What is your memory of the 1994 U.S. Nationals?

I would like to point out to those who don't know that Elaine Zayak skated missing part of her foot from a childhood accident with a lawnmower. Coming back to finish her career out on a good note, ala Daisuke Takahashi, made her skating well very satisfying for those of us pleased to see her coming out ahead of expectations. Perhaps skaters like Gracie Gold could draw inspiration from Elaine.

1994 SP: https://youtu.be/AlWcY3G0Imw
1994 FS: https://youtu.be/_yP_AGPWPY4

Gotta love Nicole Bobek embracing her as Elaine left the ice and before Nicole skated.

More on Elaine's career and foot injury in this 1984 profile. Very inspiring human interest story. For me Elaine will always be a fighter and a winner.
https://youtu.be/m3Eqk6PoS1M

I would like to point out to those who don't know that Elaine Zayak skated missing part of her foot from a childhood accident with a lawnmower. Coming back to finish her career out on a good note, ala Daisuke Takahashi, made her skating well very satisfying for those of us pleased to see her coming out ahead of expectations. Perhaps skaters like Gracie Gold could draw inspiration from Elaine.

1994 SP: https://youtu.be/AlWcY3G0Imw
1994 FS: https://youtu.be/_yP_AGPWPY4

Gotta love Nicole Bobek embracing her as Elaine left the ice and before Nicole skated.

More on Elaine's career and foot injury in this 1984 profile. Very inspiring human interest story. For me Elaine will always be a fighter and a winner.
https://youtu.be/m3Eqk6PoS1M[/url ...skated now with the current scoring system. 😀

I do remember the pros coming back and thinking Brian Boitano could do it again. I remember the tension in respect to the ladies; and Elaine Zayak skating with joy and verve and a coltish for lack of words jumping bean but lacking power Michelle Kwan.

lesnar001 said:

Wow - I didn't know that.
Great that you got to see her debut in person.
The start to a phenomenal career.

Click to expand...

It's pretty much part of Michelle's fluff package. While Frank was away, Michelle took her senior tests against his wishes. Since she passed, she made her senior debut in 1993. People took note of her presence on ice but, at the time, fans and media were not anointing people prematurely.


She surprised many by placing 2nd in 1994 (even if Nancy had competed, MK would've been a surprising 3rd place finisher - Kwiotksoki and Bobek were anticipated as 3rd.

Michele did go to the Olympics. Due to the pending litigation, there was uncertainty whether Tonya would skate or not for Team USA. If she was arrested, she would not have skated. While alternates do not normally go to the Olympics, the Kwan's were sent because of a great possibility that Tonya would not be skating. I remember the camera showing a 'baby' Michelle Kwan watching some events from with her parents while waiting to find out if she would also be skating


1995 - Kwan continued her growth but still viewed as a girl.


1996 Kwan transforms into lady and artists as Salome

rest is history

I remember being stunned when Boitano did not win US Nationals in 1994. He did go to the Olympics but he and other men's professionals (i.e. Kurt Browning, Victor Petrenko(?) did not fair well. It was very unexpected because the former pro's were still all athletically competitive but had surprising falls in their short programs which made the out of medal contention.

Zayak's return to competitive skating was a really pleasant surprise. You could tell she didn't expect to win and was just out there to enjoy herself. She also proved that she wasn't just the jumping bean that lead to the creation of the Zayak rule.

Kurt Browning was still an amateur but we understand. I honestly think Michelle should have been behind Zayak. THis was the 6.0 days so a jumping bean "could" have been marked down a lot in the artistic mark which was the tie breaker in the long. I wouldn't have changed the olympic team for the US but maybe the world team. Of course, Michelle would have been age ineligible had it been now. Zayak was comparably better at the time than Witt.