Fantastic figure skating performances often earn their just rewards in the form of a medal, but the paucity of available medals inevitably results in some fine performances left empty-handed. Unrewarded they may be, but not forgotten–here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of my favorite relatively obscure(ish) performances that did not result in a medal, except perhaps in my heart:
Stephane Lambiel, Chocolat QR LP at 2003 Worlds (placed 10th overall)
A phenomenal performance from a young Stephane Lambiel that deserved better marks–sadly, his scores here at 2003 Worlds more closely reflects his relative minnow status at the time than what he actually put out on the ice. What beautiful fluidity, musicality, and even difficult transitions before they were cool . . . love the footwork too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pos47CYk7JI
Vera Bazarova/Andrei Deputat – 2015/16 Russian Nationals Chopin Nocturne SP (placed 6th overall)
A few eons ago, I remember watching the young Russian pair of Vasilisa Davankova/Andrei Deputat in junior competition and being blown away by their potential. Sadly, however, the usual specter of puberty intervened and I was crushed to hear that Davankova/Deputat had split due to height disparity issues (or lack thereof). To paraphrase Lord Acton’s famous quotation, put not your trust in junior skaters, for in them there is no salvation. I thought the gods were merciful when they sent Mr. Deputat to Vera Bazarova after she split from her old truck driver partner–but alas, that partnership didn’t quite work out either. At least we still can watch their lovely SP performance from 2015-2016 Russian Nationals to a Chopin nocturne with its gorgeous flow and style, INCREDIBLE timing, exit and transition out of the throw 3Lo, etc. Sure, the twist and the side-by-side triple toes could use some work–but with this SP, you could really see the potential of what could have been.
Judy Blumberg/Michael Seibert, Scheherazade FD at 1984 Olympics (placed 4th overall)
Thirty six years later, Blumberg/Seibert’s ground-breaking Scheherazade still stands as perhaps the most creative and iconic Scheherazade of them all. With its innovative choreography–particularly that final lift where Ms. Blumberg wraps herself around Mr. Seibert’s legs and slides herself down them–that has been relentlessly copied, Blumberg/Seibert’s FD would have won a medal at the 1984 Olympics if not for the mind-boggling decision by the Italian judge to saddle Blumberg/Seibert with a 5.5 for Artistic Impression, which punted them down to fourth place. In a stunning feat of mental gymnastics, the Italian judge claimed that the music of Scheherazade “didn’t conform to the rules of dance” . . .
Jeffrey Buttle, The Last Emperor SP at 2002 Worlds (placed 8th overall)
A young Jeffrey Buttle shows his mettle.
Alexander Johnson, Eleanor Rigby LP at 2012 US Nationals (placed 7th overall)
Intricately detailed choreography, but more importantly, the sum of the program remains greater than its parts.
Sara Hurtado/Adria Diaz, Picasso FD at 2014 Olympics (placed 13th overall)
Hurtado/Diaz’s passionate dance portraying the relationship between Picasso and his muse Dora Maar is a creative masterpiece that still stands as one of my favorite free dances of all time.
Takeshi Honda, Aranjuez LP at 2002 Olympics (placed 4th overall)
Programs set to Aranjuez are littered throughout the annals of figure skating history, but few–if any–capture the drama and pathos of the old warhorse as well as Takeshi Honda’s, with its long, sweeping edges, and choreography that takes time to breathe and create a moment. In particular, the second half of the program is heart-achingly good . . .
(please ignore Scott Hamilton’s bone-headed commentary at the end of this video, which is just about as valid as his laughable remarks about how Alexei Yagudin had “conceded” the long program to Evgeni Plushenko and perhaps Timothy Goebel at the same event)
Laetitia Hubert, Les Miserables LP at 1995 Worlds (placed 6th overall)
There’s something so . . . liberating about watching Laetitia Hubert blaze around the ice at 500 miles per hour and wildly flying into her jumps to the bombastic strains of Les Miserables.