Jump! Jump!! Jump!!!

Irina Slutskaya at the European Championships in 2001


One of my all-time favorite figure skaters is Irina Slutskaya.

Slutskaya was the best athlete of her generation of skaters, constantly pushing the limit of athleticism versus "artistry". Although her career was certainly a success, she was ahead of her time in that judges were looking for "grace, elegance, and performance" rather than awesome jumps and physical daring. Therefore, she was generally overshadowed by the undeniably poised Michelle Kwan, costing her a few gold medals over the years.

When Slutskaya developed vasculitis, I was bummed that such a great and distinctive skater was effectively retired, or so I thought. Her swift recovery and return to the ice, better than ever, amazed me. Although an Olympic Gold would have perfectly capped a legacy of excellence, her spirit and competitive energy were inspirations enough.

Irina Slutsakaya at the European Championships in 2005

Therefore, I'd like to wish Irina Slutskaya a Happy 33rd Birthday!

Adagio and Jollity

Fumie Suguri performing her Free Skate at the NHK 2005 (Photo: Itsuo Inouye)


Fumie Suguri was born on December 31, 1980, making today her 31st birthday!!!

By figure skating standards, she's working way past retirement age, and, although she hasn't stood on the podium for a while, her competitive spirit keeps her on the ice, focusing on artistic elements to make up for loses in athletic ability. Facing girls nearly half her age, Fumie maintains the dignity and poise of a four-time Japanese National Champion and frequent medalist at international events.

I adore her.

Sometimes fate stacks the deck against people, denying them the ability to reach the rewards of their full potential. Giving into depression and letting go of the spirit to persevere, such behavior is understandable when, no matter how hard you try and regardless of your considerable accomplishments, somebody else outperforms you. Yet, the true measure of a champion isn't the shiny medal or record book notation, but, rather, the willingness to press on, addressing their flaws, sharpening their talents, and face the competition with honor and authenticity.

Fumie Suguri performing her Free Skate at Skate America 2009 (Photo: Christinne Muschi)

And that's why Fumie Suguri will always be one of my favorite skaters. Happy Birthday, Fumie!!!

Candy Hearts and Paper Flowers

"Raggedy Ann and Books" from Raggedy Andy Stories (1920) by Johnny Gruelle


Coinciding with Christmas Eve, December 24th marks the birth date of Johnny Gruelle, born in 1880, known primarily as the creator of Raggedy Ann, first published in 1918.

I find something very charming about the simple, old-fashioned rag doll. Unlike ceramic dolls of the era, rag dolls were made for play, to get tossed around, to get dirty. They weren't put up on a shelf for display, touched only for dusting. And unlike later mass produced dolls, the humble handcrafted doll was unique, and not in a faddish "cabbage patch" way.

Now, fancy high tech gifts can be useful, and elite expensive treats are enviable, but sometimes the simple things are the most memorable and lasting presents of them all.

"Flying with the kite" from Raggedy Ann Stories (1918) by Johnny Gruelle

So, let's be thankful for the gifts which we have and will receive. Let's wish that others will find happiness in that which they shall receive. :-)

Silver

Sasha Cohen performing her short program at the 2006 Olympics in Torino (Photo: Wally Skalij)


With unrivalled elegance and amazing flexibility, Sasha Cohen should have been a multi-year US national champion and Olympic Gold medallist, but freakishly bad luck haunted her competitive career.

First, her era was dominated by other great skaters, Michelle Kwan, Irina Slutskaya, and Shizuka Arakawa, against whom Sasha would constantly find herself coming in second. It was almost farcical how these ladies would tag team on denying Sasha the gold medal. If Slutskaya would have a bad skate, then Arakawa would deliver an all-time classic program. If Kwan was out with an injury, then Slutskaya would would recover from an illness, better than ever!!!

And then there was her performance jinx. Time and time again, Sasha would offer awesome programs, perfect in every way but for a single fall. The contrast was harsh, like a beautiful model on the cover of a fashion magazine with a pimple on her nose, like a pristine and lacy white wedding dress with a smear of ketchup over the heart, distracting the viewer from the overall beauty and grace. Watching Sasha skate was a stressful experience, waiting for the inevitable fall, anticipating the slip that would topple her from the top of the podium.

Sasha Cohen was born on October 26, 1984.

Some say that second place is just the first loser. I can understand that point of view, but, when I look at her accomplishments, Sasha will always be a winner.

Fashionable Frost

Nancy Kerrigan won the 1992 US Silver Medal in a Vera Wang outfit. (Photo: Mike Powell)


Much has been written about Nancy Kerrigan.

The history of figure skating provides high drama and extreme personalities in every generation. Arrogance, anger, despair, and kindness, the Passions rule the Ice. And the skater's blade has no sharpness when compared to their competitive spirits. Don't let the fancy outfits fool you.

But Nancy Kerrigan and her tumultuous times took it to the limit. In 1991, if a writer were to plot out the events that were to occur in the figure skating world over the next three years, their story would have been rejected as an absurd parody. The outrageous characters, the overblown antagonism, the breathless sensationalism, these would have been considered pure hack work of a puerile imagination.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Kerrigan won the '94 Olympic Silver in another Vera Wang outfit (Photo: Clive Brunskill)

So let's celebrate Nancy's birthday today and remember those days of drama. ;-)

Danse Macabre

Dance of Death (1493) by Michael Wolgemut


October 9, 1835 is the birth date of Camille Saint-Saens.

This isn't a "Classical Music" blog, but I was thinking of sneaking in a little Spooky Sunday fun for an early October evening. One of Saint-Saens' most famous pieces is the Danse Macabre. This tone poem is based on a story in which Death appears at midnight every Halloween and summons up the dead from their graves. To the sound of Death's violin, they dance until sunrise. Then they return into the earth and wait for another year to pass so that they can enjoy another night of liberating dance.

In late medieval lore, the danse macabre was symbolic of the universality of death. Regardless of your age, wealth, social status, or personal talents, the Reaper was always at your side. Death was waiting for all mortals. And so Life was nothing but a dance on the way to the grave.

Morbid stuff!!!

Dance of the Dolls (2011) by Anthony Clarkson

But I find the imagery fascinating. Dancing is such vigorous and life-affirming activity that the combination with Death creates a transgressive thrill. Lifeless things should not be dancing. And dancers should not be dead.

Cool Kid

Kimmie Meissner was the 2006 World Champion (Photo by Lloyd Fox, June 5, 2009)


I always root for Team USA in international athletic competitions, but American athletes usually aren't my favorites. But I am a fan of Kimmie Meissner, 2006 World Champion and 2007 US National Champion. I remember seeing her for the first time at the 2005 Nationals when she pulled off the triple axel, becoming only the second US woman to execute the notoriously difficult jump. It was totally awesome.

But what I especially liked about Kimmie wasn't her accomplishments on ice, but her spunky personality. Sure, there are plenty of likable figure skaters, but Kimmie wasn't just nice. She was shy, awkward, ironic, playful, and intense, all in a mercurial flash of emotions. Likewise, in spite of her focused concentration during performance, her emotions were clear upon her facial expressions. This openness was absolutely charming.

Kimmie Meissner was born on October 4, 1989 (Photo by Kathy F. Atkiinson)

The last few years have been tough for Kimmie fans, given her injuries and performance difficulties. There hasn't been an official retirement notice, but that seems to be the way things are going. Regardless, I'll always appreciate her exhilarating presence on the ice. And today we can wish her a Happy Birthday!!!

Soviet Super Skater

Irina Rodnina and Alexei Ulanov won the Gold at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan


Today is the 61st birth day of Russian pairs figure skater Irina Rodnina. She was one of the most dominant skaters in the history of the sport. With three consecutive Olympic Gold Medals, ten World Championships, and eleven European Championships on her record, Rodnina owned the whole decade of the 1970s. Even more impressively, she accomplished this task with two different partners, Alexei Ulanov and Alexander Zaitsev.

To make it even more impressive, she took the 1978-79 season off to have a baby. Then she came back for her final European Championship and her third Olympic Gold Medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, USA. But her most amazing accomplishment was at the 1973 World Championships when the program music stopped midway through the performance. Rodnina and Zaitsev were so focused that they continued the skate in silence with perfect choreography and synchronicity.

Irina Rodnina and Alexander Zaitsev won the Gold at both the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics


But these numbers and anecdotes can't fully describe the amazing talents of Irina Rodnina. You need to see the actual performances to get a proper appreciation.

Kiss and Cry

Kim Yuna performs a sit spin as part of her James Bond Medley short program (2009-2010 Season).

We can't let the day end without wishing a Happy 21st Birthday to skating great, Kim Yuna of South Korea. She's a wonder to watch skating with grace and skill upon the ice. I normally root for the US skaters, but Queen Yuna won me over with her amazing blend of superb technical skill and charismatic program performances. She doesn't always win the competition, but I feel that she's the best total skater currently on the ice.

The thing that surprised me about Kim Yuna is that I expected her to be yet another "jump-bot" kid. When she was a girl skating on the Junior level, it was obvious that she was gifted in athleticism and agility. But there was no hint that she would master the intangibles of quality program components. That's usually the trait of a mature skater, not a teen. However, as soon as she entered the Senior level of competition, she learned how to skate like a Lady.

Finally, she has reached a biological age that matches her style. ;-)


Kim Yuna performs a spiral as part of her Lark Ascending free skate (2006-2007 Season).


Let's look at some of her finest performances.

Queen of the Triple Axels

Midori Ito at the 1996 Figure Skating World Championship (Photo by J. Barry Mittan)

Here's wishing a Happy Birthday to figure skating great, Midori Ito, born on this date in 1969. I'm a big fan of skating, especially the Ladies events. Midori Ito is one of my all-time favorites in this sport. She really brought the athleticism to the competition. Her performances were transformative and served as an inspiration for the current generation of amazing Japanese skaters.

She won the World Championship in 1989, delivering on a triple axel and triple/triple jump combination. It was a record setting event. Here's a vid of her performance:

As the figure skating season draws closer, I'll probably start posting on this topic more.

Enjoy!!!