The most "unbeloved" Olympic Champion(s) - what do you think?

[Fandango]

No further comment!

[Spiralgraph]

I'll be the first. I chose other and I had Trixi Schuba in mind. Granted, she was the best at figures,otherwise her skating was not remarkable to put it mildly
She's not admired for her free skating.

[PDilemma]

Urmanov.

I have absolutely nothing against him. But I'm not sure I've ever seen evidence of Urmanov ubers here or elsewhere. No gushing about him. No reminiscing of his programs or anything. He doesn't make anyone's lists of favorite skaters or programs or anything. He is just sort of forgotten.

[Marco]

Urmanov.

I have absolutely nothing against him. But I'm not sure I've ever seen evidence of Urmanov ubers here or elsewhere. No gushing about him. No reminiscing of his programs or anything. He doesn't make anyone's lists of favorite skaters or programs or anything. He is just sort of forgotten.

I gush about him all the time! He had wonderful style and skating skills as well as picture perfect jumps. Love his musicality.

I also defended him all through the survivor threads until he got voted out!

By the way my vote goes to Hughes for being the most undeserving OGM on the list

[falling_dance]

Wolfgang Schwarz. I think he always had the reputation of being the man who won mainly because Emmerich Danzer made a big mistake in the school figures, and he also has a reputation here as the guy who robbed Tim Wood of that very same OGM. Also, as Vagabond pointed out in the men's OGM Survivor thread, he's a convicted human trafficker.

[sap5]

Wolfgang Schwarz. I think he always had the reputation of being the man who won mainly because Emmerich Danzer made a big mistake in the school figures, and he also has a reputation here as the guy who robbed Tim Wood of that very same OGM. Also, as Vagabond pointed out in the men's OGM Survivor thread, he's a convicted human trafficker.

I think that last part ought to be the first reason he's not beloved.

[falling_dance]

I think that last part ought to be the first reason he's not beloved.

I saved the best reason for last.

[l'etoile]

Wolfgang Schwarz. I think he always had the reputation of being the man who won mainly because Emmerich Danzer made a big mistake in the school figures, and he also has a reputation here as the guy who robbed Tim Wood of that very same OGM. Also, as Vagabond pointed out in the men's OGM Survivor thread, he's a convicted human trafficker.

Such a shameless person!

[Wyliefan]

Most unbeloved Olympic champion? Oh, this is going to end well.

[DimaToe]

I'm gonna go with Sale/Pelletier, Sarah Hughes wasn't my favourite skater, but at least she earned her OGM more fairly than S/P in my eyes...

[Badams]

OMG!!! I wish this was multiple choice!

[berthesghost]

Wolfgang Schwarz. I think he always had the reputation of being the man who won mainly because Emmerich Danzer made a big mistake in the school figures, and he also has a reputation here as the guy who robbed Tim Wood of that very same OGM. Also, as Vagabond pointed out in the men's OGM Survivor thread, he's a convicted human trafficker.

Ita and it boggles the mind why it's not a poll choice other than "other". On second thought, no its not. Most polls at fsu refuse to admit that skating existed before 1988.

[museksk8r]

Yeah, this really should be multiple choice. Urmanov is my favorite from the list and I totally don't get what people have against him; he's a much better skater than Stojko and deserved his OGM, IMO.

I'll say other and side with falling_dance against Schwarz as the absolute worst Olympic Champion though.

[jenny12]

Wolfgang Schwarz. I think he always had the reputation of being the man who won mainly because Emmerich Danzer made a big mistake in the school figures, and he also has a reputation here as the guy who robbed Tim Wood of that very same OGM. Also, as Vagabond pointed out in the men's OGM Survivor thread, he's a convicted human trafficker.

Ding, ding, ding!!! We have a winner!

Wow, I think even if Tonya Harding had won the gold medal, he'd still come out on top (or on the bottom).

[julieann]

By the way my vote goes to Hughes for being the most undeserving OGM on the list

I think Sarah deserved her OGM by the way she skated that night; she just didn't have a skating career to match. The rest of her career was pretty unremarkable for what you would expect and OGM to have.

[pollyanna]

Wolfgang Schwarz. I think he always had the reputation of being the man who won mainly because Emmerich Danzer made a big mistake in the school figures, and he also has a reputation here as the guy who robbed Tim Wood of that very same OGM. Also, as Vagabond pointed out in the men's OGM Survivor thread, he's a convicted human trafficker.

Yep.

[Susan M]

Interesting topic. I had to think -does it mean actively disliked (then Tara gets my vote) or just a skater hardly anyone got excited over (then Hughes gets my vote as most meh OGM). If it means no one likes them much outside their home turf, then I think Sale & Pelletier may get the nod. (I think they were pretty beloved in Canada.)

I guess few folks agreed with Grishuk-P's win in 94, and Canadians didn't think Urmanov deserved the win, but they, and all the others had their fans.

The one who does not belong on this list at all is Viktor Petrenko. He was a hugely popular skater, even in North America. (Was this poll by chance assembled by someone too young to remember the early 1990s very well?)

[Triple Butz]

I voted Sale and Pelletier. They aren't my favorite, I definitely prefer B/S, but some people speak of them as though they shouldn't have ever qualified for a world championship.

My personal pic is Evan, though. It's true...I don't love him.

[satchelpooch318]

Wow, I think even if Tonya Harding had won the gold medal, [Schwarz would] still come out on top (or on the bottom).

My mind went to a very bad place, thinking about Tonya, Schwarz, and tops and bottoms. On second thought, maybe someone should've sic'ed (sp?) Tonya on Schwarz like that as punishment for his crimes...? But I digress.

ETA: oh, and I voted for Sale/Pelletier.

[brightphoton]

Sale and Pelletier shouldn't even count. Their medal is as earned as the American gymnasts' 2000 bronze medal.