Jumping Sensation
Japan's Midori Ito burst onto the senior circuit at the 1984 World Championships in Ottawa. Small and muscular, while she barely reached the top of the boards, her jumps often exceeded them.
At Skate Canada '84 the following fall, she went head to head with America's Tiffany Chin, who had placed fourth at the Sarejevo Winter Olympics. With pundits anticipating a close call, their match-up proved surprisingly lopsided.
Skating to music composed especially for her by the Yamaha Corporation, Ito flew though six difficult triples, flexible spins and fast footwork, first stunning, then electrifying the crowd. Only 15, her talent even then was merely a taste of greater things to come.
Ito was so good that day, it was a performance that could have won the men's title in Victoria, as well.
Robin Cousins "Rocket Man"
Great Britain had back to back men's Olympic Champions in 1976 (John Curry) and 1980 (Robin Cousins), but their styles could not have been more dissimilar.
Serious and enigmatic, John Curry was figure skating's answer to ballet's Rudolph Nureyev. Following in his footsteps four years later, crowd savvy and eager to please, Robin Cousins was the sport's Gene Kelly.
Both Curry and Cousins were trained by that generation's ultimate politician, Carlo Fassi.
Mere weeks after his gold medal triumph in Lake Placid, Cousins found himself in trouble. Poor compulsory figures combined with a fall in the short program meant certain failure. Instead of letting the skater wallow in defeat, Fassi told Cousins to simply go for it.
Skating to music he edited himself, Cousin's mix of music included "Dragons at Midnight", "Murder on the Orient Express," and "Paint It Black."
At six feet Cousins was tall for a skater. He used his height however, to great advantage. His jumps seemed to hang in the air, appearing to cover half of the rink's width.
Watch out for some amazing spin variations like the toe butterfly and a death drop that will leave you speechless.
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