John Curry 1976 Innsbruck Olympics LP

John Curry 1976 Innsbruck Olympics LP
Gold Medal

[@josel.6928]

It was skating, it was ballet, rhythmic, graceful, precise and elegant, and he still made it seem easy.

[@SweetSirenia]

It's almost shocking how light he is on the ice. Even when landing from jumps and leaps, he's like a delicate bird just gracefully putting his feet down. It's incredible!

[@ancamg]

No quads, no 3A, a few double jumps, but this was brilliant! I keep coming back. Like with Nadia Comaneci. They were both Olympic champions in 1976. Pure beauty.

[@Kreatures100]

Gorgeous balletic line and carriage!!

[@tiggywinkle20]

I remember this. I sent John a letter and he replied. Such grace and balletic artistry. Thank you for this

[@dylanblack8487]

Male ballet on ice, beautiful.

[@beckabec]

This is a gorgeous performance. John Curry is one of the GOAT, for sure. I’m really saddened by all of the comments which seem to feel this need to put other skaters down to lift this one up. There is no need for such, as Curry’s beauty and brilliance stands on its own. If you can’t enjoy this performance and also find beauty in performances like Lambiel’s “Ne Me Quitte Pas,” Brown’s “The Scent of Love,” Hanyu’s “Otoñal,” Weir’s “Swan,” and others then I just feel sorry for you. Of course sports will evolve over time. Athletes are a personality type that loves to push boundaries and be considered the GOAT. As technical boundaries, scoring and even musical tastes changed so did skating performances. But there’s still a lot of beauty to be found.

[@muscleslam]

....i've seen the man himself...Nureyev dance this ballet....i have seen video clips on site of other artists dance this Pas du Deux but when i hear this music pieces of Don Quix all that comes to mind is John Curry......despite his troubled life, John was well before his time as some talented people can be....do read the book mentioned below...it's well worth reading.....

[@ОльгаРезниченко-й9щ]

Much was done by great skaters in those days. They were really brilliant.

[@niaohui]

he gets his medal in his skates :))

[@susannierenberg4230]

Still the greatest single performance in skating- every stroke was exactly to the music- this is skating, holding positions and edges, not just moving from jump to jump Thanks for posting

[@flamecapped]

I remember watching Curry's routine live in 1976, and I haven't seen it again till this evening. I wept with joy then; and I can't hold back the tears now. What a privilege it is to witness a genius of the ice at the very top of his game. For sheer elegance, grace and technical ability rendered effortless, it will never be surpassed. Flamecapped

[@ginahearn1177]

Isn't KZbin wonderful? But how could it have been over 40 years ago, Douglas?

[@JOHN----DOE]

His unpleasant father wouldn't let him study ballet. Boy, did John get the last laugh. This is ballet on ice and has never been equalled for sheer, simple grace.

[@Nina5144]

Not ‘unpleasant’ just didn’t think ballet suitable for a boy - it was the late fifties so we can all understand that. Ballet’s loss is skating’s gain.

[@childwaters]

@@Nina5144 Thwarting a true artist is the definition of unpleasant.

[@Jill-ps1rs]

I ve never seen a ballet dancer so at home on ice! Perfection John!!

[@quillerpen]

The first time I saw this, back in 1976, it seemed to me like he was creating the music as he moved, so closely did he match it with his movement. Even nearly 45 years later, this still looks as fresh and joyous as ever.

[@JohnDoe-et8th]

It's stunning how much musicality he has compared with the wooden athleticism of today's skaters. Evan Lysacek was the last Olympic champion to have this kind of classical interpretive sensitivity to the music. Why can't all the contemporary amazing athletes have a tenth of this musicality? Is it stigmatized as gay or something? Go watch some Russian male ballet dancers and tell me you can't be macho and musical. (Not that there's anything wrong with being gay and musical!!)

[@Sonneteer1]

Never ceases to take my breath away. The Royal Ballet on ice.

[@lawsoncumming5258]

I remember watching this live at the time. No one will ever come close to John Curry. His baletic masterý combined with sheer brilliance in ice skating will mean he will never be surpassed. A true legend on the ice.

[@helenbmclean5100]

This is simply incredible. My mum told me about him but, never, in my wildest dreams, thought he would be this good. Reduced me to tears. Astonishing!

[@ejpaprocki8995]

Your mum had great taste!

[@ann-mariebarmby1228]

Aww me too an amazing lovely man xx

[@buckize68]

I have been a fan of figure skating for decades and have always thought THIS performance was the FINEST I have ever seen. The combination of grace, athleticism, and attention to the music sets this performance far above anything being performed these days. I understand the public' desire to see the triple jumps, but the beautiful edges and elegance of each movement are what made John Curry so special. Thanks so much for posting this.

[@tramixor3202]

Quadruple jumps* :D

[@user-vn7sj5ig8w]

Buckize68. He truly was a very special man. ❤

[@ann-mariebarmby1228]

Amazing and loved man ahead of his time xx

[@nomiddlenamenmn427]

I believe in these moments on the Olympic ice that John Curry transformed the sport of figure skating. He is a legend. There is not a moment that he doesn’t use all of his body to the flow of the music. May he rest and reign in powerful and precious peace.

[@haileyh500]

Most elegant male skater in the history of figure skating.

[@alwaysblake148]

The greatest male figure skater in history.

[@LivingDove]

I loved this performance. Yuzuru Hanyu is now my favorite, along with John. I didn't know John died. I will have to look up what from. John reminded me of Anthony Dowell, my favorite ballet dancer. I cried at the end of this performance. How ironic that, after all these years of not seeing it, it has that effect on me.

[@ClassicWorld19]

I wish more people could see this! Forever in our hearts - you are not forgotten John

[@ann-mariebarmby1228]

Well said xx

[@MrSidTaylor]

Most skaters learn to dance but John was a dancer who learned to skate superbly

[@edwardoneil3962]

Like one of the great artists of the world we will never know or see the same again. Gone but his masterpiece lives on forever. 😀

[@gillwilkinsongw]

This man is the best male skater you will ever see. He made all previous Russian male skaters look like wooden planks. He originally wanted to be a ballet dancer, but his father wouldn't hear of it, so his mother helped him, to 'convert' his ballet movements to skating. Thank God he was able with the help of trainer Carlo Fassi to leave us the legacy of a genius of a skater, who when watching him KNEW HE WOULD NEVER FALL OVER!

[@susanglendening2719]

I am a psychoanalyst by profession but a skater in my soul. I had the great fun and the wonderful opportunity as a younger person to train with John Curry. It was like being supervised by Freud !! He was a wonderful teacher as he knew how hard each move could be especially if you were not a "natural" as he was. Not only could he do everything on both feet in both directions but his extension was so great he had to drill holes in the back of his boots to allow him to extend as far as he was able. I gave him a pair of antique ice skates as a gift.I have a photo of him stroking them .He did not have any antique skates . You can imagine how happy that made me to give them to him. I'll never forget him telling me how to hold my self from my head down...each position for each body part...just when I thought I had it all just so he said " Now lift your little toe on your left foot." And he was right! It changed the balance perfectly. It was a privilege to know him and skate with him as my teacher.

[@Bonnie825]

Hello Susan, how fantastic to have met John Curry and even have him as a teacher. Are you still skating?

[@helenmclean2409]

Ballet on ice. Incredible and by far best male skater ever. 🇬🇧

[@DemonsSister]

I'd rather watch this artistry and mastery of jumps than today's quad frenzy. By FAR one of my favorite performances. Just exquisite

[@meeshyka69]

Totally mesmerising. Never seen any man as graceful and elegant on the ice as John Curry in this performance.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

It's pointless to say that technically this routine does not match up to today's standards - if Curry had needed a quad to win in 1976 - he would have learned to do one! His style and grace are matchless.

[@humphreyblogut672]

Yes. It is pointless.

[@philipthebiolaprof]

I understand that jumping has evolved over the decades, but his speed on the ice also seems rather slow. Was that typical for the era?

[@humphreyblogut672]

It's difficult to judge a skater's speed when watching a TV broadcast, as opposed to being there in person. That being said, I don't think there is a great deal of difference in the speed of today's skaters compared to those from the 1970's. Skaters from Curry's era had much better edge control in those days due to the emphasis on figures, and thus were more efficient at generating speed with fewer strokes and less apparent effort. That may be why they "look" slower even if they are moving just as fast as present-day skaters. Curry did spin rather slowly in this program, but that was a choice rather than an inability to spin fast -- the idea being to put emphasis on his positions and the beauty of his line, especially in the camel spins. It's difficult to spin fast, but it's also difficult to spin slowly and maintain a rock-steady position, as any flaw becomes very obvious.

[@skatefan9495]

It's better than today's standards in terms of artistry, choreography, skating skills.

[@brendavisceglia3977]

@@skatefan9495 : might I recommend watching some of his later works...his artistry far surpasses any skater. and as for his speed...faster than a hockey player...

[@prowelsh56]

I do remember how cruel the British Press was to him. I remember meeting him in a gay club in Nottingham. He was standing alone in the corner looking rather dejected...so pop over to say hello and thanks - sweet smile. Gentle soul. xxxxx

[@DarrenJDMurphy]

The music John skated to at the 1976 Olympics at Insbruck was a melody from the Don Quixote ballet music by Ludwig Minkus. John was truly more than a skater he was an artist which no one has ever come close to emulating or ever will, sheer brilliance.

[@frannieo1707]

Poetry in motion. Always loved John Curry. He had a perfect line. I once went to see him act in Hard Times in the Lyric Theatre Belfast. Then I saw him the next day on the train. I so much wanted to go up and say how much I admired his work, but my courage failed me. Will always regret that as he died just a few years later. RIP.

[@GlitteringGirl65]

Brilliant. He has a lightness so often missing these days. Notice how he can spin BOTH ways, equally well? That would take extensive training to be able to do!

[@roywatson8133]

perfect.performance.by.john.ienjoyed.it.in.1976.as.a.16.year.old.and.still.enjoying.it.today

[@carloskauil8725]

only a few skaters can do it, including satoko and lambiel

[@01doha]

Watch Robyn cousins, think he spins both ways even better

[@howardchambers9679]

@@01doha cousins wasn't anywhere near as good as curry

[@PecanSandees23]

Cross-foot spins, one foot axels... moves no one does any longer, too bad. It was wonderful to see John Curry's long program from the Olympics. He made it look so effortless, but we all know it wasn't. And how lovely was it to watch it without all the talking over the music. Wish they would go back to that. Thank you for posting this.

[@gooangel2]

Like a passing comet, he came and went--only to be seen once in my lifetime as a child...RIP John Curry. You were a great one and there will never be another.

[@pollybramall353]

Perfection,a ballerina on ice,how lucky are we to see this majestic performance in all its stupendous glory,rest in peace John,you wer UNIQUE 🍾👍🍾👍🍾😍

[@irenedownie6559]

I remember watching this all those years ago, and I still think it’s it most beautiful skating performance I’ve ever seen. ❤️❤️❤️

[@sashamars1418]

Tremendous grace and beauty! I'm so profoundly touched and moved by Curry's performances! His vision for skating is shining through over every movement! Oh, I'm grateful I found these videos! Thank you for posting!

[@jane2166]

Ballet on ice. Still the most elegant skater I’ve ever seen in my life. Just beautiful.

[@TheJaxx62]

Utter perfection! Still sadly missed, taken far too young :(

[@ann-mariebarmby1228]

Always remembered and sadly missed xx

[@helenmclean1413]

Never, not even Robin Cousins, could skate with such dignity and grace as John. He appeared to float above the ice. I could watch him for hours.

[@howardchambers9679]

Cousins was all tricks and no grace

[@naiastra]

DAMN. That's one of the most flawless routines I've ever seen. Ever. Bravo.

[@charlesbergen5398]

Timeless! This routine will forever remain an absolute masterpiece. It has it all: technicality, artistry, musicality and beautiful flow from start to finish. It will always stand up to the test of time....

[@run-watch]

So fluid and graceful. Today's skaters look a bit stressed in comparison and often don't skate clean because they're going for the quadruple jumps. Same thing has happened to gymnastics floor.

[@christoph404]

well if he hadn't been a skater he could have easily been a ballet dancer, he has that much grace and finesse and an acute sense of timing to the music, its that kind of style that put him a notch above his competitors, technically brilliant but with the highest level of grace and artistry, those things combined made him stand out.

[@zappawench6048]

So very graceful, his skating was beautiful.

[@bluedasher74]

Magnificent! Today's male figure skaters have so much to learn in terms of artistic grace.

[@sedekiman]

And so many are the wrong shape.

[@HB-MrCatLover]

I never tire of watching John Curry's outstanding performance at the 1976 Innsbruck olympic games. He is the best skater ever, a true artist. Rest in peace John, you will never be forgotten.

[@LPCLASSICAL]

OK I watched it live in 76 when I was 12. I think he was so unique and special no judge dared not give him 1st place. It's not true that Torvill and Dean made figure skating an art - John Curry already did that.

[@snipperwhapper]

I, too,, had forgotten how truly fabulous he was. Total control, combined with an athleticism and grace that have ensured that he will never be forgotten as one of the greatest.

[@francaperotti5934]

Rudolph nureyev of figure skating.

[@christschinwon]

How he didn't get on Morecambe and Wise we'll never know

[@anotherblonde]

They were lovers

[@rebeccarentoul1459]

@@anotherblonde Really??

[@jacquelinepaul9731]

This has to be the best performance of all time surely..it was breathtaking.

[@JesusGarcia-bz9lg]

In 1976, two athletes brought perfomances that still cannot be matched so far: John Curry and Nadia Comaneci.

[@raylindholm5622]

This is figure skating! Extraordinary lines and what a beautiful performance! So sad he is gone….

[@guggle86]

I first met John Christmas Eve 1976 when he was staying at a flat in Earls Court. I was with a friend (another skater) who knew him - we nearly invited him back for Christmas but I told my friend that he would probably spend it with friends and family. We said goodnight and 15 mins later he was mugged and spent Christmas in A & E. He later told us that he would have spent Christmas on his own anyway. I have felt guilty ever since.

[@jackfisk980]

I just cannot imagine anything better than this. A combination of artistry and magic.

[@roquefortaddict]

Graceful, elegant and yet seemingly effortless. What a skater.

[@davidchamberlain5425]

No one ever skated better than ...John...👍👍👍

[@Zedwoman]

Absolute control, perfect form, style and grace. He was an amazing performer on the ice. It was wonderful to watch this again!

[@IvanIvanov-bw6ft]

Великолепный!Элегантный!Красивый!Балетный!Утонченный!

[@Bernadette1087]

Loved watching this powerful and elegant skater, who made it all look so effortless. Rest In Peace John, you will always be remembered for having brought great beauty and style to a very difficult and demanding sport.

[@granny473]

I remember watching this in 1976 and was blown away then. Watched it today and he is still the greatest skater.

[@judithmason9396]

Such a pleasure to watch Curry perform. How skating has changed with all the circus tricks taking the place of artistic excellence.

[@ElaineSamuela]

I wish the ISU would get rid of the quad jumps. This video is an example of why they should.

[@ronbowman4437]

A brilliant technician of his time...he really felt the music...so obvious...very rare!! RIP John Curry..

[@npe1]

Just look at the depth on those edges. Perfect. People often forget that no only was John a great free skater but he was also a great compulsory figure skater too that's why he won by a mile in Innsbruck because he performed superbly in all 3 sections of the competition.

[@mirschultz9761]

Wow, how smooth and graceful he was. The routines today are much harder--those jumps--but this is just so beautiful. Elegant is so the right word for his style.

[@juliewhat134]

just look at him!! what an absolute king

[@IanScott750]

Surely one of the greatest performances of all time. Such a tragedy that we lost John at such a young age. His artistry has never been bettered. I echo NoriBento#s comments. Yes, I too shed tears every time I watch this wonderful skater. Tjhank you again for posting this.

[@jgilc2691]

Now this is FIGURE skating. No quads required.

[@sixiscool4649]

I agree with this comment.

[@mca1218]

Nureyev on ice??

[@helenw8520]

he never seems to be mentioned but was our best skater ever

[@Pragwo1f]

Completely agree. I think that says something about us and our country.

[@LadyGwenie]

John Curry was one of the most elegant skaters we've ever had ... he was one of the greats and was instrumental in beginning my love affair with watching figure skating so many years ago. I find I still compare so many of today's skaters to him even after all this time.

[@StaffsTransport]

I always remember the roses being thrown on the ice and my mum shouting "Oh my God, Oh my God" in joy :-)

[@fizzao1342]

Such beautiful balletic lines, such grace and artistry! He wanted to be a ballet dancer but his father wouldn’t let him even have classes. Rest in peace, John.

[@АлинаВолкова-у9м]

Балет на коньках,движение вместе с музыкой воспринимаются очень органично.Браво!!!Видно из-за этого сочетания многие приходили и в балет,и в фигурное.

[@charlesbergen5398]

For some reason this 1976 Olympic program popped up again today and I have taken a few minutes to watch it yet again. I had forgotten how amazingly well John was able to spin in both a clockwise and counterclockwise direction and recall seeing him at Richmond a few years before where he was proficient at jumping in both directions as well. As always a program to remember and watch over again from time to time....

[@jeanettebird2739]

Britain ‘s pride and joy ! ❤️

[@robbiethepict2783]

His triple jump is magnificent.

[@wenglishsal]

I remember my Mum letting me stay up to watch this, the fluidity of John's arm movement , with the little flick finishes and the precise and perfect skating will always be remembered.. What an amazing skater and truely amazing man... WOW ... Happy memories for me today ... :0)x

[@jane90186]

I remember watching John Curry win his gold, alone on a tiny black and white telly, in my bedroom. No one else was interested!

[@lgparker4726]

The most beautiful performance I have ever seen; so elegant.😊

[@youtubister]

Sublime skating. One of the best ever. Hashtag: effortless Such a sad life story though :(

[@bindi06]

Graceful,artistic,lyrical AND masculine all at the same time! THIS is how men's figure skating should be. Everyone trying to attempt the dang quads are just taking away from the overall look to their programs. Quads are not attractive! This is!!

[@joannetelling]

There are no words. Utterly astonishing.

[@youtubister]

One of the all-time greats for sure. Beautiful choreography making it all look so easy. Ballet on ice. Thanks John.

[@Balthesia]

I never tire of this watching this either. I know it's not as technical by today's standards, but it's so smooth and elegant. He always looked as though he was performing ballet on ice.

[@carolilett2595]

I was 15 at the time and was totally mesmerised by this. He really was a Superstar.

[@Tiddybeth]

I will never forget this . We as a family were watching , but my Dad was reading a newspaper pretending not to care. When the Russian skater came out he shouted "fall on your arse!" and he DID! John Curry got gold. RIP to the Great John Curry.

[@olgaogurtsova6418]

Light as a feather, every movement is perfect, every pose is perfect.

[@blodwen6946]

So graceful. Loved his skating and choice of music. FABULOUS!

[@wenglishsal]

Back again, to watch ice skating at it best.. What an amazing, talented beautiful man.. John Curry is simply, in my humble opinion, the best interpreter of whatever music he decided to skate to.. Marvellous, sublime, beautiful effortless and awe-inspiring.. WOW .. WOW .. And TRIPLE WOW :D

[@theWellSeasonedWoman]

now THAT'S a gold medal skater! flawless...

[@Tiddybeth]

I will never forget this performance. I was a 15 year old child and the entire family watched. Apart from my Dad. He pretended to read a newspaper. When the Russian favourite took to the ice, my Dad shouted "Fall on your arse" and that was what he did.

[@ЛидаДоброва]

😂😂😂❤

[@andrewthompson7526]

😂😂😂

[@childwaters]

All the incredible technical skaters since, all the quadruple jumps, don't come close to the artistry of this performance. None of the modern skaters have this kind of musicality or grace. This is a whole different kind of skating, a high form of art. It does not become dated, and it hasn't ever been equalled.

[@pascaldupuytout3276]

He stays today the greatest of all times !

[@davidchamberlain5425]

Never ever been a better skater than John👍👍

[@EVZYL]

What artistry! No amount of today's acrobatic triple & quadruple jumps could come anywhere near this skater!

[@paddy9i99]

Beautiful, beautiful man. Much missed

[@npe1]

Simply the best. Sadly 2 great figures in this video are no longer with us. RIP John Curry and Carlo Fassi.