CBS SportsLine wire reports
Oct. 8, 1998

SIMSBURY, Conn. -- She's the new kid on the block, and her elders are loving it.

When Tara Lipinski joined the Discover Stars on Ice show this year, she brought something fresh to figure skating's most versatile tour.

"It's hard to come up with something different every year," said Scott Hamilton, founder of Stars on Ice 12 years ago and still its main star. "You can't become cliched or gimmicky because it gets old.

"Everybody here feeds off each other's energy, and with a lot of new people in the show, their excitement in a new environment feeds our energy level. It's more fun, because if you have the same people every year, you can get complacent at times. You're so accustomed to each other.

"With Tara, no one is more suited to this type of show. She's a very smart person with a wonderful head on her shoulders, because she's had a strong upbringing. She has an open mind and a great level of ability. And she can't wait to get on the ice and be a part of everything."

LIPINSKI BROUGHT THAT SAME APPROACH to the Nagano Olympics, attending opening ceremonies, several other events and nearly every practice session. By so immersing herself in the games, she was able to perform at her absolute best for the first time in the 1998 season.

And that meant a gold medal, fulfillment of a dream, and, after much consideration, a pro career.

"For Tara, this is a whole new world," said Kristi Yamaguchi, who has been the Stars' female lead since 1992 when, to the surprise of many, she left the Olympic-eligible ranks and turned pro. "I went through something similar. And it's important to this tour, because of the youthful exuberance and young blood she brings.

"That's something that keeps all of us going."

When Lipinski was going for the gold in Japan -- but expected to finish behind Michelle Kwan -- it was generally believed she would turn down the overtures of the professionals. But then she won at 15, the youngest figure skating champion ever.

"The Olympics changed my whole life," she said. "At the moment I won, it was, 'It's yours forever. You don't have to give it up.' When I look at the medal, it's so awesome."

"It may not be as great as it was if I went (to the Olympics) the next time. I'm going on with my life. My plan always was to try to win the Olympics, and I got that a little faster than I thought. Now, it's on to other things, and I don't regret any decisions. I know I've done the right things for my life."

LIPINSKI WAS CRITICIZED IN SEVERAL quarters for moving into the professional ranks so early, and then for appearing in several non-sanctioned events that cost her any chance at a return to eligible competitions.

She was stunned by such reactions.

"It hurt. It bothers you," Lipinski said. "But you've got to be strong.

"It helps me to be out there with the fans. I know that not everyone feels that way, especially the fans.

"I think the people who were criticizing me are not in the position to understand how it works. They have not gone through 12 years of training and living away from their dad for five years.