Few names ring out in the world of figure skating more than the name Kristi Yamaguchi, mainly because she's one of the most successful and renowned American figure skaters in history, making all of her shows must-see events if you love the thrill of figure skating. These are some of the most incredible athletes you're going to find anywhere, a rare combination of pure athletic ability, grace and world-class training that makes figure skating one of the best ice-based spectator sports that you're ever going to find. A performance from an icon like Kristi Yamaguchi can turn even those not typically noted as fans of the sport, as she has been known to dazzle audiences with her incredible array of talent and gift for performance.
So if you are a fan of figure skating, you will not want to miss the talented Kristi Yamaguchi as she works her magic on the ice at a venue near you, as she's one of those electrifying performers who you need to see first-hand to truly appreciate. With a special engagement teaming her with another legendary performer, Brian Boitano at the SAP Center in San Jose is one of the incredible events you might find Yamaguchi headlining, making it a good idea to keep your eye on the figure skating performance calendar to make sure that you don't miss an amazing event.
When Kristi Yamaguchi came to compete at the 1988 figure skating Junior Championships, those in attendance got to see a legend-in-the-making before she was a national star. That year, Yamaguchi took home the junior title and followed it up by winning national titles in 1989 and 1990, showing a major talent for pairs competition as well. After winning at the Olympics and the World Championships as well, Kristi Yamaguchi was well on her way to being an absolute superstar in the sport, leading her to being inducted in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2005.
But Yamaguchi wasn't finished there either. After making a name for herself as a commentator, she went on smash hit TV show Dancing with the Stars in 2008, winning as the celebratory challenger to show that she still had a major ability to put on a show. From there, Yamaguchi has been doing occasional shows that bring her fans a trip down memory lane with some unbelievable moves on the ice that has fans at the edge of their seat during the performance. For figure skating fans, it simply doesn't get any better than this.
Though figure skating is a popular television sport as well, hearing the excitement of the crowd before, during and after an amazing figure skating performance helps to elevate it to a completely different level, and suddenly watching from home is about like experiencing the Seven Wonders of the World in a travel magazine. Being there is a completely different situation, which is something that you'll see first-hand if you head out to a highly anticipated figure skating show that will have enthusiasts from all over pouring into the stands. With someone like Kristi Yamaguchi, you know you're in for a show that you're just not going to be able to duplicate anywhere else.
Though Yamaguchi was winning titles and awards from a very young age on, but it really all came together in 1991 and 1992. In 1991, Yamaguchi beat out Tonya Harding for first place at the 1991 World Championships in Munich, then followed that up by winning her second straight title in Oakland the following year. Continuing her hot streak, Yamaguchi came to Albertville in France for the 1992 Winter Olympics, walking away with a gold medal and cementing her legacy as one of the all-time greats in American figure skating.
Did you know that Yamaguchi had a cameo role in D2: The Mighty Ducks?
Disney's popular hockey-based fantasy film The Mighty Ducks was a huge hit when it was released in the early 1990s, followed up by the also successful D2 in 1994. Red-hot off her mind-boggling achievements in the sport of figure skating, Yamaguchi ended up the perfect choice for a cameo alongside other sports icons like Wayne Gretzky, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Greg Louganis.
This is a sport unlike any of the other ones that you're going to see, as figure skating is a completely different type of event that you can't really appreciate anywhere outside of the arena. An amazing exhibition figure skating performance featuring someone of Yamaguchi's stature is known to bring in fans from all over, making her shows a great opportunity to get out for a fun night filled with great performers who know all about putting on a show. When Yamaguchi is zipping around the ice and the crowd is just as into it as you are, you definitely will be glad that you're not still sitting at home.