- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
Well three different skaters - different body types and all sensational at a young age.
What I wanted to focus on was the huge difference in popularity between Kwan and the two young Oly gold medalists. Much discussion over the years because Kwan had longevity.
I was thinking about how both these skaters seem to exit from amateur skating with a phenomenon I can only call -- the price of beating Americas sweetheart -Michele Kwan. I saw Tara in an interview in her grand home talk about the press not liking her and that she was treated poorly by some people- it was never said if it was the older skaters on tour with SOI or the SOI brass- but Tara did say she had never been so poorly treated in her life. I recall she became a very good pro as she grew up and I enjoyed her pro skates. I think she was wise to quit after her meteoric rise and she won all there was very quickly and she had good reasons to turn pro. Unfortunately we did not get to see such a young phenom defend her title and had she maintained her jumps I think it would have been amazing to see these 3 Americans - and Irina- go after that gold in Salt Lake. Tara Sarah and Michelle were real competitors. None of them had a reputation for being intimidated by other skaters.
Recall young Sasha in her debut at seniors in Nationals and then two very good skates in 2002 before she was really on the international map. I think she could have won the bronze had she had the cred with the judges. But if Tara had competed- I wonder how she would have been judged had she continued on as Sarah did? Was Sarah hedged harshly? I thought so. Maybe she should have received higher marks.
But here is my point. People acted like Sarah's and Tara's successful and history making combos were a fluke and that Michelle was so much better artistically. She was the American favorite at both Olympics and I recall much vitriol directed at Tara and then Sarah because they fairly beat Michelle Kwan. Kwan was more humble and her personality sweet and I think her Asian delicate beauty set her apart. I don't ever recall Michelle saying anything that annoyed skating fans and her little girl sweetness was noticed in Norway when all eyes were on Tonya and Nancy. Neither of who people liked and the press really skewered Nancy for really minor remarks. She did not get love from the press either despite her leg being assaulted. It was strange how they jumped on her for nothing- our girl- while toasting the poor waif like orphan- until she started sabotaging her own life and image. How responsible was the press for taking Tara then Sarah down a peg? Or were we skating fans whomswelled in huge numbers after the whack responsible for hating all things not Michelle. Tara was cocky I read. Peggy intoned with something different in her voice that Sarah post 2002 was a different skater. Hmmm I thought.
I know Sarah took advantage of so many opportunities and wasn't trained and her looks changed - she put on weight. My only memory of her subsequent bid at Nationals and Worlds the following year was i thought she was judged harshly. I haven't watched those skates in a while but I can't help but think both these Olympic gold medalists paid a price for being a bit cocky at times but they beat Michelle and skating fans did not want that in either Olympics. At least not we American fans. I don't know how the rest of the world covered it.
What are your feelings about the backlash and dislike Tara got from the press and her older SOI peers that seemed to push her away from skating for more than a decade. And was Sarah Hughes scarred in a way when people said her gold was a fluke because she never won a national or world title? Could her unfinished skating career in her mind have possibly derailed her from finding where she wanted to be career wise? I read they had a support group kind of - Olympic athletes whomachieved. I got the impression Sasha and Sarah belonged to this elite little group.
To me both these people beat Michelle Kwan fairly at those Olympics but they paid a price and never became beloved like Peggy and Dorothy and earlier stars like Tenley Albright ans Carol Heiss.
I think they felt hurt because neither one has ever talked about the fact Michelle was beloved so quickly and they were not. Quite the opposite really in retrospect. Actually I think Tara did mention in that long ago interview at her beautiful southern beach home that the press liked Michelle a lot.
I think lastly Sarah did her self a disservice by competing when she really wasn't totally focused post Salt Lake. I got the impression she was angry at her scores and felt they were unfair. I recall very low harsh scores and she flounced out of K and c with Robin at her heels. These memories float back.
For those with better memories of the scoring at the Nationals in 2003 and worlds how did you see Sarah by then against a very prepared Michelle Kwan who won her 5th world title I believe.
Thoughts about the cost paid by beating the Kween? Was it a real thing or am I being overly sensitive to how both were treated when they deserved more respect given the achievement at such young ages...
What I wanted to focus on was the huge difference in popularity between Kwan and the two young Oly gold medalists. Much discussion over the years because Kwan had longevity.
I was thinking about how both these skaters seem to exit from amateur skating with a phenomenon I can only call -- the price of beating Americas sweetheart -Michele Kwan. I saw Tara in an interview in her grand home talk about the press not liking her and that she was treated poorly by some people- it was never said if it was the older skaters on tour with SOI or the SOI brass- but Tara did say she had never been so poorly treated in her life. I recall she became a very good pro as she grew up and I enjoyed her pro skates. I think she was wise to quit after her meteoric rise and she won all there was very quickly and she had good reasons to turn pro. Unfortunately we did not get to see such a young phenom defend her title and had she maintained her jumps I think it would have been amazing to see these 3 Americans - and Irina- go after that gold in Salt Lake. Tara Sarah and Michelle were real competitors. None of them had a reputation for being intimidated by other skaters.
Recall young Sasha in her debut at seniors in Nationals and then two very good skates in 2002 before she was really on the international map. I think she could have won the bronze had she had the cred with the judges. But if Tara had competed- I wonder how she would have been judged had she continued on as Sarah did? Was Sarah hedged harshly? I thought so. Maybe she should have received higher marks.
But here is my point. People acted like Sarah's and Tara's successful and history making combos were a fluke and that Michelle was so much better artistically. She was the American favorite at both Olympics and I recall much vitriol directed at Tara and then Sarah because they fairly beat Michelle Kwan. Kwan was more humble and her personality sweet and I think her Asian delicate beauty set her apart. I don't ever recall Michelle saying anything that annoyed skating fans and her little girl sweetness was noticed in Norway when all eyes were on Tonya and Nancy. Neither of who people liked and the press really skewered Nancy for really minor remarks. She did not get love from the press either despite her leg being assaulted. It was strange how they jumped on her for nothing- our girl- while toasting the poor waif like orphan- until she started sabotaging her own life and image. How responsible was the press for taking Tara then Sarah down a peg? Or were we skating fans whomswelled in huge numbers after the whack responsible for hating all things not Michelle. Tara was cocky I read. Peggy intoned with something different in her voice that Sarah post 2002 was a different skater. Hmmm I thought.
I know Sarah took advantage of so many opportunities and wasn't trained and her looks changed - she put on weight. My only memory of her subsequent bid at Nationals and Worlds the following year was i thought she was judged harshly. I haven't watched those skates in a while but I can't help but think both these Olympic gold medalists paid a price for being a bit cocky at times but they beat Michelle and skating fans did not want that in either Olympics. At least not we American fans. I don't know how the rest of the world covered it.
What are your feelings about the backlash and dislike Tara got from the press and her older SOI peers that seemed to push her away from skating for more than a decade. And was Sarah Hughes scarred in a way when people said her gold was a fluke because she never won a national or world title? Could her unfinished skating career in her mind have possibly derailed her from finding where she wanted to be career wise? I read they had a support group kind of - Olympic athletes whomachieved. I got the impression Sasha and Sarah belonged to this elite little group.
To me both these people beat Michelle Kwan fairly at those Olympics but they paid a price and never became beloved like Peggy and Dorothy and earlier stars like Tenley Albright ans Carol Heiss.
I think they felt hurt because neither one has ever talked about the fact Michelle was beloved so quickly and they were not. Quite the opposite really in retrospect. Actually I think Tara did mention in that long ago interview at her beautiful southern beach home that the press liked Michelle a lot.
I think lastly Sarah did her self a disservice by competing when she really wasn't totally focused post Salt Lake. I got the impression she was angry at her scores and felt they were unfair. I recall very low harsh scores and she flounced out of K and c with Robin at her heels. These memories float back.
For those with better memories of the scoring at the Nationals in 2003 and worlds how did you see Sarah by then against a very prepared Michelle Kwan who won her 5th world title I believe.
Thoughts about the cost paid by beating the Kween? Was it a real thing or am I being overly sensitive to how both were treated when they deserved more respect given the achievement at such young ages...
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