Which skater had the best artistry at 13?

[GMAN]

<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2></FONT><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Results (total votes = 157):</FONT><table bgcolor=#FFFFFF border=0 cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width="75%">
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Tara Lipinski</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>17&nbsp;/&nbsp;10.8%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=32 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Sarah Hughes</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>9&nbsp;/&nbsp;5.7%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=17 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Naomi Nari Nam</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>51&nbsp;/&nbsp;32.5%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=97 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Michelle Kwan</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>72&nbsp;/&nbsp;45.9%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=137 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>other</FONT>&nbsp</td>
<td height><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>8&nbsp;/&nbsp;5.1%</FONT>&nbsp</td><td><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/bar.gif width=15 height=10 hspace=3>&nbsp;</td></tr>
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<a href=http://p216.ezboard.com/fmichellekwanforumpollingbooth.showMessage?topicID =16.topic><FONT FACE="Verdana,Arial" SIZE=2>Vote Now</FONT></a> &nbsp

[dreamr]

Definitly Naomi!

Michelle and Tara were both jumping beans at 13 with little to no artistry.

Sarah Hughes was terribly awkward. Really bad looking shoulders and her technique was nothing to write home about.

[lavender]

How old was NNN at last years nationals?

[NicoleM]

I went with Naomi on this one, too. She had such an amazing feel for the music at 13! I think Tara's artistry came less from the music and more from the fact that she pretty much smiled from ear to ear throughout her performance, because she was enjoying herself so much.

Michelle carried herself quite gracefully at 13, but seemed so intent on focusing on her jumps, that the smiles usually came after she hit a difficult one. I do somewhat miss the little girls that Michelle and Tara once were, though. Maybe they didn't have as much of a developed style at that age, but they definitely had a connection to the audience, and besides that, they were just adorable! (Not that they aren't now!)

I think Naomi and the other young and stylish skaters have definitely had the benefit of watching someone like Michelle develop, because it gave them the example of what artistry is. Michelle herself said she benefitted as a young skater by watching top skaters like Oksana Baiul. I'm sure there will be skaters in the future who will cite the artistry of skaters such as Naomi and Sasha as inspirations.

[NicoleM]

P.S. Naomi was 13 at the '99 Nationals and 14 this year. She just turned 15 on July 6th, meaning that she will be too young by 5 days to make the world team even if she medals at Nationals in 2001, because they are no longer allowing an exception even if a skater manages to medal at Junior Worlds. :(

[GMAN]

Yeah Naomi was the best!! That is soo sad that she is 5 days to young:( The ISU should let here if she medals because she is probably more miture than a lot of 15 year olds!!!

[MichelleKwanFanForever]

I voted Naomi Nari Nam also. Michelle, Tara, etc. didn't much artistry at 13.

[cienicsk8]

Chalk up one more for NNN!

[amethyst]

I voted for Naomi too, though I am just biased enough that it's hard to vote against Michelle for anything!

[Victoriacai]

I voted for Naomi because I've never seen Michelle skate at 13! Hey I was really young!

[mk4ever]

I think you can see... i voted for michelle. she has plenty of artistry at 13. NNN is secound 4 me. :)

[mk4ever]

I don't know about you guys but... i voted for michelle. she has the most artistry i have ever seen at the age of 13. NNN would be secound.:)

Victoriacai.. at 13 she looks so cute. Get her biography books, or check out some web sites...k?:lol

[Sandy]

i have to say naomi she's very talented!

[amethyst]

Michelle!

[sk8ing lady2001]

Michelle Kwan. I have liked her since that year. However, my real interest in Michelle came in 1996 at the world championship. She won, skating to Salome. They said she wasn't an artist at 13, just a jumping bean, but I liked the variation on her choice of music back then for her free skate.

It, by the way, was "East of Eden." Again, according to some, she had yet to develop her artistry. Not to me, though. I predicted that, in a few short years, Michelle Kwan would became an artist on the ice, from the music and her soul.

The last time I saw Michelle Kwan skate live was 1994. However, I enjoyed that so much.

Not that I haven't liked Tara, Sarah and Naomi, who also have been really good at that age.

Tara was cutesy and her music choices were reminders of her flying and pizzazz. I liked her back then, and still do now, kind of.

[TAF2984]

wow Mk and NNN are at a dead heat

[HamiltonBrowningFan]

I picked Tara... she was a cutie! :lol

Michelle, I feel, had more fun as a up and coming skater... and it showed in her skating... now she sometimes makes me feel like it's become more like an everyday thing... like a job

[Kabooke]

By the judges not giving Michelle the nod at 95' Worlds it prompted Frank for her to make a change in appearance to look more mature. Other skaters at those young ages with Michelle's technical ability followed suit!

[MaskedBaboon]

This post was made after the original poll, but its hard for me to remember NNN that much.

I voter other, for Beatrisa Liang. :D
But it's pretty close.