Michelle Kwan - 2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships - Long Program

Music: Bolero by Ravel

[@dlcc4dlng]

Michelle’s technical abilities would not hold up in today’s skating world but her presence on the ice her artistry and beauty on the ice is still unmatched.

[@MichaelDruck]

Gross comments gang. Michelle at medicore is still above the rest. Just not up to Michelle's highest standards. This was the end of an era in figure skating we will never see again.

[@annecohen8927]

For the records, American women figure skating has declined significantly since the departure of Michelle Kwan, while South Korea has already documented their rising star. Ashley Wagner and Mirai Nagasu managed to stay afloat, though barely. The Canadians and Italians had better days too. The only life is left are the American men singles figure skaters.

[@johngahagan1215]

So glad that Ashley Wagner has moved on....what an awful skater.

[@psychstudentrip]

⁠@@johngahagan1215 literally the only American woman in ladies figure skating to medal at Worlds in the span of 16 years (2006-2022) but okay

[@dantroxel4262]

You are all aware that Michelle had Hip Surgery after worlds 2005,Right? You are also aware that the "new j.s." made the Spiral almost worth 0,nada, nothing, because the European judges said that was "resting" while skating? Yes, any spiral, so was the spread eagle, jumps like the Queens Falling Split Leaf, Russian Split jump, & many other things, like the actual Skill of using your inside, outside edges on Spirals, footwork & just outright skating. That's the Basic Structure Of Real Skating, Edging, not jumps. MK did many TT-TT combos,yes, the easiest of TT, but not for Kwan, she broke her foot in the early part of the 1997-1998 skate season,her toe was broken really bad, so she was experiencing Much pain when ever she did the Toe jump, that's why she missed some of that season, hard to skate with a cast on your foot in your skate boot and it has bothered her ever since. I thought this was a Beautiful skate by the Kween, even though she was not happy with it, I loved it. Maybe some of you should do some Real research on her, her abilities, how many triple-triple combos she did in competition. The judging was changed because, no1. the 2002 Olympic pairs fiasco/ no.2, other countries were tired of the usa women's success from Kristi to Kween Kwan..

[@francoroman210]

People criticized this so much, I believe this was Michelle’s way to say goodbye , much like Ravel (composer of Bolero) , who struggle to finish the piece due to his illness. She was struggling keeping up with the technical demands of the sport as the composer was struggling to finish doing what he loved.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

Man, this program is crap.

[@TT-ee4qp]

MAN, Sasha's program is crap.

[@TT-ee4qp]

Michelle was so popular to win the 9 time US . Everybody loved Michelle kwan. （∩▽∩）

[@user-vn7sj5ig8w]

I felt this music really was not Michelle's type. This music is synonymous with Torvill and Dean gold medal performance. I know Dean choreographed it for her. I can see Michelle skating with this music seemed not right for her. I can tell after she was done in the kiss and cry area. She was talking to Arutyunyan and she was telling him about the how the music affected her skating. She still won.

[@singsongeric]

Raf looks like he was fangirling Michelle in the K&C, he's usually very serious and hardly smiled with his other students lol.

[@paulief.biggie5459]

It was a study! I’m young and understand the point of this program.

[@maxl2593]

The biggest problem with this program is that it doesn’t have up and down so the only thing you see is Michelle rushing all over the ice being behind the music and getting really tired towards the end, i believe that had they done this piece earlier in her career it would’ve been an excellent program, but at this point Michelle was already very injured, probably wasn’t training as much and tbh seemed peaced out after 2004

[@robitcha]

Legend

[@jonasbrothersrockist]

Her beauty ice skating was gone.😭

[@jeffreyhietala3666]

Nothing compares to Torvill and Dean's routine in '84 to this music.

[@evanperilstein5308]

Jeffrey Hietala Christopher Dean choreographed this program.

[@AT-jm4dl]

The Bolero that MK performed at Nationals and World was not the version that was choreographed by Dean.

[@ralphbourgeois5875]

@@evanperilstein5308 I wonder if he butchered it on purpose to make himself look better.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

Carolina Kostner's approach was breathtaking, tho'.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

It's hard to believe Christopher Dean choreographed this crap.

[@kjvill2013]

This was an entirely different program if you compare it to how this was performed at its debut that season. As much as I love Michelle, I don't get why she bothered paying choreographers to create beautiful and intricate choreography and then water it down by the end of the season to the point it looked like a completely different program (e.g. Song of the Black Swan, The Red Violin, Scheherazade, and this).

[@kjvill2013]

@Piznoc Tsau True. She was cruising and she didn't take risks to do anything new, technically and choreographically speaking, at the latter part of her career. She forgot what Frank taught her that, in sports, you have to keep progressing. By the time the COP scoring system was in place she was left in the dust. Based on the debut of Bolero that season, Christopher Dean's choreography had a lot of potential had she stuck with it. Though it can be argued the choreography, however beautiful it was, would not have fared well at Worlds where they already started using the new scoring system. I gotta give it to Michelle though for trying something new artistically but I don't think Bolero was the perfect fit for her style.

[@porkchop1329]

I think she was already dealing with that hip injury at this point. If I'm remembering correctly that was one of the reasons why she changed the choreography all up.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

@@porkchop1329 She should've retire with grace after the 2002-03 season, yet she opted to be dragged in the dirt and have a chaotic exit overkilling her career.

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@piznoctsauo8141 You should care about Sasha, because Sasha fell everywhere on ice. Sasha's program was BORING.

[@TT-ee4qp]

Congratulations. Michelle won the US title for 9 times. Even she made little mistakes, Michelle still better than the other skaters. Michelle's performance just was full of emotion, passion, womanly, and a little sexy, maybe a little angry. （∩▽∩）EXCITING !

[@2345678902345671]

I can't believe Dean did this, it's waste of Michelle. She should have gone back to an old program.

[@reubenkeyz5131]

I would have loved to see her do Taj Majal again

[@auntiechercher4266]

I liked this program of Michelle's. You have to give her credit for trying something different. I will say that her best was the Worlds in 2000 and 2001. But this program was fine. She doesn't have to be absolutely perfect all the time. I think it was fine.

[@ENIGMAPOP]

3:11 If you look carefully, you see Rafa with his palm up on the boards like "What are you doing? You're way behind the music." 🤣🤣🤣

[@ianjardine2912]

So many crossovers lol

[@donjoevillacorta2790]

or amber corwin, Karen kwan.. these girls were good

[@skaterboy-cz9wj]

THere was a lot of love in the arena but not in these comments. Okay good for the Queen to try something different. Yes, you wnder did Dean on purposely do musuc and choreography that was not highlighting Michelle the best. In fact I never noticed more than every her fs layout is a rehash of hold programs. The order of jumps etc. I personally loved her dress though from a distance she looked naked - not a great loo on ice inless she was skating on nudes on ice. Michelle's spins and spirals and even the Satoko like jumps were not COP friendly. It is a blessing she neer skated at nationals again under the new system. She would lose marks and that in part was her fall from grace at worlds. She did not adapt to the system. But she is forever the queen.

[@kjvill2013]

This was a rehash of programs post-2001. This was not Christopher Dean's choreography if you base it on the debut of Bolero that season. Even the footwork at the end was her exact footwork from her Tosca program the year before.

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@kjvill2013 If Michelle was younger or didn't get hurt, she would have time to over the new system.

[@inulover262]

Lots of interesting comments about this performance. I recommend viewing her interview with TSL regarding jump choice and choreo under the 6.0 system. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3XXY3uFadB7iJosi=Cetyv2akLLTqzYlA This was the only figure skating event I attended. I navigated ten miles of ice covering Portland hills to see Michelle. It was well worth it.

[@calaf1816]

nothing wrong with her skating , wrong choice of music,

[@davidgo9297]

I also couldn't believe that Christopher Dean choreographed this program. There was barely any transition in it. :/ I love Kwan but I did not like this program. :/ However, she rightfully won 2005 nationals.

[@ralphbourgeois5875]

@@davidgo9297 I would have probably given to Cohen. She had 1 fall/mistake but this program had a mistake too with the doubled lutz, and artistically and overall Cohen's skate was just much stronger with much better spins. Everyone wanted Kwan to get her record tying 9th though so even a flawless 7 triple skate from Cohen would probably lose to a splatty 3 or 4 triple skate from Kwan.

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@ralphbourgeois5875 So sorry for Sasha, Sasha skated under Michelle's shadow. Sasha told people that she learned a lot from Michelle's performance. Sasha was a copywriter, that's why Michelle won her 9th US title. LOL

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@ralphbourgeois5875 Sasha had to skate on crutches or she would fell, that's really too much difficult for Michelle....LOL

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@davidgo9297 So many years, you changed your name again and again to slander Michelle. Who cares ?

[@johngahagan1215]

Music was all the same dynamics throughout !!! The tempo stayed the same as well as the music...Nothing she was doing was hightlighting any of that monotonous, single rhythmed song....It was as if they just turned on any piece of music and she did the jumps....her signature spiral from inside to outside edge was not musical at all...Its sad that her Nationals competition had to end with this flat routine. Her long routine in 2003 was her best long program of all of them....

[@inulover262]

I love that you also find Aranjuez her best. It was so strong, defiant and well choreographed.

[@Juice_Lover123]

While I think it's refreshing that she tried something new, this wasn't "it". The music was same-y and looped throughout and while that can work with tremendous success sometimes, here it didn't. There were only a handful of moments in this program where you really got that Kwan feeling of precision and artistry. The final step sequence was one of them. But the lack of variation in music meant it was easy to lose track of where you were in the choreography and she botched the ending. I feel like if they'd taken another approach and used this piece as an end with the step sequence with other similarly themed music at the start and it could have been a showpiece. It's hard to tack on signature moves and have them mean something in a song that loops the same 12 notes.

[@laurenbrown7403]

What happened to Angela Nickadenoff?

[@ricoblack5134]

seems she retired after the death of her mom.

[@sonyaballo4282]

Nikadinov, she was a ballerina on ice, so much quality, so underrated over people like Kwan who didn't do anything special but smile

[@britjessica]

Yes. So undermarked. So underrated. Loved her layback spin.

[@electrictroy2010]

A mere weeks before she was in a car accident that killed her mom. She quit this competition and her absence was noticed .

[@piznoctsauo8141]

Nikodinov*

[@Iwatchstuff1000]

Bolero just doesn't suit free skating

[@ljhjufzvfvjxrf]

2005 Worlds QR: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJ3IpJ6hmcZlmZY

[@TT-ee4qp]

So sorry for Sasha, Sasha skated under Michelle's shadow. Michelle retired, Sasha won the US title finally. LOL....Sasha told people that she learned a lot from Michelle's performance, Sasha was a copywriter ? YES. LoL.

[@reubenkeyz5131]

Sadly, this LP did not match the greatness of her SP. For a looped theme growing stronger and stronger, her choreography should have been more and more dramatic. The only exciting part was the straight line footwork but that was too late in the end to salvage this program. What happens here is similar to her ‘02 Scheherazade. BORING

[@TT-ee4qp]

There aren't any skaters in the world could please you....LOL.ヾ(￣▽￣)Bye~Bye~

[@AT-jm4dl]

I think Michelle dressed too old here. She looked like the older Imelda Marcos.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

Shut up! The costume is gorgeous. It is the only good thing of this program.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

3:24 Unintentionally funny Sasha-like forced-up "spirals" on-the-flat held up for quarter nanosecond each. xD!

[@TT-ee4qp]

Sasha did not win the Olympics gold, no matter 6.0 or COP.....LOL

[@piznoctsauo8141]

@@TT-ee4qp Nor did Michelle.

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@piznoctsauo8141 Michelle didn't go to the Olympics under the COP scoring system, but Sasha did and still lose the Olympics gold. LOL.(≧ω≦)/

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@piznoctsauo8141 Sasha never won any the World championship or the Olympics gold, no matter 6.0 or COP. Which means Sasha wasn't the best skater, NEVER EVER .

[@piznoctsauo8141]

Painful to watch. The quality of everything here is mediocre at its very best, not to mention that the choreo make no sense at all. The only thing you can save from this program is the costume (which, btw, had nothing to do with the Bolero theme). In 2005, Michelle Kwan was given a free pass for sure by hyperbiased American judges.

[@TT-ee4qp]

So lucky for Sasha, because Michelle retired and Sasha won the US title , finally.

[@TT-ee4qp]

The Russian girls today would be nothing under the 6.0 system.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

She was always behind the music in all of her Bolero showings. Even her TM Spiral is a WTF in this, anti climatic.

[@TT-ee4qp]

So happy to see Sasha joined the 2010 Olympics....and of course fell again. Sasha was a medium skater with beautiful position and boring emotion.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

@@TT-ee4qp The fact you have to insult Sasha Cohen in a video OF Michelle Kwan... Far to much! 🤪 You're obsessed, nutjob!

[@anuniemoose2209]

The IJS system dis not really favor her and showed her weaknesses.

[@TT-ee4qp]

If Michelle skates today, with the new training, she still will be the winner.

[@TT-ee4qp]

The Russian girls today got hurt by the jumps and retired one by one. No one of them could be the next Michelle Kwan.....who got weaknesses? LOL

[@piznoctsauo8141]

Awful choreography, poor spinning and the very few triples way too telegraphed... The costume was stunning, tho'.

[@TT-ee4qp]

So sorry for Sasha, Sasha told people that she learned a lot from Michelle's performance. LOL

[@TT-ee4qp]

Michelle retired and Sasha won the US title.....finally. LOL

[@piznoctsauo8141]

@@TT-ee4qp If anything, she and every other skater learned to not have such a crap of program as this Michelle's Bolero. Truly a mess of a program and season for Kwan.

[@piznoctsauo8141]

@@TT-ee4qp Michelle didn't retire in 2005. She retired in 2006 in the lamest fashion. She didn't skate at 2006 Nationals because she knew 100% that she couldn't medal with the new COP. She was afraid but still she asked for a free pass to go to the Olympics to do nothing, stealing Emily Hughes her rightfully won place. In the end Kwan exited the Torino Olympics the back door, sure that the new skating level has left her way behind.

[@TT-ee4qp]

@@piznoctsauo8141 Sasha was the only one skater never won any the World championship and the Olympics gold, which means Sasha wasn't the best skater no matter under the 6.0 system or the new COP scoring system. LOL. (≧ω≦)/

[@ralphbourgeois5875]

The 6.0s for this piece of shit are embarassing. Sorry. The judges often went overboard with freebie 6.0s for Kwan at Nationals but this is a new level of craziness. It is sad since it basically devalues the legit 6.0s she might have gotten at Nationals like 98. Only 5 triples, doubled 2nd triple lutz, tight performance, and bad empty choreography to Bolero.

[@TT-ee4qp]

And Michelle beat Sasha again. LOL.

[@TT-ee4qp]

So happy for Sasha, Michelle retired and Sasha won the US title...finally. LOL

[@cassidytracey8722]

she sets up her jumps like a junior. she is not the best anymore,, even her spiral is not the best anymore.. Sasha's I'd unbeatable.

[@brandyatracey3003]

Thank-you !! I have always noticed she sets up so carefully. I realize there is a jump where you do glide into it , but Michelle really draws out her set ups like a junior. She had hardly any triple triple combinations either. She was lucky that during her reign as champion there was a lull in ladies skating , but now the triples, spins and spirals are all superior to Michelle's.

[@davidgo9297]

Cohen was beautiful, but Kwan is the Kween.

[@ralphbourgeois5875]

@Jeff Perry I prefer Kristi's record with the Olympic Gold, defending her world title, and 4 world pro titles (Michelle had no pro career). Also keep in mind if Kristi had stayed until 94 she would easily have won a 2nd Olympic Gold. Kwan stayed until her body gave out and still couldnt win one.

[@michellehill2392]

@@ralphbourgeois5875So what if she couldnt win an olympic medal? This still doesnt take away from her amazing accomplishments. Michelle Kwan's skating career is what skaters only dream of having olympic gold medal or not. The fact that she stayed at the top of her sport for an entire decade while battling injuries, her body changing, school, and touring among other things is just astounding. And who the hell cares if she has no pro titles. She attended college then grad school. Its fine if you dont practically care for Michelle but downplaying her achievements as if you could do so much better is hilarious.

[@ralphbourgeois5875]

@@michellehill2392 I am not downplaying Kwan. I am just saying I prefer Yamaguchi's career slightly more with all the pro success vs Kwan who has literally no pro career at all, her Olympic Gold which Kwan didn't get, and winning Worlds-Olympics-Worlds all back to back to back in her prime, and even winning all 6 programs against a strong field of Ito (best jumper ever), Harding (2nd best jumper ever in her peak years), Kerrigan, Trenary, and others. If you disagee that is fine, but my opinion is hardly invalid just because you don't like it. Like I said if Yamaguchi had simply chosen to come back for 94 she even wins a 2nd Olympic Gold easily. Nobody even questions she would have creamed Baiul and Kerrigan in Lillehammer.

[@lkfrostad]

She looks heavier here

[@TT-ee4qp]

She enjoyed food very well. 😅😅😅💋💕

[@NHL895]

Никакой мысли и стиля в этом прокате нет, смешно

[@TT-ee4qp]

like your face.