Watching Kristi skate is like watching a 365 day timelapse. Snow falls and melts, seasons living and dying all in a matter of seconds. To me, this is art.
Well, 5-Olympics and 18 years later, Kristi is still the last ladies Olympic Champion who also chose to participate at Worlds just right after the Olympics and actually win (defending her '91 World title and winning back-to-back championships.) She is also the last American skater to have won the elusive Skating Triple Crown winning Nationals, Olympics and Worlds in the same season (1992.)
I was eight when I watched Kristi win the gold. This performance launched my very short-lived dream of being a skater. Her poster hung on my bedroom wall for a long time afterwards.
Same age here. I first got interested in the sport watching these games. I took an instant liking to Tonya Harding. Of course, my views have changed. I think Yamaguchi is arguably the best ever.
Me too!!! I wrote a letter to her and told her I watched her in the Olympics and that I now wanted to be a figure skater. My dad sent it in to the local newspaper and they published it.
It was the choreo that got her that gold. She was also the favorite. Too bad Tonya Harding wasnt at her best at this Olympics. She was Incredible. She deserved the bronze over Nancy. Dont think anyone was going to beat this performance though.
I remember around this time period, a skater doing a jump crashed into the wall and fell through a doorway. I thought it was her, but I can't find any footage. Do you remember this happening and know who is was?
I still maintain that she was one of the best skaters of our time, her extension is amazing off all her jumps, and she definitely never fails to impress. I wish she still skated just for entertainment's sake.
She’s an all-time great skater however let’s be honest. She’s very fortunate This was 1992 and not 1994. That performance was not good enough to win the gold medal in 1994. She might’ve finished third.
@@b0rtie There were 5 communist judges in '94, a majority. They could do anything they wanted to do and not have to answer for it. They would have given to Oksana anyway. Commie judges cheat as they have been brought up to do and did there. It wouldn't have been the first time they stirred up a big controversy. It would have caused a big stink and they wouldn't have felt the slightest bit of shame. That is their nature. That was the very first time they had a majority on the judging panel and they did exactly what they wanted to do.
@@GGE47 unfortunately there were 4 judges from communist countries vs five judges from others. better do your research next time you freaking liar and what is how you were brought up!
@@kaixiangyuan5527 Poland, Czechoslovakia , Ukraine, East Germany and Red China. The German judge was from East Germany and even skated during the Olympics for East Germany.
The entire judging system has changed completely since this time period. They didn't judge the same as they do now. Sometimes judges favorites would win gold after gold. So just ignore trying to figure out who deserves gold and just watch the video in admiration of the sport.
The judging system has changed, yet it is still biased, has less accountability and can still lead to unfair outcomes. That being said, Kristi definitely deserved her gold medal.
The triple Lutz was always Kristi’s magic weapon. That, and her consistency. She didn’t skate with a lot of power and her jumps were relatively small, but she was well-trained and it showed in her consistency and the ability to do a second difficult triple Lutz in the final seconds of her program.
Couldn't agree with you more! IMO, Kristi's amateur pairs & singles career was NEVER given the credit it deserved...at the time, Kristi & Rudy were doing 3F & 3T in their unique & innovative long programs and Kristi consistently completed the 3L-3T combo to contend with the BEST EVER LADIES JUMPERS: Midori, Tonya & Surya! Her ability to combine both artistry & technical content in her skating truly made her SPECIAL and one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE SKATERS...well actually, my FAVORITE of ALL!
She did these triple triple combinations in 1992! In fact, she did 6 very difficult jumps with great variety. She only doubled the salchow and fell one triple jump. Very difficult but yet beautiful artistry program! I've rarely seen program like it.
Everyone be like "Kristi is average, Tonya is better and if she skated to her abilities she would have won" okay... But she didn't? They judge what's shown ON THE ICE and obviously Kristi out performed them that night.
weren't all doing 7-triple jump programs. Midori, Kristi & Tonya set the technical bar really high, but Kristi combined both artistry & technical prowess in her skating. Unfortunately, Midori was 4th coming into the Long Program and Nancy & Tonya didn't perform their best. Kristi was the reigning World Champion, but she wasn't necessarily favored to win by the judges. That night, she DESERVED and was destined to win Olympic Gold!
Sayalamar, thanks for that info! I'm not sure if I ever saw Asada or Ando complete those combos successfully in competition, but that's a big increase in risk for only 0.5-1 point!
Wow that first combo was perfect. @danjonrob64 you're right what a difference technically from 88-92, a huge leap! Despite the errors it was clearly Kristi's Olympics. She is a figure skater that left a legacy. With hindsight, imo, she & Midori Ito showed the way for Michelle Kwan, Miki Ando Mao Asada & Yu Na Kim.
Holy crap I can't believe the technical content, considering this was 25 years ago... 3Lu-3T?!? Back then?!? I don't think Oksana or Nancy had a 3-3 in '94
3lu-3t is a very hard combo for back then not even kwan, lipinski, hughes, or akarawa did them. not until kim yuna generation came along to consistenly did that combo. we're talking about 18 years later. that really tells how strong yamaguci was technically challenged back then. she doesn't have 3a that's all. otherwise she's as technical as midori ito with more consistency, and much better artistic.
Kristi Yamaguchi’s skating reminds me so much of Yuna Kim, especially with that triple triple combination; so graceful. Both are truly the greatest skaters of all time (along with Michelle Kwan).
Kwan and Witt were light years beyond Yamaguchi. She looks just like what she is -- a spoiled little princess whose parents bought her a figure-skating career. Aside from the falls, there is no expressiveness in her skating. She just goes through the rehearsed motions like a little girl.
do that if you like... I started when I was 19 years old and in my late twenties I was able to lend the duble axel, the triple salchow and the triple loop very consistently.... If you love figure skating just do it... :-)
Who knows whether or not this would beat Kwan in 98. Yes she had a fall but she also had a triple lutz-triple toe, one of the hardest triple-triples there is while Michelle had no triple-triple at all. Her artistry, spins, footwork, in this program were all great too. I would say if she were the more established skater by the time of the 98 Olympics she would have had a great shot of beating Kwan with this skate. This skate would have blown away Kwan's 2002 skate though.
The increase in difficulty between Kristi's gold medal performance in '92 and Katarina's in '88 is incredible! Katarina's toughest combo was a triple toe-double toe; Kristi did a triple lutz-triple toe! I don't think I've ever seen a woman do a more difficult combo. Even in 2009, Yu-Na Kim is only doing a triple flip-triple toe! Perhaps Tara Lipinski's triple loop-triple loop would be considered more difficult?
When I skated for 10 years from Age 5-15 I always wished I could land my jumps like Kristi. Sometimes I wish I didn't quit but figure skating doesn't really work out for tall girls with weak ankles.
I think, at the time, Kristi was the best there was at artistry. Of course, Kwan, Cohen, and others have eclipsed her for sure. While I thought she was really consistent, and I agree she deserved to win here, I always felt that Ito was the best skater at this time and simply caved under the pressure in the short program. For some reason, I just can't get emotionally attached to her programs. It's like she's taking a test and nailing all the answers.
Funny how they talk about today's skaters and how great they jump but it seems like as many if not more skaters back in 1992 were doing triple triples. And had way more presence on the ice. And of course Ito and Harding were doing the triple axel at the same time. Skating was so much better then. Now if any skater tries to interject some personality in the program they get slapped down by the judges, And they wonder why the interest in skating is down?
Her nationals long program a month before the Olympics was even better than Worlds. She hit EVERY jump, including the triple Salchow (only time she ever landed it). Her only mistake (if you can call it that) was a step in the middle of her triple-triple.
![[HD] Oksana Baiul - 1994 Lillehammer Olympic - Free Skating](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hPLPJa3NLNg/mqdefault.jpg)
Watching Kristi skate is like watching a 365 day timelapse. Snow falls and melts, seasons living and dying all in a matter of seconds. To me, this is art.
❤️ Heart Of A Skater ❤️
I remember watching Her as a child..... wow this was a long time ago lol
Well, 5-Olympics and 18 years later, Kristi is still the last ladies Olympic Champion who also chose to participate at Worlds just right after the Olympics and actually win (defending her '91 World title and winning back-to-back championships.)
She is also the last American skater to have won the elusive Skating Triple Crown winning Nationals, Olympics and Worlds in the same season (1992.)
Those split jump things are so cool, and she was very quick picking herself up from that fall. So cool, really fast.
I was eight when I watched Kristi win the gold. This performance launched my very short-lived dream of being a skater. Her poster hung on my bedroom wall for a long time afterwards.
Same age here. I first got interested in the sport watching these games. I took an instant liking to Tonya Harding. Of course, my views have changed. I think Yamaguchi is arguably the best ever.
Same
Me too!!! I wrote a letter to her and told her I watched her in the Olympics and that I now wanted to be a figure skater. My dad sent it in to the local newspaper and they published it.
I absolutely loved watching her as a kid. I always looked forward to when ice skating came on, just to watch her.
WOW..triple lutz and triple toe-loop was beautifully done.
Skating on them, Kristi Yamaguchi
I remember watching this live, and crying!!! Tears of joy. I still cry today watching it!!!
It was the choreo that got her that gold. She was also the favorite. Too bad Tonya Harding wasnt at her best at this Olympics. She was Incredible. She deserved the bronze over Nancy. Dont think anyone was going to beat this performance though.
I remember around this time period, a skater doing a jump crashed into the wall and fell through a doorway. I thought it was her, but I can't find any footage. Do you remember this happening and know who is was?
Midori landed that 3axel. If she wasn’t in 4th going into the long program, Midori would have won gold.
Chris Coyne agreed Tonya was robbed she deserved the bronze.
@@jjh2456 if ...if .....midori fell in short and long program...she deserve silver..................
clo martin Everyone fell at this competition though.
She is a winner at everything she does. She is awesome.
I still maintain that she was one of the best skaters of our time, her extension is amazing off all her jumps, and she definitely never fails to impress. I wish she still skated just for entertainment's sake.
She’s an all-time great skater however let’s be honest. She’s very fortunate This was 1992 and not 1994. That performance was not good enough to win the gold medal in 1994. She might’ve finished third.
Not a note wasted, like a well written book, not a word wasted. This program was power-packed, like Michelle Kwan’s Salome program.
Kristi inspired me to skate. I'm sure she did for many other young kids at the time.
She'd have easily won another Olympic title, had she chosen to compete in Lillehammer.
Matt G. I wish she had too. I don’t think there would have been a Tonya/Nancy if she competed.
Matt G. Me too. Also, more than likely the US would’ve had 3 spots instead of the 2 they had. Baiul would’nt have stood a chance against Kristi.
@@b0rtie There were 5 communist judges in '94, a majority. They could do anything they wanted to do and not have to answer for it. They would have given to Oksana anyway. Commie judges cheat as they have been brought up to do and did there. It wouldn't have been the first time they stirred up a big controversy. It would have caused a big stink and they wouldn't have felt the slightest bit of shame. That is their nature. That was the very first time they had a majority on the judging panel and they did exactly what they wanted to do.
@@GGE47 unfortunately there were 4 judges from communist countries vs five judges from others. better do your research next time you freaking liar and what is how you were brought up!
@@kaixiangyuan5527 Poland, Czechoslovakia , Ukraine, East Germany and Red China. The German judge was from East Germany and even skated during the Olympics for East Germany.
I remember this being so exciting...I was so anxious! I miss those days. :(
I never get tired of seeing this program.
Why on earth are people arguing about something that happened over 20 years ago that cannot be changed. Yamaguchi won...get over it already.
Kristi Yamaguchi is very talented! It's a joy to watch her.
i remember this so well i was a 7 she was my idol still adore her to this day
I still love watching this every once in a while. Always loved her abilities.
I loved watching her as a kid.
Happy 20 years!! Truly a timeless Olympics.
The entire judging system has changed completely since this time period. They didn't judge the same as they do now. Sometimes judges favorites would win gold after gold. So just ignore trying to figure out who deserves gold and just watch the video in admiration of the sport.
The judging system has changed, yet it is still biased, has less accountability and can still lead to unfair outcomes.
That being said, Kristi definitely deserved her gold medal.
she is such a artist
Such an icon... my mom is obsessed with her. Its was because of her and Tonya that my mom took me to Lloyd center for skating lessons.
Her landing its just so graceful
The triple Lutz was always Kristi’s magic weapon. That, and her consistency. She didn’t skate with a lot of power and her jumps were relatively small, but she was well-trained and it showed in her consistency and the ability to do a second difficult triple Lutz in the final seconds of her program.
She was so graceful. Loved watching her
That was truly beautiful.
Loved to watch her, and how many skaters still do a triple lutz and triple tow combo, not too often even now.
wow she was incredible..
Lovely lady
I loved watching Kristi--she had such charisman on the ice--sheer joy & beauty. Wolfsky9, 67 y/o
♥️
Couldn't agree with you more! IMO, Kristi's amateur pairs & singles career was NEVER given the credit it deserved...at the time, Kristi & Rudy were doing 3F & 3T in their unique & innovative long programs and Kristi consistently completed the 3L-3T combo to contend with the BEST EVER LADIES JUMPERS: Midori, Tonya & Surya! Her ability to combine both artistry & technical content in her skating truly made her SPECIAL and one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE SKATERS...well actually, my FAVORITE of ALL!
Gorgeous artistry .
She was ahead of her time!
She did these triple triple combinations in 1992! In fact, she did 6 very difficult jumps with great variety. She only doubled the salchow and fell one triple jump. Very difficult but yet beautiful artistry program! I've rarely seen program like it.
Dang, I remember when everyone used to do a scratch spin at the end of their program! Good times.
wonderful performance
Beautiful performance was. You brighted olympic. I love it!
Everyone be like "Kristi is average, Tonya is better and if she skated to her abilities she would have won" okay... But she didn't? They judge what's shown ON THE ICE and obviously Kristi out performed them that night.
I love Kristi! thanks for the vid...brings back those olympic memories!
Those were the days when people had actual talent. That's the reason why those records still haven't been broken.
her jumps are so solid!
Now she's the winner of the "Dancing with the Stars", Good job
wow, her move is beautiful even when she fell. I love it
That trple lutz at the start was amazing. I could never do that in a million years. I want to be just like her!
i wish i can skate like kristi! she rocks
she's so stunning :)
i love her her so much
WOW!!!
I love her music
weren't all doing 7-triple jump programs. Midori, Kristi & Tonya set the technical bar really high, but Kristi combined both artistry & technical prowess in her skating. Unfortunately, Midori was 4th coming into the Long Program and Nancy & Tonya didn't perform their best. Kristi was the reigning World Champion, but she wasn't necessarily favored to win by the judges. That night, she DESERVED and was destined to win Olympic Gold!
Thanks Kristy you ar a great girl and many kisses for you!!!!
When I was a child I used to want to be Kristi
Kristi rocks!
awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
great figure skater
Yamaguchi and ito = best in the world
Восхитительная!
i love her!!!!!11
shes amaazing
The best female skater. She deseeved that gold.
I played this when I was listening to rocketeer and it fit with her skating!
@MrDave4ever wow, her move is beautiful even when she fell. I love it
holy shit that's some incredible balance
Grace
あっ解説付きでよかったー！当時日本では伊藤みどりさんが注目されていたので山口さんは印象が薄かったのですが、改めて見るとやっぱり素晴らしいですねー！！！💕
she is amazing. she fell but that doesnt matter.
amazin!
Sayalamar, thanks for that info! I'm not sure if I ever saw Asada or Ando complete those combos successfully in competition, but that's a big increase in risk for only 0.5-1 point!
So classy
5:38 That face when your hungry and want food. 5:42 that face when you get food
im am 9 and a skater and she is my idol i love Kristi
good job
Wow that first combo was perfect. @danjonrob64 you're right what a difference technically from 88-92, a huge leap!
Despite the errors it was clearly Kristi's Olympics. She is a figure skater that left a legacy. With hindsight, imo, she & Midori Ito showed the way for Michelle Kwan, Miki Ando Mao Asada & Yu Na Kim.
Holy crap I can't believe the technical content, considering this was 25 years ago... 3Lu-3T?!? Back then?!? I don't think Oksana or Nancy had a 3-3 in '94
Nancy had a 3toe-3toe. Oksana did not have any combos.
Surya and Nancy were doing them. I am sure Tonya Harding was able to land a 3t-3t
3Lu-3T AND and a second 3Lu at the very end . this girl was incredible for the time...
@@jjh2456 Oksana threw in a 2axel-2toe at the end of her program
3lu-3t is a very hard combo for back then not even kwan, lipinski, hughes, or akarawa did them. not until kim yuna generation came along to consistenly did that combo. we're talking about 18 years later. that really tells how strong yamaguci was technically challenged back then. she doesn't have 3a that's all. otherwise she's as technical as midori ito with more consistency, and much better artistic.
Kristi Yamaguchi’s skating reminds me so much of Yuna Kim, especially with that triple triple combination; so graceful. Both are truly the greatest skaters of all time (along with Michelle Kwan).
Kwan and Witt were light years beyond Yamaguchi. She looks just like what she is -- a spoiled little princess whose parents bought her a figure-skating career. Aside from the falls, there is no expressiveness in her skating. She just goes through the rehearsed motions like a little girl.
She went to my school.
Yeah, the top skaters all fell that night.........but Kristi's routine was superior and deserved the Gold.
do that if you like... I started when I was 19 years old and in my late twenties I was able to lend the duble axel, the triple salchow and the triple loop very consistently.... If you love figure skating just do it... :-)
Who knows whether or not this would beat Kwan in 98. Yes she had a fall but she also had a triple lutz-triple toe, one of the hardest triple-triples there is while Michelle had no triple-triple at all. Her artistry, spins, footwork, in this program were all great too. I would say if she were the more established skater by the time of the 98 Olympics she would have had a great shot of beating Kwan with this skate. This skate would have blown away Kwan's 2002 skate though.
The increase in difficulty between Kristi's gold medal performance in '92 and Katarina's in '88 is incredible! Katarina's toughest combo was a triple toe-double toe; Kristi did a triple lutz-triple toe! I don't think I've ever seen a woman do a more difficult combo. Even in 2009, Yu-Na Kim is only doing a triple flip-triple toe! Perhaps Tara Lipinski's triple loop-triple loop would be considered more difficult?
When I skated for 10 years from Age 5-15 I always wished I could land my jumps like Kristi. Sometimes I wish I didn't quit but figure skating doesn't really work out for tall girls with weak ankles.
I think, at the time, Kristi was the best there was at artistry. Of course, Kwan, Cohen, and others have eclipsed her for sure. While I thought she was really consistent, and I agree she deserved to win here, I always felt that Ito was the best skater at this time and simply caved under the pressure in the short program. For some reason, I just can't get emotionally attached to her programs. It's like she's taking a test and nailing all the answers.
Funny how they talk about today's skaters and how great they jump but it seems like as many if not more skaters back in 1992 were doing triple triples. And had way more presence on the ice. And of course Ito and Harding were doing the triple axel at the same time. Skating was so much better then. Now if any skater tries to interject some personality in the program they get slapped down by the judges, And they wonder why the interest in skating is down?
TYBG!!!!!! shes so wonerful and based
Damnn ferg killed this shit 🔥🔥
Check out the height and the speed on the rotation of her jumps. So fast!!!
best figure skater of all time. i gotta say she kicks the crap outta michelle kwan
but you see more triple axels now. back then only Ito and Harding could land it. Nancy was also doing the 3T-3T at that time.
There is no artistry in figure skating left. It’s all jumps, jumps and more jumps.
Her nationals long program a month before the Olympics was even better than Worlds. She hit EVERY jump, including the triple Salchow (only time she ever landed it). Her only mistake (if you can call it that) was a step in the middle of her triple-triple.
They knew she won on that artistic mark. It was game over.
@mlc2005 like that one girl in class that always raised her hand. You have nailed it! Kerrigan suffered from the same thing: plastic artistry.
she looks soo different than in dancing with the stars!!!!!!!!
Kristy Yamagouci..Kanda..Olympic skate..compete..the brothers Grimm..🧙♀️💤💤..🦇..Batgirl!