Most Random Worlds Medalist of the 21st Century

[Aerobicidal]

The two individual events at Worlds have had a fascinating history over the past twenty years. Today, I'd like to begin a discussion concerning the most random medallists in those two events. Every option on the poll was carefully curated by an international panel of judges, coaches, choreographers, and nutritionists*. If your own choice is not listed, you may hurl abuse at me and/or describe legal actions you plan to take in the thread below this post.

Happy holidays to all who are celebrating!

*Coincidentally, every member of the panel lives in Russia, but that is the only way to get fair results in skating- or skating-related contests.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

I must admit I always found the Lime Tree Man somewhat erotic, despite his elfin charms.

-BB

 

[Vash01]

When did Galustyan win a world medal? Same question about Larry Loupolover.

I know all the others.

 

[Erin]

When did Galustyan win a world medal? Same question about Larry Loupolover.

I know all the others.

Well, if we want to get technical, Holly Cook wasn’t in the 21st century, but I feel like strict accuracy is not the most important point of this poll.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

When did Galustyan win a world medal?

Was that not the Worlds in Boston? I vaguely recall a Russian medal there.

-BB

 

[Aerobicidal]

Well, if we want to get technical, Holly Cook wasn’t in the 21st century, but I feel like strict accuracy is not the most important point of this poll.

The year most Americans think of as 1990 was actually 2069 in the LDS calendar, so I felt it both appropriate and necessary to include Ms. Cook in the poll.

 

[Erin]

The year most Americans think of as 1990 was actually 2069 in the LDS calendar, so I felt it both appropriate and necessary to include Ms. Cook in the poll.

I would be very disappointed if she wasn’t included in the poll. #NeverForgetTheBarrelRolls

 

[SpeedySucks]

Holly Cook is timeless - the most random World medalist in every century.

 

[eusebius]

By the way, because of this thread, I discovered that typing "do a barrel roll" into the Google search box has a delightful effect.

 

[Vagabond]

If your own choice is not listed, you may hurl abuse at me and/or describe legal actions you plan to take in the thread below this post.

I am Lepistöff!

 

[VGThuy]

I really wish Holly Cook had won her Worlds medal for that when she undid her wedgie that one year. I would have been the perfect punctuation for a worlds with equally random World Champ Jill Trenary. I don’t care how many ironic or unironic fans she has on this forum, I don’t get her skating.

 

[misskarne]

Funny this should come up now, I just re-watched Gachinski's Worlds performances a few days ago.

It was probably one of the last times he ever skated with such freedom.

 

[mjb52]

I mostly voted for Holly Cook b/c she was the most liminal of the "is this a joke or did she really win a medal" candidates, where I could see it going either way (think she did, but far from sure).

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

The 1990 World Championships were fascinating in that beyond the top three free skaters (Ito, Trenary and Yamaguchi), the jumping standard really dropped. Any number of skaters apart from Cook, Natalia Lebedeva, Lisa Sargeant, Patricia Neske, Evelynn Grossmann, Marina Kiellmann, and Surya Bonaly, could have been in serious contention for the bronze medal.

That Holly skated well in figures and performed an exciting short, should not be overlooked.

It's too bad she didn't skate as well for her free program in Halifax as she had at Skate America '88, or the 1989 US Championships. Even Cook herself admitted in the Kiss and Cry she hadn't skated that great.

I do have a major soft spot for her, however, and similarly athletic skaters of that era such as Jeri Campbell, Tisha Walker, Dena Galech, and Robyn Petroskey.

 

[meggonzo]

beyond the top three free skaters (Ito, Trenary and Yamaguchi), the jumping standard really dropped.

The jumping standard already really dropped between Yamaguchi and Trenary, unless we're giving bonus points for the 1-foot axel/triple salchow.

 

[alchemy void]

Who needs Japanese or Russian nationals when we have a thrilling Lime Tree Man vs. Holly Cook showdown here?

And let's pray Galustyan gets at least one vote.

 

[allezfred]

I refuse to vote because Leonova has been left out.

 

[Aerobicidal]

I refuse to vote because Leonova has been left out.

Leonova is the third option.

 

[allezfred]

Leonova is the third option.

Well there you go - Leonova overlooked even by me.

 

[Deleted member 221]

Holly Cook had a beauuuuuuutiful double axel, and her triple toe and salchow were nice when she did them. I appreciated that she at least tried to void it up.

 

[Braulio]

Where is Petrova/Tikhonov world gold medal in 2000? Winkler/Lohse Bronze in 2004, Abitbol & Bernadis 2000 Bronze (including the drama) and of course LAURA LEPISTO 2010 with her 3 triples?

 

[floskate]

Holly Cook. That hand set up before the triple toe is hilarious and also everything at the same time.

 

[Aerobicidal]

Where is Petrova/Tikhonov world gold medal in 2000? Winkler/Lohse Bronze in 2004, Abitbol & Bernadis 2000 Bronze (including the drama) and of course LAURA LEPISTO 2010 with her 3 triples?

This is only for individual disciplines. That was just as clear in the original post as it was clear that Leonova was an option.

I feel attacked!!!

(Lepisto would have been the eighth choice but she just barely missed out.)

 

[Karen-W]

This is only for individual disciplines. That was just as clear in the original post as it was clear that Leonova was an option.

I feel attacked!!!

(Lepisto would have been the eighth choice but she just barely missed out.)

There should be a similar topic for the most unexpected medalists in pairs/dance. There have been some really unexpected medalists.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Holly Cook. That hand set up before the triple toe is hilarious and also everything at the same time.

Holly's 'Rolling The Dough' hand tap set up was pretty hysterical, but made for a very consistent jump.

I'm trying to think if there was any other skater who had a technical quirk in the same league.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

The jumping standard already really dropped between Yamaguchi and Trenary, unless we're giving bonus points for the 1-foot axel/triple salchow.

Jill, on a great day, had an excellent triple flip as well.

Yamaguchi's technical standard at the time was higher. But her jumps never got much elevation.

At the 1990 World Championships, from memory, I believe Kristi fell twice in the free skate as well, and her frustrating 4th place result may have been one of the deciding factors to drop pairs and concentrate solely on singles skating.

 

[Vagabond]

This is only for individual disciplines. That was just as clear in the original post as it was clear that Leonova was an option.

I feel attacked!!!

If you hadn't included three skaters who didn't win a World medal in the twenty-first century, maybe you wouldn't be get so much blowback.

 

[bardtoob]

Actually, I think Holly Cook's world medal is the most explainable. There was a whole portion of the competition dedicated to slowly carving deep prescribed patterns in the ice where being robust and statuesque is an asset. That sounds exactly like something Holly could easily do for good scores.

 

[VGThuy]

This inspired me to watch 1990 Worlds for the first time in like 10 or more years. Even with two falls, Kristi was already clearly a better skater than Trenary. Sure Trenary had more elevation, but Kristi had everything else and more difficulty. I even think she was clearly more “artistic” than Trenary. I usually find Yamaguchi having a more choreographed artistry but Trenary was more “stylish” than actually artistic. Trenary’s artistry was like what I’d find at Miss America.

 

[SmallFairy]

The fact that Holly Cook "collects banana items" is enough for me to justify her world medal!

Those were the days where you could be high in the standing after both CF and OP, mastering only one triple jump (mostly toe loop), as that was all that was required. Those were also the days of crazy electronic music, with no connection what so ever. Trenary wasn't the best or most exciting skater ever, but she for sure gave it her all at the end of that FP, I give her that. Kick ass split jump. Midori's 3A must've been one of the best she ever did in competition. Kristi's bitch face says it all. She's not taking this any more. (The ladies hair of that era....epic!!!)

As for Lime Tree Man.... I could never... Once he wore a silver grey outfit with some stripe pattern, made him look like a herring or mackerel.