Albertville, FRANCE - 1992 Winter Games, Figure Skating, Men's Free Skate - Paul Wylie of the United States skated his heart out to win the Silver Medal here.
Watched this in my dormitory room as a college freshman, and to say it seized me by the throat is an understatement. I don't care at all what medal he did or did not win, the heart in this performance is beyond anything anyone could ever hope for in sports or art. I hope Wylie, his friends, and family, still reflect back on this with untrammeled pride, because he earned all of that. Listen to that crowd!
Yall hes one of the nicest people ive met. I spent some time at an olympic center. My coach there is good friends with him. When i tell you he just brings light to the room when he steps in it, im not lying. Hes got such a cheery, amazing disposition whenever i see him helping kids on the ice. Go paul wylie!
I too watched the performance at the time. I was cheering with tears in my eyes! Choreographed to Patrick Doyle’s inspiring soundtrack of Henry V, Paul made my heart soar particularly with the amazing splits toward the end! I watch this video every so often just to feel that thrill and patriotism of his gold medal winning performance! (yes I know he won silver, but it was definitely the gold medal performance of that event)
Such an complete skater. I saw him when he was with Stars on Ice in 1996 and he was incredible to see in person. That's really the best part about his performance here, because he did so well and won the silver it really opened a lot of doors for him in the professional world which enabled us fans to see him so often in professional shows and competitions during the sport's heyday in the 90s...
I remember this performance like I remember my name. It was going to be his last skate as an amature. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. He was composed and the music was perfect. I cried when he was wrapping up because it turned out to be a medal winning performance and he should have won the Gold (IMO (lol) . He went on to be a great professional performer in the skating world up until he retired.He was inducted into the US Figure Skaters Hall of Fame in 2008.
Between Paul's emotional and artistic skating and Scott's commentary - this IS Gold. This is skating. This is art. I will never forget my joy watching this year's ago. Or whenever I re-watch it on Utube. I hope Paul knows how he inspired so many and still does.
As much as I liked Petrenko's presentation and speed, he really just wasn't on that night! I would have liked to have seen Paul Wylie win gold with this skate.
+barkingtree88 - Yeah, that seems to be the consensus that Petrenko was just "off" and it happens. A lot of us think Paul should've won gold but the judging was suspect.
@@rowbom Paul was under just as much pressure being in 3rd place and knowing there was room... regardless, this was the Olympics and the best performance should have won!
@@barkingtree88 Paul was under no pressure at this event. He wasn't even supposed to be a contender for a medal. Petrenko came in as 1 of the top 2 favorites by far along with Browning, and was under pressure to not drop out of 1st place after the short like he did at the last 2 worlds to Browning. I do agree that shouldn't be a factor in the scoring though.
Wylie, Hamilton and Browning were and are my favorite men skaters. No feathers sequins or feminin gestures. Power and artistry. Real footwork along with jumps. Ill take thos anyday over quads and flailing arms
Such a heart warming performance...It wasn't perfect, and content-wise what he managed to do put him sort of even with a lot of the other guys. But as Hamilton mentioned, his mistakes (turns in between combinations, two foot landing on Salchow and double lutz vs triple) were not as serious and disruptive to the performance as the other guys, and when you factor what the artistic marks should be, he should absolutely have won the competition. But for him, walking away with silver was still an incredible accomplishment and for us fans probably the best story of Albertville!
Even with the slight mistakes on the jumps, this performance was a masterpiece. The artistry was flawless. I miss this type of skating so much. Nowadays there is no artistry anymore, it’s all just jump jump jump or transitions setting up for the next jump. Give me Jason Brown over Nathan Chen any day! (Not to take anything away from Nathan Chen - he is a brilliant skater, I just prefer the artist to the jumper.)
I can see how much of an artist he truly is . Skates with so much passion and love and appreciation for the beautiful sport it is . I believe skating now is lacking that , and the true elegance it should have . So amazing , Paul is ! I was practically glued to the TV when he would perform…. Lol
The judge who gave Paul Wylie that 1/10 of a point, saw that this skater had the talent to compete and win! He just didn't luck into a spot-he gave a performance that would never have been given. Are we ever lucky.
When I was a little girl I wanted to be an Olympic athlete so badly! It never happened because I'm not remotely athletic--though I did try! When I think about it now I realize that the reason for my Olympic dream wasn't the fame or fortune but because of moments like these: knowing as an athlete that you did your very best, better than anyone ever expected, and having that rush of joy and pride. I'm envious of athletes like Paul who have experienced that. THAT is what the Olympics are about--not commercials and mascots and the pretty dances at the opening ceremony. Its about what happens when you compete with the very best in the world, and how (if you're lucky) it brings out the best in YOU. Congratulations on a job well done, Paul Wylie. You're a legend. 😊
I am not one to defend Petrenko's performance at all, but I think if Paul had just been a little cleaner on a couple of landings, he might have gotten it. We're splitting hairs but the lutz and the second axel weren't as controlled as they could be. The salchow was a mess. The second lutz was popped. There also were no combinations. There was room there on the technical side to bypass Petrenko more than he did. The 5.9 is out is whack. So is the 5.4. But overall I think those marks were the right scores for that program. It wasn't flawless. The problem was that Viktor's marks should have been lower. He only did four triples out of the seven he attempted. Plus his spins were elementary. Ridiculous. Artistically there shouldn't even have been a contest. Paul's performance was miles better. Even without the cleanest of programs, it should have been enough to pass Viktor.
Yeah nobody skated particularly cleanly that night but artistically it's no contest. Fair to give Petrenko a slight technical edge for a harder program even with more serious mistakes, but his program was very unmoving. I'd say 5.7/5.7 for Petrenko and 5.6/5.9 for Wylie.
Reputation meant a lot back then, too much in fact. Paul *might* have won with a perfect skate, and that is exactly the problem. It wasn't enough for Paul to skate a better program on that night. He had to be perfect *and* his competitors had to make mistakes, and even then the judges still might have given the gold to Viktor or Kurt. The good thing is that I don't think Paul ever looked at it as "losing" gold. He had the greatest competition of his career, in front of such a supportive crowd, at the time when it mattered the most.
And I remember that Petrenko was skating to his old program. That should have been more frowned upon...dusting off that old program. It was a nice program, though. I remember the music.
It sounds so corny to say but this is an inspirational performance. It's also the classic Olympic moment - the underdog no one expects anything great from, maybe even expect to fail, just stuns everyone in the room.
Paul, so proud of you. During this 2020 thanksgiving, I just wanted to let you know how grateful, how thankful iam for an christian big brother like you Paul. Because of your obedience In putting that article in brio magazine, god used your story to set me free from my biggest fears. Iam a 39 year old young woman. With disabilities and am a college student who's about to finish my fifth year with my 3rd A. I Love you Paul, so very much.
Scott is so biased, he doesn’t even bother to hide it. First of all, it’s clear Paul kind of stepped out of his Lutz and tried to hide it by adding a double toe and Scott acts like it was perfect. Still though, I would have given it to Paul. Paul’s errors were much smaller than Victor’s and he had a new program, unlike Victor’s 3-year-old program.
His marks prove the saying in figure skating your reputation definitely influences your scores. Scott Hamilton touched upon Paul's reputation as a runner-up. It's a shame. Petrenko was favored coming into the Olympics and the judges did not want to break from that tradition. Still this performance was inspiring and moving. You don't see the clean lines like that anymore. Nice to see Kristi and Nancy in the stands cheering on their teammate. Where was Tonya ?
That is sad. These days, the super-high 4-revolution jumps aren't really all that exciting, to me. They're too fast (in the air) to follow, often entered (and landed) poorly--just not much style (or grace) there.
the technical mark was ok, 5.9 way too high, 1st Lutz and the 2nd Axel overrotated, Salchow double footed, 2nd Lutz only double and where was the loop?
Should have won the gold. Petrenko is the worst gold medalist EVER. Should NEVER have been on the podium. Wylie’s spirals & camel spins are some of the best.
Love, love, love this performance but I have always thought Scott Hamilton needed to be quiet. He just talked way too much. Sometimes you need to be quiet and savor the moments. His commentary was just too much throughout the entire performance.
If I had to describe Scott's commentary in one word, it would be "enthusiastic"! 😎 The only exception was his cameo role in _Blades of Glory_ . Worst skating movie ever made.(ugh 🤮🤦♀).
i would give him 5.6/7 and 5.7/8 for technical and artistic respectively. the quality of his jumps was not great by any measure. he doesnt jump very high and the distance covered is not great; one would never use his jumps as an example of great jumping to teach students. also his jumps mostly had little stumbles and or wobbles. his much vaunted artistry is nothing to write home about. u cannot put him in the same class as curry or cranston that is for sure. he has nice lines but too much gliding and not great edges. in ths new system of points per element he defo would not have won the silver
Every year leading up to 1992, I looked forward to seeing the small, trim, handsome skater with the marvelous artistry. I kept forgetting his name in between because I only saw him skate once per year at Nationals. His Albertville skates are some of my all-time most beloved Olympic memories! I love Scotty Hamilton's commentating in both his short and long programs (both brilliant!). For this long program, a second or two after his music begins but before he starts moving, you can hear Scotty stick his head out of the booth and shout, "YOU CAN DO IT!" Evie Scotvold was always brilliant with choreographing him and editing his music to perfection. After Albertville, Wylie proved to the world that his silver medal was no fluke, because he was mega-popular and a frequent winner as a pro for the next 4 or 5 years (back when the pro competitions were tough competitions). I doubt we'll ever have men's skaters as all-around great as Paul Wylie, Scotty Hamilton, and Kurt Browning again, but I'm glad for all the memories and seeing them on youtube.
Word(s). Paul was always my favorite skater, ever since I saw him at Skate America when he was just a teenager. Artistry has always mattered more to me than athleticism, although Paul had both here. He SHOULD have won the gold, but no judge was willing to give the gold medal to a skater who’d never finished higher than 9th in the world. Such is the weakness of subjective sports (although, technically ALL sports are subjective in some sense. Just ask both participants in the men’s 1972 gold medal basketball game). Petrenko, the gold medalist that year, gave the worst “gold medal” performance ever. After two strong combinations, he completely fell apart, falling twice and landing the rest of his jumps sloppily. Even his spins were awful. He didn’t deserve the gold medal or a medal of any color. Barna, Bowman or Stojko should have won the other two medals (hard for me to decide to put on the podium). A pity they don’t give medals for sportsmanship bcz Kurt Browning richly deserved it. Kurt, not Viktor, was the one with all the pressure riding in him - that, plus a bad back. It’s one reason I admire Canadians so - the great majority don’t pout, throw tantrums or offer up excuses. They just do their best and hope it all works out in the end. What a fantastic country Canada is! I agree with the male skaters you mentioned as some of the best - but you forgot one: John Curry. Curry, the most artistic skater I have ever seen, skated at a time when figures (you know, the element that gave the sport its name) were competed. He was superb at them, which explained why his stroking and edges were among the best ever. The short and free skate were longer in Curry’s day, too. And his musical interpretation was the best I have ever seen. The great Dick Button recognized how exemplary both Curry and Wylie were. In fact, he called Curry the finest all around skater he had ever seen. Mind you, he had plenty of superb words for Mr. Wylie, too.
This is why I love the Olympics--the chance to watch someone you've never met achieve their lifelong dream. I think we all want that moment, and to get to share it... that's just special.
One of my favorite Olympic memories, I was 13 years old and watched this with my grandma and we cheered our hearts out in her living room for Paul Wylie. Wonderful. Grandma's not with us anymore but this program always makes me think of her in the best way.
Alisonation...Grandma is with you....now and forever..but what a wonderful dedication you gave to her...she is smiling down on you and always watching over you..! she is sending you her love thru me..."
One of my fav memories too, especially since US figure skating people didn't want him on the team. Thy thought he should give up his spot to a younger athlete who had never been to the Olympics.
I saw this back in 1992. I fell in love with him after I saw his short program. This program was wonderfully choreographed. Still love Paul to this day. With all of Victor Petrenko's mistakes, he should've won gold.
+koalasarah - Go back and watch Paul's programs from 1989 -1991 Nationals. He really stirred up the audience. All these performances are on UA-cam here. Good stuff.
As a artist, Paul was Top. As a Competitor he was known as a "Choker." He was not consistent enough to be Champion. Here, at this Competition, he was solid BUT the Judges tend to Reward the Most Stable & Consistent. After his dismal Nationals..He was LUCKY to make the world team and he took another Competitors place!
@@user-kf8wb2cq4f Well, that's (rewarding consistency over a long time, rather than judging solely based on the day's performance) called cheating. No one does that in any other competition or sport. Further, consistency may mean bad artistry. Who wants to watch a consistently solid Picasso when they could watch a mostly consistent Monet? Or who would pick a John Cage over a Beethoven?
I fell in love with Paul at 13, spoke to him when I was 15, followed in his foot steps to Harvard and all I have to say is ....Paul, thank you. Genuine, lovely and a true man of God as well as an artist.
I love Paul Wylie. He's one of my favorites male figure skaters. My other 2 favorites are Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning. He was very happy with his performance and silver medal.
Paul Wylie, the most artistic, graceful and complete figure skater ever. The Scotvolds coached and choreographed his programs at a higher level than any of his competitors. When Wylie retired the end of beautiful skating ended too. Just my humble opinion. I miss him and his gorgeous programs!!
The one subsequent program that may rival this in terms of absolutely chill-inducing artistic beauty was Alexei Yagudin’s “Man in the Iron Mask” long program in Salt Lake City. That was in a similar tradition to this one.
Paul was truly robbed of the Gold Medal. Viktor Petrenko is one of the most inconstant skaters ever and to be rewarded the Gold Medal was a huge slap in the face!
Carol Worth yep--Johnny and Tara are very knowledgeable, fun, and have classic chemistry together, but they can also be biting and a bit detached from the competitors. With Scott, these were largely his friends he was calling their events, and you could tell how much he was really pulling for them. His trademark "YES!" when someone hits an important jump like with Wylie's triple Axel here...classic.
Carol Worth another classic example of this was if you watch both of Lu Chen's Olympic programs in '98. She had come back from several major setbacks including a disastrous 25th in the previous year's World Championship, and Scott was just going crazy with joy to watch her comeback to win another Olympic bronze--because again he knew her well and was emotionally invested in what happened in these old school classic events. Some networks treat that like it's a bad thing for announcers to do that, but they're wrong--it humanizes it. Also in '98, Scott was known to be very close with Elvis Stojko, and when he did his (eight triples) long program with a severely injured groin and could barely walk at the end, literally had to be helped off the ice--listen to Scott there. He was practically in tears--he was literally suffering along with him, and the thing is, there was absolutely nothing fake about it. It's who the guy is.
@@CarolWorth Yes he was !! His comment about Mark Mitchell as the future of US Skating was uncalled for and insulting to Paul Wylie....and he YAKS TOO MUCH.🥶🥶
Paul won a silver medal here. I remember watching this at the time and it was quite exciting as he skated so well. There had been times in the past when Paul would not perform at his best. This performance was his best or very close to it. Great footwork and choreography too.
This performance got me teary-eyed. He is an amazing athlete and artist. Don’t see artistry like this today. What a star. I am so glad his dream was realized. He so deserved this.❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️🌈
@@ladyhawke7034 Hey, thanks!! You just gave me a wonderful idea! 💡🎓 I can turn the sound off the skating video; then play a different piece of music in the background (which I wish he'd actually used during his competitive career), lol. 🥰💻🎼🎶🎵
Inspiring performance, worthy of the gold. The marks were absolutely shameful. Not only was he cleaner than Petrenko, his artistry was far superior as well.
After all this time, I finally find this on UA-cam. My oh my was that performance spectacular. I remember watching this as if it just happened yesterday. Paul, I will always love you. :)
![[HD] Paul Wylie - 1992 Albertville Olympic - Free Skating](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lMLFs1SUgLg/mqdefault.jpg)
Timeless.. tears down my eyes 30 plus years later.. this is figure skating
It’s the music for me. Henry V - brilliant.
@@tanithschneider3051it is a beautiful movie score. Definitely made for a great program.
Love Scottie's emotion and his "YES!!!!" after the triple axel! Dream come true for me for Paul to have done so well AT THE OLYMPICS!!!
Watched this in my dormitory room as a college freshman, and to say it seized me by the throat is an understatement. I don't care at all what medal he did or did not win, the heart in this performance is beyond anything anyone could ever hope for in sports or art. I hope Wylie, his friends, and family, still reflect back on this with untrammeled pride, because he earned all of that. Listen to that crowd!
His arm positions are just so elegant and perfect. Never seen anyone approach this performance in terms of that.
Such a moving and wonderful performance. Scott Hamilton's commentary added to the excitement!
One of the few times that the commentary added to the performance rather than detracting from it.
This is one of my favourite programs of all times. One of those rare occurrences when the music was perfectly matched to the skater.
Loved his lyrical and classic lines. That music was awesome! So happy he got silver!
He has one of the best body positions of any figure skater ever! Beautiful soft knees, nice free leg positions, good back position...beautiful!
Extraordinary performance from.such a talented, powerful skater. He was always one of my favorites.
Yall hes one of the nicest people ive met. I spent some time at an olympic center. My coach there is good friends with him. When i tell you he just brings light to the room when he steps in it, im not lying. Hes got such a cheery, amazing disposition whenever i see him helping kids on the ice. Go paul wylie!
I've always heard this so it's nice to have it confirmed!
Paul is on my lists of BESTS.
Awesome, awesome skater! I remember watching this and marveling at his artistry but most of all his spins! He was so underrated.
I too watched the performance at the time. I was cheering with tears in my eyes! Choreographed to Patrick Doyle’s inspiring soundtrack of Henry V, Paul made my heart soar particularly with the amazing splits toward the end! I watch this video every so often just to feel that thrill and patriotism of his gold medal winning performance! (yes I know he won silver, but it was definitely the gold medal performance of that event)
Paul Wylie - Such a class act.
Amazing how his whole life changed with this spectacular night.
Such an complete skater. I saw him when he was with Stars on Ice in 1996 and he was incredible to see in person. That's really the best part about his performance here, because he did so well and won the silver it really opened a lot of doors for him in the professional world which enabled us fans to see him so often in professional shows and competitions during the sport's heyday in the 90s...
Loved the splits and spin at the end!
I remember this performance like I remember my name. It was going to be his last skate as an amature. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. He was composed and the music was perfect. I cried when he was wrapping up because it turned out to be a medal winning performance and he should have won the Gold (IMO (lol) . He went on to be a great professional performer in the skating world up until he retired.He was inducted into the US Figure Skaters Hall of Fame in 2008.
This video said Paul wanted to go to law school after. I wonder what Paul is doing today? :)
@@TheCandiceWang Last I was aware, he was coaching in Charlotte, NC.
@@TheCandiceWang Paul is now Director of Sport for the Olympic Regional Development Authority in Lake Placid.
Between Paul's emotional and artistic skating and Scott's commentary - this IS Gold. This is skating. This is art. I will never forget my joy watching this year's ago. Or whenever I re-watch it on Utube. I hope Paul knows how he inspired so many and still does.
Paul Wylie won the silver, every bit of it. I remember crying watching this skate. He's a skater's skater and a super human being. ❤️
I've heard nothing but wonderful things about him! Apparently a super nice guy.
So wonderful to see Paul Wylie skate again. He was one of my top favourites! Brought tears to my eyes! 😭🤗💕
One of the best personalities who ever graced the ice Beyond Scotty Hamilton 👍❤️😀
He is so clean in his presentation. Just beautiful to watch.
As much as I liked Petrenko's presentation and speed, he really just wasn't on that night! I would have liked to have seen Paul Wylie win gold with this skate.
+barkingtree88 - Yeah, that seems to be the consensus that Petrenko was just "off" and it happens. A lot of us think Paul should've won gold but the judging was suspect.
Yes agree 💯👍. He was the champion. ♥️ Paul
But Petrenko was under more pressure.
@@rowbom Paul was under just as much pressure being in 3rd place and knowing there was room... regardless, this was the Olympics and the best performance should have won!
@@barkingtree88 Paul was under no pressure at this event. He wasn't even supposed to be a contender for a medal. Petrenko came in as 1 of the top 2 favorites by far along with Browning, and was under pressure to not drop out of 1st place after the short like he did at the last 2 worlds to Browning. I do agree that shouldn't be a factor in the scoring though.
Wylie, Hamilton and Browning were and are my favorite men skaters. No feathers sequins or feminin gestures. Power and artistry. Real footwork along with jumps. Ill take thos anyday over quads and flailing arms
5 clean triples, 2 errors on triples, a popped triple lutz, and a triple loop commission. I would have given him a 5.7 & 5.9 and the gold medal.
So happy to see Paul excell! God love him!
Such an elegant skater.
Such a heart warming performance...It wasn't perfect, and content-wise what he managed to do put him sort of even with a lot of the other guys. But as Hamilton mentioned, his mistakes (turns in between combinations, two foot landing on Salchow and double lutz vs triple) were not as serious and disruptive to the performance as the other guys, and when you factor what the artistic marks should be, he should absolutely have won the competition. But for him, walking away with silver was still an incredible accomplishment and for us fans probably the best story of Albertville!
Even with the slight mistakes on the jumps, this performance was a masterpiece. The artistry was flawless. I miss this type of skating so much. Nowadays there is no artistry anymore, it’s all just jump jump jump or transitions setting up for the next jump. Give me Jason Brown over Nathan Chen any day! (Not to take anything away from Nathan Chen - he is a brilliant skater, I just prefer the artist to the jumper.)
Yes, the only two skaters since Wylie with any kind of style, musicality, artistry , and flair are Johnny Weir and Jason Brown. We need more
Jump, jump, arm wave, spin, jump....
I love so many skaters but Paul will always be my favorite.
Just rewatched this one of my favorites of all time!
Yall he did have a few bobbles and he did get blacked balled n alot of the points. Just glad he got him a silver.
I can see how much of an artist he truly is . Skates with so much passion and love and appreciation for the beautiful sport it is . I believe skating now is lacking that , and the true elegance it should have . So amazing , Paul is ! I was practically glued to the TV when he would perform…. Lol
The judge who gave Paul Wylie that 1/10 of a point, saw that this skater had the talent to compete and win! He just didn't luck into a spot-he gave a performance that would never have been given. Are we ever lucky.
Should have been 6.0 for presentation
When I was a little girl I wanted to be an Olympic athlete so badly! It never happened because I'm not remotely athletic--though I did try!
When I think about it now I realize that the reason for my Olympic dream wasn't the fame or fortune but because of moments like these: knowing as an athlete that you did your very best, better than anyone ever expected, and having that rush of joy and pride. I'm envious of athletes like Paul who have experienced that.
THAT is what the Olympics are about--not commercials and mascots and the pretty dances at the opening ceremony. Its about what happens when you compete with the very best in the world, and how (if you're lucky) it brings out the best in YOU. Congratulations on a job well done, Paul Wylie. You're a legend. 😊
I am not one to defend Petrenko's performance at all, but I think if Paul had just been a little cleaner on a couple of landings, he might have gotten it. We're splitting hairs but the lutz and the second axel weren't as controlled as they could be. The salchow was a mess. The second lutz was popped. There also were no combinations. There was room there on the technical side to bypass Petrenko more than he did. The 5.9 is out is whack. So is the 5.4. But overall I think those marks were the right scores for that program. It wasn't flawless. The problem was that Viktor's marks should have been lower. He only did four triples out of the seven he attempted. Plus his spins were elementary. Ridiculous. Artistically there shouldn't even have been a contest. Paul's performance was miles better. Even without the cleanest of programs, it should have been enough to pass Viktor.
intldawn Agreed. Also, remember Paul had no triple triple.
Yeah nobody skated particularly cleanly that night but artistically it's no contest. Fair to give Petrenko a slight technical edge for a harder program even with more serious mistakes, but his program was very unmoving. I'd say 5.7/5.7 for Petrenko and 5.6/5.9 for Wylie.
Petrenko was a mess. Worst “gold medal performance” ever. Shouldn’t have even been on the podium.
Reputation meant a lot back then, too much in fact. Paul *might* have won with a perfect skate, and that is exactly the problem. It wasn't enough for Paul to skate a better program on that night. He had to be perfect *and* his competitors had to make mistakes, and even then the judges still might have given the gold to Viktor or Kurt. The good thing is that I don't think Paul ever looked at it as "losing" gold. He had the greatest competition of his career, in front of such a supportive crowd, at the time when it mattered the most.
And I remember that Petrenko was skating to his old program. That should have been more frowned upon...dusting off that old program.
It was a nice program, though. I remember the music.
With the favorites making mistakes. Kurt Browning&Christopher Bowman. Paul Wylie shocked everyone. By this performance. He should have won the gold.
I love him ❤️Gold in my book !!!!!
It sounds so corny to say but this is an inspirational performance. It's also the classic Olympic moment - the underdog no one expects anything great from, maybe even expect to fail, just stuns everyone in the room.
YES! It's what the Olympics are all about. The idea that when you get the best together to compete, it brings out the best in all of us.
definitely the gold medalist
He's dueling on the ice.
Such energy
My French teacher saw this live because her husband was an executive at CBS
The fact that the American judge ranked Wylie higher technically and lower artistically is preposterous. The only judge to do so.
Paul, so proud of you. During this 2020 thanksgiving, I just wanted to let you know how grateful, how thankful iam for an christian big brother like you Paul. Because of your obedience In putting that article in brio magazine, god used your story to set me free from my biggest fears. Iam a 39 year old young woman. With disabilities and am a college student who's about to finish my fifth year with my 3rd A. I Love you Paul, so very much.
Scott is so biased, he doesn’t even bother to hide it. First of all, it’s clear Paul kind of stepped out of his Lutz and tried to hide it by adding a double toe and Scott acts like it was perfect.
Still though, I would have given it to Paul. Paul’s errors were much smaller than Victor’s and he had a new program, unlike Victor’s 3-year-old program.
I do agree, but the jumps were shaky, the opening triple flip wasnt crisp, the lutz was also stepped out of as was the salchow
Sorry Paul was gold all the way. I do like Victor but was not the same magic as Paul did that night.
Yes this was a better performance than Viktor Petrenko
His marks prove the saying in figure skating your reputation definitely influences your scores.
Scott Hamilton touched upon Paul's reputation as a runner-up.
It's a shame.
Petrenko was favored coming into the Olympics and the judges did not want to break from that tradition.
Still this performance was inspiring and moving. You don't see the clean lines like that anymore.
Nice to see Kristi and Nancy in the stands cheering on their teammate.
Where was Tonya ?
Remembering the days when landing a triple axle brought high excitement. Today it is just another jump. Ha
That is sad. These days, the super-high 4-revolution jumps aren't really all that exciting, to me. They're too fast (in the air) to follow, often entered (and landed) poorly--just not much style (or grace) there.
@@user-gy3vp3tm3s let me guess, you want to “make figure skating great again”? Ha ha.
Golden.
This was so beautiful.
I loved this program; but he needed that 2nd triple lutz to beat Victor; I so wished he had done it.
Kurt and Paul class act
The true Olympic champion
5:50 Looks like Kristi’s shouting scared the bejabbers out of Nancy. 🤣🤣🤣
8:31 The look on his face answered that question. I think he was about to throw up.
Paul Wylie looks like my brother-in-law and Andrew Stevens.
That was amazing
He should have won.
He was robbed. I watched the whole thing. His performance was much superior.
His edge jumps was his weakness. But I like this programme!
Yesss, Viktor!!!
He definitely should have one .
the technical mark was ok, 5.9 way too high, 1st Lutz and the 2nd Axel overrotated, Salchow double footed, 2nd Lutz only double and where was the loop?
Should won gold way better than Victor who won with a fall
Paul's program looks too much like the program of brian boitano for me which was so much better
Should have won the gold. Petrenko is the worst gold medalist EVER. Should NEVER have been on the podium. Wylie’s spirals & camel spins are some of the best.
Robbed!!!
Does somebody know the title of this fabulous music ?
From the 1989 film "Henry V"
Winderful
I think Paul Wylie got robbed. He deserved at lowest 5.8. He should have gotten the gold.
Love, love, love this performance but I have always thought Scott Hamilton needed to be quiet. He just talked way too much. Sometimes you need to be quiet and savor the moments. His commentary was just too much throughout the entire performance.
If I had to describe Scott's commentary in one word, it would be "enthusiastic"! 😎 The only exception was his cameo role in _Blades of Glory_ . Worst skating movie ever made.(ugh 🤮🤦♀).
Where is the water
Frozen!
Paul Wylie got robbed.
Who is this ?
Silence, please
Lol
i never really cared for his skating for some reason.....but yeah....he was robbed
i would give him 5.6/7 and 5.7/8 for technical and artistic respectively. the quality of his jumps was not great by any measure. he doesnt jump very high and the distance covered is not great; one would never use his jumps as an example of great jumping to teach students. also his jumps mostly had little stumbles and or wobbles. his much vaunted artistry is nothing to write home about. u cannot put him in the same class as curry or cranston that is for sure. he has nice lines but too much gliding and not great edges. in ths new system of points per element he defo would not have won the silver
Every year leading up to 1992, I looked forward to seeing the small, trim, handsome skater with the marvelous artistry. I kept forgetting his name in between because I only saw him skate once per year at Nationals. His Albertville skates are some of my all-time most beloved Olympic memories! I love Scotty Hamilton's commentating in both his short and long programs (both brilliant!). For this long program, a second or two after his music begins but before he starts moving, you can hear Scotty stick his head out of the booth and shout, "YOU CAN DO IT!" Evie Scotvold was always brilliant with choreographing him and editing his music to perfection. After Albertville, Wylie proved to the world that his silver medal was no fluke, because he was mega-popular and a frequent winner as a pro for the next 4 or 5 years (back when the pro competitions were tough competitions). I doubt we'll ever have men's skaters as all-around great as Paul Wylie, Scotty Hamilton, and Kurt Browning again, but I'm glad for all the memories and seeing them on youtube.
💛
Word(s). Paul was always my favorite skater, ever since I saw him at Skate America when he was just a teenager. Artistry has always mattered more to me than athleticism, although Paul had both here. He SHOULD have won the gold, but no judge was willing to give the gold medal to a skater who’d never finished higher than 9th in the world. Such is the weakness of subjective sports (although, technically ALL sports are subjective in some sense. Just ask both participants in the men’s 1972 gold medal basketball game). Petrenko, the gold medalist that year, gave the worst “gold medal” performance ever. After two strong combinations, he completely fell apart, falling twice and landing the rest of his jumps sloppily. Even his spins were awful. He didn’t deserve the gold medal or a medal of any color. Barna, Bowman or Stojko should have won the other two medals (hard for me to decide to put on the podium). A pity they don’t give medals for sportsmanship bcz Kurt Browning richly deserved it. Kurt, not Viktor, was the one with all the pressure riding in him - that, plus a bad back. It’s one reason I admire Canadians so - the great majority don’t pout, throw tantrums or offer up excuses. They just do their best and hope it all works out in the end. What a fantastic country Canada is! I agree with the male skaters you mentioned as some of the best - but you forgot one: John Curry. Curry, the most artistic skater I have ever seen, skated at a time when figures (you know, the element that gave the sport its name) were competed. He was superb at them, which explained why his stroking and edges were among the best ever. The short and free skate were longer in Curry’s day, too. And his musical interpretation was the best I have ever seen. The great Dick Button recognized how exemplary both Curry and Wylie were. In fact, he called Curry the finest all around skater he had ever seen. Mind you, he had plenty of superb words for Mr. Wylie, too.
This performance still brings tears to my eyes.
This is why I love the Olympics--the chance to watch someone you've never met achieve their lifelong dream. I think we all want that moment, and to get to share it... that's just special.
One of my favorite Olympic memories, I was 13 years old and watched this with my grandma and we cheered our hearts out in her living room for Paul Wylie. Wonderful. Grandma's not with us anymore but this program always makes me think of her in the best way.
That is so sweet.
alisonation Nice comment.
Alisonation...Grandma is with you....now and forever..but what a wonderful dedication you gave to her...she is smiling down on you and always watching over you..! she is sending you her love thru me..."
💕
One of my fav memories too, especially since US figure skating people didn't want him on the team. Thy thought he should give up his spot to a younger athlete who had never been to the Olympics.
I saw this back in 1992. I fell in love with him after I saw his short program. This program was wonderfully choreographed. Still love Paul to this day. With all of Victor Petrenko's mistakes, he should've won gold.
+koalasarah - Go back and watch Paul's programs from 1989 -1991 Nationals. He really stirred up the audience. All these performances are on UA-cam here. Good stuff.
Wylie definitely had the gold stolen from him, but like someone said, it's Wylie we remember, and that's what counts.
As a artist, Paul was Top. As a Competitor he was known as a "Choker." He was not consistent enough to be Champion. Here, at this Competition, he was solid BUT the Judges tend to Reward the Most Stable & Consistent. After his dismal Nationals..He was LUCKY to make the world team and he took another Competitors place!
@@user-kf8wb2cq4f Well, that's (rewarding consistency over a long time, rather than judging solely based on the day's performance) called cheating. No one does that in any other competition or sport. Further, consistency may mean bad artistry. Who wants to watch a consistently solid Picasso when they could watch a mostly consistent Monet? Or who would pick a John Cage over a Beethoven?
Outstanding Paul Wylie! Love your beautiful artistry, lines and jumps!
I relate to his skating
I love this performance so much. Even after all these years it gives me chills - I feel like its THE olympic skating moment for me.
I fell in love with Paul at 13, spoke to him when I was 15, followed in his foot steps to Harvard and all I have to say is ....Paul, thank you. Genuine, lovely and a true man of God as well as an artist.
I love Paul Wylie. He's one of my favorites male figure skaters. My other 2 favorites are Scott Hamilton and Kurt Browning. He was very happy with his performance and silver medal.
Paul Wylie, the most artistic, graceful and complete figure skater ever. The Scotvolds coached and choreographed his programs at a higher level than any of his competitors. When Wylie retired the end of beautiful skating ended too. Just my humble opinion. I miss him and his gorgeous programs!!
The one subsequent program that may rival this in terms of absolutely chill-inducing artistic beauty was Alexei Yagudin’s “Man in the Iron Mask” long program in Salt Lake City. That was in a similar tradition to this one.
Paul was truly robbed of the Gold Medal. Viktor Petrenko is one of the most inconstant skaters ever and to be rewarded the Gold Medal was a huge slap in the face!
Miss these days of skating and Scott Hamilton’s commentating as well❤️
I miss Scotty SO much! He was never negative! 🥰
Carol Worth yep--Johnny and Tara are very knowledgeable, fun, and have classic chemistry together, but they can also be biting and a bit detached from the competitors. With Scott, these were largely his friends he was calling their events, and you could tell how much he was really pulling for them. His trademark "YES!" when someone hits an important jump like with Wylie's triple Axel here...classic.
@@ADEAL918 Agreed! 🤗
Carol Worth another classic example of this was if you watch both of Lu Chen's Olympic programs in '98. She had come back from several major setbacks including a disastrous 25th in the previous year's World Championship, and Scott was just going crazy with joy to watch her comeback to win another Olympic bronze--because again he knew her well and was emotionally invested in what happened in these old school classic events. Some networks treat that like it's a bad thing for announcers to do that, but they're wrong--it humanizes it. Also in '98, Scott was known to be very close with Elvis Stojko, and when he did his (eight triples) long program with a severely injured groin and could barely walk at the end, literally had to be helped off the ice--listen to Scott there. He was practically in tears--he was literally suffering along with him, and the thing is, there was absolutely nothing fake about it. It's who the guy is.
@@CarolWorth Yes he was !! His comment about Mark Mitchell as the future of US Skating was uncalled for and insulting to Paul Wylie....and he YAKS TOO MUCH.🥶🥶
Paul won a silver medal here. I remember watching this at the time and it was quite exciting as he skated so well. There had been times in the past when Paul would not perform at his best. This performance was his best or very close to it. Great footwork and choreography too.
This performance got me teary-eyed. He is an amazing athlete and artist. Don’t see artistry like this today. What a star. I am so glad his dream was realized. He so deserved this.❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️🌈
Jason brown and Johnny Weir are the only two other skaters with style, artistry, musicality and flair
@@ladimare But I still think that Paul Wiley was better. His skating seems to tell a better story.
Agree with you 100%. Tremendous story teller. You can turn of the sound and still have an idea of the music selection based on his choreography alone
@@ladimare Hey! I'm going to try that! I will search for a Paul Wylie program that I haven't seen, turn off the sound, and just imagine!!!
@@ladyhawke7034 Hey, thanks!! You just gave me a wonderful idea! 💡🎓
I can turn the sound off the skating video; then play a different piece of music in the background (which I wish he'd actually used during his competitive career), lol. 🥰💻🎼🎶🎵
one of the most captivating performances EVER. Few male skaters can combine power and artistry with masculinity like Wylie did.
You don't see footwork like that anymore, certainly leading right into a triple jump.
Probably my favorite Olympic moment. Such an exquisite skater and gracious competitor.
My second favorite Olympic moment, just slightly behind Sarah Hughes in 2002.
Yuzuru Hanyu, both times he won the GOLD.
Inspiring performance, worthy of the gold. The marks were absolutely shameful. Not only was he cleaner than Petrenko, his artistry was far superior as well.
Doesn't matter we remember Paul over victor. That's what counts
I remember Paul Wylie and Petrenko!!!!!!
Agreed
After all this time, I finally find this on UA-cam. My oh my was that performance spectacular. I remember watching this as if it just happened yesterday. Paul, I will always love you. :)
Whatever you say!!! No straight
Whatever you say!!! All skaters aren't gay that's ignorant