Original subtitles

♪♪

She was perfect.

Nancy? Yes.

Then I must be perfect, too.

How is the pain?

Gone.

You were crying.

Just a little.

I am sorry.

She would have been so proud.

I wish she were here.

She is.

Always.

Skate for her.

For your mother.

I am proud of you, too.

S'bogom, malenkaya.

With God, little one.

Home again. Let's get these keys.

Oh, what a day, huh?

(Oksana) What a day--

what a day, what a day.

Oh, here we are.

Can you let me down?

Oh, almost. Here we go.

Okay-- oh!

Oh, don't worry, Oksana,

you still have a whole handful.

(Marina) I think somebody needs a nap.

Oh, you're right.

I am exhausted.

Come with me, Oksanochka.

I think the carnival was a little too much

for the both of us, huh?

Come, we'll go take a little nap,

and we'll cuddle up together,

it'll be nice and warm.

Later I'll make some tea, and we'll have some cheese.

You're making the stew again.

It's his favorite, Mama, you know that.

Well, I know you can't afford the meat that goes into it.

How do you know he's even coming home tonight?

I told you. He promised.

Oh, well, that makes me feel much better.

He's my husband, Mama.

He's Oksana's father.

(faucet running)

(door closing)

(footsteps)

(locks rattling)

Where have you been?

You said you'd be home by 7:00.

If you're seeing someone else, I won't stand for it.

I mean it.

(shoe squeaks)

Your dinner is in the oven.

Do you want it?

I'm not hungry.

Then why did you even bother coming home?

That's all you do here is eat!

Don't you leave.

Don't you dare leave.

Sergei.

Sergei, please.

We're a family.

Mama?

Set for four.

There's only three of us.

Four, Mama.

(sighing)

(giggling, laughter)

(overlapping chatter)

(Marina) Now, there's more cake in the kitchen

if anyone wants it.

Ooh-- Oh...

I think someone is ready to open presents.

Yes, I think.

Here, open mine.

Now, what's in there? Let's see, let's see.

Oh, look at that, it's a bear.

Oh, that's adorable.

(Oksana) Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you, Auntie Anna!

Come, Oksanochka.

Here's Babushka's present.

Let's open it up.

Ukrainian fairy tales.

I'll read a different one to you every night.

(clapping)

I love it. Thank you, Babushka.

Oh, my sweet... (speaking Russian)

Emma, let's see what's in that big box.

What is this?

That's the surprise I told you about.

Let's see here now.

Let's start this. All right, go on.

(soft chatter)

Oh...

Now, they're not brand new, but I thought...

Mama, thank you!

Oh!

Oh, you're welcome, dochinka.

Ooh.

(soft chatter)

(car horn honking)

Now, are you sure you want to do this?

Come on, Babushka. I'll hold you up.

Only for you, Oksanochka.

All right, Oksanochka.

No turning back now.

♪♪ (classical playing)

Babushka, you're hurting me!

Oh, I'm sorry.

All right, Oksanochka.

On the count of three.

One... Two...

Three!

Oksanochka, what happened?

(sighing)

(speaking Russian)

(speaking Russian)

Oksana, we're waiting.

Poor thing's probably still exhausted from yesterday.

Well, maybe I should take the skates back,

get her something else.

Oh, I don't think she'd put up much of a fight.

Oksana, I'm going to be late.

Oksanochka?

Oksana, we're waiting.

I want to take lessons, Mama. I want to learn how to skate.

♪♪ (classical)

♪♪ (classical continues)

(overlapping chatter)

(knocking on door)

Yes, who is it?

My name is Stanislav Brumel.

But I don't understand.

Oksana is just a beginner.

Well, that's good, it means she hasn't

picked up any bad habits.

What kind of schedule are you talking about?

What about school?

She would train in the morning

and go to school in the afternoon.

I-- I don't know, I...

Is this something that you want?

Yes, Mama! Yes, please!

Mr. Brumel, I'm only a French teacher.

We don't have a lot of money.

Mrs. Baiul, the state will pay for almost everything.

Coaching, ring time, even skates.

Why my daughter? Why Oksana?

I watched her.

And she's a bit unsteady on the ice,

and she has almost no technique,

but she's fearless.

And that's one thing I cannot teach.

♪♪ (classical)

Katya! Show them the outside edges.

All right?

Who would like to try some edges?

♪♪ (classical continues)

(laughter)

(indistinct speaking)

Very nice.

Good, good.

Yuri, Alexei, the two of you have a decision to make.

Are you here to play or to train?

Now, go home and think about that.

Go on.

Did I do something wrong?

No, not at all.

Katya says you wanted to see me.

Oksana, come here.

Sit down.

I want you to come to practice a little early,

maybe 15 minutes.

I have to work harder, don't I? I'm not as good as the others.

Can you keep a secret?

I think you're better than the others.

Do you want to see if I'm right?

Yes!

The axel is different from all the other jumps.

First of all, it's a one-and-a-half revolution.

It's also the only jump

in which you take off going forward.

That can be very frightening.

Let's watch Katya.

Katya. Show us the axel.

Watch.

Someday, you'll do that.

What do you think?

(gasping) Oh, she'll love it.

Mama, I can't sleep.

What is it, Oksanochka?

Are you sick?

You don't have a fever.

I'm scared, Mamochka.

(sighing)

It's my first competition. Mm-hmm.

What if I'm not as good as the other skaters,

what if everyone laughs at me?

No one's going to laugh at you.

They might, if I fall, they might.

If you fall, then you'll just

get right back up and skate again.

Just like in the story.

What story, Babushka?

Oh, the one I read to you last week.

The Ugly Duckling.

Babushka's right.

Do you remember how everyone laughed at him?

And what happened?

Do you remember what happened?

He turned into a swan.

(chuckling) The most beautiful swan of all.

And everyone loved him.

Now, stand up, please.

Do you like it?

Can I try it on right now?

It's not finished. Tomorrow, maybe.

Tomorrow? You promise?

Yes, I promise.

♪♪ (classical)

(applause)

How many more till Oksana?

Just one.

I can't take this.

I can't. Where are you going?

I have no idea.

♪♪

♪♪ (music ends) (applause)

Remember, head up,

don't over-rotate your jump, and what's the secret?

Have fun. Right.

(voice on P.A.) Skating for the Meteor

Skate Club of Dnipropetrovst,

Oksana Baiul.

(applause)

Go.

Don't cry, little one.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't.

You don't ever have to skate again if you don't want.

No, Mama.

The audience, they clapped for me.

I even fell down,

and nobody laughed, just like you said.

Come on, Mama,

I want you to see the trophy.

What?

I won, Mama.

I won.

(laughing)

Watch this double lutz, Oksana.

Watch this, he can barely handle a single.

(both laughing)

Oksana.

(church bell clanging)

(clanging continues)

Thank you for coming.

Thank you so much for coming.

(soft chatter)

Mama?

My room is so big and quiet.

Who will read me my stories now?

And who will take me to practice?

Don't worry, Oksanochka.

Everything will be fine.

You promise?

I promise.

(Stas) Faster, Oksana!

Faster!

Keep it light!

Get your arms up!

Arms up!

(grunting)

That was terrible.

You're not even trying, Oksana. You're fighting every step.

Now, watch Yuri, he works with the speed, not against it.

I'm not Yuri. And I'm not Alexei.

I'm not a boy, and I can't skate like one.

It's not your skating I'm worried about,

it's your attitude.

Right now, you're wasting my time and yours.

Now, come on, pull yourself together, let's try it again.

No thanks, I think I'll go home and work on my attitude.

Enough, Oksana. I mean it.

And I mean what I said. I want to quit.

No. You don't understand.

I understand perfectly.

It's just like when I was a girl,

when I was taking ballet.

Just listen to me.

I've heard these stories before, Mama.

No, you haven't heard everything.

I was 15 years old.

I had studied for five years.

I was good, I was very good.

That winter, the director of the school picked me

to dance the lead in "The Nutcracker."

It was a dream come true.

How did you do?

During rehearsals,

a new girl joined the school.

Tamara Itkina.

Right away, everyone was talking about her,

how wonderful she was,

how graceful, how talented.

The director took the lead from me

and gave it to Tamara.

And she was wonderful, just as everyone expected.

She got three ovations.

But I didn't even see the performance

because I'd left, I'd walked out.

I hated that school and that director,

and most of all, I hated Tamara Itkina.

I was so full of hate

that I'd forgotten how much I loved ballet.

And when I realized it...

I was too embarrassed to go back.

Tamara because a dancer with the Kirov.

I saw her perform once.

I might never have gone that far,

but what hurts the most is that I will never know.

I won't let you make the same mistake, Oksana,

I won't...

Don't walk away just because you're angry.

Be smarter than your mother, my dochka.

(distant horn honking)

How did you get in?

The window in the girl's dressing room was jammed open.

(sighing)

I did some thinking.

You said my attitude was bad,

and you're right.

It's because...

skating was so much fun in the beginning and so easy,

but now it's harder,

the competition, the jumps, everything.

You have to give up a lot to be a skater.

You have to want it a lot.

That's what I think, too.

And I do want it.

I want to be the best I can.

Oksana...

Do you remember when I first started coaching you?

I told you that I thought you were better

than the rest of the class?

Yes.

That's why I'm so hard on you.

Because you have something that every skater dreams about.

You have greatness in you.

Have I scared you?

Good.

A little fear can be a healthy thing.

Let's try your double axel.

Oksana.

Double axel, please?

Yes, all right.

Stas?

The thing I was most afraid of...

was not being like other girls.

Not going to parties or not having a best friend.

But last night, I realized something.

I do have a best friend.

It's you.

(distant chatter)

(gasping)

Oh!

(gasping)

Oh!

Oh!

Stas says he thinks I could be in the top three in Odessa.

He's seen the other girls before,

and he says I'm better than any of them.

I just have to skate clean.

You will.

He says the hotel that you're staying at is really nice.

I'll be at the dormitory at the rink,

but you and I can eat together, every meal.

Oksana.

I can't go to Odessa with you.

I have to work.

I missed too many days last month

when I wasn't feeling well.

Mama, you've never missed one of my competitions.

I know, Oksanochka.

But I won't know how to skate, I'll be so nervous.

It can't be helped. Mama, can't you ask again?

It's only a couple of days. Calm down, malenkaya.

Calm down.

Here.

What is it?

Open it and see.

Mama, this is Babushka's ring.

Yes.

She gave it to her daughter, and now I'm giving it to you.

I can't come to Odessa with you, Oksana,

but when you wear the ring,

you will think of me and of Babushka.

And you will know we are both thinking of you.

Mama, I'll fall again.

And everyone will laugh.

No, you won't fall.

You're not the ugly duckling anymore, my dochka.

You're the beautiful swan,

and that's just how you'll skate.

You promise?

I promise.

Can-- Can I sit with you?

All right.

(children hooting, cheering)

I'm a little scared.

I've never gone anywhere without my mother.

Don't be scared.

I'm here.

(soft chatter) (distant horn honking)

♪♪ (classical)

(applause)

Oksana.

This is your time, so don't rush the job,

so fight for the landings, all right? What else?

Have fun?

Right.

I wish Mama was here.

(soft chatter)

(soft chatter)

(coughing)

Marina Baiul?

Marina Baiul?

(applause)

(voice on P.A.) From Dnipropetrovst,

skating for the Meteor Skate Club,

Oksana Baiul.

(applause)

♪♪ (Brahms, "Hungarian Dance")

(applause)

(applause)

(moaning)

How long have you had the pain?

A few months.

I thought it had gone away,

but it's come back even worse.

You should not have waited.

Sit up.

We'll do a biopsy to be sure.

♪♪ (music continues)

(cheering and applause)

(cheering continues)

(voice on P.A.) The score for Oksana Baiul,

for competition and style.

Five-point-six. Five-point-seven.

Five-point-five.

Five-point-six. She's your girl?

Five-point-seven.

Yes.

Five-point-eight.

You have done good work.

Five-point-eight.

(applause)

Mama?

Mama?

Mama?

Mamochka?

(voice) Surprise!

(laughter, clapping)

Welcome home, malenkaya.

First place!

I'm so proud of you.

Congratulations, Oksana.

Come on, let's see it. Show us the medal.

(murmurs, giggles)

Well, first of all,

I really can't believe that I won.

And I thought everyone was going to laugh at me,

but they didn't at all.

(overlapping chatter)

Mama, you were supposed to wake me an hour ago.

I'm gonna be late for school.

Mama?

Mama, please, get up.

(gasping, sighing)

Oksana...

Go get Anna.

Get Anna now.

(gasping)

Go.

Mama...

(soft chatter)

What's going on?

I don't understand.

Oksana...

Your mother is sick.

She has to stay in the hospital for a while.

I want to talk to her.

She's resting now.

We'll come back later.

No! I'm staying here.

Mama.

Mama, how do you feel?

Why aren't you at Anna's?

Don't be angry, please, Mama.

I just wanted to be with you.

Oksanochka...

Yes, Mama?

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

You are so young.

Mama, you need to rest.

That's all it is. You're tired.

Taking care of me, working all the time,

it's too much.

Oksana, listen to me.

Open your eyes, Oksanochka.

Look at me, please.

I had so many dreams.

Mama, don't, please, just rest.

You'll be fine if you just rest.

Promise me, malenkaya.

Mama, stop it.

No...

You listen.

Listen to me.

You have a gift.

A wonderful gift.

It will always be a part of you.

It will never leave you.

Please, Mama, stay here with me.

I need you, Mama!

I love you, please don't die.

Oksana, promise me.

Promise me you will be strong.

Promise me you won't give up your dream.

Please.

(stifling sobs) Do this for me.

Please.

Promise me.

Yes, Mama.

I promise.

You are so brave.

So good.

I promise I will always be with you.

Watching you.

Never forget that.

When you need me,

I will lift you up

and set you down as softly as a feather.

You will make me so proud.

Remember that, my dochka.

My swan.

My mother's dead.

You'll come home with me.

You'll stay with me.

Do you need any help?

I'm almost done.

I just took some of my things.

Another family's moving in tomorrow.

They're going to take all the furniture.

Is there anything I can do for you, Oksana?

Is there anything that you want?

I want to skate.

Well, you told me that last month,

and I didn't believe it then, either.

The Federation does not understand.

Listen to me. I'm doing everything here.

I open this place, I close it, I do repairs.

I refinish. I need some help.

My kids need some help.

I already spoke to him, he referred me to you.

You know what?

Just forget it.

Just forget the whole thing.

Well, what did he say?

I can't take this anymore.

♪♪ (classical)

Oksana.

Oksana!

(skates skidding to a halt)

Come sit down.

Oksana, I have something to tell you.

Something important. About Nationals?

You don't think I'm ready.

My short program, it isn't difficult enough.

No, no, Oksana, your short is fine.

Stas! I can't land my triple flip.

It's because you're going in too slow just like always.

Talk to Katya, I'll be there in a minute.

Oksana...

Something has happened that's going to change things.

What? What is it?

It's bad news, isn't it?

Something bad has happened.

It's not bad.

Irina Zvereva has...

dropped out of Juniors.

She's going to skate as a senior.

You said she was my only competition.

That's right.

So it was good news.

Yes, it's good news.

Go on.

♪♪ (classical continues)

(boy) Come on, hurry!

(second boy) We're not late.

(child) I'm so nervous.

Here's a little spending money.

Don't let the boys talk you out of your share.

All right.

Now, what are you going to do?

Have fun. Good.

I wish you were going with us.

I have to go to Moscow

to talk to those fools in the skating federation.

Besides, Katya knows your routine as well as I do.

You'll be fine.

Oksana!

Come on!

Well, I have to go.

You're my best friend, Stas.

You better go.

(voice on P.A.) In first place,

winner of the Junior Women's competition,

from Dnipropetrovst, and the Meteor Skate Club,

Oksana Baiul!

(applause)

Stas! It's me!

The Ukrainian Junior Champion!

You should have seen the ceremony, it was--

(Katya) Oksana!

Stas is gone.

Where?

Gone where?

I'm sorry, Oksana.

He just did not know how to tell you.

He couldn't deal with the Federation anymore.

They were driving him crazy.

He took a job offer in Canada.

He left yesterday.

Oksana.

Oksana...

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

I thought you were staying with your mother's friend.

I heard Anna's husband talking.

He doesn't want me there.

I've been sleeping here for a week now.

I have been looking all over for you.

There is someone here who has come to see you,

all the way from Odessa.

It is Galina Zmievskaya.

Oh, thank you, Katya.

Stanislav called me several times before he left.

He made me promise that I would come to talk to you.

My school is in Odessa, that's where I saw you skate.

Stanislav told me that you were all alone.

That's why I would like you to come to Odessa.

I will coach you, and you can live

with me and my family.

I know it is a big change,

but I would like you to think about it.

You are already a very good skater, Oksana,

but I can make you even better.

Come to Odessa.

That is seven hours away from here.

I'm going to miss you, too, Yuri.

Then do not go. Stay here.

I can't.

I don't belong here anymore.

I'm sorry.

So am I.

Oksana?

Don't forget about me.

Never.

You know who's looking forward to meeting you?

Another student of mine.

Viktor Petrenko.

I saw him win the gold in Albertville.

He was wonderful.

Are you scared?

A little.

I would be, too.

Odessa is a beautiful city, malenkaya.

I think you're gonna like it here.

Malenkaya.

That's what my mother used to call me.

Nikolai!

Oh!

Oh...

Oh...

Oh-- Mama!

Oh, I missed you so badly!

Oksana, come in, come in.

Welcome.

This is our daughter, Galya.

Hello.

Let me show you to our room.

Oh, and the park. We have a wonderful park.

Well?

She's just a little girl.

I hope we've done the right thing.

(girl) Everybody follow me.

You do not have a brother or a sister.

Not even an aunt or an uncle?

No, no one.

I cannot imagine what that would be like.

It must be very sad.

Oksana.

Yes?

I'll be your sister.

Yes?

Yes.

(soft chatter)

(grunting)

I'm a little nervous.

You are doing fine.

Something's off.

My timing. Try again.

But no so hard.

I can do better, it's just that-- No, no, no.

Oksana...

At home, I want to be your friend.

A good friend.

But at the rink, I have to be your coach.

Do you understand what I am trying to say?

You hate my skating.

(laughter)

Oh-- Oh, Oksana.

You are a very talented skater.

Your-- Your jumps are-- are strong and tight,

and you have wonderful speed.

Stas taught you well.

But my style of skating

is a little different than his.

More graceful, more feminine.

Have you ever taken a ballet class?

♪♪ (classical piano)

(thumping)

♪♪ (piano continues)

(Galina) Softly, Oksana!

Elegantly!

Skate like a ballerina!

A beautiful ballerina!

(sighing)

Oksana!

Oksana, lunch is ready.

I'm not hungry.

Oh, but we've got a surprise for you.

I have to finish my letter to Yuri.

(silly voice) ...have to finish my letter...

Hello, Oksana.

I'm Viktor Petrenko.

Galina is tough. She pushes hard.

No one knows that better than me.

But there is a reason for it.

She knows what she is doing.

Without her, I think I would have been a good skater,

but I would have never been the best in the world.

I'm not sure I can give her what she wants.

I'm not even sure I understand it.

Galina believes in you, Oksana.

Now you just have to believe in yourself.

♪♪ (classical)

Good, that was good.

But listen, what I want to do now,

you know this section with the double axel is here.

And where the combination jump is,

I want to work this whole section here, all right?

And then we'll run the whole sequence,

and we'll time it, and we'll see if we can

get a better time on it.

Now go on back there.

(panting)

♪♪ (classical)

♪♪ (music stops)

She is good.

She is more than good.

She's like you.

She's going to be the best.

(faucet running)

Hand me a wooden spoon, please.

Very nice.

Maybe we can put that in your program.

(chuckling) I've been thinking.

Mm-hmm? I like the flamenco.

It's sort of a combination between my old style and yours.

Good, I agree.

We'll use that for your short program

and the Broadway musicals for your long.

We will have to work fast.

We do not have a lot of time.

Nationals are nine months from now.

You're right. Junior nationals.

But seniors are in three months.

You want me to skate as a senior?

I-- I couldn't, it's too fast.

Those girls are so much older than me.

I'm not ready, I know I'm not.

How will you know unless you try?

(soft chatter)

Watch out!

Oksana!

Yuri!

I tried to get here yesterday, but--

but the train was not running.

Tell me I just missed the short.

Tell me I did not miss the long.

It's over. All of it.

(sighs) I cannot believe it.

Yuri... I won.

Senior Nationals, the short and the long.

I'm going to the World Championships, Yuri.

I'm going to represent Ukraine at the Worlds!

Whoo-hoo!

I could ask Galina.

Perhaps she would take you on, too.

Oksana, I do not think you understand.

I'm as good as I am ever going to be,

and that's just not good enough.

I'm going back to school full time.

I'm going to be an engineer like my father.

If that's what you want.

Maybe you will come back home and train.

Maybe.

Your back's too stiff! Loosen up!

♪♪ (classical)

Don't throw your hands around!

Let them guide you!

Listen to the music!

Move with it!

I can't. I can't do it.

I can't worry about my hands

when I'm worried about my jumps.

Oksana, you don't have to worry about your jumps.

Your body already knows-- I don't understand.

What's wrong with my skating?

Oksana, there's nothing wrong,

it's just-- I just won the Nationals,

and now you're trying to change everything.

I don't understand!

(sighing)

Oksana, you are going through a slump.

It often happens after winning a big competition.

You are under pressure, it's completely understandable.

You will be fine for Worlds, I know you will.

But you have to keep at it.

I don't think I can do it.

I'm not ready.

Oksana, malenkaya...

You can send me away if you want.

I'll understand.

I will.

Oksanochka...

I would never do that.

Never.

I do not care if you take off your skates today

and never put them on again.

And I will never leave you.

Everybody leaves me. No.

You must believe what I am saying

because it is the truth.

Oksana.

I mean it.

You do not have to do this.

Maybe you are not ready.

Well...

How will I know unless I try?

♪♪ (classical on TV)

(applause)

Do not worry about the judges

or the scores.

You skate for yourself. For the experience.

If you finish last,

it does not make a difference.

You know that, right?

(man) Ladies!

Third group of skaters, you're on the ice.

♪♪ (music continues on TV)

Mama?

I'm at the world championships,

and I'm in second place.

I wish you could see me, Mama.

I wish you were here.

(applause)

♪♪ (music playing)

Ladies, you have five minutes.

(applause)

Nancy Kerrigan's marks plummeted her to fifth,

capping a night of surprises

in this most interesting competition.

The 1993 World Championship

belongs to a first-time competitor,

a 15-year-old who has come from nowhere to capture

the most coveted title in ladies figure skating.

Her name is Oksana Baiul. Oksana Baiul.

This young girl born in a small Ukrainian town

suddenly appeared on the world ice skating stage in 1992.

Malenkaya!

(laughing)

World champion, malenkaya.

World champion!

(laughing)

Are you all right?

You are sure?

I miss her.

Like always.

Sometimes I talk to her,

tell her what's happening to me.

I tell her about you.

How generous you are,

how kind you've been to me.

She would have liked you.

I think I would've liked her, too.

Malenkaya, I'm sorry.

I've made you cry.

No-- No, you haven't.

What is it?

Tell me.

I'm a world champion,

and she'll never know that.

She'll never know that I won.

All her life, she worked for me

and gave things to me.

And for the first time,

I have a chance to give something to her.

I'm so happy... and so sad.

It just doesn't make sense.

♪♪ (classical)

This music is beautiful.

What is it?

Um, Tchaikovsky.

Swan Lake.

You want to change your short?

To Swan Lake.

Oksana, the Olympics are not that far away.

And you won the World Championships

with this program.

Changing it does not make sense.

I want to skate a ballet.

It's important to me.

Malenkaya, it is so risky.

All new movements, new choreography.

I am not sure we have the time.

How will we know unless we try?

♪♪ (classical)

See how he moves his head?

Back and forth.

Like he's getting ready.

Preparing to fly away.

Maybe it's not a him.

Maybe it's a her.

Maybe she's looking for her family.

You frightened?

About what?

A little.

I would be, too.

Don't worry.

I won't fly away.

Oksana! Oksana, Oksana!

Oksana, how will this controversy

affect your performance? Oksana, what do you think?

Should Tonya be allowed to compete?

Oksana is here to compete, not to judge!

Oksana, we want your statement

about Nancy and Tonya! Oksana!

(man on TV) After everything she's been through,

winning the gold medal should be a piece of cake.

I've got to cast my vote for Nancy-- Mary?

I would have to agree. As captivating as she is,

I don't think Oksana Baiul has the experience

to win two big ones in a row.

With the kind of pressure building up,

her lack of experience could be a deciding factor.

Are they right?

No, they are not.

But everyone's saying it.

Even some of the skaters.

They think I won at Worlds

because Nancy did so badly, not because I did well.

They are wrong.

Are you sure?

Did I really deserve to win at Prague?

Of course you did. You were the best.

On that day, at that competition?!

This is not the time

to start doubting yourself.

You have worked too hard.

But can I win here?

Am I really the best?

I'm not sure I am.

I'm just not sure.

(applause)

Skate as well as you can.

I can promise you, that will be enough.

(voice on P.A.) Five-point-eight.

Five-point-nine. Five-point-nine.

Miss Baiul, you are next.

(voice on P.A.) Five-point-nine.

Five-point-eight.

Five-point-nine. Five-point-nine.

Five-point-nine.

S'bogom, malenkaya.

(voice on P.A.) Skating next, from the Ukraine,

Oksana Baiul.

(applause)

(overlapping voices)

Oksana, just like Nancy, this is the Worlds again.

Oksana and Nancy. Can you beat her again, Oksana?

Oksana is happy and excited and very tired.

Right now, she is going back to her room to sleep.

I don't know how you're gonna practice

with all those pancakes in your stomach.

Don't be nervous.

I'm not.

♪♪ (classical)

Your music is up next.

Now remember, this is your last practice.

Watch your triple-toe.

Right.

(both screaming)

Oksana!

(indistinct shouting)

How is the other girl?

Shook up but fine.

I'm going to have to take stitches.

This is deep.

Please hurry.

I have to get back to practice.

No-- No skating today.

How do you feel? Are you sore?

A little. In my back.

That's probably going to get worse.

I have to skate.

Tomorrow.

Do not worry, Oksana, you are very young.

What do you mean?

I mean everything will be fine.

You will heal fast.

By tomorrow night?

Will I heal by then?

I do not know, malenkaya.

Your leg. I'll get ice.

Galina?

I'm sorry.

It was my fault, I wasn't watching.

I'm sorry.

Oksanochka...

There will be other Olympics for you.

For us. I promise.

I promise.

Mama?

It's me.

I'm scared, Mamochka.

I wish you were here.

I'm sorry, Mama.

I'm so sorry.

I wanted to win for you, Mama.

For all your dreams that didn't come true.

But I don't think I can.

Can you see me, Mama?

Can you hear me?

I miss you, Mama.

I miss you so much.

How do you feel?

I feel fine.

I feel wonderful.

(Galina) Skate for her.

For your mother.

(Oksana) She would have been so proud.

I wish she were here.

She is.

(voice on P.A.) Skating next, from the Ukraine,

Oksana Baiul!

(distant applause)

(Marina) I promise I will always be with you,

watching you, never forget that.

When you need me,

I will lift you up,

and I will set you down as softly as a feather.

You will make me so proud.

Remember that, my dochka.

My swan.

(thinking) I won, Mama.

I won.

For you, Mama.

(speaking Russian)

♪♪ (classical)

♪♪ (uptempo classical)

♪♪ (classical continues)

♪♪ (music ends)

(narrator) Ladies and gentlemen,

winner of the 1994 Olympic gold medal

in women's figure skating,

Oksana Baiul.

♪♪