Favorite Olympic Moments - Midori Ito

Midori Ito, from Japan, was one of the favorites to win gold at the 1992 Winter Olympics. The hopes of her country weighed heavily upon her and she had a troubled short program, after which she was in fourth place. If she won the long program, she could still get the gold. But her long program began with a failed triple axel. She added one in at the end of the program and landed it successfully, becoming the first woman ever to land a triple axel at the Olympics. Midori won the silver medal, apologizing to her country for not winning the gold. Midori was the first woman to land a triple/triple combination in competition and to land seven triple jumps in a free program.

This is her exhibition program at the 1992 Olympics, after all the pressure was off.Her smile and joy really come through.