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This is hands down the most powerful free skate she ever did. Phenomenal! 😮 The coverage she got across the ice on that triple/triple combination was insane. The lack of focus on the artistry of skating these days is sad.

The best that ever was and the best that ever will be. Nobody even comes close. The great Michelle Kwan 🌷.

Just imagine that 1996 should have been a Winter Olympic season and Michele would have been the favorite.

RIP Frank Carroll , I read that he lost his coach and two daughters in a plane crash. 😢

Absolute top of her game. Tons of good nuances in choreo + technically flawless

What program was that American judge watching? That was a brilliant skate. Michelles breakout year.

And this unbelievable out of this world skating from a 15 year old kid. We will never see this kinda beauty and magic on ice ever again. Truly The G.O.A.T..

I love this program. Interesting that the US judge actually had her second…the only judge to do so. Just proves that the old scoring method wasn’t always partisan!

Hard to believe she's the same age here as Lipinski was doing her vacuous "Anastasia" sp. just no comparison.

This (along with the Salome free program) was the breakout of Michelle as a mature artist on the ice. Ive never seen a skater's complete metamorphosis like this in one year's time. She was 4th the year before in Birmingham after skating flawlessly with 7 triples but dinged on artistry. So, she went home, matured, and decided to become the most beautiful interpretive skater in the field. Her running edge was oh so good in '96 (the edge control and flow in her crossovers, spirals, the 2axel landings really showing it off in both programs). She just oozes finesse and sophistication here. There were so many subtle nuances here (versus later in her career where all the crossovers and jump setups were the same regardless of the music). The British commentary was stellar here as well, recognizing her quality and discipline.

If people held the Olympics each year, Michelle would win the most golds in the history. This is one of the golds.

She was 15 here. She changed herself to be an artist on ice here.

Yes, I don’t watch figure skating anymore, but do support the sport. It is just hard to watch after growing up watching Janet Lynn, Dorothy Hamill and Michelle Kwan. ❤

Ladies and gentlemen, The G.O.A.T...

The American judge was trying too hard to hide bias.

The moment Michelle said I have arrived 3:10 😏

Don't wonder why this is in my favorites. Michelle skated Absolutely Amazing in this program. Perfection!! Natural Talent at its best! Love her!

Legendary

Did kwan's coach get into trouble for something?

She was so beautiful to watch.

I love looking back at her programs. Such an amazing talent and deserved to have gold the first try but got silver then bronze the 2nd chance. Ive loved her since she came on the scene and shes is an amazing person and artist!

When you watch this and then watch the Russian robots, you understand how hollow skating has become. This was perfection with emotion, artistry, and choreography.

5.6! That American judge is an idiot.

Superb skater and one of my favorites of all time,simply the best ! She had everything and such a pleasure to watch !

Great skate❣️🥳

I would have scored this program 5.8 technical 6.0 presentation!!! Michelle’s movements on the ice matched the music 100%

So elegant

Careful examination would tell the lutz was flawed. At takeoff, her edge changed to inside edge and she used edge instead of toepick for the takeoff.

Oh how I miss her!

Beautiful perfection! 🥰🥰 How can one not love this sport?

I was compelled to go see this magical program again from M.K. to remind me that there really used to be beauty and magic in skating after the ugliness that is transpiring in the current winter Olympics ladies skating. The most beautiful and ethereally stunning program for all time from the G O.A.T. She really is a lightning in a bottle.

Nobody can compare with Michelle. She is legend.

The Very Best Skater Ever

Respect great

I like it

Wooonderful

Soon to be ambassador kwan!!

Michelle I am a huge fan of yours

I miss when the Olympics professional Olympics was competition for everybody of every different color race culture gender. Having the Olympics be only for white people is boring

Not to be overly dramatic, but that was the best damn Short Program I have ever seen. The choreography and placement of elements is absolutely perfect with the music… each element begins or ends with the phrase of music. Every new section of music has a corresponding move ! Phrasing at its best in figure skating!

Love her

Who is the American judge? lol

I watch this so many times! So gooood!

I could watch Michelle for ages.....oh wait, I do!

How I wish I could have seen her live. Art on ice.

Leave it t the US judge to try and screw her over

What was with the American judge??? 5.6!?!?

I just finished watching the 2021 US National women's short program which was TERRIBLE compared to this artistic masterpiece. When the ISU approved " vocal " music, it was another nail in the coffin for figure skating. Now most skaters choose pathetically vapid songs and any one of them could be interchanged with another skater's choreography...

The Great Michelle Kwan she made that Lay Back look like a glass of wine Beautiful