her soul to the performance Tara gave us a headache
Tara was great and really artistic. She beat Michelle because she was lucky enough to skate after her and had 2 triple triples whereas Michelle had 0. It was a combination of preparation + luck of the draw.
the simple answer is tara was better technically with triple triple combo etc however, michelle without question was better artistically so not sure how tara was marked above her on the artistic mark by any judge
You Kwan fanatics are the only headache. Thank goodness you are gone from the sport now that your hero is.
morla vader, you are simply an idiot you cannot call someone who has won 9 us national titles and 5 world titles ANYTHING but brilliant
loser you know nothing about skating fuck off
Michelle was my idol growing up, and hands down is the reason I love figure skating so much. She holds the same place in my heart with ice skating as Mia Hamm does with soccer. Idols.
Good program. And I was just happy to see the American women kicking some ass and taking home some medals. It's what I want to see in the next Olympics. Clean programs and medals. I miss those days, and want them again. So yeah, good for Michelle for being part of that, back in her day.
Still love her..she gives me chills to watch. She was totally robbed. “Harder” routines don’t mean better. Michelle was truly the better skater full of beauty. They obviously left open space on not giving her all 6s on presentation. Robbery
Grace Beauty and Elegance!!
I think the loss helped her overall popularity with the public.
The true 1998 Olympic champion!!
She was robbed! Even after all these years....watching this again. I know. Graceful, beautiful. Technically, artistically....this was hers. 🤗🥰🥰🥰🥰🤗
What a moment for US women’s figure skating. The 2 best skaters in the world winning gold/silver in Japan...
*sigh* So, consistently performing two clean programs in major competitions over 10 years with 6-7 triple jumps in every LP is "simple", isn't athletic, and is "propped" up? Kwan set the standard for those to come after her. Sadly for her, just on those nights in 1998 and 2002, two different women produced great "one off" performances. I have no problem with Lipinski and Hughes winning Golds but Kwan is one of the greats. If she was "propped up" she would've got Gold here.
Kwan is slow, cautious, and stiff.
can u explain what that means?im not a skater so...
@@plumeria66 so is your brain, dumbass.
Jr Ewing That’s so nice of you. Bless you.
Hughes maybe produced a one performance, but to say that is an unfair slam and misrepresentation of Tara. Her career was short but she was no one hit wonder in that short career. She won 5 major titles- Olympics, Worlds, 2 Grand Prix finals (a huge event too remember), and a U.S title. She is no one shot wonder like Hughes.
Breathtaking
I take issue with the info included in this video. Michelle skated better than Tara and her artistry was way better. This was the start of the end of artistic integrity in skating.
Michelle Kwan forever a legend
I'm in fourth grade and my class wrote a t.d.a. on this I loved
Michelle was robbed of the gold medal. Her skating was extraordinary and full of beautiful artistry. Tara did NOT skate a more difficult program and her artistry was lacking big time. Since she had to skate first, the judges didn't give her high enough scores because they still had other skaters to judge. Either way, she REALLY should've won the gold!!!! Tara knew that she won the gold on pure luck. That's why she stopped competing. She knew that she couldn't do it again. Michelle continued skating because she was such an incredible skater. Michelle REALLY deserved the gold medal!!!!!
Tara had a kid's body and weight so easier to jump, nothing more. Even so, Tara had a incorrect triple triple combo, her technique was overrated. Tara retired because she got hurt by the jumps, then she grew up and everything changed.
Agree. Team Michelle Kwan.
Michelle is undeniably a beautiful skater, but Tara had the more difficult program. I think the judges got it right.
wrong
She should have won that night ( it's all preference. Tara had the difficulty for sure but Kwan presentation was elegance) , but if she did win she would have retire soon after that like most gold medalist back then, then you wouldn't have 7 more years or so of her competing... :D
Her silver medal made her a legend in the sport. She would not have gone to win so manyworld titles had she won here. I think it was a blessing in disguise for her.
Still devastated she didn’t win the gold she deserved. 😭
@Mountain Lover U really r an ugly hateful scumbag aren't ya.
Tara's skate was sloppy with two footed landings. Michelle was lovely, graceful and every landing was solid. The judges robbed her of the gold.
Michelle was the winner hands down 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🍾
Tara skated last. Because of this, she received a lot of 5.9's for presentation. If you see her other performances, she didn't receive that many 5.9's for presentation. Even though Michelle skated first, she still received all 5.9's.
Tara never should have received the same presentation marks as Michelle.
Tara receiving the marks she did for presentation is one of skating's great mysteries. Her presentation was a joke- junior, junior, junior. If the judges wanted a jumping contest they should not have scored "artistry/presentation"...Tara was nowhere near the senior ladies level in 1998. Gives away how much of a scam these contests are.
I watched this program and Tara's over and over and still don't understand how Tara won the Gold.. this skate was far superior and mature than Tara's. Oh well.. There will never not be controversy in judged sporting events.
She was young, she was [subjectively] pretty and she was white - its all about marketing.
Even Michelle's coach said Tara deserved the gold.
I believe the choice came down to perceived marketability myself, or some other factor outside of the skating itself.. Tara would have been a fine junior champion in 1998, but her presentation as NOT worthy of the high marks she was gifted...come on, same as Michelle?? There's no arguing it, you just stare at it dumbfounded. Tara's puny little roller derby jumps (UR, no height) are one thing but how can any judge make the claim Tara's artistry or presentation was even within .5 of Michelle that night. The sport is a disgrace. Basically gave up after this year and the new points system has only made things worse (now, truly an ugly jumping contest). Decisions like this killed the sport.
probably the best ice skating outfit of all time
THE REAL WINNER...
Yes, I'll always remember this Olympics as the one that didn't award the right and best skater the gold medal. Tara is nowhere near the skater Michelle is. And Tara did NOT skate better. Who really knows why cMichelle didn't win other than some judges made a bad decision.
IT was 6-3, not some judges. It was judged very fairly this competition. Most analysts agree. Tara was just that much technically better and even though artistry mattered the most, Michelle was too far behind technically and she had to not so clean landings.
Tara wasn't the better skater? Tara skated perfectly, Michelle almost landed a triple flip on two feet. And Tara's program was more difficult. Michelle was a great skater, no doubt about that, but she got beaten fair and square on that night.
anitabreakone Tara did more triples and combination triple where Michelle did a triple..double combination. Michelle really went into her jumps slow with step by step almost set up and Tara went into fast like a senior skater. Skating is full of politics so with a close skate a new face was crowned. I prefer Michelle over Tara, but I prefer Sasha Cohen over Michelle. Lol. Once Michelle stopped tugging on her ears at the kiss and cry she seemed to lose her confidence. She always tugged her ears to the cameras.
Tara undertotaed, prerotaed and flutzed through her whole program.
MsMorepinkplease What ?? Lol. Tara did harder jumps than Michelle. MICHELLE did the simplest jumps where Tara did the harder jumps.
Michelle SHOULD HAVE got the gold medal.
No one will be able to convince me that Michelle Kwan wasn't robbed.
michelle kwan should have won gold
Michelle Kwan should have won - I always thought she was by far a more fluid skater than anyone else including Tara Lipinski I remember that performance and thought wow how did she ( Michelle) not win?
History repeats itself - Sochi figure skating 2014
@@simpletruth5927 😐It's sad what this sport has become
I dont y I thought she fell that night. Boy Im super pissed Tara didnt deserve that dern medal. Her artistry was nothing compared to Michelles. Sorry Tara Im a fan of yours as well but girlie Michelle is my numero uno. Ill never forget how i felt watching her. Idk y I felt she fell.
That her Dad was so proud at the end 💗🥲 love to see it
Epic! One word,!
I remember watching this on the couch with my mom.
she should have won. beautifully graceful skate, very clean, emotive. i was devastated for her.
A charming moment
Michelle was robbed. Michelle's performance was classic, beautiful and womanly. Tara's performance just like a Disney cartoon. Tara's flip and lutz would be called out for under rotation today. Tara's triples were cheap.
Pure beauty
Legend : Michelle Kwan, Yuna. Both Asian and robbed so tragic
Ｉlove Michelle Kwan of Spiral！😍
I love Michaelle Kwan!!!!
I'm Japanese, so I am not good at English.
I used Google Translate.
But,I heard from the fans of Mao Asada that spiral raised his feet slowly and it is very important and it is very difficult to slide.
That's why Michelle Kwan 's and Shizuka' s and Yuna 's Spiral have low difficulty and poor, she said.
Is this true！？
I do not believe it.
Ｉf you'd kindly teach me.