Word: witte
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Ignoring the weird spasm of patriotism I suffer every four years or so, I can admit that Witt danced a beautiful program to beautiful music. In this most watched of Olympic events, however, it is ironic that dancing to beautiful music is what wins...
...Witt was confident in her ability to score high on "artistic impression", she could avoid a technically challenging program. But those skaters who didn't pass the conventional glamour test had to design thrilling, athletic choreography, the kind of choreography that puts ice skating in the category of sport. No viewer can fairly say that the judges were biased against Debi Thomas--she stumbled and fell, she seemed awkward and unconfident. But it does seem that Witt won without the disadvantages Thomas and other skaters had to face: namely risky, exciting moves. While the audience waited anxiously to glimpse skaters...
...negative clips of Zayak--something about standards on women's ice skating should be questioned. In the Olympic gymnastic events athletes compete in teams, all wearing the same uniforms and little makeup. The women are judged not by their facial beauty or their "well-built" bodies, as Witt said she wished to be judged by, but by a true combination of graceful strength and athletic elegance...
...speak negatively of athletic standards in pairs' or men's skating is unthinkable. Yet when a woman gets on the ice all alone, she is expected to prove her femininity, not her strength. Thomas might have lost even without risking the exciting jumps; Witt might have won with those risks. But Witt didn't have to try, didn't have to risk falling, didn't have to exhaust herself during her competition...
...part by pandering to the public's wish for a stereotype, be it elegant, cute, or sexy-have chosen careers consistent with their stage images. Peggy Fleming filmed commercials for Trident gum before moving on to sportscasting; Dorothy Hamill inspired a national hairstyle and represented a shampoo company; Katerina Witt is about to enter a career in acting and modeling. But things will be different for 1988's bronze medalist. A true sportswoman, Debbie Thomas plans to become an orthopedic surgeon, a positive role model in and out of the skating world...