Ladies' Long Program - 1996 World Figure Skating Championships (USA ESPN)

Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA - 1996 World Figure Skating Championships, Ladies' Long Program - This was the secondary broadcast on ESPN with commentators Bob Varsha and Peter Carruthers, and not the main broadcast on ABC. This was an exciting final flight of skaters as both China's Chen Lu and the United States' Michelle Kwan both skated clean and amazing skates, with each earning two 6.0's for Artistic Impression. However, the majority of the judges favored Michelle, and she would win the first of five World titles. On the other end of the spectrum was Japan's Midori Ito's comeback. She was encouraged to reinstate as an Olympic eligible skater with hopes of becoming Japan's best hope for a medal at the upcoming 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. Unfortunately, the pressure and expectations by the Japanese media stressed Midori out, much like she was in Albertville in 1992. She would arrive too thin and anemic, which prevented her from being able to skate well. After this competition, she would once again retire from Olympic eligible competition.
Skater (Nation) (LP Placement) (Overall Placement) Start Time
Surya Bonaly (FRA) (5th) (5th) 1:23
Irina Slutskaya (RUS) (3rd) (3rd) 7:03
CHEN Lu (CHN) (2nd) (2nd) 12:08
Midori Ito (JPN) (7th) (7th) 18:15
Michelle Kwan (1st) (1st) 23:55
Maria Burtyrskaya (RUS) (4th) (4th) 30:35

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