Josée Chouinard (CAN) - 1994 Lillehammer, Figure Skating, Ladies' Free Skate

[@jamiejazz8194]

As a competitive figure skater for 13 years, this is no joke. The pressure is immense. This situation should’ve been handled differently in many ways.

[@beckyj.hollen2743]

I remember how angry I was about this. The crowd gave her more compassion than the judges did. Even if Josee did have consistency issues being rushed out there did not help

[@louisgrassimedium]

At first I thought this was so unfair to Josee, and I thought that when I saw this initially, but what Tonya did was technically within the rules, and what they chose to do with her placement was within the rules...so technically that means skaters have to be ready to go at any moment.... I mean thats still harsh I know but it wasn't all on Tonya why Josee didn't skate cleanly.......I love Josee though...shes so charming and beautiful.... la beauté canadienne du patinage artistique !

[@Vanasse1]

It's awful because sometimes you just have a bad day..... to her credit, though, she is drop dead gorgeous..... wow.

[@dawngreen9275]

Yes such a beauty ! Love how she wore her hair.

[@jocelynastheart2732]

beautiful Josée Chouinard

[@styldsteel1]

I’m thinking even if the judges lightened up her place wouldn’t have made any difference. The falling, doubling instead of tripling. Falling are major deductions. I still love Josee. She’s adorable

[@96horseluvr]

this was SO unfair. you train your entire life for this moment, and you screw up because you're forced into a completely unfair situation

[@kristirichards2249]

I loved this performance so much and my favorite skating costume of all time!

[@boymom4972]

Should have given her 15 mins and Josée after her as per usual or not at all.

[@its_msk]

Josee looks super pissed. I'm sure she wasn't a big fan of Tonya and her constant dramatics

[@timothyhh]

Meh, this performance was likely to happen with or without Tonya. Josee had a history of falling apart. Also, by the time she started I'm pretty sure the same amount of time had elapsed had Tonya not had her drama.

[@flightoflightning2505]

Josee’s practice at Lillehammer was amazing though. She hit a bunch of triple lutzes without falling once. Also did a few 3F-3T.

[@SOT233]

Stop making excuses for Tonya Harding.

[@smoothALOE]

The technical marks were a tad low. I would've given her a 5.5 It was clear that her artistic impression was off because she wasn't totally prepared, which wasn't her fault. I'll always remember hearing that woman go into an operatic voice. For some reason I always thought that was some weirdo in the audience, haha!

[@mht4908]

I think the scores were fair, she had 2 falls and doubled the lutz. Of course, I feel bad for her, having to get out on the ice without being prepared

[@smoothALOE]

@@mht4908 maybe her base line was lower to begin with. That wasn’t something I thought about too much when I originally posted this comment.

[@flightoflightning2505]

Strange though, Josee really was one of the top female skaters and definitely one of the most popular. She got 5th twice at the World Championships, which is quite impressive. I’m surprised she was scored that low, despite being a favorite among many judges.

[@smoothALOE]

@@flightoflightning2505 she went on to have a nice pro career, didn’t she?

[@flightoflightning2505]

@@smoothALOE She did! I remember her receiving like, I don’t know, three perfect 10.0s in a Pro’s Championship for her artistry.

[@Zwei4815]

"Meanwhile, back in the hallway..."

[@AmusedChild]

So why did they have to march Josée right out then? Why not take a few minutes of dead skating time? Good Lord, people, is this a line of ducks?

[@RussianKalinka]

Agee with you all! LOVE YOU ALWAYS JOSEE

[@TheTubeTempest]

She was as ready as she was ever going to be.

[@Rose0004]

Poor thing. You could see the disappointment on her face.

[@AlphaPoe]

One of my favorite skaters. This rush to the ice because of more Tonya nonsense. They should have stopped the competition for a half hour to give Josee’ time to mentally repair.

[@kiml9066]

I mean Tonya took so long to get going and everything you'd think Josee would've been prepared to go on

[@flightoflightning2505]

Well, they just had their warm-up and every skater is shoved inside together. So that means while she was probably chatting with the other skaters/coaches she would’ve heard her name be called up there, it was very likely she was shocked. Josee usually performed way better than this.

[@SOT233]

Stop making excuses for Tonya Harding.

[@mjji21]

oh stop with all the drama…i love josee chouinard…but she had as much time as if tonya had skated her entire program. josee always had trouble in the long program...

[@jamiejazz8194]

Josee killed it, and I will always admire her 🌟.

[@ChristineTheHippie]

I think the rules have changed, now a skater doesn't get to restart, they just pick it up from where they stopped. Other skaters have had problems like this, Mao Asada had this happen at the short program at the World Juniors in 2005, and one of the Japanese Skaters-- I think it was Nobunari Oda (if I'm wrong, don't hesitate to correct me), had a similar problem at the 2010 Olympics. Most athletes, however, don't use an anything as an excuse even if it's a valid reason.

[@nondescriptnyc]

Just to be clear to the readers, neither Asada nor Oda restarted. They picked up where they left off (after the successful 3Lz - 2L combo for Asada and the failed 3L for Oda). BTW, Liz Manley's restart at the 1988 Worlds remains a mystery to me because she apparently claimed the music wasn't playing right--but I don't think anybody else heard that.

[@michaeljj43]

ok…stop with all the drama…josie didn't have to get on the ice that much sooner then she was supposed to. scott and verne are making it much more dramatic then it really is. and josie, who is a brilliant skater, has always had consistency problems. she faltered at the world championships in 1994 after the olympics.

[@Iwatchstuff1000]

Exactly & it’s clear Scott dislikes (hates) Tonya

[@NatDC2012]

Poor Jossee. She was Tonya's 2nd victim of the 94 olympics.

[@hhluvzmagik]

at 1:23 look how young Jamie Sale is!

[@lilbatz]

Who did the choreography?

[@gilbertlaylay8210]

Sandra Bezic?

[@jenniferec2003]

@proxy22 I agree. Tonya was a hot mess and it was unfair to Josee.

[@SOT233]

So unfair. These judges are ridiculous.

[@3dressedupasa9]

I would have loved to have seen how angry Louis Stong must have been about all this. What a disgrace.

[@Vanasse1]

This was the olympics and Tonya's skate looks dirty and old..... and nasty......

[@erika9072]

Most Americans wouldn't. This is just Tonya Harding at her dramatic best, she pulled this kind of shit in previous comps.

[@tyronelewis2430]

Americans always get the benefit

[@itamarjuniorsilvaoliveira6573]

Put Nancy kerrigan performance from 1994

[@sirihammond4748]

this costume is pretty horrid...

[@mlc2005]

Tonya was pathetic as these games, and, as an American, I remember watching and being thoroughly humiliated. THANKS Tonya!!!

[@proxy22]

tonya should have been dq'd

[@annemce8276]

Tanya Harding is disgrace to US and I am sad this lovely skater suffered. We just watched Forest Gump and I remembered this lovely performance that Tanya ruined. In a way, I feel bad for Tanya Harding, but she pushed it too far and left far too many people who were honest in her wake of destruction. She should have gone to jail with her husband.

[@anne91276]

Sniveling choker Harding at her usual blubberthon. No wonder this irritating drama queen has made quite a spectacle of herself while Josee solders on.

[@sunshinesun101]

HONESTLY....Josee Choinard CHOKES consistently...So it would not have mattered SO PLEASE Stop making excuses for her...

[@tyronelewis2430]

How do you know that timing is important

[@sunshinesun101]

@@tyronelewis2430 If you have followed he career you WOULD understand her inability to ever forever NOT have a clean long program....

[@SOT233]

You are ridiculous.

[@sunshinesun101]

@@SOT233 Yeah I agree. Josee was ridiculous. Even with all the supports, access to world class medicine, and ice time she still FAILED while a skater like CHEN Lu who did not have the same supports WON World Titles and Olympic medals.

[@SOT233]

@@sunshinesun101 You're just a hater. It must suck being you. I pity you.

[@EdmundoMD]

I hate TONYA HARDING!!!!

[@SonOfAGun1814]

if jose was an amazing skater, she should have taken this opportunity to be like uh uh i'm gonna get my life and blow this crowd away no matter what happened with that broken shoe lace lady........ i mean this in the best way, but if you've seen jose perform and followed her career, do you think she really would have done any better if this didn't happen? with all due respect.

[@SOT233]

What happened to her was still unfair. Shame on you.

[@SonOfAGun1814]

​@@SOT233 ok! you and jose don't have that killer instinct that elite athletes need to get to the top. michelle kwan had a streaker come out on the ice while she was on the ice and she didn't let it phase her. jose had as much time to get ready as she would have either way it wouldn't have made any difference and don't let the rehearsed/taped commentary fool you.. if she would have skated well scott would have been saying she took advantage of the situation and made it her own! have a fabulous day!

[@SOT233]

@@SonOfAGun1814 You clearly have never been an athlete and don't know what the words "mental preparation" mean.

[@SonOfAGun1814]

@@SOT233 i clearly am, as you can clearly see, but thanks for your pointless projections lolol mental preparation indeed all day every day!!!!...... byeeee loser!!!!!!!!