This was the moment that Dorothy Hamill won my heart. An athlete and skater myself, I understood how she felt to be the victim of these circumstances. She could have easily caved and no one would have faulted her; but being a tiger with the heart of a champion, the little girl from America skates the program of her life.
Edward I agree completely. We had just seen the retirement of Janet Lynn and Dorothy was such an unknown commodity at the time, although she did seem to improve from the junior ranks into the senior ranks. In my mind, before this particular performance (and the crowd response role in it) I was unsure she would carry Fleming and Lynn's mantle as well. I happen to have watched this as it aired initially in 1974 and I've never forgotten this sports skating moment. It's up there with Janet Lynn's free skate at the Tokyo winter games.
I hate that she was called "temperamental" just because she shed a few tears in a terribly high-pressure situation. I love how she marched right back out there and did her thing! :)
Bravo Dorothy! You'll always be a favorite of mine. The delayed axel, the Hamill camel - oh gosh the back position is so far superior to anyone competing today...This is terrific!
I remember watching this as a kid. I'm 44(2013) now but in 1974 I was 5 and I remember crying and thinking how mean the world was for booing her. She's such an angel. I love her face. I can just stare at her perfect face all day.
Fantastic video and skate. The tension, the drama. The superb music. Dick Button's commentary getting me all nervous before her delayed axel and double axel, followed by the roars from the crowd make me tear-up every single time.
Beautiful young lady who here is being forged in the fire of international competition. This is why she nailed it on February 13, 1976. The night of the Ladies Final. A Champion was born. 🔥❤️
Yeah, she pretty much admitted Linda Fratienne had outskated her in the Nationals that year. But you don’t want to peak at Nationals, especially in an Olympic year! Same thing happened in 1988 when Paul Wylie PROBABLY outskated Brian Boitano (at least in the long program), but Boitano skated one of the best skates EVER in the Olympics that same year. Dorothy & Brian were both such incredible, groundbreaking skaters.
The way she would go into that bend down backspin and kept her back so straight, She made it look so easy and look so damn graceful, because it's not. lol
@jacquieskater123 Figures were 40% of the score back then. There was no percentage in doing triples in the free skate. Janet Lynn, by the way, did triples early in her career, but stopped doing them because no matter how much she elevated her free skating, figures held her back.
True. And oddly enough, Janet's main competition back then Trixie Schuba, was a master at school figures, and built such a lead that in competitions she would only skate as long as she felt needed to secure the win, then just stop and skate off the ice. It was Janet Lynn's performance at the Tokyo winter games that helped spur inclusion of a short program, and the eventual discontinuation of school figures in modern figure skating competitions.
Oh, I think this was the first time I ever saw Dorothy Hamill skate. I was a devout viewer of “ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” and I think it featured the World Championships that year. I missed the US National’s for some reason. I was very young myself, but automatically fell in love with Dorothy. So gutsy, so beautiful, so strong! I think she won silver the next year as well, but this skate just made her a stronger athlete IMHO, both physically and mentally. Dick Button was spot on, as he usually was. I miss him and Jim McKay soooo much - a great team! I love skating like this - just full of strength, emotion and beauty, unlike the quadhoppers who have ruined skating (at least for me). Thanks for posting this floskate - a very treasured memory of mine.
Man Dick Button knows his craft and studies these skaters. I mean when Dick Button calls it he’s right in it. I don’t think he’s psychic I just think he really delves in and studies every aspect of the craft and the players.
The announcer said "They've been booing and whistling", not "booing and hissing". Whistling by a crowd wasn't a sign of derision in the US back then, or now for that matter. Quite the opposite, which is why the announcer explained it. To an American crowd, whistling was and is a sign of approval.
This is the same arena where Kristi Yamaguchi won her first World Championship in 1991. The decorative flags on the one side of the arena were still there 17 years later.
@stevel738 Ive been in a stadium with 10,000 people laughing at me, trust me it is one of the worst feelings in the world, the noise can be very unnerving. Im glad she make it work for her
"They've been booing and hissing which is 'European derision'." LOL... they didn't have booing and hissing in America back then? They call her 'an up and down girl'? That's silly. Her behaviour is normal. Something like that happens when you're already under a lot of pressure, the majority of people will get upset and when the moment has passed, she went out and skated. It doesn't make her unique, just a regular person. Very strange comments from the announcers.
obviously they knew about her personality from watching her train and dealing with her on and off the ice. I think it was more relating to the type of behavior she exhibited - mood swings, etc, which eventually were diagnosed medically
I was very young when Dorothy competed, and I can tell you, from a fan's standpoint, skating IS a very emotional sport. Music and the beauty in a skater's movements are what makes the program, and "moves" the skater. On top of competing, she wasn't able to wear her glasses, making it much more complex to perform. Dorothy Hamill will always be a favorite skater of mine, no matter how long I age. Those announcers are extremely unprofessional, and I am very thankful the grading system of the sport has gotten very far away from the judgemental premise on which they formerly ran. Fans and judges SHOULD do the same - grow up!
Frederica I watched this when it initially aired in 1974 and didn't remember Dick Button's comments being so cold until I re-watched this clip! I usually agree with the late Mr. Button's comments and insights into skating, but this was not just harsh but uncalled for. If anything I can give him a tiny pass b/c he was a gay man who skated in an extremely closeted era, doing something that made him suspect anyway, and skaters then were encouraged to be all business and not let these kinds of things affect them. But as you say, how could Dorothy NOT have been affected by the level and duration of that crowd that day...which had to be heightened that she was in contention for a world title.
@thedriverguy - but Hamill was only 5th in compulsories. and more, she perform weak 2Axel+2Toe and 2Lutz in the short), and Christine Errat was really 1st in compulsories and 1st in the short. So that was the reason for total gold for Christine Errath and silver for Hamill. And I can beleive for only one 2axel in the free skating we can see also the marks so extremely high as 5.9/6.0 for Hamill ?!
How far off commentators are with their wild stories, adding falsities by calling her an up and down girl! They were still booing after her name was called - who wouldn't get that meaning? how alone can one be? in a foreign country, and out there alone for the world to watch? and they boo? what a lot of guts and training to go on with it anyway. Lucky they told me that strange jump was a 'delayed axel' as it looked like a bloop in 2015!
They weren't booing her, but they were booing for quite a while even after she was introduced as the next competitor. The crowd was within their rights to complain about the previous athlete's scores, but they shouldn't have kept it up for as long as they did.
Christ, what IS it with Dick Button and "LOOK AT THE SMILE!" as though if women aren't smiling every goddamn second...! He did it with Midori Ito, too.
I'm sorry but Dick Button referring to her as "temperamental" is misogynistic and a mischaracterization. I doubt he would use the same adjective to describe a male skater. In hindsight, it is evident they were not booing her but the low scores of the previous skater but, under extreme pressure, she may misinterpreted their reaction. I can assure you that if he said that today, cancel culture would be all over him.
This was the moment that Dorothy Hamill won my heart. An athlete and skater myself, I understood how she felt to be the victim of these circumstances. She could have easily caved and no one would have faulted her; but being a tiger with the heart of a champion, the little girl from America skates the program of her life.
Edward I agree completely. We had just seen the retirement of Janet Lynn and Dorothy was such an unknown commodity at the time, although she did seem to improve from the junior ranks into the senior ranks. In my mind, before this particular performance (and the crowd response role in it) I was unsure she would carry Fleming and Lynn's mantle as well. I happen to have watched this as it aired initially in 1974 and I've never forgotten this sports skating moment. It's up there with Janet Lynn's free skate at the Tokyo winter games.
I hate that she was called "temperamental" just because she shed a few tears in a terribly high-pressure situation. I love how she marched right back out there and did her thing! :)
Bravo Dorothy! You'll always be a favorite of mine. The delayed axel, the Hamill camel - oh gosh the back position is so far superior to anyone competing today...This is terrific!
I remember watching this as a kid. I'm 44(2013) now but in 1974 I was 5 and I remember crying and thinking how mean the world was for booing her. She's such an angel. I love her face. I can just stare at her perfect face all day.
Fantastic video and skate. The tension, the drama. The superb music. Dick Button's commentary getting me all nervous before her delayed axel and double axel, followed by the roars from the crowd make me tear-up every single time.
She is so darn cute. The dress is so modest!
Beautiful young lady who here is being forged in the fire of international competition. This is why she nailed it on February 13, 1976. The night of the Ladies Final. A Champion was born. 🔥❤️
dorothy is more at ease here than at the 76 nationals, speed and height is better than anybody today!
Yeah, she pretty much admitted Linda Fratienne had outskated her in the Nationals that year. But you don’t want to peak at Nationals, especially in an Olympic year! Same thing happened in 1988 when Paul Wylie PROBABLY outskated Brian Boitano (at least in the long program), but Boitano skated one of the best skates EVER in the Olympics that same year. Dorothy & Brian were both such incredible, groundbreaking skaters.
She is just a stunningly beautiful woman. At least, that's what I've thought everytime I've seen her
The command of her edges is incredible and not likely seen in today's skaters.
I used to skate. It is very mental. All of your muscles have to work in a very specific way. You have to be completely in the zone.
The way she would go into that bend down backspin and kept her back so straight, She made it look so easy and look so damn graceful, because it's not. lol
I remember this like it was yesterday! One of the most beautiful moments in Figure Skating!!!!!!!!
I have to admire Dorothy Hammill's transition from the camel spin into the sit spin towards the end. That's not an easy thing to do so smoothly.
We love you, Dorothy.
@jacquieskater123 Figures were 40% of the score back then. There was no percentage in doing triples in the free skate. Janet Lynn, by the way, did triples early in her career, but stopped doing them because no matter how much she elevated her free skating, figures held her back.
True. And oddly enough, Janet's main competition back then Trixie Schuba, was a master at school figures, and built such a lead that in competitions she would only skate as long as she felt needed to secure the win, then just stop and skate off the ice. It was Janet Lynn's performance at the Tokyo winter games that helped spur inclusion of a short program, and the eventual discontinuation of school figures in modern figure skating competitions.
Dick Button LOVED Dorothy Hamill. You could tell by the way he talked about her every time he described her skating.
Oh, I think this was the first time I ever saw Dorothy Hamill skate. I was a devout viewer of “ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” and I think it featured the World Championships that year. I missed the US National’s for some reason. I was very young myself, but automatically fell in love with Dorothy. So gutsy, so beautiful, so strong! I think she won silver the next year as well, but this skate just made her a stronger athlete IMHO, both physically and mentally. Dick Button was spot on, as he usually was. I miss him and Jim McKay soooo much - a great team! I love skating like this - just full of strength, emotion and beauty, unlike the quadhoppers who have ruined skating (at least for me). Thanks for posting this floskate - a very treasured memory of mine.
Love you floskate
Great drama in sports. Love how you just went I'm going on.
Man Dick Button knows his craft and studies these skaters. I mean when Dick Button calls it he’s right in it. I don’t think he’s psychic I just think he really delves in and studies every aspect of the craft and the players.
The announcer said "They've been booing and whistling", not "booing and hissing". Whistling by a crowd wasn't a sign of derision in the US back then, or now for that matter. Quite the opposite, which is why the announcer explained it. To an American crowd, whistling was and is a sign of approval.
Thanks for posting this! I've wanted to see it.
Unforgettable
A virtuoso performance by the legendary Dorothy Hamill!
This is the same arena where Kristi Yamaguchi won her first World Championship in 1991. The decorative flags on the one side of the arena were still there 17 years later.
Terrific to see this again. I desperately wanted Dorothy's hairdo, unfortunately my hair is very thin and just wouldn't "wedge".
She made me cry!!
@stevel738 Ive been in a stadium with 10,000 people laughing at me, trust me it is one of the worst feelings in the world, the noise can be very unnerving. Im glad she make it work for her
GREATEST FEMALE SKATER/LEGS OF ALL TIME!!!!
Hmm🤔🤔🤔🤔 NO!
"They've been booing and hissing which is 'European derision'." LOL... they didn't have booing and hissing in America back then? They call her 'an up and down girl'? That's silly. Her behaviour is normal. Something like that happens when you're already under a lot of pressure, the majority of people will get upset and when the moment has passed, she went out and skated. It doesn't make her unique, just a regular person. Very strange comments from the announcers.
obviously they knew about her personality from watching her train and dealing with her on and off the ice. I think it was more relating to the type of behavior she exhibited - mood swings, etc, which eventually were diagnosed medically
I was very young when Dorothy competed, and I can tell you, from a fan's standpoint, skating IS a very emotional sport. Music and the beauty in a skater's movements are what makes the program, and "moves" the skater. On top of competing, she wasn't able to wear her glasses, making it much more complex to perform. Dorothy Hamill will always be a favorite skater of mine, no matter how long I age. Those announcers are extremely unprofessional, and I am very thankful the grading system of the sport has gotten very far away from the judgemental premise on which they formerly ran. Fans and judges SHOULD do the same - grow up!
She is very unique
Frederica I watched this when it initially aired in 1974 and didn't remember Dick Button's comments being so cold until I re-watched this clip! I usually agree with the late Mr. Button's comments and insights into skating, but this was not just harsh but uncalled for. If anything I can give him a tiny pass b/c he was a gay man who skated in an extremely closeted era, doing something that made him suspect anyway, and skaters then were encouraged to be all business and not let these kinds of things affect them. But as you say, how could Dorothy NOT have been affected by the level and duration of that crowd that day...which had to be heightened that she was in contention for a world title.
She was also a 17 year old kid.
Her body symmetry was absolutely perfect.
What a glorious skate!!
Winner 1974 was Christine Errath!
but i cant´t find her Program ;-(
@@floskate thx...hope someday :-)
I just saw it on UA-cam.
@@johnorlando9839 world 1974?
@thedriverguy - but Hamill was only 5th in compulsories. and more, she perform weak 2Axel+2Toe and 2Lutz in the short), and Christine Errat was really 1st in compulsories and 1st in the short. So that was the reason for total gold for Christine Errath and silver for Hamill. And I can beleive for only one 2axel in the free skating we can see also the marks so extremely high as 5.9/6.0 for Hamill ?!
Great skate. Be a great story to share on screen. Hint hint. ❤
How far off commentators are with their wild stories, adding falsities by calling her an up and down girl! They were still booing after her name was called - who wouldn't get that meaning? how alone can one be? in a foreign country, and out there alone for the world to watch? and they boo? what a lot of guts and training to go on with it anyway. Lucky they told me that strange jump was a 'delayed axel' as it looked like a bloop in 2015!
“Uncontrollable tears!” “She’s out of her depression now and on top of the world!” Jesus.
Dorothy will be appearing on The Today Show tomorrow.
That's a huge arena...
My girl!!!!!!
@jdfooten Yes, and you have no figures to hold you back. Congrats
no, mr. button. she was not alright. thank you jim mckay for making her case.
Nice double axel, with some training I think she might have been able to do a tripple.
She couldn't do triples. Her coach said so.
sorry Errath was 2nd in figures;)
Carlo❤️
At :56, so Ron Burgundy used to be a figure skating judge? Learn something new everyday.
Were they booing her for five minutes before that? Did I understand that right?
They weren't booing her, but they were booing for quite a while even after she was introduced as the next competitor. The crowd was within their rights to complain about the previous athlete's scores, but they shouldn't have kept it up for as long as they did.
That’s how they are in Europe
Wasn't the West German gal Dagmar Lutz?
No, it was Gerti Schanderl. She was 4th overall.
Wow skate crowds are much better behaved today. Maybe it had to do with the cold war.
Christ, what IS it with Dick Button and "LOOK AT THE SMILE!" as though if women aren't smiling every goddamn second...! He did it with Midori Ito, too.
I'm sorry but Dick Button referring to her as "temperamental" is misogynistic and a mischaracterization. I doubt he would use the same adjective to describe a male skater. In hindsight, it is evident they were not booing her but the low scores of the previous skater but, under extreme pressure, she may misinterpreted their reaction. I can assure you that if he said that today, cancel culture would be all over him.
The audience's performance was disgusting.
Very poor quality....I can’t even see her face.
floskate I apologize.
Really?
That was all for show. She knows it.
Wow
She is hot but bipolar
And your comment is cold!