Much has been said about Midori's technical prowess, but I'd like to take my hat off to the choreographer and give the woman her dues as a true artist as well. Being artistic doesn't mean imitating Swan Lake. It means giving life to the music you skate to. She took a piece of music that many had never heard, breathed life into it, and wowed and audience - oh and, she created something that people are still watching in awe 30 years later; just saying. In all seriousness, the program was utterly brilliant. This music appeared to have several cuts, yet they were all seamless. The attention to detail was extraordinary. Her skating skills are through the roof. There are clearly, and I mean CLEARLY defined rockers and brackets sprinkled throughout the program, often done at high speed. And now that I think of it, her entrance to her double axle is bonified rocker done at breakneck speed (see for yourself: at 2:12). She reaches back on the outside edge like she's going to do a Lutz, and at the last minute turns around to a forward OUTSIDE edge catapulting herself into a stratospheric double axel that almost took Peggy Fleming's breath away. When Peggy's said: "beautiful" - well, that says it all. Doesn't it? I don't know any woman who could pull off that jump any better - and I mean from the take off to the landing. Midori's landings were a work of art. As Dick Button himself said: a bad landing is often indicative of a faulty takeoff. And here Midori produces landings that some skaters spend their entire career working to achieve. If they can achieve a few like this, they are grateful. Yet, this woman has produced program after program with exquisite and solid landings with smooth, deep, and rounded running edges. Hands down, this is one of the most memorable short programs in figure skating history. Thank you, Midori!
@nicholasp10968 ай бұрын
Not to mention the attack and speed she shows in this program, its too bad she didnt skate like this in Albertville four years later when she was in contention for gold. She would have been unbeatable with a SP like this.
That double axel was stunning....even 30 years later!
@ryo__32122 жыл бұрын
決めたらガッツポーズ入れてくる、堪らん。
@kumikkopress9 жыл бұрын
すごいと思うの、とにかく。
@slytherinnyc11 ай бұрын
TO THIS DAY.. 2023.. she is still unmatched. She was / is a once every 70 year talent phenomenon.. if that. #mytop3favoritefigureskaterofalltime
@WHATTHEBUCKSHOW10 жыл бұрын
By far the best skater at these Olympics! Not even close!
@redbeardnc66848 жыл бұрын
I'm obsessed with her jump combination at :57, timed PERFECTLY with the music!
@ronbowman44376 жыл бұрын
You got that right!!...Midori was way ahead of her time..she did the hardest jumps in these Olympics in ladies.
@gk8914 жыл бұрын
@eren mori Her spins were far from mediocre. She had very good speed of rotation, she shows a variety of different positions, and they're well centred.
@kikilee32413 жыл бұрын
I love her
@Parker5283 жыл бұрын
Perhaps you mean to say that she's the best skater by far in the two portions with actual skating programs- the OP and LP? clearly if you're factoring in her school figures, and the fact that those were still a part of the overall judged factored scoring system, then that statement is perhaps your opinion but you're ignoring the fact of HOW long she HAD been figure skating competitively leading up to THIS competition, yet still was down so far in her school figures. And if you're going for just original program and long program, I think the results I have from them based on how THOSE judges subjectively scored it, Manley would have won gold with Ito winning silver.
@JarenMorris217 жыл бұрын
Clearly the SP winner. Pres marks ridiculous. Intricate footwork, musicality, everything!!!
@泡だらけのビール4 ай бұрын
ほんと、最高〜 大好き!! 技もそうだけど、表現力とか愛嬌だよね
@andreguerin85224 жыл бұрын
This is one of the all time great SP! No more then 4 cross cuts to get from one end to another with all kinds of connecting steps. The most difficult combo...better spins then anybody and the music suited her perfectly in this programme showcasing her strengths...she clearly should’ve won the sp imo
@kenbou22734 жыл бұрын
0:57からの連続ジャンプ凄え!!
@jarenmorris46219 жыл бұрын
Definitely the best short that night!
@tomkroh27122 жыл бұрын
Love this program! Midori was just the best.
@miloandtock111 жыл бұрын
Well this - even at the time - was 5.9/5.9 for me, I don't care about the wrapped leg, and her spins - No one at the time had the speed in her spins that Midori had, the footwork was outstanding and her stroking and speed around the rink is first rate, and love the double axel entrance! Ito wins the SP, Kadavy 2nd, Thomas 3rd, Witt 4th, toss up for 5/6 with Trenary and Manley since I still feel both had noticeable (to me) problems in their SP.
@wrenna9764 жыл бұрын
She is so fun to watch! My favorite skater, even though she apparentely not "artistic". I really can't see the difference between a program that's artistic and one that isn't, but I can see the joy and fun that she projects through her exciting programs. I always have a smile watching her. Love her to bits! And she stills skates today, she's truly passionate about this sport!
@brontewcat2 жыл бұрын
Totally agree. I also love that she often used Japanese music, at least at beginning of her career.
@L_k082 жыл бұрын
Her skating is indeed stunning, yes, but I can see why people might think she’s not artistic (comparing to some of the skaters who have beautiful artistry today). In my opinion, she has such beautiful jumps and fast spins, her speed and power is amazing! I would consider her as an artistic skater
@nathanmdunbar7 жыл бұрын
There will just never be another skater like Midori. Ever.
@mattg.8127 жыл бұрын
Never say never.
@WHATTHEBUCKSHOW11 жыл бұрын
2 loop 3 loop! AWESOME COMBO!
@mattg.8127 жыл бұрын
She did that combo 6 or 7 times in the warmup, and each one was picture-perfect. She was a machine.
@johnlingtravels50412 жыл бұрын
if these performances are scored today.. midori will win hands down by a mile
@5thdimensionliving727 Жыл бұрын
Magnificent Ito!! One of my all time favourite figure skaters..if only she was better at the compulsory stage, should have won Gold..much better skater than Witt 😮
@erivera49287 жыл бұрын
wow, the best TechNician EVER in the sport!
@akimbohr3 жыл бұрын
Results in the shorts should have been: 1. Ito 2. Thomas 3. Witt 4. Maneley 5. Kadavey
@grantgoffin47749 ай бұрын
Kadavy should have been 2nd or 3rd in teh short.
@redbeardnc66846 жыл бұрын
:58 her jumps are PERFECTLY timed with the music!
@mamarn_doll2 жыл бұрын
1:49 この振り付けは太鼓のバチを意識した。 とみどりちゃんが言っていました。 懐かしい。
@bobbygrey58345 жыл бұрын
I just viewed Debi Thomas’s short programme. A marvellous piece for certain. But still I don’t get it: artistic superiority aside, how and why the hell did Debi score even higher by technical merit than Midori?! The ISU has been so frigging biased and corrupt at those brilliant athletes’ expense.
@kev797810 жыл бұрын
The marks for presentation are beyond biased. Her jumps and her step sequence are in sync with the music. She only got low marks only because the judges were rooting for Witt, Manley and Thomas, and the artistry back then was only limited to "grace and beauty".
@AllenMQuinn8 жыл бұрын
More Thomas and Witt. Manley was kind of a surprise.
@mattg.8127 жыл бұрын
"the artistry back then was only limited to "grace and beauty". What does that mean?
@gk8916 жыл бұрын
Matt G. I think what kev7978 is saying that at that time, artistry meant being graceful and balletic. But artistry in itself is very subjective. Yes, skating gracefully and balletically is one way of channeling artistry. But Ito's programs were excellently presented, charismatic, joyous, athletic, and energetic. I could be wrong about this but I vaguely recall Christopher Dean once saying that the excitement of Ito's skating should count towards her artistic marks, even if most of the judges didn't do so. But in general, Ito interpreted her music very well, everything she did was in sync with the music, and the performance level was very high. So in that way she actually was very artistic.
@kev79786 жыл бұрын
yes thank you for explaining. artistry should be judged based on the appropriateness of the music interpretation, not biased personal taste. grace and ballet is just one style of presentation.
@ytyt39225 жыл бұрын
Matt G. It means that Katarina Witt got 6.0s for wearing a pretty costume looking “flirtatious”. That was artistry in 80s figure skating. Thank god that awful joke of an era is long gone.
@tally160410 жыл бұрын
that triple loop triple loop combination was stupendous!
@e2theeyepie9 жыл бұрын
It's actually a *double* loop / triple loop combo (double loop was the required jump in the combo for the 1987/1988 season), but it's still INSANE. :D
@figureskating27244 жыл бұрын
We think she did a triple-triple in the LP or FS though. If not, she definitely does one later. She seemed ahead of her time. Wasn't Tonya Harding and her the only women doing them in the 80s and probably 90s too? Not many more if not. Tara and Michelle weren't. Kimmie did it in 2006ish.
@davidwakeham19644 жыл бұрын
The IOC should hang their heads in shame for the treatment of this outstanding artist.
@garysimmons14853 ай бұрын
She should have won the SP and the LP
@troyaturner19799 жыл бұрын
She is so good technically that she can do any triple-triple combination.
@mattg.8127 жыл бұрын
Okay - triple lutz/triple axel.
@Diemme_8 жыл бұрын
What a joy to watch! I wish they'd gotten rid of school figs earlier.
@cyosiR314 жыл бұрын
出口間違えた時の周りの笑顔いいね!
@thildaklm5 ай бұрын
a back counter 2a of that size with her hands on her hips is ridiculous even by todays standards
@alanazarin77616 жыл бұрын
Best. Double Axel. Ever.
@村司香 Жыл бұрын
スピンが高速なのに全く軸ブレがない。
@smoothALOE10 жыл бұрын
Somehow I missed out on Ito in those days. I was probably too young. That was laser-like speed on the jump combo and how about that arm technique in the earlier jump? I think I did a double-take, haha!
@ericisave13 күн бұрын
A double-triple loop combo! Under the points scoring used today, her base and GOE would be the highest of the women in that short program segment.
i'm so happy the got rid of the damn compulsory figures
@lflagr6 жыл бұрын
OK, seriously...why are her presentation artistic marks so low? She's actually quite an artistic and expressive skater...they can't all be Katarina Witt or Nancy Kerrigan clones!
@bobbygrey58343 жыл бұрын
Nancy Kerrigan?? Her skating is sooo stiff and robotic. The only iconic features about her presentation are the luxurious costumes, gigantic teeth and that Kerrigan spiral.
@lflagr3 жыл бұрын
@@bobbygrey5834 I agree totally lol...it’s just that the judges always seemed to “save” Kerrigan’s blah technical skating with inflated, super high Artistic marks.
@warren15645 жыл бұрын
Even now...that double axel. is immaculate!!
@matthewjameshall21452 жыл бұрын
Massive short. Wow double axel WOW
@mlc200514 жыл бұрын
THIS is the short program of the night (and her free program was the free program of the night). Thank god the judging as evolved from this farce.
@gk89112 жыл бұрын
What are you talking about, her spins are incredibly strong.
@ericisave13 күн бұрын
They should allow more than 3 single skaters in the men and women singles event. Tonya Harding was doing triple loops in the late 80s and would have been top 5 or 6 here overall at these Games.
@mlc200513 жыл бұрын
What a surprise: The judges who gave her 5.7 for technical were from: US (Thomas), E. Germany (Witt), and Canada (Manley). HMMMMM. A coincidence???
@bjl3014 жыл бұрын
Should receive all 5.9s for technical merit, no matter in which group she skated
@grantgoffin47749 ай бұрын
arguably some 6.0s too. The difficulty was far ahead what anyone else would be attempting, which the judges knew as they had seen practices all week. Adding that the quality and amplitude of everything, not just the jumps even, and should be all 5.9s and 6.0s for technical. The artistic were too low too, I would give 5.7s and 5.8s, only not higher due to not skating in the final flight.
Still trying to wrap my head around 5.7 for tech...smh. So glad the scoring system changed!
@kh320513 жыл бұрын
@metsdudenj Would you tell me which skaters were strong spinners in Calgary? Midori's spins were not as strong as her jumps, but better than the most other skaters, IMHO. As spirals were not required yet, with jumps, spins and steps, Midori had no technical holes. Kadavy's short was excellent, too. Both Midori or Caryn could be the top in the short, depending on the taste; power or grace.
@ゆーだい-n3i3 жыл бұрын
トリプルアクセルの入りって 難しくて加点になるやつじゃなかった? 男子はやってるのみたことあるけど
@galileocan2 жыл бұрын
Ito - Most undermarked skater in history. Witt - Most overmarked skater in history
@spartyutube202014 жыл бұрын
Woah- double loop- triple loop! :)
@gk89112 жыл бұрын
I would've put Midori ahead of Caryn as Midori had a harder combination, a much bigger double axel (with a really hard entrance), a much higher double jump, and better spins. Yes, Midori didn't skate generically pretty programs but the drama and excitement she is able to create counts towards artistry (even if the judges didn't want to reward her for it).
@morlavader54546 жыл бұрын
I would have had Caryn and Midori 1-2 in the short in either order. There are arguments to put either first. I would have given Caryn a 5.9 or 6.0 for presentation, and while her elements werent as dynamic or spectacular as Ito's they were still strong. Debi deserved 3rd in the short. Witt and Manley both would have been lucky to be top 5 in the short if everyone wore ski masks to skate.
@gk8916 жыл бұрын
I thought Caryn's spins were a little slow and on one of her camel spins, she may have been a little short on the required number of rotations.
@FemmaVanAntwerpen-mw6ey Жыл бұрын
Why did she not won the third place ? Great jumps!
@3Axel1996 Жыл бұрын
At that time, skaters had to perform 3 compulsory figures, each worth 10% of the overall score. She placed 10th after the figures. The Short Program was worth 20% of the score, and she placed 4th there. Going into the Long Program, she was in 8th Place overall. Placing 3rd in the LP moved her up to 5th overall.
@nondescriptnyc13 жыл бұрын
@kh3205 I agree with you. Actually, Toller Cranston often commented on how amazing Ito's spins and steps were (w/ the exception of this one time around 1989, when he was a bit grumpy and said Ito's skating was mediocre). I love Kadavy, too, but her skating, though VERY graceful and balletic, looked "smooth yet labored"--a bit like she was gliding on the sand at times, and, when you saw them live, she was noticeably slower than most of the top women.
@j_hsu3 жыл бұрын
3:07 😂😂😂
@thomstephens12 жыл бұрын
well said. the only one in this competition who could match Ito with speed and athleticism was Manley, but she definitely had pretty programs prepared. I have seen her do 3-Axels in practice before.
@akimbohr Жыл бұрын
The lowest scores by CAN,DDR and USA judges. I wonder why?!
@p51mustang_10 ай бұрын
この時はまだコンパルがあったのかな😗
@mimiwit163710 ай бұрын
ありました。コンパル廃止は1991年からです。
@塩谷暁子2 жыл бұрын
出口間違えちゃったのね
@寛永の三筆7 ай бұрын
みどりさんは性格が可愛い🩷
@HattieLovesCattie13 жыл бұрын
@Kevinsf I bet she can't do the triple axel anymore.Age takes a toll.I don't think Brian Boitano can do it anymore either.
@АлександрСтепанов-о3ч2 жыл бұрын
5.9/5.9
@s3587Ай бұрын
もうジャンプなんてステップの一部。助走なんか要りません。
@YUMIN-o8r3 ай бұрын
鳥肌立つ😱
@natasharedwood867011 жыл бұрын
What are you.doing here buck? -.-
@abrahamlora3293 жыл бұрын
This program and Caryn Kadavy’s were so badly underscored; a damn travesty..
@metsdudenj13 жыл бұрын
The marks were fair. She wasnt strong in the spins or lines, the judges were right on. Where the f ucked up were on Caryn Kadavy's marks which should have been 5.9s across the board for both sets
@uxidckksi11 жыл бұрын
Japanese people, especially Ito's fans, are intentionally spreading lies and falsehoods for over 20 years
@mattg.8127 жыл бұрын
ok
@Shortlady826 жыл бұрын
uxidckksi ??? Care to share
@troyaturner19799 жыл бұрын
She is so good technically that she can do any triple-triple combination.