This was definitely the best night yet. I have to tell you all right away about my most thrilling evening. Guess who showed up?.......Dorothy Hamill!!!! We, after much work and a little luck, actually got to talk to her, get her autograph and I got my picture taken with her! OH MY GOSH. I was shaking with excitement when Laura spotted her with her binoculars. She was sitting with all the important people; Rudy, Viktor, Anton & Elena, Isabelle, Rocky, Calla, etc. As I was running through the hall to try to get to her I saw a familiar face. Was it her? YES, I met Irina Rodnina! The most successful skater of all time. 3 Olympics Golds and 10, yes 10, World titles.

Todd got the crowd so crazy that I started to jump up and down, scream, cry and wave my flag all at once (and try to take pictures)!!! It was great to see him do so well and win the LP. He seemed very happy with his Silver medal and waved graciously to the crowd who would not stop cheering for him for a long time.

OK, now for the more emotionally controlled reports. (I just had to get that all out first!)

Dance spoilers to follow.

At the Original Dance competition Joseph & Butler had to skate first. They did well and are still in 25th. K & O did great as usual, I really like this program. Lobacheva & Averbukh did better than I thought they could (I don't really like them) and had some great moves! They are still in 4th. Punsalan & Swallow did good but the judges now have them in 6th down from 5th on Tuesday. I disagree with this completely BTW. While they were waiting to go on Shae-Lynn was dancing around to the other skaters music and trying to get Victor to dance with her. I know I keep saying this but she is so cute and everyone loves them. They got enormous cheers from the crowd when they took the ice and smiled and waved to us lots. They looked really relaxed. The Canadians chanted "Give me a C, C give me an A, A...etc....CANADA". It was great to see how much their fans adore them. We Americans do too! Their marks were mostly great except for the US and GBR judges gave them 5.3's; Whatever!! Anissina & Piezerat didn't impress me with this style of music but are still in 2nd, of course.

During breaks as I was walking around by the hotel I overheard Jason Dungjen telling Christy Ness that the Doctor told him he could go home now. I also saw Todd & Richard Callahan walking down the street and he didn't look too happy. I heard he had a rough practice that morning. Lori Nichol (Michelle's choreographer) was conducting a skating clinic at the Ice Plaza and looked to be having a lot of fun. I got Peggy Schwarz's autograph and asked them what routine they were going to skate to in exhibitions. They didn't know yet!?

After the OD Laura & I were walking around the mall looking for a big American flag to buy (no luck) and guess who we saw? Michelle walking right behind us with her mom. We smiled and said "Hi" and "Good luck" We were sort of in shock and almost missed them!!!! They continued toward Dayton's and we followed them. We saw her again in the sunglasses Hut looking at sunglasses, duh. We decided to approach her and I got my picture taken with her. She said she didn't mind us talking to her at all. We talked for a short time (she said her early practice that day went well) and then as we turned to leave we ran into Anton! He's so cute up close and I got my picture taken with him too!!! We congratulated him profusely on him being World Champion, he smiled and said "Thank You" many times. I don't know how much English he speaks but he seemed to understand us pretty well. What a lucky walk!!

When we arrived back at the Target Center we again sat in these great seats that aren't ours but no one seemed to be claiming! Gilberto Viadana (ITA) had a rough skate but I still really like his strength and expression. He even got 1 5.0 for presentation! Guo Zhengxin landed a 4t 3t WOW, a 3x 3t, and a 3z 3t! He still wasn't even in the top 10 due to his lack of artistic anything. You all saw the rest of the competition. I would have liked to see all the top skaters skate cleanly but, oh well!

Back to the Dorothy Hamill miracle. We also saw Randy Gardiner and when he was signing my book he pointed to his picture with Tai and said to Anton "Look I did that too" What fun to be in the audience when Todd did so well. It was amazing and when Worlds come the US again you all have to go. Start saving your money now. It has been more than worth it!!!!

Michelle skates tomorrow afternoon. GO MICHELLE!!!!!!! GO TONIA!!!!!!


Back to Events / Reviews and Reports / 1998 Worlds / Reports
Photo © Heather Winfield