Denise Biellmann - Queen of Spin.
There must be something in the water. Switzerland has produced some outstanding spinners through the years including Stéphane Lambiel, Nathalie Krieg, and Lucinda Ruh.
Before some of them were even born, a teenage phenom named Denise Biellmann not only had one of the most difficult and creative spins named after her, she was also the first woman to land a triple lutz in ISU competition (the 1978 European Championships).
Her 1980 Olympic free skate was memorable not only for its edgy music and modern choreography, but, as the last skater in Lake Placid, she stole the show from arch rivals and medal favourites, East Germany's Annette Poetzsch, and Linda Fratianne from the U.S., by winning the free program.
Watch particularly halfway through the program for a teaser variation of her aforementioned spin; Biellmann hits the real thing at the conclusion of her performance.
Hometown Heroes
Canada's Tracy Wilson and Robert McCall were seven-time national champions heading into the 1988 Olympic Winter Games. Threatened by a similarity in height, their long-term partnership almost didn't happen.
However, thanks to quick thinking on McCall's part, he suggested putting lifts in his skates. Whatever it took.
The 1988 Olympic Winter Games would become the signature moment of their amateur careers. Skating inside Calgary's cavernous Saddledome, Wilson and McCall dedicated their free dance to the music of Scott Joplin.
The opening section to Joplin's 'Maple Leaf Rag', set the pace, with the sold-out audience clapping along immediately. Peppered with difficult lifts and dance holds, the original choreography was designed by Mary Jane Stong. Look out for some tricky straight-line footwork in the closing moments of the routine.
The International Skating Union later said that Wilson and McCall's iconic free program represented exactly what the organization thought dance should be.
Unfortunately, this video could not be embedded onto this page, so please copy and paste the link below to watch this fabulous performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWO4eG_EwG8
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