Oksana Baiul

[Simone411]

I was enjoying this thread, and the links shared of Oksana skating. I know I have a few more skating videos of her that I uploaded that may not have been posted here, yet.

I agree with others that there is a political thread here that's for just that purpose … political stuff. Now, I'm off to look on my channel to see if I have anything different from the skating links that have already been posted. If I do, I'll post them to share.

 

[Simone411]

Well, I did find another video of Oksana - 1998 Equal World Open - Oksana skates to My All.

1996 Fox Rock n Roll - Oksana skates to Crazy by Aerosmith

 

[Andora]

Oksana's on-ice legacy is so mixed. I'd forgotten all about Thais & Paquita, buried under years of really hit and miss programs - Thais was STUNNING. I was so young the first time I saw it, I guarantee it went over my head how beautiful it was. She'd come out with the odd gem in her later years, like the Chicago/hat number, and I even really enjoyed Dove L'Amore. But the programs just kept getting more and more... hard to watch.

Political affiliation and awful plastic surgery/makeup aside, I'm happy she seems to be happy and in a more stable place than she has been in the past.

 

[troika]

I am usually not posting, but could not help to share this link - very unusual from Oksana Sarah Kawahara choreography:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFB0xs8wMJU

 

[FunnyBut]

Troika
I love that program and music, ‘Safe from Harm’. It’s one of those songs I learned from figure skating and has stayed with me many years.

 

[Stefanie]

This thread inspired me to YouTube some of her later "professional" programs and I had forgotten how cringeworthy some of them were! And she did a lot of the same moves across multiple programs and a lot of just standing around and posing and no skating.

 

[Coco]

I think that describes a lot of post-whack pro skating...especially after late 95.

 

[Vash01]

I think that describes a lot of post-whack pro skating...especially after late 95.

I think that may coincide with the lack of serious pro competitions like the Landover. I think it took a little longer than the late 95 though because I still remember great pro skating in 96 and 97.

 

[Stefanie]

Oh, how I wish someone could resurrect the World Pro/Landover competition!

 

[Frau Muller]

Oh, how I wish someone could resurrect the World Pro/Landover competition!

There should be a “Pro Grand Prix” circuit. Imagine how performers like Ashley, Dai, Aliona/Bruno, V/m would do. Older eligible skaters would more readily turn pro.

 

[Stefanie]

I agree. It would be nice to see some skating littered with just a few jumps instead of fitting six to seven in 4:30 minutes. (And, yes, I know it's a sport, but the professional comps would offer something different as they did in the past.)

 

[Sylvia]

Bumping up this thread 5 years later with this "where are they now?" FSO article by Scott Mammoser (April 1, 2024):

How Oksana Baiul-Farina remembers her Olympic gold medal 30 years later – Figure Skaters Online

Thirty years have passed since the 16-year-old from Dnipro, Ukraine, stole the hearts of the world. Her Swan Lake short program complemented with her free skate to the sounds of Broadway are two of the most iconic in figure skating history. Today, the 46-year-old resides in Shreveport, La., with her husband and daughter – who will turn nine later this year.
“She likes artistic experiences – that’s what makes her happy,” Baiul-Farina said about her daughter in a phone interview. “And skating is one of them.”
A video surfaced of the family flooding their driveway this winter, giving Sophia a chance to emulate her mother.
“It never snows in Louisiana, but it did,” Baiul-Farina added. “So she enjoyed putting her skates on and skated for a few days.”