He was not skating , he was telling a story , the best performance in Olympic history , in my view

Almost 20yrs later and this is still the best performance I’ve seen to this day in figure skating. You can feel it! So much passion! 💕

He is a figure skating legend not just because of his stellar career, but because he displayed so much more than what was required of the scoring system back then. The chreography of this program had so much elegance and storytelling. No wonder his olympic performance is still considered as one of the greatest gold medal skates of all time.

I vill never ever forget this program! This was so truly beautiful that it could make one cry as to the beauty of the program. He was the movie!!! Even his face is so full of expression. He deserved the gold medal totally!!!

Столько лет прошло, а мы все пересматриваем это удивительное выступление. Молодец, что еще можно добавить? Алексей, мы ГОРДИМСЯ тобой!!!

Alexei was a huge crush of mine when I was in my teens. Anyway, he's the best skater of all times.

Hands down the greatest performance in men's Olympic figure skating history. So inspiring.

He had this fire on ice that no actual skaters seem to have . The best skater ever for me, not only for his technique but for his incredible acting on ice that brought me so many emotions. I will always remember you, Alexei!

He was the reason why I started loving figure skating, and I cried like a baby when he won. No one can top this program for me ever.

I’ll never forget the night I watched this. It was a masterpiece. The best and most powerful Men’s Figure Skating performance, hands down. This is as GOLD as it’s gonna get.

My favorite of All time. I can watch his performances over and over. Absolutely wonderful program, he truly is The Man in the iron mask and will forever be Olympic Champion.

What a legendary competition between two greatest skaters of all time, Yagudin and Plushenko! The salt lake city Olympics will always be remembered. Absolutely wonderful

Coming to this after Beijing 2022 Men Singles Final…Figure skating is a very different sport now. Same as artistic gymnastic, they lost the art for the athleticism. This guy was the greatest ever, even if google does not agree. He was truly magnificent.

I come back to view this over the years and no one can top him. Gold performance and haven't seen anyone that I enjoy as much.

Alexei was and still is the best skater in figure skating history and his skills are untouchable. I am so happy I witnessed a skater like him in my life time.

Никогда не забуду какую радость и счастье испытала от победы Лёши!!! И плакала и смеялась от счастья!!! Огромное спасибо тебе Лёша!!!!

One of the best men's costumes at the Olympics.

Великолепие музыки,бесподобный артистизм,страсть и воля к Жизни- наш Алексей!!!🌹🌹🌹

Alexei Yagudin. My first love in figure skating. I still get emotional watching this program.

Alexei Yagudin is the best skater in history, better than Plushenko, better than all. I watch every program of them since their debut. I love Plushenko, but Yagudin is magnificent. Technical and artistic Yagudin is matchless, like no other. He has a big sensivity in interpretation which makes you to feel and live the music. His programs presented at the Olympics Games in 2002 ( SP, LP, even the program of Gala) remain memorable! Undoubtedly the best skater in the history of figure skating !

The greatest champion of all times for me! This programme touches my soul every time I watch it...

LEGEND. What an honor and blessing to have lived in the same generation as Alexei Yagudin and see this back in 2002. I'm American, but that year Yagudin won my heart. :)

For me, this performance is even better than Plyushenko in 2006 and Yuzuru 2018

His footwork is UNMATCHED. No one compares.

fantastic skater, no one is able to replace him

The power and precision of his skating is just amazing!

Алексей, благодарю тебя! Ты- потрясающий фигурист! Я пересматриваю твои выступления в 2022 г. Это шедевры!

Alexei Jagudin, mistrz, najlepszy! The best of the all in my opinion. The best regards. 🇵🇱

He was and is my favorite Russian skater of all time.

ALEXEI YAGUDIN IS MY FAVORITE SKATER FOREVER... YAGUDIN is my number 1 and PLUSHENKO IS MY SECOND PICK BEST SKATER EVER.

ОБОЖАЮ)) Люблю его мощный, несколько резкий стиль катания,..что еще можно сказать - он лучший))

Это лучшее выступление, !! таких спортсменов больше нет пока.....

The perfect men's free programme, for me still unbeaten even after 2018 olympics. I always watch this after the big events as a reference as to where the figure skating is going. Of course the old judgeing system allowed for such perfection to occur more easily. The new one simply pushes the skaters to their limits, whereas the old one left them a choice. If everything went according to plan from the beginning it (of course in extremely rare occasions) allowed them to ease up and just be perfect.

His body is seriously disturbingly perfectly manly. His touch-point basis with his moves, mastery of the surrounding space is like no other. Hard to keep calm while watching ;D Simply the Ice King!

Мороз по коже, слёзы на глазах.

16 years down the line, figure skating has changed almost beyond recognition...this routine still makes my heart skip a beat. Not many live in the memory (Bolero by Torvil and Dean and Sheherazade by Charlie White and Meryl Davis are 2 examples), those that do are truly great and this is one of those routines.

This is to me the reference line program for men's figure skating. After every EU or world championship every year I watch this as a measure of how good the competitors actually were. I've been watching figure skating for more than 20 years now. And I can remember that even back in 2002 I somehow knew at the end of this program THAT WAS IT and it may not get any better EVER!.

one of the best program i've ever seen... i don't know why but everytime i watch this program and winter, it makes me want to cry... that's how beautiful they are. he definitely wouldn't have been this great without evgeni tho they brought each other up

Brilliant brilliant and perfection.

He was telling a story, "The best perfect story in Olympic figure skating history" !

Take a good look ladies and gentlemen, this is what the perfection of artistry on ice is. And with the change of the system scoring, you're never going to see this again. And I agree with the other person, this is definitely telling a story. Probably the most deserving male skater of the gold medal that I've ever seen.

Как здорово, что есть возможность ещё раз насладиться выступлением Алексея! Спасибо

это шедеврально. смотрю каждые полгода а то и чаще. это просто - на всю жизнь...

Still my favourite figure skating routine in all history. I just love it.

Simply the best! Просто АЛЕКСЕЙ ЯГУДИН. Просто ЛУЧШИЙ ИЗ ЛУЧШИХ !!!

Best perfomance in Olympic history!!!

To this day, this is still my Favorite program from my favourite skater

令和の今観ても最強のスケーターだと思う❗引き込まれます😊ステップカッコ良すぎるわ😊

The moment that Winter Olympics Men's Figure Skating reached the zenith of its grace and dignity. I regard Iron Mask and Winter as a miracle of the Winter Olympics. Flawless!

Still amazing to watch even 15 years later.

For many years, whenever I watched the winter Olympics, the Russian skaters just seem to skate with more "passion" than skaters from other countries. Men, women and couples, it's like they're not just skating to a choreographed program, it's more like they are totally engrossed in it. It's not like they are technically superior to everybody else, they just have more emotion to their skating.

No one can beat this guy. He is the greatest figure skater ever born. Such elegance, power, technical superiority and flawless presentation. I was watching the men's long program at the European Champs today and it seemed like a ridiculous game of who can fall more times. I feel like since Yagudin retired, the quality in men's skating started to drop tremendously. When you dont have idols to grow up to and compete against, you don't have motivation to be the best. Today, literally, the determining factor of the champion was not who the best was but who fell less times. I miss the times Yagudin competed.

He obviously has amazing artistry, but I forgot how great of a jumper he was also. His 3A was so high and effortless with room to spare that I really thought he had done a 2A. Same with his quads...they looked like triples.

i too just came back to rejoice this program. yes, he is the best ever. magnificent!

I’ve always loved watching this skater back in the day. My favorite Russian male skater.

22 years later and still the best skater of all time, there will never be as good again.

Браво Алексей!! Супер!

Obsess by this Aleksei program. Magnificent, amazing, breathtaking. Just stunning.

I miss him :(

Another olympic season has come. And I has come back here to miss him.

I could see that again and again...

The most beautiful quad combination I've ever seen.

He made me fall in love too... Bcoz of music and his performance

Лучший фигурист всех времен и народов!!!!!!!

I was in the stands for this performance...believe me no one who saw Yagudin skate in person that night thought he was playing it safe! Mesmerizing from the moment he took the ice...Going to the Salt Lake City Olympics just a few months after 9/11 was a bit nervy (there were guards on the streets with machine guns and an extremely high level of security to ensure the safety of the athletes) but it was so worth it. After the competition I was able to watch the rebroadcast at my hotel and was flabbergasted at the announcer's commentary.

To me Alexi Yagudin was the best of all the best figure skater among men. His choreography, his footwork & his artistry ara the best nobody can beat him & nobody else can do it.

The most talented and captivating emotionally intelligent male skater I have ever seen. By far

I've watched it live and I knew when I was watching that I witness one of the greatest performances ever from the best scatter ever. To give the right credit though, without the competition and the presence of Evgeny he wouldn't be the same athlete.

Какие у нас красивые фигуристки и фигуристы! Гордость наша!✊✊✊

He's the best of best!

Моя любимая программа!!! Лёша ты лучший!!!

what an excellent display of athleticism and artistry. Love his footworks

that's top skater, make everything looks effortless and smooth~~

A man of an iron mask and will is Alexei Yagudin himself. He was abandoned by his former coach, but didn't give up, trained hard and won against his lifespan competitor Eugeniy Pluschenko. He retired from skating right afterwards as an unbeaten champion. A proud son of his country who made his country-men be proud of him.

Он лучший!!!!! Без преувеличения король льда))))

Лучшая программа!!! Лёша, ты лучший из лучших!

This was amazing I couldn't take my eyes off ....

that's incredibly beautifully done i love him

Alexei Yagudin is the best skater that has ever lived....also the best looking ......a very handsome man. What is also so great about him....He is humble and doesn't realize his greatness (0r his handsome looks)...a good Soul who cares about others.....Ilia Kulik and Evgeny Plushenko are great too. Plushenko is overflowing with Charisma and Kulik is unbelievable at interpretations of music especially the "Blues". They all are jaw dropping...gifted men. I feel lucky to witness their talents in our generation. It's like being alive during Beethoven's time and witnessing him play his music. I feel we all are blessed by their presence on Earth for whatever time they have here.

the greatest skater of all time ever!!!!

GREAT ALEXEI! Thank you for what you did that evenining on February the 14th back in 2002! Always obliged to you!!! You put this sport above Haven! Best Winter Olympics EVER!!!!! Love and greetings from GREECE

Alexei is amazing !

There was no way any one else was going to win. After the first 2 passes it was over. Even if it was as Scott Hamilton stated "conservative", this one one of the greatest gold medal winning performances ever.

Пересматриваю и пересматриваю, вошло в историю 👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋

Вот где внутривенный артистизм!

Я посмотрела выступления Ягудина, Плющенко, Ханю, кого-то еще и, знаете, Алексей для меня лучший из всех. В его выступлениях есть не только техника, точность и артистизм, в них есть магия! Может, это его внешность, фигура, мужественность и элегантность одновременно. Для меня Алексей Ягудин - эталон мужского одиночного катания. Не знаю, превзойдёт ли его кто-нибудь в ближайшем будущем. Судя по новой системе оценок-нет.

The best ice skater! I still remember him so clearly - this performance is so clear on my mind! This is the time when I first found out about ice skating ! excellent performance and everything done so professionally.Thank you for uploading this video is so inspiring for many!

Как же он хорош, браво. Спасибо ему за эту красоту

Mabye still best male program ever

me facina el ver como incluso interpreta pequeñas partes de la trama de la historia (el hombre de la máscara de hierro) es un maestro del patinaje artístico y uno de los mejores

yagudin is like federer - it's an art form. plushenko is like djokovic - perfect fundamentals, technical.

He was, is and will always be the greatest ever.

He was well deserving of Gold! I was disappointed by Scott’s biased commentary and how he continually suggested “what color would his medal be”. He had to eat his words. As the judges overwhelmingly awarded Yagudin gold and first place ordinals all around!

Хотите остаться в сердцах миллионов фанатов как Ягудин, Плющенко будьте артистичны, творите искусство в спорте

He has all the perfect skills needed: technic, grace in artistic interpretation, speed, a true story teller & what lacks most of skaters nowadays= CHARISMA. All skaters who has came after this man can easily do 3 to 5 QUAD but non of them can touch his genuine talent! After him, it was & it is still boring, Brian Joubert had somekind his legacy in his blood even if he never went olympic champion. Hanyu, Fernandez, P. Chan, N. Chen are great champions but INCOMPLETE unlike Yagudin. I want to see someone like him or e even surpassing him but maybe this champion is not yet born!

17 лет прошло, а кажется, что это было вчера.

This is so expressive and meaningful and with so much passion that can easily be qualified as artistic masterpiece. EPIC!

I dont think there is anyone greater than this, sorry Evgeni and Nathan…

With no hurt no gold medal❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Fantastico! Vive sus rutinas, nacio para esto!