Janet was a lovely skater in that she moved with the music and did not merely wave her arms and legs. The jumps were simpler (though they did double axels too) and the footwork series had to be in a straight line for a while... but it had a genuine beauty too. Few people have changed the sport in the same way Janet Lynn has. I wish our skaters would be taught to watch her and learn how it all can be done...how music helps you to express something greater and more. She made skating art.
And so Janet began her reign as 5-time US champion. Her style defined the modern style of skating. Her posture was superb, and more upright than nearly all skaters before and after her. All skaters lean forward somewhat but Janet's lean was minimal. Her jumps looked effortless.She had deep knees and beautiful extension of the free leg. Her arm closure during jumps looked pretty, and it reminds me of Kostornaia's. Janet's use of arms and connection to the music grew even more in the following years, but even with this performance she had such a soft curve to her wrist and nice hand position. Instead of a skater just doing their routine, watching her at the time evoked special feelings. Even with her falls in some competitions, or the flubs near the end of this where she two-foots on the jump sequence, it was more about the sheer quality of her skating. "This is what skating should look like," was the feeling most coaches and other skaters had at the time and for years after. Just when Peggy Fleming (with Carlo Fassi) had established a style that was influential, so much so that Dick Button would rant about Peggy's ideal free leg position in a layback spin for the next three decades, Janet Lynn came along and had more influence.
The ease of her jumps, skating quality, spins, and I could go on forever... Attempting a triple jump!! Well, before anyone else did. To quote Sandra Bezic talking about Michelle Kwan, "Success isn't always measured by winning an Olympic Gold Medal". Both Janet and Michelle are the epitome of that statement. Neither lady won a Gold Medal at the Olympics, but they both left a legacy that will last forever!!!! 🫶
I wonder if the scoring system could ever be refined to promote this type of skating over the busy, superficially-intricate programs valued in the scoring system today.
Superficially intricate is a great description of skating now in 2022. Except for rare exceptions, women skaters today are not "into the ice" but busily "on the ice". I hope that Janet still reads these You Tube comments and knows that her elegance and athletic ability are still revered, but she is so modest I suspect that she wouldn't.
It was either 1969 or 1970, that Janet Lynn's adopted sister, Lorraine, stabbed Janet with a butcher knife. Janet, who had been living with her grandfather that meetings with mom could be at a coffee shop.. Yet, there was no money to return to Grandfather. Janet hid in mom's apt eating only 1 potatoe a day and 2 slices of bread from the middle of the loaf. There was enuf $ to take a bus only after Janet opened mom's Pentecostal yearly donations envelope, removing $5 - $10 from each 1. Surely, Jesus understands. It took 2 months to accumulate enuf for a bus fare. This apt had an unused room on the 2nd floor that lead down to the outside, rarely used & this is where JL slept. Yet, mom would call the police as she suspected that there was someone? They found nothing.
US figure skating was still recovering from the devastating loss in 1961. Many of the skaters who were moved into the senior level after 1961 were very young (early to mid-teens) and had not fully developed in style yet. Janet was barely 15 when she won the US championship in this video in 1969. Despite the simplicity of her style, it should be noted she had solid technique and she was doing triple jumps back in an era when only the men were doing them (she notably landed a triple salchow in US junior nationals in 1964 when she was 11). She would develop in style in the coming years. It also should be noted that back then, compulsory figures were a sizable portion of the score (60%), and there was only the long program to showcase free skating. As a consequence, there was more emphasis on proficiency in figures than free skating. It was because of Janet Lynn's incredible gift of athleticism and artistry that the short program was added (in 1973) and the movement to devalue and eventually eliminate compulsory figures from the sport was started.
Can anyone do a flying sit spin like that today? Janet also was known for her transitions. She hardly ever relied just on crossovers to get her to where she was going. She didn't just skate from jump to jump.
Wow! She's wonderful ❤
janet showed such prowess. what a gorgeous skater. i could watch her forever. so
lyrical, so beautiful.
She let the music dictate her every movement... perfect timing, every time.
Janet was a lovely skater in that she moved with the music and did not merely wave her arms and legs. The jumps were simpler (though they did double axels too) and the footwork series had to be in a straight line for a while... but it had a genuine beauty too. Few people have changed the sport in the same way Janet Lynn has. I wish our skaters would be taught to watch her and learn how it all can be done...how music helps you to express something greater and more. She made skating art.
Это неверояно, она прыгает так лекго, без проезда на прыжок, он есть но он такой короткий, прыжок стновится неожиданностью, сто раз браво Жанет.❤
Wow! Thank you for posting this gem! And really well photographed too! She was the best, and it’s great to see this from ‘69!
And so Janet began her reign as 5-time US champion. Her style defined the modern style of skating. Her posture was superb, and more upright than nearly all skaters before and after her. All skaters lean forward somewhat but Janet's lean was minimal. Her jumps looked effortless.She had deep knees and beautiful extension of the free leg. Her arm closure during jumps looked pretty, and it reminds me of Kostornaia's.
Janet's use of arms and connection to the music grew even more in the following years, but even with this performance she had such a soft curve to her wrist and nice hand position. Instead of a skater just doing their routine, watching her at the time evoked special feelings. Even with her falls in some competitions, or the flubs near the end of this where she two-foots on the jump sequence, it was more about the sheer quality of her skating.
"This is what skating should look like," was the feeling most coaches and other skaters had at the time and for years after. Just when Peggy Fleming (with Carlo Fassi) had established a style that was influential, so much so that Dick Button would rant about Peggy's ideal free leg position in a layback spin for the next three decades, Janet Lynn came along and had more influence.
The ease of her jumps, skating quality, spins, and I could go on forever... Attempting a triple jump!! Well, before anyone else did. To quote Sandra Bezic talking about Michelle Kwan, "Success isn't always measured by winning an Olympic Gold Medal".
Both Janet and Michelle are the epitome of that statement. Neither lady won a Gold Medal at the Olympics, but they both left a legacy that will last forever!!!! 🫶
She had EVERYTHING - athletic, lyrical. So balanced.
Janet Lynn the greatest female skater ever did two salchows in a row, one in each direction.
LOVE 💚
Thank you Howard!
Great ending combinations.
Lovely layback, and a flying sit spin better than any i've seen. truly lovely skater. and did i even see a couple triples in that program?
Janet is so beautiful.
I just love watching Janet Lynn skate. The rotation occurs at the apex of the jump, just delightful.
Класс! Красивое катание, между тем это катание 53 летней давности!!! Очень поучительно для сегодняшних чемпионов одногодок.
I wonder if the scoring system could ever be refined to promote this type of skating over the busy, superficially-intricate programs valued in the scoring system today.
Superficially intricate is a great description of skating now in 2022. Except for rare exceptions, women skaters today are not "into the ice" but busily "on the ice". I hope that Janet still reads these You Tube comments and knows that her elegance and athletic ability are still revered, but she is so modest I suspect that she wouldn't.
WOW! She did do triples! Was this the only time she landed the triple toe loop?
What is the music for this program???
Janet's flying sit spin puts everyone else's to shame.
well said smokelean!
Was this filmed outside?Her hair is darker here,she must have dyed it for years as her real hair color is dishwater blond.
It was either 1969 or 1970, that Janet Lynn's adopted sister, Lorraine, stabbed Janet with a butcher knife. Janet, who had been living with her grandfather that meetings with mom could be at a coffee shop.. Yet, there was no money to return to Grandfather. Janet hid in mom's apt eating only 1 potatoe a day and 2 slices of bread from the middle of the loaf. There was enuf $ to take a bus only after Janet opened mom's Pentecostal yearly donations envelope, removing $5 - $10 from each 1. Surely, Jesus understands. It took 2 months to accumulate enuf for a bus fare. This apt had an unused room on the 2nd floor that lead down to the outside, rarely used & this is where JL slept. Yet, mom would call the police as she suspected that there was someone? They found nothing.
hunh??
Oh geez,mumbo jumbo!!!
i had forgotten how lacking old figure skating was. it was basically skate around the ice with your arms out from jump to jump. even peggy fleming.
US figure skating was still recovering from the devastating loss in 1961. Many of the skaters who were moved into the senior level after 1961 were very young (early to mid-teens) and had not fully developed in style yet. Janet was barely 15 when she won the US championship in this video in 1969. Despite the simplicity of her style, it should be noted she had solid technique and she was doing triple jumps back in an era when only the men were doing them (she notably landed a triple salchow in US junior nationals in 1964 when she was 11). She would develop in style in the coming years. It also should be noted that back then, compulsory figures were a sizable portion of the score (60%), and there was only the long program to showcase free skating. As a consequence, there was more emphasis on proficiency in figures than free skating. It was because of Janet Lynn's incredible gift of athleticism and artistry that the short program was added (in 1973) and the movement to devalue and eventually eliminate compulsory figures from the sport was started.
thanks michael, you explained things very well.
Can anyone do a flying sit spin like that today? Janet also was known for her transitions. She hardly ever relied just on crossovers to get her to where she was going. She didn't just skate from jump to jump.