Nicole Bobek - 1993 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Free Skate

Phoenix, Arizona, USA - 1993 United States Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Free Skate - Nicole Bobek would struggle with her triple jumps, landing only 2 of the cleanly. She would drop from 3rd to 5th Place overall.

[@erilinapolly]

That piece from Lovely Ladies is so gorgeously interpreted! Wow

[@sheriffburfordt.justice4488]

The most musical skater. Even if she missed every element she was a joy to watch.

[@ffartisan]

Should have taken the Bronze that year. Beautiful, artistic program with wonderful musicality.

[@bufb]

Always loved her skating

[@SandyKH]

Nicole had flexability like few others. A beautiful dancer. I loved watching her... I just was sorry she seldom could put it together when it counted. She had it all potentially. I wish she did better. It was not a good year for the US.

[@AuntStina]

I remember that she changed coaches fairly often at one point. In 95 or 96 at Worlds the commentators mentioned at least 4 coaches. She had been to the Scotvolds, Frank Carroll, then I believe Brian Boitano’s coach. She ended up with Faasi & people were hoping she had found the one & he died unexpectedly. I can’t remember if the frequent changes occurred before he died or after. I also remember when they would do the fluff pieces that they would always throw in hints implying that her mom was flaky &/or abusive. They would talk about the way they moved around all the time, living in hotels with a female friend of the mom’s & made weird hints about that. It’s like they wanted to out them as a couple, but were afraid to. there were allegations that they were both abusing Nicole. The way they would work this information into the story was odd, in my opinion. It seemed like they were trying to get the word out that this girl needed rescuing. It reminds me of the friend who wants to gossip, but at the same time doesn’t want to tell you anything trying to force you to drag the story out of them. My reply was only meant to share the explanations given at the time for Nicole’s inconsistencies. I wasn’t trying to make her family look bad. I was just baffled by the way it was portrayed. They were basically saying her mom & the friend were dragging her around to all these coaches like demented stage moms.

[@jja8750]

I loved this program. A pity she couldn't have landed at least one other triple. But as is, a very good performance from her.

[@harveygirl95]

Les Mis! 😊

[@twinsylvia17]

THAT TRIPLE AXL!!!!😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 WHAT A MIND BLOWING TEENAGER!!!!!

[@latinadavis3691]

That wasn't a Triple Axel, she did however did the Double Axel. They were all waiting for her to do a Triple Lutz, but ended up doing the Triple and Double Salchow which that was SO amazing!!! Everybody loves her Spiral because hers was so unique and her signature as well!!! 😍😍😍⛸⛸⛸👏👏👏

[@twinsylvia17]

@@latinadavis3691 ooohhh! Okay. See, I'm trying to learn about ice skating. I love watching them skate and see spins and flips and everything. I've always been a fan of watching kool things like this. Double Axl is when u spin like twice right? Yeessss, Nicole was just amazing rather she makes mistakes or not on the ice. She just have the charm which makes us all fall for her

[@lawr17]

@@twinsylvia17 Nicole did three excellent double Axels (her opening jump and the last jump combination). She skated better than Tonya Harding and should've been placed over her. Had she landed just one clean triple -- either the second triple Salchow or done the double Lutz-triple toe combination without the hand down, she may have even won the silver. But the most impressive thing was her musicality at just 15 -- she was one of the brightest talents.

[@Karamarika]

​@@twinsylvia17I know this comment is old, but will answer it anyway. A double axel is 2.5 rotations because it takes off forward and lands backwards. A triple axel is 3.5 rotations and a quad axel is 4.5 rotations. This is why it's considered one of the hardest jumps at each level. It is also an edge jump, so you don't have the benefit of the toe pick to help launch you into the air like you do for a Lutz, flip, or toe loop.

[@figureskatingcommentator9162]

I’d have the rankings like this!
1. Kerrigan
2. Bobek
3. Kwan
4. Harding

[@jja8750]

I'd have had it (for this tournament)
Kerrigan
Harding
Bobek
Ervin
Kwan
Kwiatkowski

[@IndigoBellyDance]

Quite Lovely

[@Bnizzofashizzo]

Tamara Moskvina?

[@barkingtree88]

How Lisa and Tonia finished ahead of this, I'll never know...

[@waynehentley4332]

barkingtree88 Too many mistakes?

[@jacquelineblance4861]

Too low technical and artistic marks