1971 World Figure Skating Championships Ladies podium

I umm’d and ahh’d about posting this but as someone pointed out to me, it is a moment that changed skating. The winner of the ladies championship here was Trixi Schuba, despite only finishing 7th in the freeskate. But Trixi was the worlds best ever exponent of compulsory figures in a system that valued figures more than free skating. So when they watched Janet Lynn’s mesmeric free skating and saw that, not only had she not won but wasn’t even on the podium, the audience showed their disapproval in no small measure. The tragedy here is that this wasn’t Trixi’s fault and it pains me that, what should have been a moment of great achievement for her, was spoiled in such a way. She won fair and square, but the audience just didn’t get it. Yet this reaction proved to be a catalyst for change and the short program was introduced two years later. N.B - any discussion of this result and ceremony should respect ALL the skaters involved. Abusive comments will be deleted.
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