What was the greatest comeback from adversity by a skater(s) to win a world or Olympic medal? Two that come to mind for me are Joannie Rochette winning Olympic bronze in 2010 shortly after the death of her mother, and Chen Lu coming back to win bronze at the 1998 Olympics after two disastrous seasons of problems with injuries, loss of form, and problems with her coach and her Federation. She was in such poor form during 1996/97 that she only finished 25th in the SP at 1997 Worlds and did not even qualify for the FS. The following season, as China were not eligible to send a ladies skater to the Olympics, she had to qualify by entering 3 minor tournaments (winning 1 and finishing 4th and 3rd in the others). Hence, her bronze medal at the 1998 Olympics was very hard earned.
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02-09-2012, 06:57 PM #1
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Greatest comeback from adversity to win a world or Olympic medal?
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02-09-2012, 06:59 PM #2Registered User
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Irina Slutskaya at the 2005 world championships. She landed a crazy 3 lutz-3 loop after being bedridden due to heart surgery and her mother being sick. It was the best performance of her career and it was done in front of a roaring home crowd, so you can imagine the pressure
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02-09-2012, 07:01 PM #3
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I agree about Irina. Also, Nancy's comeback from both a meltdown at '93 worlds and the "great whack" makes her silver unusual, IMO. Are those who returned to competition from "pro" or "show skating", such as G & G in '94 or Plushy in '10 included?
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02-09-2012, 07:05 PM #4
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I wouldn't really consider coming back to competition after being off or competing in pro comps to really be an adversity. I'm sure it's difficult to get back into top competition shape but I wouldn't quite consider it an adversity, at least not in the sense I'm of thinking of.
ETA: Yay! My 3,000th post.
"If people are looking for guarantees, they should buy appliances at Sears and stay away from human relationships."~Prancer
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02-09-2012, 07:10 PM #5Registered User
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G-G 94 OG.
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02-09-2012, 07:12 PM #6
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Congratulations!
Originally Posted by modern_muslimah
... ETA: Yay! My 3,000th post.
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02-09-2012, 07:44 PM #7Snark Dispensator
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Rudy Galindo's world bronze at his 1st & only world appearance. I was so happy for him. (IMO it should have been silver but you can't have everything.)
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02-09-2012, 08:06 PM #8
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Thanks! Originally Posted by attyfan
"If people are looking for guarantees, they should buy appliances at Sears and stay away from human relationships."~Prancer
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02-09-2012, 08:22 PM #9Registered User
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Well, it was a comeback, but there wasn't really any adversity to overcome. She did have a baby, I guess, but that was a couple years earlier. If we are going to count Gordeeva then I guess we also have to count Navka. Originally Posted by pani
I was thinking maybe Baiul winning the Olympics on painkillers after being injured (needing stitches) in a practice collision the day before.
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02-09-2012, 08:23 PM #10
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Several skaters come to mind who overcame diseases/physical deformities: Tenley Albright (polio), Scott Hamilton (Schwachman syndrome), Kristi Yamaguchi (club foot), Elaine Zayak (lost part of her foot in a lawnmower accident).
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02-09-2012, 08:26 PM #11
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Originally Posted by pani
That was hardly an adversity. They were skating as pros after the 1990 worlds and decided to come back as eligibles.
Although it was not in a competition, I consider Ekaterina Gordeeva's solo skate at Sergei's celebration of life, one of the greatest comebacks.
Others:
Elena Berezhanaya- returning to pairs skating after her horrible accident that temporarily paralyzed her, and winning the 1998 Olympic silver, less than 2 years after the accident.
ITA about Irina, Joannie, Chen Lu and Rudy.
I would even add Zhang & Zhang's Olympic silver medal after her horrible fall during the skate (but that may not fit into this thread, right?)
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02-09-2012, 10:47 PM #12Registered User
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Nancy Kerrigan's comeback was the most dramatic, because it was like we were there just a few minutes after the whack happened. And then Nancy and "Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?" were all over the news and papers, so there was an immediacy to it that we couldn't/didn't get from Irina's or B/S's stories.
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02-09-2012, 10:50 PM #13Registered User
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Has anyone mentioned Shen/Zhao yet? A few of their medals come to mind ... 2003 Worlds when Shen injured her ankle in practiced and skated the LP with it numb!
Also their comeback from Zhao's tendon injury to win a bronze at the 2006 Olympics with very little preparation.
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02-09-2012, 10:50 PM #14Registered User
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I was balling my eyes out watching that on TV. I haven't viewed that performance again since then. Originally Posted by Vash01
I guess MK Nationals 2003 LP was sort of a comeback. It was definitely emotional for her and the fans because of SLC.
Todd Eldridge also regained his National titles after a few seasons of supar performances.
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02-10-2012, 12:24 AM #15
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I would add Kurt Browning coming back from a serious back injury to win the world title in 1993.
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02-10-2012, 12:41 AM #16
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The first skaters that came to mind for me, especially their 2006 Olympic bronze at Torino. Originally Posted by jobelle
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02-10-2012, 12:42 AM #17
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Shizuka Arakawa winning world gold, dropping to 9th next worlds, coming back and winning Olympic gold. She had an up and down career before winning her first world medal.
Philippe Candeloro won his second Olympic medal after 2 years of injury and poor performance.
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02-10-2012, 12:51 AM #18Registered User
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Irina Slutskaya has had a number of comebacks. Comeback from a poor season to win silver at the 98 Worlds. A comeback from a poor season, bad short program, and bad fall in practice, to nearly winning the LP phase at the 1997 Worlds. A comeback from a 3 year slump that hit its apex when she missed the 1999 World team and had many writing her off, to winning the Grand Prix final, Europeans, and going to Worlds as the favorite for the first time but finishing 2nd. Then of course her comeback from a major illness to her 2nd World title in Moscow and 2nd Olympic medal in Turin. I know she wasnt everyones cup of tea but definitely a fighter who stood up to adversity.
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02-10-2012, 07:09 AM #19
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First thought when I read the title Originally Posted by Maofan7
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02-10-2012, 08:39 AM #20
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I would also add coming back AGAIN after all of that in 2010! Originally Posted by jobelle
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