Today
Interview During 2002 Olympics In Salt Lake City
February 10, 2002
Transcript by Angie

Katie: In the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano Japan 15 year old Tara Lipinski became the youngest ladies figure skating champion in history. And here is how she reacted when she realized she had won.

(clip from kiss and cry)

Katie: Tara Lipinski, good morning. Nice to see you Tara, isn't that funny?

Tara: What was I doing? (laughs)

Katie: You were very excited and you had good reason to be. Do you remember that moment very vividly?

Tara: I do. That whole program I remember. I just remember thinking, 'I've finally done it.' After all these years I went and did what I was expecting, or wanting to do.

Katie: But at only 15 years old. The youngest champion ever. I mean the pressure on you at that age must have been so enormous. And of course, the big story was the rivalry between you and Michelle Kwan.

Tara: Right.

Katie: And yet, you went out and you skated as if you didn't have a care in the world. How were you able to get into that frame of mind?

Tara: Well, I think for me, going up into the Olympics, there was so much criticism between me and Michelle that I didn't know if I could mentally do it. So when I went out there I just gave it up and said 'Ok. I'm just gonna go out and have fun.'

Katie: We have some video of you during the Olympics and Nagano and when you were out there skating and, I know that when you hit your jumps, you must have felt, I guess your confidence builds and builds and builds during the program, doesn't it?

Tara: Yea. It goes, like as the program starts off I remember being really nervous and I said Ok. I just gotta shut my mind off because I'm too nervous, I'm not thinking the right thoughts. And then you get into it. But then where you're going into the last jump, I remember thinking 'Oh my gosh. This is the last jump. How am I gonna do this?'. But um, I don't know. I think after I reacted like like this too, even if I came in last and skated like that, I think I would have been just as excited. Just because...

Katie: Just because it felt so happy about the performance?

Tara: Yea. And you feel this rush of relief and happiness that you did it.

Katie: I have to laugh at because looking at your outfit you wore, my six year old has a Tara Lipinski skating outfit...

Tara: Oh, does she?

Katie: That looks just like that...

Tara: Cool

Katie: And she thinks she is so hot when she wears that outfit skating.

Tara: Oh neat!

< Katie: You're a big role model for lots of young girls all over the place. And after these past Olympic games in Nagano, you decided to turn professional. Remind people why you did that because some people might think 'Gosh, she was just fifteen years old.

Tara: I know. Actually, I'm glad you asked this because I keep reading these articles saying that I turned pro and that I disappeared but, it's so hard for me to understand that but for me because my family lived apart for so long, and it was really hard not to see my dad and to do it all over again for another for years wasn't healthy for my parents. And also, I've had hip surgery. So, it really takes a toll on me and it still never gonna be 100%. So it's physically impossible for me to train like I did if I wanna still have a body...

Katie: Yea

Tara: ...to skate.

Katie: So you have no regrets?

Tara: No.

Katie: I mean, here you are in Salt Lake City as a spectator this time, rather than a competitor. And I know, before we came on the air during the commercial break you said you were having so much fun this go round. So no regrets at all turning professional?

Tara: None at all. When I came here, I never did, but when I came here I thought 'Well maybe...'. I don't know what I'm gonna feel but I had this feeling of happiness. It's almost like I've won again because now I get to enjoy it. I enjoyed it then but I was really nervous and you really don't see the whole thing until you win. So not I kind of feel lucky. And just happy and excited to be at the rest of the Olympics.

Katie: Obviously you're a great person to talk to about the competition this year. Michelle Kwan, obviously going for gold who was your toughest competitor in Nagano. What do you think Michelle's chances are?

Tara: Well obviously they're very good. You kind of know who's gonna be up there. Irina Slutskya the Russian, and Michelle and the other Americans.

Katie: Sasha Cohen and Sarah Hughes

Tara: Yes. But it's also what happens that night. Because it's so different. I didn't think I was going to win when I went in going into the Olympics and you go out there and its just whoever can pull it off that night.

Katie: Do you have any advice? I mean, they've been skating a long time themselves but, anything that you did before your performance in Nagano that might help these skates out this year?

Tara: I don't know because I remember thinking 'I don't know what I'm doing. I'm just way to nervous and I don't know what to do.' So, I don't even know if I'd know what to do now. It's more, you just have to go out and have fun.

Katie: Have fun. Well that's a good rule because I know many people said Michelle was a little too reserved in her skating in Nagano and not quite as expressive enough. I mean, she's an incredibly beautiful, graceful skater but you really need to look like you're enjoying it out there. Even though you may not be, right?

Tara: Right. I remember stepping out onto the ice and going out there and calling my name and I'm like 'No, no, no, no.. no, no no.' You know, I wanna go back. I don't want to, I can't do this.' But once you start it gets eaiser.

Katie: Now you're gonna be at the ladies figure skating competition. Are you gonna be watching?

Tara: I'm not sure if I'm gonna be there but I'm gonna be coming back and forth from Salt Lake so we'll see.

Katie: Well it's so great to see you Tara, I'm glad things are going well.

Tara: Thank you.

Katie: And thank you so much for stopping by.

Tara: No problem.

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