ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601220108
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-11 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: SAN JOSE, CALIF.
SOURCE: Associated Press
MICHELLE KWAN, 15, and Rudy Galindo win U.S. Figure Skating championships.
Once in a while, quite often just once in a lifetime, someone captures a magical moment. Rudy Galindo grabbed it Saturday, and it will remain a part of him - and those who witnessed it - forever.
Galindo, in the biggest upset in decades, won the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earning two perfect marks along the way.
``This was like a dream,'' said Galindo, a native of San Jose. ``I can't describe this moment right now.
``Yesterday, I just had this feeling, not like I was psychic or something, but I was going to have a clean long. And I kept on imagining after, the crowd standing. The past week, I would just wake up, I couldn't sleep. I could visualize me getting off the ice with the crowd standing, for some reason.''
As expected, Michelle Kwan, who has had a superb year, capped it with her first national title in the women's event. Kwan hit six seven triple jumps, including a triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination for her fifth straight first-place finish this season. Kwan, 15, is the third-youngest women's champion.
Defending champion Nicole Bobek withdrew just before the free skate with tendinitis in her right ankle. That opened the way for veteran Tonia Kwiatkowski, 24, to finish second and for 13-year-old Tara Lipinski to surge to third place.
The U.S. Figure Skating Association's international committee was to meet after the competition to name the women's team for the world championships in March.
Even before he was finished, the fans were on their feet. Galindo took the ice last, and left it to a standing ovation that began with 30 seconds to go in his free skate, to ``Swan Lake.'' By that time, he had nailed eight triple jumps, two in combination, and was smiling broadly as he completed a stunning performance.
The crowd already was chanting ``six'' when two of them appeared on the scoreboard, for presentation. They were the first 6.0s of his career. He also earned 11 5.9s for technical merit and presentation.
That was good enough to edge Todd Eldredge, who skated just before Galindo and fell short of winning a fourth national title. Eldredge was first with two of the nine judges for a conservative program to music from the movie ``First Knight.''
``It's the first time out for this program, so obviously it is a little rougher than I'd like,'' Eldredge said.
Soaring to third was Dan Hollander, who like Galindo has been on the border of the medals podium before, but never reached it. Hollander was third in the free skate to grab third overall.
Galindo, who had been third in the short program, and Hollander, fourth in the short, will make their first trips to the world championships as singles skaters. Eldredge, who was second to Canada's Elvis Stojko a year ago, will go for the fifth time. The world championships are set for March in Edmonton, Alberta.
``One goal for this year was to make the world team,'' Hollander said. ``Deep down inside I really wanted it this year, but I didn't think I would be ready for it yet.I have to think about all the years and all the back-to-back programs I've been doing, and that it would be so stupid to throw it away when I'm so close.''
Falling short of the team after a poor free skate, worth two-thirds of the total score, was Scott Davis, a two-time national champion. Davis stepped out of several jumps and two-footed others, winding up fifth in the free skate.
Galindo, 26, twice was a national pairs champion with Kristi Yamaguchi. But while Yamaguchi went on to lasting fame and an Olympic gold medal in singles once they split, Galindo had never made his mark as a singles skater. Until now.
``This was a lot sweeter,'' he said. ``I did it on my own.''
Galindo didn't come close to an error. He hit a triple axel-triple toe loop to start, then followed with a triple flip-triple toe. From beginning to end, it was a sensational show for the fans and their local hero, who is one of five skaters with statues honoring them outside the San Jose Arena.
``This was the first time I put a good short and a good long together,'' he said. ``Usually I don't have a good short and an OK long and I'm in the middle of the pack.''
The others with statues are Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Peggy Fleming and Debi Thomas, all with the kind of credentials Galindo could only dream of until Saturday.
Tragedy has accompanied Galindo's life far more than success. His father died of a heart attack in 1993, and his older brother George died of AIDS six months later. Two of his coaches, Jim Hulick and Rick Inglesi, died of AIDS-related diseases.
Galindo, 26, wondered if his special time ``came from above, my father, my brother, Jim and Rick giving me a helping hand.''
LENGTH: Medium: 91 linesby CNB