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139-409: Tara Kristen Lipinski (born June 10, 1982) is an American former competitive figure skater , actress, sports commentator, and documentary film producer. A former competitor in women's singles , she is the 1998 Olympic champion, the 1997 World champion, a two-time Champions Series Final champion (1997–1998) and the 1997 U.S. national champion. Until 2019, she was the youngest single skater to win

278-530: A ballroom rhythm that was designated annually; and a free dance to music of the skaters' own choice. Beginning in the 2010–11 season , the compulsory and original dances were merged into the short dance , which itself was renamed the rhythm dance in June 2018, before the 2018–19 season . Source: Medals awarded to the skaters who achieved the highest overall placements in each discipline. Short program (figure skating) The short program, along with

417-642: A "graceful and appreciated" part of figure skating throughout the 19th century. They advanced between World War I and World War II ; by the late 1930s, all three basic spin positions were used. There are two types of spins, the forward spin and the backward spin . There are three basic spin positions: the upright spin , the sit spin , and the camel spin . Skaters also perform flying spins and combination spins . Figure skating lifts are required elements in pair skating and ice dance. There are five groups of lifts in pair skating , categorized in order of increasing level of difficulty. Judges look for

556-456: A 5.7 and 5.8 for presentation. The final results after the free skate were close, and the judges were unable to declare a clear winner of the free skate. Lipinski, Kwan—who was fourth after the short program—and Russian skater Irina Slutskaya all received first-place votes. Kwan's free skate came in first place because she had more first- and second-place votes, and Lipinski came in first place overall because she received more second-place votes in

695-551: A Biellmann position after they have completed the required eight revolutions and can spin in one position without a change of foot for a minimum of eight revolutions in this position and with any variation and/or variations in the chosen position. For both men and women, "[i]f the landing position of the Flying spin is the same that in the Spin in one position, the last performed of these two spins will not be counted", but will be marked by

834-487: A Lutz or flip take-off by the woman, but women can only perform two or three free rotations in the air. Seniors can perform any double or triple jump and throw jump, but juniors can only perform what has been prescribed. Seniors can perform any double or triple solo jump, but juniors can only perform the prescribed jump. Their solo spin combination "must have a minimum of two different basic positions with two revolutions in each of these positions by both partners anywhere within

973-859: A U.S. Nationals and the youngest to become an Olympic and World champion in figure skating history. She is the first woman to complete a triple loop -triple loop combination, her signature jump element, in competition. Starting in 1997, Lipinski had a rivalry with fellow skater Michelle Kwan , which was played up by the American press, and culminated when Lipinski won the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. Lipinski retired from competitive figure skating in 1998. She performed in live shows before retiring from figure skating in 2002. Lipinski, along with sports commentator Terry Gannon and fellow figure skater and good friend Johnny Weir , became NBC 's primary figure skating commentators in 2014. Tara Kristen Lipinski

1112-420: A combination because they take off from the back outside edge of the landing foot, or skating leg. To perform a salchow or flip on the back end of a combination, a half loop (which is actually a full rotation, but lands on a back inside edge of the landing leg) may be used as a connecting jump. In contrast, jump sequences are sets of jumps that may be linked by non-listed jumps or hops. Sequences are worth 80% of

1251-435: A fall as a loss of control with the result that the majority of the skater's body weight is not on the blade but supported by hands, knees, or buttocks. Jumps involve the skater leaping into the air and rotating rapidly to land after completing one or more rotations. There are many types of jumps, identified by the way the skater takes off and lands, as well as by the number of rotations that are completed. Each jump receives

1390-543: A few years traveling and working "here and there" after her retirement from figure skating. She did some acting, but decided that it "just wasn't my thing". In 2009, longing for the high she had felt as a figure skater, she contacted U.S. Figure Skating's streaming service Ice Network and offered to work as a commentator for competitions. She began commentating for Universal Sports in 2010 and started working for NBC and NBC Sports in 2011, where she commentated most international figure skating competition broadcasts. Unlike what

1529-421: A figure skating rink for an ISU event "if possible, shall measure sixty (60) meters in one direction and thirty (30) meters in the other, but not larger, and not less than fifty-six (56) meters in one direction and twenty-six (26) meters in the other." The scoring system rewards skaters who have good ice coverage, i.e. those who efficiently cover the entire ice surface during their programs. Olympic-sized rinks make

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1668-687: A full pivot position and the death spiral must be held for a minimum amount of rotation, depending on the level. The ISU is the governing body for international competitions in figure skating, including the World Championships and the figure skating events at the Winter Olympic Games . Medals are awarded for overall results; the standard medals are gold for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third place. U.S. Figure Skating also awards pewter medals for fourth-place finishers in national events. Additionally, at

1807-490: A great deal of joint pain. She became a spokesperson to increase awareness about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which the National Institutes of Health called "a dangerous potential side effect of surgery". The injury, which might have occurred before the 1998 Winter Olympics, became progressively worse until she was unable to tour. The surgery, which usually lasts 45 minutes, took 3.5 hours to complete because she

1946-443: A greater air of confidence and command of the space". Kestnbaum discusses Lipinski's skating technique in her book Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning to illustrate women's and girls' influence on figure skating. She states that "cynics and purists who valued the artistic possibilities of the sport or the fine points of skating technique complained that the judges who awarded Lipinski her gold medals were just counting

2085-469: A groove on the bottom of the blade creates two distinct edges , inside and outside. The inside edge of the blade is on the side closest to the skater; the outside edge of the blade is on the side farthest from the skater. In figure skating, it is always desirable to skate on only one edge of the blade. Skating on both at the same time (which is referred to as a flat ) may result in lower skating skills scores. The apparently effortless power and glide across

2224-402: A harness system installed to help skaters learn new jumps in a controlled manner. A heavy-duty cable is securely attached to two of the walls around the ice, with a set of pulleys riding on the cable. The skater wears a vest or belt, with a cable or rope attached to it, and the cable/rope is threaded through the movable pulley on the cable above. The coach holds the other end of the cable and lifts

2363-403: A jump. Seniors can choose to execute any type of flying spin with a landing position different from the spin in one position, but juniors can only execute the prescribed type of flying spin. When awarding the grade of execution for a flying spin, judges must ascertain whether or not skaters performed a step-over while executing it. Only eight revolutions in the landing position can be different from

2502-505: A junior skater, she came in fourth place at the 1995 World Junior Championships and came in second place at the 1995 U.S. Championships . In late 1995, she placed fifth at the 1996 World Junior Championships , which marked the end of the relationship between DiGregorio and the Lipinskis. After a series of interviews conducted by Lipinski and her mother and sample lessons given to Lipinski by prospective figure skating coaches from around

2641-601: A less stiff boot. Ice dancers may prefer a lower cut boot that is designed to enable more knee bend. Likewise, blades designed for free and pairs skating have a longer tail to assist landing. The blade profile and picks are designed to assist with spinning, jump entry, take-off, landing, and exit. Modern blade technology increasingly uses carbon fibre and materials other than steel to make blades lighter. These materials may also be more flexible and help cushion jump landings and be protective of young athlete's joints. Ice dance blades have short tails to enable close foot work and reduce

2780-655: A little too much", although Tom Weir stated that when skaters were "elegant and error-free", both Lipinski and Weir had "the good sense to stay silent". Goodykoontz pointed out that Lipinski and Weir were uncharacteristically quiet during the short program of Russia's Kamila Valieva , representing the Russian Olympic Committee , who was allowed to compete despite failing a drug test prior to the 2022 Winter Olympics. They chose to simply announce Valieva's jumps and express their opinions that she should not have been allowed to compete afterwards instead. Their style

2919-532: A piece of paper under them". Her presentation marks were mostly 5.7s or 5.8s and similar to her technical marks. Three out of four judges gave her higher presentation than technical marks. Reporter Jere Longman of The New York Times called Lipinski's free skate "a light, airy performance" and said she was "composed and nearly flawless". Lipinski opened with a double Axel and landed a triple flip jump as well as her triple loop-triple loop combination, among others. She received 5.8s and 5.9s in her technical marks and

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3058-421: A quadruple jump is executed in a jump combination, a different quadruple jump can be included as a solo jump. Senior men and women and junior men cannot execute an additional Axel jump to fulfill the second requirement of a triple or quadruple jump and it cannot be repeated as a solo jump or jump combination. Senior women can choose any triple jump for the second requirement, but junior men and women can only execute

3197-406: A rule stating that a skater may perform each type of triple only once in a program, or twice if one of them is incorporated into a combination or sequence. For a set of jumps to be considered a combination , each jump must take off from the landing edge of the previous jump, with no steps, turns, or change of edge between jumps. Toe loops and loops are commonly performed as the second or third jump in

3336-415: A score according to its base value and grade of execution (GOE). Quality of execution, technique, height, speed, flow and ice coverage are considered by the judges. An under-rotated jump (indicated by   <   ) is "missing rotation of more than 1 ⁄ 4 , but less than 1 ⁄ 2 revolution" and receives 70% of the base value. A downgraded jump (indicated by   <<   )

3475-732: A second season and participated in the ISU-sanctioned Grand Slam of Figure Skating . She became a spokeswoman for Boys and Girls Clubs of America and an anti-drug advocate, appeared on the soap opera The Young and the Restless , and acted in television shows for the Fox Family Network and Nickelodeon . She also became the youngest skater to win the World Professional Figure Skating Championships , completing

3614-630: A short program of required moves" as the first part of pair competitions. The short program for pair skating first appeared at the European Championships in 1963 , the World Championships in 1964 , and the Olympics in 1968 . The arrangement of the specific moves, also unlike compulsory figures for single skaters and the compulsory dance for ice dancers , were up to each pair team. According to writer Ellyn Kestnbaum,

3753-451: A specific edge with the free leg held at hip level or above. Spirals are distinguished by the edge of the blade used (inside or outside), the direction of motion (forward or backward), and the skater's position. A spiral sequence is one or more spiral positions and edges done in sequence. Judges look at the depth, stability, and control of the skating edge, speed and ice coverage, extension, and other factors. Some skaters can change edges during

3892-446: A spin, the toe pick will cause the skater to lose momentum, or move away from the center of the spin. Blades are mounted to the sole and heel of the boot with screws. Typically, high-level figure skaters are professionally fitted for their boots and blades at a reputable skate shop. Professionals are also employed to sharpen blades to individual requirements. Blades are about 4.7 millimetres ( 3 ⁄ 16 inch) thick. When viewed from

4031-400: A spiral, i.e. from inside to outside edge. Spirals performed on a "flat" are generally not considered as true spirals. Spiral sequences were required in women's and pair skating prior to the 2012–13 season, but from the 2012–13 season onward, they were replaced by the choreographic sequence. The choreographic sequence consists of moves in the field, unlisted jumps, spinning movements, etc. and

4170-571: A sports producer and documentary director, co-produced Meddling: The Olympic Skating Scandal That Shocked the World, a four-part documentary series focusing on the skating controversy at the 2002 Winter Olympics , which was aired on the NBC streaming service Peacock in January 2022. Lipinski, who called the series "a deep and responsible look at what happened", said that she and Kapostasy chose to create

4309-605: A technical specialist identifies the elements and assigns each one a level of difficulty, ranging from B (Basic) to Level 4 (most difficult). For each element, a panel of judges determines the GOE, ranging between −5 and +5, according to how well the skater executes the element. The GOE is weighted according to the base value of the element. Through the ISU guidelines skaters must perform a minimum of seven elements in their short program and twelve elements in their long program. The ISU defines

Tara Lipinski - Misplaced Pages Continue

4448-455: A triple Lutz jump , but performed an otherwise technically difficult and strong program. According to Kestnbaum, Callaghan "expressed bewilderment in why the judges had so marked down the reigning World champion, who by virtue of that position might otherwise have been expected to receive the benefit of any doubt". Lipinski came in second place at Trophée Lalique , behind French skater Laetitia Hubert , who had not won any major competitions since

4587-420: A triple flip, a triple toe loop, and a triple Salchow jump in her free skate program. Her marks consisted of two 10s, eleven 9.9s, and one 9.8; she won by more than one point over Denise Biellmann , who came in second place. Lipinski had hip surgery in 2000 at the age of 18, which she believed saved her career. Her injury, a torn labrum in her hip, had been misdiagnosed for four or five years and had caused her

4726-401: A twist lift. The ISU defines dance lifts as "a movement in which one of the partners is elevated with active and/or passive assistance of the other partner to any permitted height, sustained there and set down on the ice". Dance lifts are delineated from pair lifts to ensure that ice dance and pair skating remain separate disciplines. After the judging system changed from the 6.0 system to

4865-401: A variety of off-ice training and conditioning methods due to rinks being closed due to COVID-19. Since 1980, all figure skating competitions must be held in completely covered and enclosed rinks. The rule was expanded to include practice rinks in 1984. According to figure skating historian James R. Hines, the development of indoor ice rinks, other than the development of the bladed skate during

5004-406: Is "missing rotation of 1 ⁄ 2 revolution or more". A downgraded triple is treated as a double jump, while a downgraded double is treated as a single jump. An edge violation occurs when a skater executes a jump on the incorrect edge. The hollow is a groove on the bottom of the blade which creates two distinct edges, inside and outside. The inside edge of the blade is on the side closest to

5143-528: Is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games , with its introduction occurring at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic disciplines are men's singles, women's singles , pair skating , and ice dance ; the four individual disciplines are also combined into a team event, which was first included in

5282-446: Is a waltz jump, which can only be done in a half-leap and is not classified as a single, double, or triple jump. Triple jumps, other than the triple Axel, are commonly performed by female single skaters. It is rare for a female skater to land a quadruple jump, and very few female single skaters have been credited with quads in competition. Senior-level male single skaters perform mostly triple and quadruple jumps in competition. The final of

5421-553: Is defined as "the ability of the Skater to execute the skating repertoire of steps, turns, and skating movement, with blade and body control": variety of edges, steps, turns, movements and directions; clarity of edges, steps, turns, movements and body control; balance and glide; power and speed; and flow. Nathan Chen from the United States holds the highest recorded single men's short program score at 113.97, which he scored at

5560-562: Is integral to the discipline. The ability to skate well backwards and forwards are considered to be equally important, as is the ability to transition well between the two. Step sequences are a required element in all four Olympic disciplines. The pattern can be straight line, circular, or serpentine. The step sequence consists of a combination of turns, steps, hops and edge changes. Additionally, steps and turns can be used as transitions between elements. The various turns, which skaters can incorporate into step sequences, include: Choctaws are

5699-465: Is required for the men's, women's and pair free program. A death spiral is a required element of pair skating. There are four varieties distinguished by the lady's edge and direction of motion. The man performs a pivot , one toe anchored in the ice, while holding the hand of his partner, who circles him on a deep edge with her body almost parallel to the ice. As of 2011, the woman's head must at some time reach her skating knee. The man must also be in

Tara Lipinski - Misplaced Pages Continue

5838-925: The Houston Chronicle , Lipinski approached broadcasting "with passion, vigor and an arduous work ethic similar to what she brought to the ice". She spent hundreds of hours researching skaters. Her broadcasting influences were Peggy Fleming , Dick Button , and Scott Hamilton; she listened to tapes of Hamilton's past broadcasts to learn how to commentate. She called her broadcasting career her "second dream". In 2018, she told Entertainment Tonight , "I feel extremely grateful that Johnny and I have found this spot in our world, and it gives us opportunities outside of skating". The same year, The Washington Post reported that viewers' response to Lipinski and Weir were mixed; some considered them "Olympic darlings–a one-stop shop for knowledge, sass and brass", while others found them "mean, obnoxious, and distracting". Scott Hamilton, who

5977-496: The L.A. Times reported that both Lipinski and Callaghan were concerned about what they considered unfair treatment by the judges at the Champion Series that season, who gave Lipinski lower technical marks than the previous season, as low as 5.3, for an incorrectly performed Lutz. According to Penner, the judges told Callaghan that Lipinski regularly performed her Lutz jumps from the inside edge of her blade instead of from

6116-512: The 1992 World Junior Championships and who came in eleventh place at her previous competition. Coming into the 1997–98 Champions Series Final , Lipinski was tied for fourth place in the Series standings with Russia's Maria Butyrskaya . She won the competition, skating her first clean program of the season. Kwan, although she was eligible, withdrew from the Finals due to injuries. Mike Penner from

6255-628: The 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano , Japan. Lipinski and Kwan entered the Olympics as co-favorites to win the gold medal. In the women's individual event, Kwan won the short program with eight of the nine judges putting her in first place. Lipinski came in second place. Swift called Lipinski's short program performance, which was technically more difficult than Kwan's, "luminous–fast and light and joyful". Her free skate, featuring her signature triple loop-triple loop combination and seven triple jumps total,

6394-651: The 1998 World Championships , citing a serious glandular infection that required her to have two molars extracted, constant fatigue, and possible mononucleosis . In April, Lipinski announced her intention to turn professional in an interview on the NBC program Today Show , thus ending her eligibility to compete at the Olympics again. As her main motivations, she mentioned the desire to end her family's separation caused by her skating career and to focus on other goals such as attending college in another two years. According to The New York Times , her decision "sent tremors through

6533-575: The 2022 Beijing Olympics . Russian skater Kamila Valieva holds the highest single women's short program score of 90.45, which she earned at the 2022 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. Chinese pairs team Sui Wenjing and Han Cong hold the highest pair skating short program score of 84.41, which they earned at 2022 Beijing Olympics. Wenjing and Cong also hold the two highest short program scores. The short program for senior single skaters consists of seven required elements. The sequence of

6672-579: The 2022 CS U.S. Classic , 34 years after the first-ever quadruple jump (a quad toe loop) was landed by Canada's Kurt Browning at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1988. Some elite skaters can complete a jump in about one second, with 26 inches of height and 10 feet in distance. The takeoff speed of a jump can reach up to 25 kilometers per hour. Prior to most jumps, a figure skater needs to skate backward to build power and speed. Toe jumps are launched by digging

6811-555: The ISU Challenger Series . The sport is also associated with show business. Major competitions generally conclude with exhibition galas, in which the top skaters from each discipline perform non-competitive programs. Many skaters, both during and after their competitive careers, also skate in ice shows, which run during the competitive season and the off-season. The term "professional" in skating refers not to skill level but competitive status. Figure skaters competing at

6950-527: The ISU Judging System (IJS), dance lifts became more "athletic, dramatic and exciting". There are two types of dance lifts: short lifts , which should be done in under seven seconds; and combination lifts , which should be done in under 12 seconds. A well-balanced free dance program in ice dance must include dance lifts. Along with other forms of skating , figure skating is one of the only human powered activities where travelling backwards

7089-440: The free skating program , is a segment of single skating , pair skating , and synchronized skating in international competitions and events for both junior and senior-level skaters. It has been previously called the "original" or "technical" program. The short program was added to single skating in 1973, which created a three-part competition until compulsory figures were eliminated in 1990. The short program for pair skating

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7228-486: The 14th century and the practice of fastening boots permanently to skates in the 19th century, has had the greatest effect on figure skating. It allowed for skating year-round, as well as anywhere in the world, and prevented the cancellation of competitive events due to the lack of ice in outdoor rinks. The first attempts to make artificial ice occurred during the 1870s in England and the U.S. The first notable indoor ice rink

7367-461: The 1997–98 season by continuing to add more sophistication to her programs by taking daily dance classes from Russian ballet teacher Marina Sheffer. She selected film scores for both her short and free skate program, with the choreographies being created by Sandra Bezic. According to figure skating writer and historian Ellyn Kestnbaum, the American press played up "the Kwan–Lipinski rivalry for all it

7506-406: The 2015 Sports Emmys , where she presented his award, and dated the following two years. Johnny Weir was a bridesman and Scott Hamilton was among the invited guests. She has detailed her struggles with infertility in her podcast Tara Lipinski: Unexpecting . In October 2023, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, via surrogacy . In September 2020, in order to help raise awareness of

7645-480: The 6.0 system and the ISU Judging System, the judges consider the "complete package" when evaluating performances, i.e. the best jumper is not always placed first if the judges consider the difference in jumping execution to be outweighed by another skater's speed, spins, presentation, etc. Ice dance competitions formerly consisted of three phases: one or more compulsory dances ; an original dance to

7784-662: The Detroit Skating Club. In 1994, Lipinski earned a silver medal in the novice women's division at the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships . When she was 12, she became the youngest athlete to win a gold medal at the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival . She then took first place in the Blue Swords in Chemnitz , Germany, her first international competition, in November, after which the media began to notice her. As

7923-630: The ISU Champions Series (later renamed the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating ) during the 1996–97 season; she finished in second place at Skate Canada , third at Trophée Lalique , and second at the 1996 Nations Cup. She won the gold medal at the Champion Series Final and defeated Michelle Kwan by completing more successful jumps in her short and free programs. In February 1997, at the age of 14, Lipinski became

8062-659: The Olympic figure skating community". USA Today criticized her decision, stating that she had taken the easy way out, and compared it to joining the circus. Figure skater Scott Hamilton noted in his book Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice that Lipinski took "an enormous amount of heat" for turning professional. In 1998, due to many endorsements and book deals, Lipinski's net worth was estimated at $ 12 million. She signed an exclusive deal with CBS to do some acting and to perform in ice shows and non-sanctioned competitions. After

8201-705: The Olympic level (senior) at local, regional, sectional, national, and international competitions. The International Skating Union (ISU) regulates international figure skating judging and competitions. These include the Winter Olympics , the World Championships , the World Junior Championships , the European Championships , the Four Continents Championships , the Grand Prix series ( senior and junior ), and

8340-542: The Olympics, Lipinski toured with Champions on Ice , visiting 90 cities in the U.S. In August 1998, she ended her association with Champions on Ice, which she had performed with since 1995, and joined the cast of Stars on Ice in order to improve artistically and participate in the show's group numbers. She suffered from sore hips and an injured hip during rehearsals. In the same year, Lipinski wrote two books, Totally Tara – An Olympic Journey and Tara Lipinski: Triumph on Ice . In 1999, Lipinski performed with Stars on Ice for

8479-549: The Winter Olympics in 2014 . The non-Olympic disciplines include synchronized skating , Theater on Ice , and four skating . From intermediate through senior-level competition, skaters generally perform two programs (the short program and the free skate ), which, depending on the discipline, may include spins , jumps , moves in the field , lifts , throw jumps , death spirals , and other elements or moves. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to

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8618-463: The World, European, Four Continents, and World Junior Championships, the ISU awards small medals for segment results (short and free program) (Since 2009). A medal is generally attributed to only one country, even if a partnership is composed of skaters with different nationalities. A notable exception was the pair skating partnership between Ludowika Eilers and Walter Jakobsson ; their 1910–11 medals were attributed to both Germany and Finland. Beyond

8757-410: The back outside edge (with counter-clockwise rotation, for single and multi-revolution jumps), but have different takeoffs, by which they may be distinguished. Jumps are divided into two different categories: toe jumps and edge jumps . The number of rotations performed in the air determines whether the jump is a single, double, triple, or quadruple (commonly known as a " quad "). The simplest jump

8896-451: The blades from rust when the skates are not being worn. In competition, skaters are allowed three minutes to make repairs to their skates. There are many different types of boots and blades to suit different disciplines and abilities. For example, athletes who are performing advanced multi-rotational jumps often need a stiffer boot that is higher and gives more support. Athletes working on single or double jumps require less support and may use

9035-525: The boards before every competition. A few months after the Nagano Olympics, she donated her medal and costume to an exhibit. In 2001, Lipinski established a playroom in St. Therese's honor in the children's ward in a Detroit hospital. She said that roses, a symbol of St. Therese, had "always appeared at her best and worst moments". Lipinski married sports producer Todd Kapostasy in June 2017. They met at

9174-412: The championship. Lipinski performed her free skate program with seven triple jumps, including her trademark triple loop-triple loop and a difficult triple toe loop - half loop -triple Salchow combination. The judges awarded her all 5.8s and 5.9s, except for a pair of 5.7s for presentation. U.S. Figure Skating selected Kwan, Lipinski, and Nicole Bobek , who came in third place at Nationals, to send to

9313-456: The combined value of the same jumps executed in combination. A figure skater only needs to be able to jump in one direction, either clockwise or counter-clockwise. The vast majority of figure skaters prefer to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction when jumping. Thus, for clarity, all jumps will be described for a skater jumping counter-clockwise. There are six jumps in figure skating that count as jump elements. All six are landed on one foot on

9452-436: The competition's free skating segment; she skated cleanly with seven triple jumps, including her signature jump element, the triple loop-triple loop combination, and came in first place. According to author Ed Swift from Sports Illustrated , the 1997 U.S. Nationals marked the start of the Kwan–Lipinski rivalry. A month later, Lipinski won the 1997 World Championships and became the youngest female skater to win that event. She

9591-571: The condition, Lipinski made public her diagnosis of endometriosis after having laparoscopic surgery to treat it. Although her symptoms were not severe, the intermittent pain she experienced worsened over five years before it was diagnosed and treated. She reported that her surgery was successful, all of her adhesions were removed, and her recovery was "mainly pain free". She credited dancer and actress Julianne Hough with increasing awareness of endometriosis, which encouraged Lipinski to seek out her own treatment. Figure skating Figure skating

9730-492: The correct outside edge, something skaters used to call a " flutz ". Lipinski and Callaghan disputed the judges' marks for her jumps, stating that she had performed them the same way the previous season, when she won both the Worlds and U.S. Nationals. Lipinski's lower marks were subject of several articles in major U.S. newspapers. According to reporter Nancy Armour of The Spokesman-Review , Lipinski showed her best performance of

9869-497: The country, they hired Richard Callaghan . In January 1996, Lipinski won a bronze medal as a senior-level skater at the 1996 U.S. Championships . Despite low expectations, she closed out the 1995–96 season and gained international attention by qualifying for the 1996 World Championships . With very low expectations at the event, she placed 23rd after the short program , but her free skate , which included seven triple jumps , brought her up to 15th place. Lipinski and Callaghan spent

10008-425: The criteria equally. Unity, connections between and within elements, choreography reflecting the skaters' musical phrase and form, multidimensional movements and use of space, and pattern and ice coverage are considered when judges evaluate skaters' composition, which the ISU defines as "the intentional, developed and/or original arrangement of the repertoire of all types of movements into a meaningful whole according to

10147-422: The differences in skill between skaters more apparent but they are not available for all events. If a rink has different dimensions, a skater's jump setup and speed may be hindered as he or she adjusts. Ice quality is judged by smoothness, friction, hardness, and brittleness. Factors affecting ice quality include temperature, water quality, and usage, with toe picks causing more deterioration. For figure skating,

10286-421: The early 20th century, no skaters have been allowed to represent two countries in the same competition. In singles and pairs figure skating competition, competitors perform two programs: the short program , in which they complete a set of required elements consisting of jumps, spins and steps; and the free skate , also known as the long program , in which they have a slightly wider choice of elements. Under both

10425-412: The elements is optional. Skaters can choose their own music, but their programs must be skated in harmony with it. Men single senior skaters must have the following elements in their short program: Women single senior skaters must have the following elements in their short program: Junior single skaters also have seven required elements, in any sequence, but with three groups of variations depending on

10564-496: The entire ice surface. Junior women had to skate these elements: a double or triple flip jump; one jump combination consisting of two double jumps, one double and one triple jump, or two triple jumps; a flying sit spin; a layback and/or sideway leaning spin or a camel spin without a change of foot; a spin combination with just one change of foot; and a step sequence using the entire ice surface. Senior male single skaters can execute any triple or quadruple jump they like, although when

10703-404: The field is a pre-determined required sequence that demonstrated basic skating skills and edge control. In the context of a competitive program, they include sequences that may include spirals , spread eagles , Ina Bauers , hydroblading , and similar extended edge moves, along with loops, twizzles, and different kinds of turns. A spiral is an element in which the skater moves across the ice on

10842-420: The flying position. No previous rotation can be done before the skater takes off for the flying spin and the "required eight revolutions can be executed in any variation of the landing position". Both senior and junior men can execute their spins with only one change of foot, but senior men must choose to execute either the sit position or camel position of their chosen spin and this position must be different from

10981-428: The following when evaluating pair lifts: speed of entry and exit; control of the woman's free leg when she is exiting out of the lift, with the goal of keeping the leg high and sweeping; the position of the woman in the air; the man's footwork; quick and easy changes of position; and the maintenance of flow throughout the lift. Twist lifts are "the most thrilling and exciting component in pair skating". They can also be

11120-404: The form of a jump with no fewer than six revolutions on each foot in the basic position they have chosen or in the form of a step-over. When women single skaters execute a layback- or sideways-leaning spin, they can assume any position they like, but only if "the basic layback or sideways leaning position is maintained for eight revolutions without rising to an upright position". They can execute

11259-419: The free skate than Slutskaya. If two more judges had placed Slutskaya before Lipinski after the free skate, Kwan would have won the competition instead of coming in second place. It was the first time the U.S. had finished first and second at Worlds since 1992 , when Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold medal and Nancy Kerrigan silver. Between seasons, Lipinski grew two inches and turned 15 years old. She went into

11398-472: The half toe loop (ballet jump), half loop, half flip, walley jump , waltz jump , inside Axel, one-foot Axel, stag jump, and split jump . There are two kinds of split jump: Spins are an element in which the skater rotates, centered on a single point on the ice, while holding one or more body positions. They are performed by all disciplines of the sport. As The New York Times says, "While jumps look like sport, spins look more like art. While jumps provide

11537-565: The highest levels of international competition are not "professional" skaters. They are sometimes referred to as amateurs, even though some earn money. Professional skaters include those who have lost their ISU eligibility and those who perform only in shows. They may also include former Olympic and World champions who have ended their competitive career, as well as skaters with little or no international competitive experience. In addition to performing in ice shows, professional skaters often compete in professional competitions, which are held throughout

11676-407: The ice exhibited by elite figure skaters fundamentally derives from efficient use of the edges to generate speed . Skates used in singles and pair skating have a set of large, jagged teeth called a toepick on the front of each blade. The toepicks are mainly used to help launch the skater into the air for the take-off when performing jumps. Ice dance blades have smaller toepicks than blades used for

11815-415: The ice surface temperature is normally maintained between −5.5 and −3.5 °C (22.1 and 25.7 °F), with the Olympic disciplines requiring slightly softer ice (−3.5   °C) than synchronized skating (−5.5   °C). Typically after every two warm-up groups, an ice resurfacer cleans and smooths the surface of the ice sheet. Inadequate ice quality may affect skaters' performances. Some rinks have

11954-447: The intricate footwork and close partnering in dance. Dancers' blades also have a smaller toepick as they do not require the large toepick used for jumping in the other disciplines. Hard plastic skate guards are used when the skater must walk in his or her skates when not on the ice, to protect the blade from dirt or material on the ground that may dull the blade. Soft blade covers called soakers are used to absorb condensation and protect

12093-457: The judges as complete. Spin combinations must include just one change of foot, which may be executed in the form of a jump or a step-over, with no fewer than six revolutions on each foot. Skaters can execute their change of position or change of foot either at the same time or separately. Step sequences can include any unlisted jumps. Both junior and senior pair skaters have seven required elements, but with three groups of variations depending on

12232-893: The judges, by awarding her five 5.7s in her technical marks, left room for Lipinski to move ahead. Swift added that Lipinski "had a blast" skating her free skate program and "soared and spun with abandon, filling the [rink] with her joy". Like Kwan, she completed seven triple jumps, but "the difference was her trademark triple loop-triple loop combination and a wonderful closing triple toe-half loop-triple Salchow [combination]". According to Kestnbaum, Lipinski's jumps were not as big as Kwan's and her jump take-offs were not ideal, but her landings were clean and increased in speed as she came out of them. Her spins were faster than Kwan's but not as difficult, and their positions were weaker. Kestnbaum also stated: "Nor did [Lipinski's] program demonstrate transitional steps as complex, stroking quality as nuanced, or body carriage and line as controlled and elegant". Lipinski

12371-425: The jumps and not paying attention to the quality of those jumps, much less to the quality of the rest of her skating". Kestnbaum uses Lipinski as an example of how teenagers, especially teenage girls, dominated the sport, and how many people in the press criticized the development, some even Lipinski herself for encouraging it. Her jumps, which Kestnbaum calls "small and in some cases technically flawed", were debated in

12510-403: The landing position of their flying spin. The ISU also requires that "[t]he spin must consist of only one change of foot, which may be executed in the form of a step over or a jump with not less than six revolutions on each foot in the chosen basic position". Junior men can only perform the prescribed camel or sit position and the spin must have only one change of foot, which can be done in either

12649-528: The left foot.) Edge jumps use no toe assist, and include (in order of score value): Again, these descriptions assume a counter-clockwise direction of rotation, landing backwards on the outside edge of the right foot. (For clockwise rotation, the skater takes off using the alternative foot and always lands backwards on the outside edge of the left foot.) Several other jumps are usually performed only as single jumps and in elite skating are used as transitional movements or highlights in step sequences. These include

12788-432: The magazine called "fluffy, polished performances". They tried to present figure skating in an accessible way to their viewers, keeping the more technical aspects of the sport to a minimum but emphasizing its "gossipy nuances". Sports writer and media critic Bill Goodykoontz named their enthusiasm for figure skating their "calling card". In Dick Button's opinion, Lipinski and Weir were "excellent", but that Lipinski "might talk

12927-413: The midst of her jumps". In March 1997, he stated that Lipinski had "musicality and poise that are far beyond her years", and although he admitted that she often suffered from nerves, she was "the complete skating package, if a diminutive one, and a pleasure to watch". In 2018, U.S. Figure Skating president Sam Auxier credited Lipinski for increasing the level of complexity of Olympic skating. Lipinski spent

13066-591: The most difficult movement to perform correctly. They require more strength and coordination than many other pair elements, and are usually the first or second element in a program. According to the International Skating Union (ISU), "the Woman must be caught in the air at the waist by the Man prior to landing and be assisted to a smooth landing on the ice on a backward outside edge on one foot" during

13205-405: The next year making her appear more mature; she enrolled in ballet classes and hired choreographer Sandra Bezic to "create programs for Lipinski that expressed delight yet looked adult". In late 1996, she added the triple loop -triple loop jump combination, which added technical difficulty to her programs. She was the first woman to complete the jump combination in competition. Lipinski competed in

13344-470: The other disciplines. During a spin, skaters use the sweet spot of the blade, which is one of two rockers to be found on a blade and is the roundest portion of the blade. The sweet spot is located just behind the toe pick and near the middle of the blade. The other rocker is the more general curvature of the blade when stroking or gliding. Ice dancers' blades are about an inch shorter in the rear than those used by skaters in other disciplines, to accommodate

13483-503: The prescribed double or triple jump. All levels of skaters must execute different jumps in their jump combinations than the jump they choose to fulfill their solo jump requirement. However, senior men can choose the same jump or a different double, triple, or quadruple jump, but when they execute a quadruple jump to fulfill their quadruple or triple jump requirement (#2), they can include a different quadruple jump in their jump combination. Senior women and junior men and women can include either

13622-484: The press in 1997 and 1998. She notes that Lipinski's early programs, choreographed by Sandra Bezik, emphasized her youth and femininity, while by the 1998 Olympics, the focus was on "greater polish or 'maturity' in her presentation skills". In Longman's opinion, Lipinski "has propelled the sport forward with the difficulty of her jumps". Ed Swift remarked that although Lipinski's jumps were not big, her spins were "so fast that she seems to dematerialize, like Tinkerbell , in

13761-573: The principles of proportion, unity, space, pattern, and musical structure". When evaluating skaters' presentation, which is defined as "the demonstration of engagement, commitment and involvement based on an understanding of the music and composition", judges must take into account skaters' expressiveness and projection the variety and contrast of their energy and movements, their musical sensitivity and timing, and for pair skaters and ice dancers, unison, oneness and awareness of space. The following must be considered when judging skaters' skating skills, which

13900-413: The recovery from her hip surgery in 2000. During the Olympics, she wore a medal of St. Therese. She thanked St. Therese at the kiss and cry after her short program in Nagano, and her coach held a small statue of St. Therese during her free skate. She also wore a necklace with a good-luck charm, given to her by her uncle, with the words, "Short, but good". Lipinski would also place a statue of St. Therese on

14039-698: The red carpet at the 86th Academy Awards . She served as a social media, lifestyle, and fashion correspondent for NBC Sports, including the Beverly Hills Dog Show with Weir in 2017, the National Dog Show since 2015, the Kentucky Derby from 2014 to 2018, and the pre-game coverage for the Super Bowl in 2015 and 2017. They were called culture correspondents by People magazine for the 2016 Summer Olympics . According to

14178-419: The required elements for the junior and senior short program yearly. They include: one artistic element; one creative element; an intersection element; a group lift element (but only for senior teams, when required); a block or line linear element; a move element; a mixed element; one no-hold element; a pair element; a block or line pivoting element; a circle or wheel rotating element; a synchronized spin element;

14317-436: The risk of blade clash in close complex moves. They may also be thinner to assist with glide and fast changes of edge. Off-ice training is the term for physical conditioning that takes place off the ice. Besides regular physical exercise, skaters do walk-throughs of jumps off the ice to practice sufficient rotation and height of their jumps, and to practice consistency in landing on one foot. In 2020/2021 many athletes relied on

14456-465: The same jump or a different double or triple jump in their combination jump. If a skater executes an extra jump or jumps, "only the individual jump(s) which is not according to requirements will have no value". Jumps are judged in the order of their execution. A skater will not get any credit for spins "if there is no spin position before and/or after the change of foot" and if it does not have at least three revolutions. Only flying spins can begin with

14595-514: The same requirements as senior teams, although with two differences: they had to perform either a double or triple toe loop throw jump or their choice of a flip throw jump or a Lutz throw jump; and either a double loop solo jump or a double Axel solo jump. The sequence of the elements is optional and their short programs must be skated in harmony with the music they choose. Only the prescribed overhead lift take-off and death spiral are allowed. Both junior and senior pair skaters can only perform either

14734-434: The same time or separately. For step sequences, they have to be performed together or close together, and can include any unlisted jumps. Pair skaters may also perform short stops, if done "in accordance with the music". In synchronized skating, both juniors and seniors must perform a maximum of six required elements. The sequence of the elements is optional. The ISU, out of the following 14 elements, chooses and publicizes

14873-887: The same year, transferring her skills to the ice rink . She later switched exclusively to figure skating and took lessons at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware . In 1991, Lipinski's father received a job promotion, so the family moved to Sugar Land, Texas , near Houston . She trained on a public rink at The Galleria . Two years later, Lipinski and her mother returned to Delaware to resume her training there with coach Jeff DiGregorio, who had worked with Lipinski, on and off, for three years before their move to Texas, while her father stayed in Texas to support their family. In 1995, Lipinski and her mother transferred to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan , to train with coach Richard Callaghan at

15012-436: The season at the Finals with a well-executed triple Lutz. At the 1998 U.S. Championships , Lipinski came in second behind Kwan. In her short program, Lipinski fell on a triple flip attempt, which she called "the lowest point" of her career. She recovered enough from her short program to climb from fourth place to second overall. She would have had to win the free skate and Kwan to come in third place or lower for Lipinski to win

15151-401: The season. For example, men in the junior division had to skate the following elements in 2022-2023 : one double or triple Axel jump; a double or triple loop jump; one jump combination consisting of either one double jump and a triple jump or two triple jumps; one flying camel spin; a sit spin with just one change of foot; a spin combination with just one change of foot; and a step sequence using

15290-460: The season. For example, seniors during the 2022–2023 season had to perform the following: any lasso lift take-off; either a double or triple twist lift ; either a double or triple throw jump ; either a double or triple solo jump; a solo spin combination with just one change of foot; a backward-inside death spiral ; and a step sequence using the entire ice surface. Junior pair skaters also had three groups of required elements. In 2022–2023, they had

15429-490: The series because it was the 20th anniversary of the scandal and there had been no comprehensive look at what happened. They interviewed people in Russia, France, and Canada who were involved in the scandal. USA Today calls the documentary "a deep look into the scandal". Lipinski expressed her Catholic faith with a devotion to St. Therese of Lisieux since 1994 and Lipinski credited St. Therese for her Olympic win in 1998 and

15568-407: The short program lasts 2 minutes and 50 seconds, "but may be less". Vocal music with lyrics is allowed in all disciplines since the 2014–2015 season. The first time vocal music was allowed at the Olympics was in 2018 . Pair skating, which has never included a compulsory phase like the other figure skating disciplines, did not require a short program until the early 1960s, when the ISU "instituted

15707-496: The short programs introduced in single men and women competitions in 1973 were modeled after the pair skating short program, and the structure of competitions in both single and pair competitions have been identical since the elimination of compulsory figures in 1990. Skaters' and teams' entire performance during their short program is evaluated by three program components: composition, presentation, and skating skills. Both partners of pair skating and ice dancing teams must demonstrate

15846-410: The side, the blade of a figure skate is not flat, but curved slightly, forming an arc of a circle with a radius of 180–220 centimetres (71–87 inches). This curvature is referred to as the rocker of the blade. The "sweet spot" is the part of the blade on which all spins are rotated; this is usually located near the stanchion of the blade, below the ball of the foot. The blade is also "hollow ground";

15985-440: The six jumps to be landed cleanly as a quad in international competition is the elusive quadruple Axel . A few male skaters made valiant efforts to land the immensely difficult four-and-a-half revolution jump (most notably two-time Olympic Champion from Japan, Yuzuru Hanyu ), but failed to land one cleanly and fully-rotated. The first clean and fully-rotated quad Axel was successfully landed by American men's skater Ilia Malinin at

16124-413: The skater by pulling the cable/rope. The skater can then practice the jump with the coach assisting the completion. This is used when a skater needs more help on a jump. However, if the coaches see fit, they could use another harness usually called "the fishing pole harness." It is named that because it looks similar to a fishing pole. The skater will put on the harness and the coach will adjust it so it fits

16263-449: The skater, the outside edge is on the side farthest from the skater, and a flat refers to skating on both edges at the same time, which is discouraged. An unclear edge or edge violation is indicated with an 'e' and reflected in the GOE according to the severity of the problem. Flutz and lip are the colloquial terms for a Lutz and flip jump with an edge violation. In 1982, the ISU enacted

16402-421: The skater. The skater will go and do the jump with very little help from their coach. They can also do the jump on any pattern they choose, whereas, the other harness, they must do in a straight line. Figure skating consists of the following disciplines: Each element receives a score according to its base value and grade of execution (GOE), resulting in a combined technical elements score (TES). At competitions,

16541-405: The spin", both partners must perform all three basic positions to earn its full value, and can begin with a jump. For spin combinations, pair skaters "must include only one change of foot with not less than five revolutions on each foot by both partners". The change of foot may be done in the form of either a jump or a step-over, and the change of foot and change of positions must be made either at

16680-499: The staunch and exacting backdrop of figure skating". Following the Olympics, the trio was promoted to be NBC's primary figure skating commentators. Lipinski, along with Weir and Gannon, was an analyst at the 2018 Winter Olympics . Commentating during prime time at the Olympics had been a dream of Lipinski's. The trio also hosted the closing ceremonies of the 2018, 2020 , 2022 , and 2024 Olympic Games. NBC's Access Hollywood hired Lipinski and Weir in 2014 to analyze fashion during

16819-453: The suspense, spins provide the scenery, but there is so much more to the scenery than most viewers have time or means to grasp". According to world champion and figure skating commentator Scott Hamilton , spins are often used "as breathing points or transitions to bigger things" Figure skating spins, along with jumps, spirals, and spread eagles were originally individual compulsory figures , sometimes special figures. Unlike jumps, spins were

16958-399: The toe pick of one skate into the ice, using it to vault into the air with the opposite leg. The main toe jumps are (in order of score value): All of the above descriptions assume a counter-clockwise direction of rotation, landing backwards on the outside edge of the right foot. (For clockwise rotation, the skater takes off using the alternative foot and lands backwards on the outside edge of

17097-414: The two-foot equivalents of rockers and counters. Other movements that may be incorporated into step sequences or used as connecting elements include lunges and spread eagles . An Ina Bauer is similar to a spread eagle performed with one knee bent and typically an arched back. Hydroblading refers to a deep edge performed with the body as low as possible to the ice in a near-horizontal position. Moves in

17236-497: The women's events and Weir with Gannon at the men's events. After realizing that they worked well together, with what Lipinski called their "instant chemistry", they pitched the idea of the three commentating together for NBC; Lipinski stated that it "was sort of meant to be". The trio generated the 10 best weekday daytime audiences in NBC's history. According to reporter Tom Weir, "they had instant comedic harmony, with their casual chatter and humorous asides playing amazingly well against

17375-554: The world, each with its own format and rules. The term "figure skating" is an English language term; the sport is called Eiskunstlauf in German and patinage artistique in French. The most visible difference from ice hockey skates is that figure skates have a set of large, jagged teeth called toe picks on the front part of the blade . These are used primarily in jumping and should not be used for stroking or spins. If used during

17514-408: The youngest skater to win a U.S. Championships title. She broke the record set by Sonya Klopfer , who was 15 when she won U.S. Nationals in 1951. She defeated Kwan, the reigning 1996 U.S. champion , who won the short program. Kwan fell twice and landed only four out of her seven planned triple jumps in her free skate, leaving the door open for Lipinski's victory. She was the last skater to perform in

17653-512: Was a month younger than the previous record holder, Sonja Henie from Norway, when she won the first of her ten World Championships in 1927. Lipinski completed seven triple jumps, as she had done at the U.S. Nationals and the Champion Series Final, and finished in first place after the short program. She also completed two double Axels , but one rival coach noted the small trajectory of her jumps, stating that "you couldn't have put

17792-542: Was applauded and called powerful, but slammed by the Russian media. In 2018 and 2019, Lipinski and Weir hosted and appeared in a few shows on Food Network , including two seasons of Wedding Cake Challenge . In 2022, Lipinski co-hosted Wedding Talk with event planner José Rolón and wedding designer Jove Meyer, produced by Chicken Soup for the Soul Studios . In the same year, Lipinski and her husband, Todd Kapostasy,

17931-442: Was awarded 5.8s and 5.9s for her technical and presentation marks, and earned six out of nine first-place marks from the judges, winning the gold medal because the free skate was weighted more heavily than the short program. Lipinski was the youngest Olympic gold medalist in figure skating history. She was the sixth American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. Kwan finished in second place, and Chinese skater Lu Chen

18070-558: Was born on June 10, 1982, in Philadelphia , to "Pat" Lipinski and oil executive Jack Lipinski. She spent her earliest years in Sewell, New Jersey . When Lipinski was two, while watching the 1984 Summer Olympics , she stood on a Tupperware bowl and pretended to be a gold medalist. At the age of three, she began roller skating and eventually became a national champion in her group when she was nine years old. She began figure skating in

18209-577: Was customary for skating commentators when she competed, she would call figure skating from studios in the U.S. instead of live at the competition venue. She also became a special correspondent for Extra and local NBC affiliates. Lipinski teamed with sports commentator Terry Gannon and fellow figure skater and good friend Johnny Weir at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi as the network's second team of figure skating commentators for their daily live broadcasts. At first Lipinski collaborated with Gannon at

18348-448: Was developing arthritis, and a cartilage had grown over the bone. She was back on the ice seven days later for light practice with Stars on Ice. She was able to return to touring but had to withdraw from the 2000 World Professional Championships. In 2002, Lipinski toured 61 U.S. cities with Stars on Ice, then retired from skating. Lipinski's skating influences were Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, and Christopher Bowman . Her skating style

18487-496: Was introduced at the 1963 European Championships , the 1964 World Championships , and the Olympics in 1968 ; previously, pair skaters only had to perform the free skating program in competitions. Synchronized skating has always had two competition segments, the short program and free skating. The short program must be skated before the free skate. It lasts, for both senior and junior singles and pairs, 2 minutes and 40 seconds. In synchronized skating, for both juniors and seniors,

18626-856: Was made in 1876, by John Gamgee , in Chelsea along the north bank of the Thames River ; it measured 24 by 40 feet. By the end of the 19th century, many major cities in Europe and North America had indoor rinks. There is significant variation in the dimensions of ice rinks. Olympic-sized rinks have dimensions of 30 m × 60 m (98.4 ft × 197 ft), NHL -sized rinks are 26 m × 61 m (85 ft × 200 ft), while European rinks are sometimes 30 m × 64 m (98 ft × 210 ft). The ISU prefers Olympic-sized rinks for figure skating competitions, particularly for major events. According to ISU rule 342,

18765-487: Was often contrasted to that of Michelle Kwan: Jere Longman called Lipinski "the consistent Energizer bunny of a jumper" and Kwan "the more sophisticated, complete artist". Kwan's coach Frank Carroll called Lipinski's style "wonderful", adding that she was "turning easy, jumping easy". Writer Ellyn Kestnbaum remarked that compared to Kwan's "more carefully choreographed expressions of joy", Lipinski displayed "unselfconsious and spontaneous joy in her own movement that projected

18904-422: Was replaced at NBC by Lipinski, Weir, and Gannon, called them a "phenomenon" and "such a breath of fresh air". GQ called their commentating style "a Gladwell-ian ability to demystify figure skating for the uninitiated and an extreme candor for which they've caught some heat". Cosmopolitan considered Lipinski and Weir's commentating style honest and colorful, and noted that they used banter and avoided what

19043-519: Was technically the most difficult program in Olympic history up to then. She received 5.8s and 5.9s in presentation marks. Kwan received all 5.9s in presentation but lower technical marks than Lipinski. Kwan performed her free skate almost perfectly, with one minor error during one of her jumps. According to Washington Post reporter Amy Shipley, Kwan "skated brilliantly and Lipinski skated better". Swift noted that Kwan's performance of her free skate "would have been enough to win at any other Olympics", but

19182-410: Was the surprise bronze medal winner. Lipinski was two months younger than Sonja Henie when she came in first place at the 1928 Winter Olympics , breaking a record that had stood for 70 years. Single skaters from the same country had not won gold and silver medals at the Olympics since Americans Tenley Albright and Carol Heiss in 1956 . In March 1998, Lipinski announced her decision to withdraw from

19321-417: Was worth". At the 1997 Skate America , Kwan defeated Lipinski for the first time in three competitions and won the gold medal. Lipinski came in second place after Kwan in both the short program and free skating segment, taking second place overall. Despite performing more difficult jumps than Kwan during her short program, Lipinski consistently received lower technical marks. During her free skate, she fell on

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