Compare this off-season to 1997 and 2001

[dynoguy88]

The Summer of 1997 and the Summer of 2001 were LONG waits before Olympic seasons. Do you remember what was going through your head during these time periods and what what your hopes and fears for Michelle were? I imagine they wouldn't be too different but I was just curious.

In the Summer of 97, Michelle was coming off of that really rough season (3 straight 2nd place finishes, AUGH! :p ) and I just remember thinking that she will be fine as long as she can get back on track because nobody, not even the new star Tara Lipinski can match her complete package skating. The Summer of 01, I was more excited because Michelle had finished the season with that spectacular peformance at 2001 Worlds. As you recall, we didn't know that Michelle and Frank were splitting until September.

This time around (no pun intended) I'm not letting my hopes up as much as before. Partly because fate was very painful the last 2 times and I don't really trust the judges and whether they will judge fairly. I will still watch and I will still cheer my heart out for Michelle, but I'm not getting as emotionally invested. No matter what happens in Turino, I believe Michelle is the greatest female skater that ever lived and her grace and style will be matched by nobody. While I would still give my right arm to give her that Olympic Gold medal, she has given me and the rest of her fans the greatest gift a skater could ever give the public. That fact is making this Summer go by a little easier than 1997 and 2001.


THE ADMIRATION OF A CHAMPION

"I think Michelle will leave skating a better sport than it was before she entered it. Through decades to come, people will remember her because she has been one of the greatest athletes our country has ever had. Skating is better because of Michelle Kwan." ~ Frank Carroll
"Let me tell you, you can never underestimate Michelle Kwan. Because six weeks before the event she starts to get really serious, puts that incredible Michelle Kwan focus in gear, and nails it." ~ Lori Nichol
"What Michelle has, you cannot teach." ~ Dorothy Hamill
"I don't think I have ever seen an audience more with a skater in their hearts than they have with Michelle. She has been a lady, she has been a true competitor, she has been a wonderful person for many years." ~ Dick Button
"It's no secret how I feel about Michelle Kwan's place in our sport. Every time I see her on the ice or back stage at an event, I am struck by her grace, her sportsmanship and our good fortune at witnessing her magic." ~ Peggy Fleming
"She is phenomenal, her work ethic, the way in which she presents herself on the ice every time she steps on the ice is just exquisite. There is so much that is special about Michelle Kwan, she translates the feeling of flight better than anyone." ~ Sandra Bezic
"Michelle is so beautiful on the ice. She obviously has the whole package of the technical side and artistry." ~ Kristi Yamaguchi
"She is an incredible role model for all ages." ~ Vera Wang
"She is probably groomed into one of the best competitors that I've ever known. She takes the moment and she seizes it." ~ Brian Boitano
"If she doesn't win an event, it doesn't take anything away from what a great skater and athlete she is. I am very impressed by her, she is a true champion." ~ Katarina Witt
"The greatest skaters in the world have the ability to open their soul to an audience. Michelle has a grace and elegance that no other women in the world has." ~ Scott Hamilton
"I still think Michelle Kwan is the greatest skater in the world." ~ Debi Thomas
"The beauty of skating it comes from the skater alone, from the heart, and that is how Michelle Kwan skates. She has such joy and beauty on her face, I don't think I have seen that since Janet Lynn." ~ Rosalynn Sumners

[Krista]

This time around (no pun intended) I'm not letting my hopes up as much as before. Partly because fate was very painful the last 2 times and I don't really trust the judges and whether they will judge fairly. I will still watch and I will still cheer my heart out for Michelle, but I'm not getting as emotionally invested. No matter what happens in Turino, I believe Michelle is the greatest female skater that ever lived and her grace and style will be matched by nobody. While I would still give my right arm to give her that Olympic Gold medal, she has given me and the rest of her fans the greatest gift a skater could ever give the public. That fact is making this Summer go by a little easier than 1997 and 2001.

ITA. I was just saying to my Mom when I was visiting this weekend "I just hope that Michelle skates well and that she is happy with her performance". Thats all that matters to me at this point, because like you said, she is the greatest female skater of all time. To me, she's the greatest skater, even, of all time. If she gets 10th at the olympics, that will still remain true for me. No one captures the essence and heart of skating better than Michelle, and a medal won't prove or disprove that :)

ETA: That being said, if Michelle goes to the Olympics, Ill have the worst stomach ache in the history of her skating :lol

[lavender]

Same here. Not really invested in a win. Can't do it even though I've dreamt of it.

[lexeoe]

same here. nut i'm simply wishing this will be it for our gal. if not its ok. i'm just optimistic of how she'll fare as well since majority of the skaters that she is competing right now has not witnessed Kwan at her very best. i just wish she will simply be free from qualifying, short and long at both Nats and Olys. Just wishing her the best and knowing that win or lose i'm still a loyal fan.

[Vinluvskwan]

I wasn't a MKF member before 2002, but believe me the fall leading to Nagano Games, esp. up to the point where she had the toe fracture and her chances of skating at Nagano even w/ a bye at Nationals were nerve-wracking; I admired Tara during the Grand Prix but she skated like a beauty pageant contestant acting onstage-flashy, all show but no heart (at least until her ebullient Olys SP and LP). Anyway, when MK handed us one of the finest SP & LP in fig skating history at 98 Nats, I was sure she was the top bet for the gold; but after her tentative and seemingly slow (at least on TV) LP I had a gut feeling Tara was on attack mode. But anyother Oly's or Worlds (pre-CoP) MK's LP at NAgano would have won gold.

Coming into the 2002 Olys, w/ MK being the reigning World Champ despite tough competition from Irina,
and Sarah H. in the past 2 Worlds, my expectations were not as high. Irina was clearly the co-favorite for OGM as she had beaten Michelle a number of times in the Grand Prix (didn't IS win Grand Prix Final in 2001). As in 1997-1998, the name of the game for 2001-02 was 3/3 combinations. 2002 Nationals were solid but not as captivating as 1998 Nats.; Schez was semi-dramatic and despite Sarah Kawahara's assoc. w/ difficult/innovatibe choreog., Schez. seemed to mark the start of MK's "uniform" style that has veered away from the thematic, passionate, intricate Lori Nichol-style. Time and Newsweek magazine, and most importantly Sports Illustrated predicted MK winning the Gold, w/ SI betting on a US Ladies sweep.
The SLC atmosphere, particularly during the Opening Ceremonies and TV interviews, elicited the joy MK seemed to hide/lack from in Nagano. First came the SP...Mk was solid but shaky on the 3 flip. Irina had higher technical scores and a higher jumps and the 2nd highest artistic marks. You know the rest of the bittersweet story...:FL

[Eeyora]

Neither do I want to get my hopes up but it is hard not to invest your heart in this. I know I will be emotional.

[michelle2006]

I see myself sitting in my living room before the LP in 06, I will be a mess, a complete emotional wreck......

........seriously, I might faint. I remember this year, before her LP at Nats, I was a mess, I was skakinh so much.

[luvablepinay]

^^ i was a mess during the '02 olympics. i passed out when she got the bronze. but, now, im just trying my hardest not to think about the olympics until it arrives. for now, im just like..."okay, if she doesnt win. she doesnt need it." and hopefully i wont pass out, either. lols. just as long as michelle does her best, thats all i can ask for.

[Eeyora]

The 2002 LP was the only time I was ever in a real rage. I threw things and tore things up screaming and crying.

While in 98 all I did was cry.

[Lisa Seye]

Eeyora,
In contrast, in 1998 I was mad and in 02 I was sad. :-)

[sportsbodywork]

With all due respect to the other responses in this post, I totally disagree. I understand wanting to protect oneself from the agony of disappointment. But if Michelle has chosen to make another run at an Olympic gold medal, I know that she is totally committed to making this her crowning achievement. She is emotionally, physically, and mentally invested, and I for one am going to join her on this roller-coaster experience. Yes, the judges may be unfair. Yes, fate may step in. But, you know what? Michelle may also EXCEED all expectations and redefine figure skating for the ages, and I'm not going to wait for the scores to be posted in Turino to say, "I BELIEVE!!!"