Figure Skating Fans: Jenny Kirk News!

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 11:32pm

She has announced her retirement It's sad that she's retiring right before an Olympic, instead of after. She was 3rd in 2004 and 4th in 2005 and was on the world team both years. So she could have been right up there, though truth be told, I could see her probably not making the team. Although, I'm not too sure that Kimmie Messigner is age-eligible, so she might have made it by default.

Anyways, I guess with her retirment and Angela taking this season off, atleast we wouldn't have to watch them not make the team, should it have come to that.

I wonder if she was still struggling with her jumps? She has always had low-line type of jumps and the past seasons they've gotten worse, so I have to think that with her changing body that they just weren't getting any better and more and more frustrating for her

I'll miss her!


Now, this really opens the door for Emily Hughes, whom I predict to really peak this season. Whether or not it will be enough, I can't say, cause if Messigner is in the same shape as last season she'll be tough to beat.

https://www.usfsa.org/event_story.asp?id=30615

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 12:02am

This is sad news...I always felt like she connected to her skates better than any of the girls (save Michelle). she is truly a performer.

I'm hopeful she'll skate as a pro.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 12:10am

Wow, I'm shocked to hear this. I really liked her Chicago number, but unfortunately she was very inconsistent throughout her career.

[wally]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 12:46am

Too bad, I really like her. Hope she doesn't stop skating altogether.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 2:40am

You know, it didn't say anything about skating professionally, but I know it's something that she's always talked about, but I have no idea why she wouldn't have said something about it in that statement because it would have fit in perfectly. Anyways, I would think that she would because she loves to skate and it's GREAT MONEY!

[cturtle]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 6:45am

kirk ("my jenny") is one of the great DANCERS on ice. i'd love to see her on a stage.

here's a photo i took of MY JENNY at the 2004 national championship ...

[sharon1]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 10:35am

She will be missed but maybe it is for the best

[Tired_O_Lurking]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 10:39am

this is unfortunate.

I was hoping she would be part of my "Keep Michelle Kwan out of the Olympics" dream.

Simply put, if Kwan comes in fourth or worse at the Nationals this year, no Torino Olympics for her. No previous record matters.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 10:53am

That would be near impossible to keep Kwan off the team, plus Kwan would probably skate better than Jenny anyways.

One thing I liked about Jenny after she left Evy and Mary was her new make-over. She looked so pretty with her highlighted hair!

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 10:55am

Who anyone would want Kwan off the team is beyond me. Has she not put in enough years to satisfy you? Has she been an unfeeling witch at some point? Or are you just against seeing someone fulfill their dream after being crushed twice?

[Tired_O_Lurking]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 11:34am

As with all sports, people root for who they like, and root against who they don't like.

Yankees fans root against the Red Sox. Couldn't the Yankee fans be accused of being "against seeing someone fulfill their dream"??

I've followed figure skating since the Calgary Games (fell in love with Ekaterina Gordeeva) and for the majority of that time Michelle Kwan has been a dominating figure in the sport.

Nobody cheered harder than I did when Tara Lipinski won in 98. Was Tara a better skater than Michelle? I think not. Tara simply did jumps that no-one else was doing at the time.

Nobody cheered louder than I did when Sarah Hughes won in 2002. Was she better than Michelle? No. But Sarah DID perform one of the most challenging programs ever, probably because she, unlike Michelle, had nothing to lose. The big factor in 2002 was that Sarah stayed on her feet when others did not.

I guess this is why there is not wagering on figure skating. Like auto racing, anyone at any time can crash and burn.

But back on topic, I always really liked Jenny Kirk and I also wish she would've at least stayed on for this season.

Meanwhile, I will be cheering for Sasha Cohen all season.



Updated On: 9/8/05 at 11:34 AM

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 1:21pm

I was going to correct you on your date :)

Tara won in 1998
and Sarah in 2002. Funny how the names sound alike!

I can imagine the Fluff Piece they'll have for Michelle at the Olympics and Nationals!!!!!!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 1:39pm

Isn't it ironic that neither Tara nor Sarah stayed in the sport long enough after winning their respective gold medals to defend their title. Michelle Kwan has stayed around long enough to defend her numerous world titles time and again.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 1:46pm

Well you got to give Sarah more credit than Tara! The Olympics were the last thing she competed in. Sarah went to the 2003 Nationals and Worlds, and that's something that no other Olympic Champion from the U.S. has done. Sarah was 2nd at the 2003, and I believe she ended up 6th at the worlds. But she had mistakes and didn't even make the final skating group!

[Tired_O_Lurking]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 2:24pm

you're absolutely right about the dates... post edited.

[cturtle]

Posted: 9/8/05 at 6:16pm

i'm all for MICHELLE to win olympic gold this time. i admire her longevity in competitive skating. i consider SARAH's gold medal a flash in the pan, since she never even won a national title.

(and has anyone seen sarah lately? in stars on ice she should have been billed as "sarah huge" ... ok, that was cruel ... i'm sorry.)

[Tired_O_Lurking]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 10:38am

yep, Sasha's my girl this season.

I think I'll start a 'drink every time Michelle Kwan falls on her butt' game

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 10:45am

I think some people's problem with Kwan IS the longevity as an amateur. What's the point? Is she so desperate to win Olympic gold? It's rather sad to me - why doesn't she turn pro? What is she, like 45 now?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 11:09am

Michelle doesn't need to turn pro as she can make money (and a lot of it) through endorsements and through the Stars on Ice program. I'm a huge fan of Michelle's and win or lose, she always receives the loudest cheers when they announce her name.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 11:11am

That's another problem I have. "Amateurs" who are actually making tons of money through their sport. Isn't that an oxymoron?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 11:23am

True.

[sharon1]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 5:34pm

Actually the terms are now "eligible" and "ineligible". Just thought I would pass that bit of info along. Amateur in figure skating no-longer exists.

[cturtle]

Posted: 9/9/05 at 7:20pm

michelle simply loves competing. she's never been interesting in doing ice shows. i admire her for sticking to what she loves.