FSU Watch Party: Sunday, April 5, 2020 1pm CDT/2pm EST/7pm UTC - 1995 World Figure Skating Championships Ladies Long Program

[VGThuy]

Watching this I feel like the current judging system would have eaten Chen and Bonaly's program's apart. A lot of those landings are

Yeah, those you could see in real time whereas some UR calls now are for jumps you can’t really see until slow-mo review. I sort of think we should go back to naked eye standard to be honest. But then skaters are jumping smaller and rotating faster these days so it might be easier to cheat thus making slow-mo needed.

 

[alchemy void]

Chris Howarth certainly isn't a perfect commentator, but he analyzes jump rotations in 1995 like it's 2020.

 

[VGThuy]

Wow, this was a 5-4 split between her and Chen.

 

[alchemy void]

Bonaly: 5.8/5.7

 

[Erin]

Chris Howarth certainly isn't a perfect commentator, but he analyzes jump rotations in 1995 like it's 2020.

The CBC commentators were calling them in real time during the program. That’s actually how I learned what a cheated jump was, back in the day.

 

[alchemy void]

Freakin's my girl, but damn, this is one hell of an anti-climatic fridge break.

 

[VGThuy]

Liashenko doesn’t seem like she belonged in this group after what we’ve just seen.

 

[Vagabond]

"Memoirs of a Telegraph Operator"

 

[Kateri]

Watching these 6.0 comps, there's so much more score drama - anger and confusion from both skaters and crowd, and I can totally see why. The numbers are such weird, arbitrary magic, coming from nowhere but the dark hearts of the judges. I love many of these programmes from back then, but I'm so glad we have better scoring now (yes, imperfect, yes judges are still biased, BUT), where skaters understand what made up their marks 1000% more.

 

[casken]

Surya sure took this better than 94.

 

[VGThuy]

No bling 90s. I miss that.

 

[alchemy void]

The CBC commentators were calling them in real time during the program. That’s actually how I learned what a cheated jump was, back in the day.

Not Barb and Paul, right?

 

[Amy L]

Liashenko is the queen of Ukraine! Watch her majestic jump entrances go on for miles and miles!

 

[casken]

Liashenko eventually became a lovely skater, but the first half of her career she was a expressionless robot.

 

[skateboy]

Okay, I give... why did Liashenko earn the nickname "Freakin'?"

 

[VGThuy]

Surya sure took this better than 94.

She truly chose the wrong Worlds and the wrong champion to cry “wuz robbed” IMO. Like don’t go after a skater who not only did more triples than you but who is also Yuka Sato...like the complete opposite of her in terms of skating skills.

 

[casken]

Also, how many clean loops did Liashenko actually do over her career? One? Two?

 

[alchemy void]

Liashenko 4.9/5.3

 

[VGThuy]

Okay, I give... why did Liashenko earn the nickname "Freakin'?"

Because she shockingly won Worlds late in her career and a poster for so excited he kept saying “Freakin’ Liashenko is going to win Euros!”

 

[Vagabond]

Okay, I give... why did Liashenko earn the nickname "Freakin'?"

It's from when Freakin' Liashenko pulled up from seventh to win Cup of China.

I have done some sleuthing and will post the correct explanation below.

 

[VGThuy]

It's from when Freakin' Liashenko pulled up from seventh to win Cup of China.

Whoops. I stand corrected.

 

[alchemy void]

She truly chose the wrong Worlds and the wrong champion to cry “wuz robbed” IMO. Like don’t go after a skater who not only did more triples than you but who is also Yuka Sato...like the complete opposite of her in terms of skating skills.

For me, Bonaly's best argument for gold is easily 93, no question.

 

[VGThuy]

Baby Kwan with that majestic double axel!

 

[alchemy void]

Also, how many clean loops did Liashenko actually do over her career? One? Two?

As far as I know, only once, at Euros. She bombed the LP and it was the only somewhat clean triple she landed.

 

[Vagabond]

Here's my bold prediction: Michelle Kwan will win the Olympic Gold Medal in 1998!

 

[LeafOnTheWind]

Kwan is technically good here but she just wasn't holding out moves and putting emphasis where she could have. And she just didn't have the same commanding presence obviously.

 

[VGThuy]

This performance really foreshadowed what a champion hitter Kwan would become. Only skater here to do 7 triples, didn't let the competition affect her. AND most impressively to me, she knew she missed that combo on the first Lutz by only doing it as a solo, and did it later on for her second Lutz because she knew it wouldn't count otherwise. That sort of quick thinking or simply being well-trained and conditioned is really a sign of one's competitive abilities, especially with many years of skaters messing up with IJS and Zayaking today. Her relieved reaction here mirrored Nagano.

She needed some more time to simmer. I think her musical abilities were there but she was still developing and was given time to develop. They didn't rush anything with her. Frank really gave her beautiful basics and the best foundation for a long career.

 

[Amy L]

Bobek really profited off the 6.0 era at this competition.

 

[jlai]

I must say, the Kween was robbed. The soundest technically and she wasn't deficient in presentation.

 

[Kateri]

"And now Michelle Kwan is becoming a factor!" yes Simon, she is, so buckle up for more than a decade of gold medals, amazing programmes and inspiring a generation of skaters, yes i'm a little verklempt, but I just love Michelle Kwan so much.