US Lady with big jumps

[judgejudy27]

Was Tonya actually hurt by the removal of figures? She was certainly better than Yamaguchi, Kerrigan or Ito at them. Though I guess Trenary might have continued her career had figures continued to be included.

I always thought the only reason Trenary retired was she was forced to by injury. I dont think she was as uncompetitive without figures as some think. The first event she was in without figures was the Goodwill Games which with Ito missing was hyped as an a 3-way all American battle for gold between Trenary, Kerrigan, and Yamaguchi. She easily beat Kerrigan and very narrowly missed beating Yamaguchi by .1 despite a subpar peformance with several mistakes. If she had stayed healthy I think she would have remained on the U.S World and Olympic teams and a threat to medal at all major events, though probably not winning gold again.

[briancoogaert]

I always thought the only reason Trenary retired was she was forced to by injury. I dont think she was as uncompetitive without figures as some think.

IIRC, she came back in 1991 (Skate Canada ?) and realized that it would be too difficult against Tonya, Nancy and Kristi without a 3Lutz, nor a 3Loop. Didn't she finish in 4th at 1991 Skate Canada ?

[DORISPULASKI]

Probably. And although she got a lot of mileage out of credit for her 3F, as often as not, she either fell on it, or deliberately did a 3T instead.

[Nomad]

IIRC, she came back in 1991 (Skate Canada ?) and realized that it would be too difficult against Tonya, Nancy and Kristi without a 3Lutz, nor a 3Loop. Didn't she finish in 4th at 1991 Skate Canada ?

Yes, behind Bonaly, Kielmann, and Preston.

[bardtoob]

^That must have bit, having been World Champion in the spring, then finishing behind Bonaly in fall.

[DORISPULASKI]

Heck with Bonaly. Behind Kielmann and Preston?? Oh the Shame

[museksk8r]

Bring back Harding and Bobek!

[bardtoob]

I watched some Agnes Zawadzki, and I have to say that she is very impressive and right on time to compete with Rachel and Mirai . . . YES!!!

[hoptoad]

Tonya never got a pair of "magic skates" from Carlo Fassi, like Trenary, so she had to wait until Trenary was not competitive anymore.

What is the "magic skates" story? I've never heard it, but I wasn't following closely then.

[skateboy]

Heck with Bonaly. Behind Kielmann and Preston?? Oh the Shame

IIRC, Trenary was 1st in the SP, then fell on just about everything in the long and dropped to fourth.

[bardtoob]

What is the "magic skates" story? I've never heard it, but I wasn't following closely then.

Once one of his skaters had established himself/herself as one to watch in the freeskating, something would come out in the media to the effect that he made or gave that skater some new skates specifically for doing figures better, then all of a sudden that skater would start scoring better in the compulsory figures portion of the competition.

[judgejudy27]

Trenary couldnt even land a double axel consistently anymore after her injury. I think without her injury she would have been strong enough to stay ahead of someone like Kerrigan for example. Remember she had a huge reputation in the sport at the time, the judges always gave her very high 2nd marks, and someone like Kerrigan only did 4 triples a program on a good day anyway. Likely had everything followed course recent World Champion and veteran star Trenary would have needed only 3 triples per competition to safely keep beating relative "nobody" Kerrigan and her 4 triples per event, and Kerrigan medaled in ALL the major events of 91-92.

[SmallFairy]

I miss Nicole Bobek.....

[pinky166]

Who needs Harding or Bobek back when Gao is going to dominate the international skating scene by 2012-2013

[hoptoad]

Once one of his skaters had established himself/herself as one to watch in the freeskating, something would come out in the media to the effect that he made or gave that skater some new skates specifically for doing figures better, then all of a sudden that skater would start scoring better in the compulsory figures portion of the competition.

Thanks!