Mandy Wöetzel and Ingo Steuer's "Basic Instinct" Freeskate

Four-time German National Champions, Mandy Wöetzel and Ingo Steuer skated this courageous freeskate to the music of the film "Basic Instinct" at the 1994 world Figure Skating Championships in Chiba, Japan, where they finished 4th. At the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, the Germans were the reigning World silver medalists and though their hopes of reaching the podium looked bleak as they entered the freeskate in 8th place, they still hoped to improve on their ranking and perhaps move into the top five. Mid-way through their freeskate, Mandy caught and edge and plunged forward, slamming into the ice with her chest and chin. She and Ingo had been skating forward, he holding her hands at the time her edge caught, so when she pitched forward, she couldn't not break her fall with her hands and pitched directly into the ice without buffer. Stunned, the wind knocked out of her, and chin bleeding, a trembling Mandy was carried from the ice by Ingo, who immediately handed his partner over to the medical team. Mandy was rushed to the medical station in the arena and received stitches in her chin. The pair withdrew from the event.

Only a few weeks later at Worlds, the Germans wanted to redeem themselves and finish the freeskate that they never got to complete in Lillehammar. The team skated remarkably well and finished their program triumphantly, skating it the way they hoped they could have at The Olympic Games. In a humorous touch, Ingo carried Mandy off the ice at the end of their Worlds skate, reminiscent of what he had done in Lillehammer, but this time, the mood was celebratory.

Mandy and Ingo weren't always the most consistent team, but they did hover atop the elite teams in the World for six seasons, which shows their strength and tenacity as competitors. They finished their careers in 1998 with three world medals: 2 silvers ('93, '96) and a gold medal ('97), a European Championships ('95) and an Olympic bronze medal ('98). Ingo now coaches 3-time World Champions, Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy.

Enjoy Mandy and Ingo's "Basic Instinct"!