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{{short description|American figure skater, television commentator, and actress}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tara Lipinski
| image = Tara Lipinski in Sochi.jpg
| image_upright = .8
| alt = Lipinski in the commentary box at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi
| caption = Lipinski at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sochi]]
| birth_name = Tara Kristen Lipinski
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1982|6|10}}
| birth_place = [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Figure skating|Figure skater]]|Actress|Sports commentator|Film producer}}
| height =
| spouse = {{marriage|Todd Kapostasy|2017|}}
| children = 1
| module = {{Infobox figure skater
|embed=yes|image=<!--empty-->
|country={{USA}}
|discipline=[[Single skating|Women's singles]]
|beganskating=1988
|years_competitive=1993–1998
|years_professional=1998–2002
|retired=2002
|medalrecord={{Figure skating infobox medals
|OG={{FS medal|g|OG|1998|Nagano|w}}
|WC={{FS medal|g|WC|1997|Lausanne|w}}
|GPF={{FS medal|g|GPF|1996–1997|Hamilton|w}} {{FS medal|g|GPF|1997–1998|Munich|w}}
}}}}
}}
'''Tara Kristen Lipinski''' (born June 10, 1982) is an American former competitive [[Figure skating|figure skater]], actress, sports commentator, and documentary film producer. A former competitor in [[Single skating|women's singles]], she is the [[Figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Olympic]] champion, the [[1997 World Figure Skating Championships|1997 World]] champion, a two-time [[Champions Series Final]] champion (1997–1998) and the [[1997 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|1997 U.S. national]] champion. Until 2019, she was the youngest single skater to win a U.S. Nationals and the youngest to become an Olympic and World champion in figure skating history. She is the first woman to complete a triple [[Loop jump|loop]]-triple loop combination, her signature [[Figure skating jumps|jump]] element, in competition. Starting in 1997, Lipinski had a rivalry with fellow skater [[Michelle Kwan]], which was played up by the American press, and culminated when Lipinski won the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.
Lipinski retired from competitive figure skating in 1998. She performed in live shows before retiring from figure skating in 2002. Lipinski, along with sports commentator [[Terry Gannon]] and fellow figure skater and good friend [[Johnny Weir]], became [[NBC]]'s primary figure skating commentators in 2014.
{{toclimit|limit=3}}
==Early life==
Tara Kristen Lipinski was born on June 10, 1982, in [[Philadelphia]],<ref name="ISU-TL">{{Cite web |url=http://figureskating.sportresult.com/Bios/USA/2016/0/51700/ladies/TO/562 |title=Ladies: Tara Lipinski United States (USA) |work=[[International Skating Union]] |___location=[[Lausanne]] |archive-date=July 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719215003/http://figureskating.sportresult.com/Bios/USA/2016/0/51700/ladies/TO/562 |url-status=dead}}</ref> to "Pat" Lipinski and oil executive Jack Lipinski. She spent her earliest years in [[Sewell, New Jersey]]. When Lipinski was two, while watching the [[1984 Summer Olympics]], she stood on a Tupperware bowl and pretended to be a gold medalist. At the age of three, she began [[roller skating]] and eventually became a national champion in her group when she was nine years old.<ref name=NYT980221>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/21/sports/xviii-winter-games-figure-skating-woman-dynamo-ice-tara-kristen-lipinski.html|title=Dynamo on the Ice: Tara Kristen Lipinski|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jere|last=Longman|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=February 21, 1998|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319134305/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/21/sports/xviii-winter-games-figure-skating-woman-dynamo-ice-tara-kristen-lipinski.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She began [[figure skating]] in the same year, transferring her skills to the [[ice rink]]. She later switched exclusively to figure skating and took lessons at the [[University of Delaware]] in [[Newark, Delaware]].<ref name=CP180213>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a16566928/tara-lipinski-olympics-interview/|title=Tara Lipinski's Life After Gold|magazine=[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]|first=Rose|last=Minutaglio|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=0010-9541|date=February 13, 2018|archive-date=September 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907160840/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a16566928/tara-lipinski-olympics-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1991, Lipinski's father received a job promotion, so the family moved to [[Sugar Land, Texas]], near [[Houston]]. She trained on a public rink at [[The Galleria]]. Two years later, Lipinski and her mother returned to Delaware to resume her training there with coach Jeff DiGregorio, who had worked with Lipinski, on and off, for three years before their move to Texas, while her father stayed in Texas to support their family.<ref name=CP180213/><ref name=WP960318>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/03/18/at-13-skater-getting-jump-on-a-dream/2bd671b8-ff70-48f3-81ea-23ce93cc1611/|title=At 13, Skater Getting Jump on a Dream|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Christine|last=Brennan|___location=Washington, D.C.|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|date=March 18, 1996|archive-date=December 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226050812/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/03/18/at-13-skater-getting-jump-on-a-dream/2bd671b8-ff70-48f3-81ea-23ce93cc1611/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1995, Lipinski and her mother transferred to [[Bloomfield, Michigan|Bloomfield Hills, Michigan]], to train with coach [[Richard Callaghan]] at the Detroit Skating Club.<ref name=NYT980221/><ref name=CP180213/>
==Competitive career==
===Early years===
In 1994, Lipinski earned a silver medal in the novice women's division at the [[1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships]].<ref name=WP960318/> When she was 12, she became the youngest athlete to win a gold medal at the 1994 [[U.S. Olympic Festival]].<ref name="kidstuff"/> She then took first place in the [[Blue Swords]] in [[Chemnitz]], Germany, her first international competition, in November, after which the media began to notice her.<ref name=CP180213/> As a junior skater, she came in fourth place at the [[1995 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1995 World Junior Championships]] and came in second place at the [[1995 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|1995 U.S. Championships]].<ref name=NYT980221/><ref name=WP960318/> In late 1995, she placed fifth at the [[1996 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1996 World Junior Championships]], which marked the end of the relationship between DiGregorio and the Lipinskis.<ref name=WP960318/>
After a series of interviews conducted by Lipinski and her mother and sample lessons given to Lipinski by prospective figure skating coaches from around the country, they hired [[Richard Callaghan]].<ref name="kidstuff" /> In January 1996, Lipinski won a bronze medal as a senior-level skater at the [[1996 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|1996 U.S. Championships]].<ref name=NYT980221/><ref name=WP960318/> Despite low expectations, she closed out the 1995–96 season and gained international attention by qualifying for the [[1996 World Figure Skating Championships|1996 World Championships]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lessig |first=Allan |date=January 29, 2018 |title=Remember When? 15-Year-Old Tara Lipinski Becomes Youngest Women's Figure Skating Champion |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2018/01/29/remember-when-15-year-old-tara-lipinski-becomes-youngest-womens-figure-skating-champion/1069887001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711042039/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2018/01/29/remember-when-15-year-old-tara-lipinski-becomes-youngest-womens-figure-skating-champion/1069887001/ |archive-date=July 11, 2022 |access-date=February 10, 2024 |newspaper=USA Today |language=en-US |issn=0734-7456}}</ref> With very low expectations at the event, she placed 23rd after the [[Short program (figure skating)|short program]], but her [[Free skating|free skate]], which included seven triple [[Figure skating jumps|jumps]], brought her up to 15th place.<ref name="kidstuff"/>{{sfn|Hines|2011|p=149}}
===1996–97 season===
Lipinski and Callaghan spent the next year making her appear more mature; she enrolled in ballet classes and hired choreographer [[Sandra Bezic]] to "create programs for Lipinski that expressed delight yet looked adult".<ref name="kidstuff"/> In late 1996, she added the triple [[loop jump|loop]]-triple loop jump combination, which added technical difficulty to her programs. She was the first woman to complete the jump combination in competition.<ref name=CP180213/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/19/opinion/tara-lipinski-risks-figure-skating.html|title=Tara Lipinski: It's Time to Take Risks in the Rink Again|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Tara|last=Lipinski|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=February 19, 2018|archive-date=March 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309073553/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/19/opinion/tara-lipinski-risks-figure-skating.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Lipinski competed in the ISU Champions Series (later renamed the [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating]]) during the 1996–97 season; she finished in second place at [[1996 Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]], third at [[1996 Trophée Lalique|Trophée Lalique]], and second at the 1996 Nations Cup.<ref name=ISU-TL/> She won the gold medal at the [[1996–97 Champions Series Final|Champion Series Final]] and defeated [[Michelle Kwan]] by completing more successful jumps in her short and free programs.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=155}}
[[File:Michelle Kwan Spiral.jpg|thumb|alt=Michelle Kwan performing her signature spiral at the 2002 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|Lipinski's rival [[Michelle Kwan]]]]
In February 1997, at the age of 14, Lipinski became the youngest skater to win a [[1997 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]] title. She broke the record set by [[Sonya Klopfer]], who was 15 when she won U.S. Nationals in 1951.<ref name="kidstuff" />{{efn|Lipinski's record was broken by [[Alysa Liu]], who won the [[2019 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|2019 U.S. Nationals]] at the age of 13.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/figureskating/story/_/id/25852623/alysa-liu-13-youngest-win-us-women-figure-skating-title|title=Alysa Liu, 13, youngest to win U.S. women's figure skating title|work=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|___location=[[Bristol, Connecticut]]|language=en-US|date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=April 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425202610/https://www.espn.com/olympics/figureskating/story/_/id/25852623/alysa-liu-13-youngest-win-us-women-figure-skating-title|url-status=live}}</ref>}} She defeated Kwan, the [[1996 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|reigning 1996 U.S. champion]], who won the short program. Kwan fell twice and landed only four out of her seven planned triple jumps in her free skate, leaving the door open for Lipinski's victory.<ref name="kidstuff"/>{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=155}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/01/21/galindo-kwan-win-us-skating-titles/1c88a638-62ae-409d-8a23-195a0cb57c98/|title=Galindo, Kwan Win U.S. Skating Titles|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Christine|last=Brennan|___location=Washington, D.C.|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|date=January 21, 1996|archive-date=September 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916104149/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/01/21/galindo-kwan-win-us-skating-titles/1c88a638-62ae-409d-8a23-195a0cb57c98/|url-status=live}}</ref> She was the last skater to perform in the competition's free skating segment; she skated cleanly with seven triple jumps, including her signature jump element, the triple loop-triple loop combination, and came in first place.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=155}} According to author Ed Swift from ''Sports Illustrated'', the 1997 U.S. Nationals marked the start of the Kwan–Lipinski rivalry.<ref name="kidstuff">{{Cite magazine |last=Swift |first=E. M. |date=March 31, 1997 |title=Kid Stuff |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/02/24/kid-stuff-tara-lipinski-whos-just-14-was-sweetheart-of-the-skating-nationals-while-to-16-year-old-michelle-kwan-fell-the-role-of-the-sports-faltering-grande-dame |access-date=January 28, 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref>
A month later, Lipinski won the [[1997 World Figure Skating Championships|1997 World Championships]] and became the youngest female skater to win that event. She was a month younger than the previous record holder, [[Sonja Henie]] from Norway, when she won the first of her ten World Championships in 1927.<ref name=NYT970323>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/23/sports/lipinski-14-is-youngest-world-champion.html|title=Lipinski, 14, Is Youngest World Champion|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jere|last=Longman|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=March 23, 1997|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407213445/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/23/sports/lipinski-14-is-youngest-world-champion.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Despite the ISU's recent decision to raise the age minimum to enter international competitions, Lipinski was eligible to compete at Worlds due to a grandfather clause.<ref name=NYT970323/>}} Lipinski completed seven triple jumps, as she had done at the U.S. Nationals and the Champion Series Final, and finished in first place after the short program.<ref name=SR970318>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/mar/18/lipinski-lets-it-all-hang-out-in-skating/|title=Lipinski Lets It All Hang Out In Skating Qualifying While Experienced Rivals Hold Back, U.S. Champ Nails Seven Clean Triples|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|___location=[[Spokane, Washington]]|language=en-US|oclc=11102529|date=March 18, 1997|archive-date=August 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817224059/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/mar/18/lipinski-lets-it-all-hang-out-in-skating/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also completed two double [[Axel jump|Axels]], but one rival coach noted the small trajectory of her jumps, stating that "you couldn't have put a piece of paper under them".<ref name=SI970331>{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1997/03/31/225174/theyre-the-tops-with-whirling-athleticism-elvis-stojko-and-tara-lipinski-shone-at-a-world-championships-beset-by-sadness|title=They're the Tops|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|publisher=The Arena Group|first=Edward McKelvy|last=Swift|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=March 31, 1997|archive-date=May 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507123624/https://www.si.com/vault/1997/03/31/225174/theyre-the-tops-with-whirling-athleticism-elvis-stojko-and-tara-lipinski-shone-at-a-world-championships-beset-by-sadness|url-status=live}}</ref> Her presentation marks were mostly 5.7s or 5.8s{{efn|Up to 2004, the [[6.0 system]] was used to judge all international figure skating competitions. Judges awarded two marks: one for technical merit and one for presentation, and marks ranged from 0.0 to 6.0.}} and similar to her technical marks. Three out of four judges gave her higher presentation than technical marks.<ref name=SR970318/>
Reporter Jere Longman of ''[[The New York Times]]'' called Lipinski's free skate "a light, airy performance" and said she was "composed and nearly flawless". Lipinski opened with a double Axel and landed a triple [[flip jump]] as well as her triple loop-triple loop combination, among others.<ref name=NYT970323/> She received 5.8s and 5.9s in her technical marks and a 5.7 and 5.8 for presentation. The final results after the free skate were close, and the judges were unable to declare a clear winner of the free skate. Lipinski, Kwan—who was fourth after the short program—and Russian skater [[Irina Slutskaya]] all received first-place votes. Kwan's free skate came in first place because she had more first- and second-place votes, and Lipinski came in first place overall because she received more second-place votes in the free skate than Slutskaya. If two more judges had placed Slutskaya before Lipinski after the free skate, Kwan would have won the competition instead of coming in second place. It was the first time the U.S. had finished first and second at Worlds since [[1992 World Figure Skating Championships|1992]], when [[Kristi Yamaguchi]] won the gold medal and [[Nancy Kerrigan]] silver.<ref name=NYT970323/>
===1997–98 season===
====Pre-Olympic season====
Between seasons, Lipinski grew two inches and turned 15 years old.<ref name=LAT971214>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-14-sp-64102-story.html|title=If Lipinski Still Has an Edge, It Might Be the Wrong One|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Mike|last=Penner|___location=[[El Segundo, California]]|language=en-US|issn=2165-1736|date=December 14, 1997|archive-date=April 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423021949/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-dec-14-sp-64102-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She went into the 1997–98 season by continuing to add more sophistication to her programs by taking daily dance classes from Russian ballet teacher Marina Sheffer.<ref name=NYT220907>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/24/sports/lipinski-and-kwan-a-rivalry-is-born.html|title=Lipinski and Kwan: A Rivalry Is Born|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jere|last=Longman|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=March 24, 1997|archive-date=September 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907184152/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/24/sports/lipinski-and-kwan-a-rivalry-is-born.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=SI980302>{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1998/03/02/239435/a-holy-tara-while-michelle-kwan-was-all-business-tara-lipinski-blew-into-nagano-determined-to-make-friends-and-have-fun-and-she-left-with-a-really-cool-keepsake--a-gold-medal|title=A Holy Tara while Michelle Kwan Was All Business, Tara Lipinski Blew into Nagano Determined to Make Friends and Have Fun, and She Left with a Really Cool Keepsake – a Gold Medal|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|publisher=The Arena Group|first=Edward McKelvy|last=Swift|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=March 2, 1998|archive-date=December 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214192251/https://www.si.com/vault/1998/03/02/239435/a-holy-tara-while-michelle-kwan-was-all-business-tara-lipinski-blew-into-nagano-determined-to-make-friends-and-have-fun-and-she-left-with-a-really-cool-keepsake--a-gold-medal|url-status=live}}</ref> She selected film scores for both her short and free skate program, with the choreographies being created by Sandra Bezic.<ref name=SI980302/>{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=158}} According to figure skating writer and historian Ellyn Kestnbaum, the American press played up "the Kwan–Lipinski rivalry for all it was worth".{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=158}}
At the [[1997 Skate America]], Kwan defeated Lipinski for the first time in three competitions and won the gold medal. Lipinski came in second place after Kwan in both the short program and free skating segment, taking second place overall. Despite performing more difficult jumps than Kwan during her short program, Lipinski consistently received lower technical marks.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=158}} During her free skate, she fell on a triple [[Lutz jump]], but performed an otherwise technically difficult and strong program.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/26/sports/figure-skating-eldredge-overcomes-injury-to-win-kwan-beats-lipinski.html|title=Figure Skating; Eldredge Overcomes Injury to Win; Kwan Beats Lipinski|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jere|last=Longman|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=October 26, 1997|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127002229/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/26/sports/figure-skating-eldredge-overcomes-injury-to-win-kwan-beats-lipinski.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Kestnbaum, Callaghan "expressed bewilderment in why the judges had so marked down the reigning World champion, who by virtue of that position might otherwise have been expected to receive the benefit of any doubt".{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=158}} Lipinski came in second place at [[1997 Trophée Lalique|Trophée Lalique]], behind French skater [[Laetitia Hubert]], who had not won any major competitions since the [[1992 World Junior Figure Skating Championships|1992 World Junior Championships]] and who came in eleventh place at her previous competition.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=158}}<ref name=SR980104>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/jan/04/gliding-for-some-gold-tara-lipinski-and-michelle/|title=Gliding For Some Gold Tara Lipinski And Michelle Kwan Are Skating's Olympic Favorites|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]|first=Nancy|last=Armour|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|___location=[[Spokane, Washington]]|language=en-US|oclc=11102529|date=January 4, 1998|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319140034/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/jan/04/gliding-for-some-gold-tara-lipinski-and-michelle/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Coming into the [[1997–98 Champions Series Final]], Lipinski was tied for fourth place in the Series standings with Russia's [[Maria Butyrskaya]].<ref name=LAT971214/> She won the competition, skating her first clean program of the season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-12-28-9712270100-story.html|title=Lipinski has Edge over Injured Kwan Entering Olympic Trials|newspaper=[[Sun-Sentinel]]|first=Sharon|last=Robb|___location=[[Deerfield Beach, Florida]]|language=en-US|issn=0744-8139|date=December 28, 1997|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701172339/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-12-28-9712270100-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Kwan, although she was eligible, withdrew from the Finals due to injuries.<ref name=LAT971214/> Mike Penner from the ''[[L.A. Times]]'' reported that both Lipinski and Callaghan were concerned about what they considered unfair treatment by the judges at the Champion Series that season, who gave Lipinski lower technical marks than the previous season, as low as 5.3, for an incorrectly performed Lutz. According to Penner, the judges told Callaghan that Lipinski regularly performed her Lutz jumps from the inside edge of her blade instead of from the correct outside edge, something skaters used to call a "[[Lutz jump#Execution|flutz]]".<ref name=LAT971214/>{{efn|See Kestnbaum, p. 159, for a more detailed explanation of Lipinski's execution of the Lutz.}} Lipinski and Callaghan disputed the judges' marks for her jumps, stating that she had performed them the same way the previous season, when she won both the Worlds and U.S. Nationals.<ref name=LAT971214/> Lipinski's lower marks were subject of several articles in major U.S. newspapers.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=159}} According to reporter Nancy Armour of ''[[The Spokesman-Review]]'', Lipinski showed her best performance of the season at the Finals with a well-executed triple Lutz.<ref name=SR980104/>
At the [[1998 U.S. Figure Skating Championships|1998 U.S. Championships]], Lipinski came in second behind Kwan. In her short program, Lipinski fell on a triple flip attempt, which she called "the lowest point" of her career.<ref name=CP180213/><ref name=WP980111/> She recovered enough from her short program to climb from fourth place to second overall. She would have had to win the free skate and Kwan to come in third place or lower for Lipinski to win the championship.<ref name=WP980111>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/sport/figskate/articles/skatewom.htm|title=Kwan Collects Skating Title; Lipinski Recovers|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Amy|last=Shipley|___location=Washington, D.C.|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|date=January 11, 1998|archive-date=December 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213113930/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/sport/figskate/articles/skatewom.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Lipinski performed her free skate program with seven triple jumps, including her trademark triple loop-triple loop and a difficult triple [[Toe loop jump|toe loop]]-[[Euler jump|half loop]]-triple [[Salchow jump|Salchow]] combination. The judges awarded her all 5.8s and 5.9s, except for a pair of 5.7s for presentation.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=160}}{{efn|In 2018, the name of the half loop jump was changed to "Euler" by the International Skating Union.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/news/2018/10/1/figure-skating-breaking-down-an-euler.aspx|title=Breaking Down an Euler|work=[[U.S. Figure Skating]]|first=Katherine|last=Cornetta|___location=[[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]|language=en-US|date=October 1, 2018|archive-date=August 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829015433/https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/news/2018/10/1/figure-skating-breaking-down-an-euler.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
====1998 Winter Olympics====
[[U.S. Figure Skating]] selected Kwan, Lipinski, and [[Nicole Bobek]], who came in third place at Nationals, to send to the [[Figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Winter Olympics]] in [[Nagano (city)|Nagano]], Japan.<ref name=WP980111/> Lipinski and Kwan entered the Olympics as co-favorites to win the gold medal.<ref name=NYT220907/>
In the women's individual event, Kwan won the short program with eight of the nine judges putting her in first place. Lipinski came in second place.<ref name=SI980302/><ref name=WP980221>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/sport/figskate/articles/free20.htm|title=In Ode to Joy, Young Lipinski Grabs the Gold|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Amy|last=Shipley|___location=Washington, D.C.|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|date=February 21, 1998|archive-date=September 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928054101/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/olympics1998/sport/figskate/articles/free20.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Swift called Lipinski's short program performance, which was technically more difficult than Kwan's, "luminous–fast and light and joyful".<ref name=SI980302/> Her free skate, featuring her signature triple loop-triple loop combination and seven triple jumps total, was technically the most difficult program in Olympic history up to then. She received 5.8s and 5.9s in presentation marks. Kwan received all 5.9s in presentation but lower technical marks than Lipinski. Kwan performed her free skate almost perfectly, with one minor error during one of her jumps.<ref name=WP980221/> According to ''[[The Washington Post|Washington Post]]'' reporter Amy Shipley, Kwan "skated brilliantly and Lipinski skated better".<ref name=WP980221/> Swift noted that Kwan's performance of her free skate "would have been enough to win at any other Olympics",<ref name=SI980302/> but the judges, by awarding her five 5.7s in her technical marks, left room for Lipinski to move ahead. Swift added that Lipinski "had a blast" skating her free skate program and "soared and spun with abandon, filling the [rink] with her joy".<ref name=SI980302/> Like Kwan, she completed seven triple jumps,<ref name=CT980221>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-02-21-9802210049-story.html|title=Disappointed Kwan Planning to Seek Redemption in 2002|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|first=Philip|last=Hersh|___location=Chicago, Illinois|language=en-US|issn=2165-171X|date=February 21, 1998|archive-date=April 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407011815/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-02-21-9802210049-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but "the difference was her trademark triple loop-triple loop combination and a wonderful closing triple toe-half loop-triple Salchow [combination]".<ref name=SI980302/> According to Kestnbaum, Lipinski's jumps were not as big as Kwan's and her jump take-offs were not ideal, but her landings were clean and increased in speed as she came out of them. Her spins were faster than Kwan's but not as difficult, and their positions were weaker.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|pp=162–163}} Kestnbaum also stated: "Nor did [Lipinski's] program demonstrate transitional steps as complex, stroking quality as nuanced, or body carriage and line as controlled and elegant".{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=163}} Lipinski was awarded 5.8s and 5.9s for her technical and presentation marks, and earned six out of nine first-place marks from the judges, winning the gold medal because the free skate was weighted more heavily than the short program.<ref name=CT980221/><ref name=SFG980220>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Lipinski-upsets-Kwan-3239720.php|title=Lipinski upsets Kwan|work=[[SFGATE]]|first=Gwen|last=Knapp|___location=San Francisco|language=en-US|date=February 20, 1998|archive-date=December 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214192258/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Lipinski-upsets-Kwan-3239720.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lipinski was the youngest Olympic gold medalist in figure skating history. She was the sixth American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating.<ref name=NYT980221/><ref name=WP960318/><ref name=CT980221/> Kwan finished in second place, and Chinese skater [[Chen Lu (figure skater)|Lu Chen]] was the surprise bronze medal winner.<ref name=WP980221/> Lipinski was two months younger than Sonja Henie when she came in first place at the [[Figure skating at the 1928 Winter Olympics|1928 Winter Olympics]], breaking a record that had stood for 70 years.<ref name=SFG980220/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/tara-lipinski|title=Tara Lipinski|work=[[International Olympic Committee]]|___location=[[Lausanne]]|archive-date=April 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421095819/https://www.olympic.org/tara-lipinski|url-status=live}}</ref> Single skaters from the same country had not won gold and silver medals at the Olympics since Americans [[Tenley Albright]] and [[Carol Heiss]] in [[Figure skating at the 1956 Winter Olympics|1956]].<ref name=SFG980220/>
==Professional career==
[[File:Tara Lipinski 1998.jpg|thumb|upright|Lipinski in December 1998|alt=Caucasian young woman, in her late teens, with hair in bun, and bright red lipstick, smiling and looking upwards and to the left]]
In March 1998, Lipinski announced her decision to withdraw from the [[1998 World Figure Skating Championships|1998 World Championships]], citing a serious glandular infection that required her to have two [[molar (tooth)|molars]] extracted, constant fatigue, and possible [[mononucleosis]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/10/sports/figure-skating-ailing-lipinski-to-skip-world-championships.html|title=Figure Skating; Ailing Lipinski to Skip World Championships|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jere|last=Longman|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=March 10, 1998|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216205507/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/10/sports/figure-skating-ailing-lipinski-to-skip-world-championships.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, Lipinski announced her intention to turn [[Figure skating#Terminology|professional]] in an interview on the [[NBC]] program ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today Show]]'', thus ending her eligibility to compete at the Olympics again.<ref name=NYT980408>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/08/sports/figure-skating-lipinski-turns-pro-to-unite-her-family.html|title=Figure Skating; Lipinski Turns Pro To Unite Her Family|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Jere|last=Longman|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=April 8, 1998|archive-date=September 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930100415/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/04/08/sports/figure-skating-lipinski-turns-pro-to-unite-her-family.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=AP980819>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/379189fa2152ee71b2171a36721da73f|title=Lipinski To Join Stars on Ice Tour|work=[[Associated Press]]|first=Barry|last=Wilner|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=August 19, 1998|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102040217/https://apnews.com/379189fa2152ee71b2171a36721da73f|url-status=live}}</ref> As her main motivations, she mentioned the desire to end her family's separation caused by her skating career and to focus on other goals such as attending college in another two years. According to ''The New York Times'', her decision "sent tremors through the Olympic figure skating community".<ref name=NYT980408/> ''[[USA Today]]'' criticized her decision, stating that she had taken the easy way out, and compared it to joining the circus. Figure skater [[Scott Hamilton (figure skater)|Scott Hamilton]] noted in his book ''Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice'' that Lipinski took "an enormous amount of heat" for turning professional.{{sfn|Hamilton|Benet|2000|p=318}}
In 1998, due to many endorsements and book deals, Lipinski's net worth was estimated at $12 million.<ref name=AP980819/> She signed an exclusive deal with [[CBS]] to do some acting and to perform in [[ice show]]s and non-sanctioned competitions.<ref name=AP981007>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/ca8325d132fc4a930b9dc6787a339e86|title=Lipinski Says Criticism Hurt Her|work=[[Associated Press]]|first=Barry|last=Wilner|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=October 7, 1998|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102040217/https://apnews.com/ca8325d132fc4a930b9dc6787a339e86|url-status=live}}</ref> After the Olympics, Lipinski toured with [[Champions on Ice]], visiting 90 cities in the U.S.<ref name=CP180213/> In August 1998, she ended her association with Champions on Ice, which she had performed with since 1995, and joined the cast of [[Stars on Ice]] in order to improve artistically and participate in the show's group numbers.<ref name=AP980819/> She suffered from sore hips and an injured hip during rehearsals.<ref name=AP981007/> In the same year, Lipinski wrote two books, ''Totally Tara – An Olympic Journey'' and ''Tara Lipinski: Triumph on Ice''.<ref name=NBC-PBTL>{{Cite web|url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/tara-lipinski-3/|title=Tara Lipinski: Figure Skating Analyst|work=[[NBC Sports]]|___location=[[Stamford, Connecticut]]|language=en-US|archive-date=September 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908070208/https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/bio/tara-lipinski-3/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1999, Lipinski performed with Stars on Ice for a second season and participated in the ISU-sanctioned ''Grand Slam of Figure Skating''. She became a spokeswoman for [[Boys and Girls Clubs of America]] and an anti-drug advocate, appeared on the soap opera ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'', and acted in television shows for the [[History of Freeform#Fox Family|Fox Family Network]] and [[Nickelodeon]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-31-sp-28184-story.html|title=Skater Lipinski Unchanged by Success|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Barry|last=Wilner|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|___location=[[El Segundo, California]]|language=en-US|issn=2165-1736|date=October 31, 1999|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910052802/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-31-sp-28184-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She also became the youngest skater to win the [[World Professional Figure Skating Championships]], completing a triple flip, a triple toe loop, and a triple Salchow jump in her free skate program. Her marks consisted of two 10s, eleven 9.9s, and one 9.8; she won by more than one point over [[Denise Biellmann]], who came in second place.<ref name=LAT991212>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/12/sports/lipinski-is-youngest-champion.html|title=Lipinski Is Youngest Champion|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Frank|last=Litsky|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=December 12, 1999|archive-date=June 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611071931/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/12/sports/lipinski-is-youngest-champion.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lipinski had hip surgery in 2000 at the age of 18, which she believed saved her career. Her injury, a torn [[Acetabular labrum|labrum]] in her hip, had been misdiagnosed for four or five years and had caused her a great deal of joint pain. She became a spokesperson to increase awareness about [[deep vein thrombosis]] (DVT), which the [[National Institutes of Health]] called "a dangerous potential side effect of surgery".{{sfn|MedlinePlus|2011|p=19}} The injury, which might have occurred before the 1998 Winter Olympics, became progressively worse until she was unable to tour. The surgery, which usually lasts 45 minutes, took 3.5 hours to complete because she was developing arthritis, and a cartilage had grown over the bone. She was back on the ice seven days later for light practice with Stars on Ice. She was able to return to touring but had to withdraw from the 2000 World Professional Championships.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/5ad4aff5715a94db7760639b3ea99e69|title=Tara Lipinski's Hip Is Healing|work=[[Associated Press]]|first=Barry|last=Wilner|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=December 19, 2000|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102201144/https://apnews.com/5ad4aff5715a94db7760639b3ea99e69|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2002, Lipinski toured 61 U.S. cities with Stars on Ice, then retired from skating.<ref name=HC200223>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Tara-Lipinsky-a-total-pro-with-no-regrets-2076169.php|title=Tara Lipinsky – A Total Pro with No Regrets|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|first=Clifford|last=Pugh|___location=Houston, Texas|language=en-US|issn=1074-7109|date=January 24, 2002|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102201144/https://www.chron.com/entertainment/article/Tara-Lipinsky-a-total-pro-with-no-regrets-2076169.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=HC110223>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/news/article/What-s-Tara-Lipinski-up-to-nowadays-1532507.php|title=What's Tara Lipinski Up To Nowadays?|newspaper=[[Houston Chronicle]]|first=Matt|last=Rybaltowski|___location=Houston, Texas|language=en-US|issn=1074-7109|date=February 23, 2011|archive-date=September 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911074221/https://www.chron.com/news/article/What-s-Tara-Lipinski-up-to-nowadays-1532507.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Skating technique==
Lipinski's skating influences were Kristi Yamaguchi, Scott Hamilton, and [[Christopher Bowman]].<ref name=SDUT181211>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/things-to-do/sd-et-family-tara-lipinski-20181210-story.html|title=Tara Lipinski Promises Fun by the Sea at Hotel del Coronado Ice Skating Event: 'It's Such a Beautiful Setting'|work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]|first=Brady|last=MacDonald|___location=[[San Diego]], California|language=en-US|issn=1063-102X|date=December 11, 2018|archive-date=August 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830110730/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/things-to-do/sd-et-family-tara-lipinski-20181210-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Her skating style was often contrasted to that of Michelle Kwan: Jere Longman called Lipinski "the consistent [[Energizer Bunny|Energizer bunny]] of a jumper" and Kwan "the more sophisticated, complete artist".<ref name=NYT220907/> Kwan's coach [[Frank Carroll (figure skater)|Frank Carroll]] called Lipinski's style "wonderful", adding that she was "turning easy, jumping easy".<ref name=NYT220907/> Writer Ellyn Kestnbaum remarked that compared to Kwan's "more carefully choreographed expressions of joy", Lipinski displayed "unselfconsious and spontaneous joy in her own movement that projected a greater air of confidence and command of the space".{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=163}}
Kestnbaum discusses Lipinski's skating technique in her book ''Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning'' to illustrate women's and girls' influence on figure skating. She states that "cynics and purists who valued the artistic possibilities of the sport or the fine points of skating technique complained that the judges who awarded Lipinski her gold medals were just counting the jumps and not paying attention to the quality of those jumps, much less to the quality of the rest of her skating".{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=156}} Kestnbaum uses Lipinski as an example of how teenagers, especially teenage girls, dominated the sport, and how many people in the press criticized the development, some even Lipinski herself for encouraging it. Her jumps, which Kestnbaum calls "small and in some cases technically flawed",{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=158}} were debated in the press in 1997 and 1998.{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=158}} She notes that Lipinski's early programs, choreographed by Sandra Bezik, emphasized her youth and femininity, while by the 1998 Olympics, the focus was on "greater polish or 'maturity' in her presentation skills".{{sfn|Kestnbaum|2003|p=163}}
In Longman's opinion, Lipinski "has propelled the sport forward with the difficulty of her jumps".<ref name=NYT220907/> Ed Swift remarked that although Lipinski's jumps were not big, her spins were "so fast that she seems to dematerialize, like [[Tinker Bell|Tinkerbell]], in the midst of her jumps".<ref name="kidstuff" /> In March 1997, he stated that Lipinski had "musicality and poise that are far beyond her years", and although he admitted that she often suffered from nerves, she was "the complete skating package, if a diminutive one, and a pleasure to watch".<ref name=SI970331/> In 2018, U.S. Figure Skating president Sam Auxier credited Lipinski for increasing the level of complexity of Olympic skating.<ref name=CP180213/>
==Broadcasting career==
[[File:2025 Worlds Tara Lipinski.jpg|thumb|Lipinski working as a commentator at the [[2025 World Figure Skating Championships|2025 World Championships]]]]
Lipinski spent a few years traveling and working "here and there" after her retirement from figure skating. She did some acting, but decided that it "just wasn't my thing".<ref name=CP180213/> In 2009, longing for the high she had felt as a figure skater,{{efn|Lipinski told reporter Jennifer Calfas in 2018 that she got the "same adrenaline rush" from live TV broadcasts that she got as a competitive skater.<ref name=MM180223>{{Cite news|url=https://money.com/tara-lipinski-olympics-career/|title=Tara Lipinski Says This is the Best Thing about Working the Olympics with Johnny Weir|magazine=[[Money (magazine)|Money]]|publisher=[[Meredith Corporation]]|first=Jennifer|last=Calfas|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=0149-4953|date=February 23, 2018|archive-date=August 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818193100/https://money.com/tara-lipinski-olympics-career/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} she contacted U.S. Figure Skating's streaming service Ice Network and offered to work as a commentator for competitions.<ref name=CP180213/> She began commentating for [[Universal Sports]] in 2010 and started working for [[NBC]] and [[NBC Sports]] in 2011, where she commentated most international figure skating competition broadcasts.<ref name=TL-BC>{{Cite web|url=https://taralipinski.com/broadcast/|title=Broadcast|website=taralipinski.com|language=en-US|archive-date=August 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830094305/https://taralipinski.com/broadcast/|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike what was customary for skating commentators when she competed, she would call figure skating from studios in the U.S. instead of live at the competition venue.<ref name=HC110223/> She also became a special correspondent for ''[[Extra (American TV program)|Extra]]'' and local NBC affiliates.<ref name=TL-BC/>
Lipinski teamed with sports commentator [[Terry Gannon]] and fellow figure skater and good friend [[Johnny Weir]] at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] in [[Sochi]] as the network's second team of figure skating commentators for their daily live broadcasts.<ref name=CT140919>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-lipinski-weir-now-no-1-nbc-skating-broadcast-team-20140918-story.html|title=Lipinski, Weir Promoted to No. 1 NBC Skating Broadcast Team|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|first=Philip|last=Hersh|___location=Chicago, Illinois|language=en-US|issn=2165-171X|date=September 19, 2014|archive-date=June 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210618152321/https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-lipinski-weir-now-no-1-nbc-skating-broadcast-team-20140918-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=GQ180212>{{Cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/story/name-a-more-iconic-duo-johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-interview|title=How Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski Became the Most Iconic Duo in Figure Skating|magazine=[[GQ]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast]]|first=Clay|last=Skipper|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=0016-6979|date=February 12, 2018|archive-date=February 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215181419/https://www.gq.com/story/name-a-more-iconic-duo-johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-interview|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BR180210>{{Cite news|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2758431-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-are-ready-to-rule-the-winter-olympics-again|title=Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir are Ready to Rule the Winter Olympics Again|work=[[Bleacher Report]]|first=Tom|last=Weir|___location=San Francisco|language=en-US|date=February 10, 2018|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420131543/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2758431-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-are-ready-to-rule-the-winter-olympics-again|url-status=live}}</ref> At first Lipinski collaborated with Gannon at the women's events and Weir with Gannon at the men's events.<ref name=GQ180212/> After realizing that they worked well together, with what Lipinski called their "instant chemistry",<ref name=BR180210/> they pitched the idea of the three commentating together for NBC; Lipinski stated that it "was sort of meant to be".<ref name=MM180223/> The trio generated the 10 best weekday daytime audiences in NBC's history. According to reporter Tom Weir, "they had instant comedic harmony, with their casual chatter and humorous asides playing amazingly well against the staunch and exacting backdrop of figure skating".<ref name=BR180210/> Following the Olympics, the trio was promoted to be NBC's primary figure skating commentators.<ref name=CT140919/><ref name=NYT180220>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/18/sports/olympics/figure-skating-nbc-scott-hamilton-.html|title=Scott Hamilton Was Demoted as an Olympic Broadcaster. Don't Feel Sorry for Him.|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|first=Juliet|last=Macur|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=1553-8095|url-access=limited|date=February 18, 2018|archive-date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220054554/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/18/sports/olympics/figure-skating-nbc-scott-hamilton-.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Lipinski, along with Weir and Gannon, was an analyst at the [[2018 Winter Olympics]].<ref name=ET211202>{{Cite news|url=https://www.etonline.com/tara-lipinski-on-pair-skating-with-jim-carrey-playing-a-warped-version-of-herself-on-kidding-112889|title=Tara Lipinski on Pair Skating With Jim Carrey and Playing a 'Warped' Version of Herself on 'Kidding' (Exclusive)|magazine=[[Entertainment Tonight]]|first=Jennifer|last=Drysdale|___location=[[Santa Monica, California]]|language=en-US|date=November 2, 2018|archive-date=December 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202231235/https://www.etonline.com/tara-lipinski-on-pair-skating-with-jim-carrey-playing-a-warped-version-of-herself-on-kidding-112889|url-status=live}}</ref> Commentating during prime time at the Olympics had been a dream of Lipinski's.<ref name=WP180222>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/02/22/the-internet-still-cant-make-up-its-mind-about-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir/|title=The Internet Still Can't Make up Its Mind about Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Tik|last=Root|___location=Washington, D.C.|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|date=February 22, 2018|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114102205/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/02/22/the-internet-still-cant-make-up-its-mind-about-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir/|url-status=live}}</ref> The trio also hosted the [[Olympic Games ceremony|closing ceremonies]] of the 2018, [[2020 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|2020]], [[2022 Winter Olympics closing ceremony|2022]], and [[2024 Summer Olympics closing ceremony|2024]] Olympic Games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tolentino |first=Daysia |date=August 11, 2024 |title=Olympics Closing Ceremony 2024: Everything You Need to Know, How to Watch, Start Time |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics-2024-opening-ceremony-watch-start-time-rcna165958 |access-date=August 16, 2024 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>
NBC's ''[[Access Hollywood]]'' hired Lipinski and Weir in 2014 to analyze fashion during the red carpet at the [[86th Academy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscars-tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-access-hollywood-20140224-story.html#axzz2uU4LrLwz|title=How Billy Bush got Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir an Oscars gig|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Amy|last=Kaufman|___location=[[El Segundo, California]]|language=en-US|issn=2165-1736|date=February 25, 2014|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125025305/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscars-tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-access-hollywood-20140224-story.html#axzz2uU4LrLwz|url-status=live}}</ref> She served as a social media, lifestyle, and fashion correspondent<ref name=NBC-PBTL/> for NBC Sports, including the ''Beverly Hills Dog Show'' with Weir in 2017,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/johnny-weir-and-tara-lipinski-are-doing-red-carpet-for-a-dog-show-because-we-love-dogs|title=Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski are Doing Red Carpet for a Dog Show Because 'We Love Dogs!'|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|first=Maggie|last=Hendricks|___location=[[McLean, Virginia]]|language=en-US|issn=0734-7456|date=April 10, 2017|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129144958/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/johnny-weir-and-tara-lipinski-are-doing-red-carpet-for-a-dog-show-because-we-love-dogs|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[National Dog Show]] since 2015,<ref name=NBC-PBTL/> the [[Kentucky Derby]] from 2014 to 2018,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/05/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-kentucky-derby-seven-suitcases|title=Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski are Bringing 7 Suitcases to the Kentucky Derby|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|first=Charlotte|last=Wilder|___location=[[McLean, Virginia]]|language=en-US|issn=0734-7456|date=May 3, 2016|archive-date=December 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207122946/https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/05/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-kentucky-derby-seven-suitcases|url-status=live}}</ref> and the pre-game coverage for the [[Super Bowl]] in 2015 and 2017.<ref name=NBC-PBTL/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2015/01/22/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-super-bowl-nbc-broadcast/|title=Tara Lipinski, Johnny Weir Join NBC's Super Bowl Team|work=[[NBC Sports]]|first=Nick|last=Zaccardi|___location=[[Stamford, Connecticut]]|language=en-US|date=January 22, 2015|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018111131/https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2015/01/22/johnny-weir-tara-lipinski-super-bowl-nbc-broadcast/|url-status=live}}</ref> They were called culture correspondents by ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine for the [[2016 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://people.com/sports/correspondents-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-will-cover-2016-olympics/|title=Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski Will Be Olympic Commentators, Promise an 'Inside Look' at the Games and 'Some Half-Naked Athletes'|magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]]|publisher=[[Dotdash Meredith]]|first=Rose|last=Minutaglio|___location=New York City|language=en-US|issn=0093-7673|date=May 2, 2016|archive-date=January 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113061607/https://people.com/sports/correspondents-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-will-cover-2016-olympics/|url-status=live}}</ref>
According to the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'', Lipinski approached broadcasting "with passion, vigor and an arduous work ethic similar to what she brought to the ice". She spent hundreds of hours researching skaters.<ref name=HC110223/> Her broadcasting influences were [[Peggy Fleming]], [[Dick Button]], and Scott Hamilton; she listened to tapes of Hamilton's past broadcasts to learn how to commentate.<ref name=MM180223/><ref name=NYT180220/> She called her broadcasting career her "second dream".<ref name=MM180223/> In 2018, she told ''Entertainment Tonight'', "I feel extremely grateful that Johnny and I have found this spot in our world, and it gives us opportunities outside of skating".<ref name=ET211202/> The same year, ''The Washington Post'' reported that viewers' response to Lipinski and Weir were mixed; some considered them "Olympic darlings–a one-stop shop for knowledge, sass and brass", while others found them "mean, obnoxious, and distracting".<ref name=WP180222/> Scott Hamilton, who was replaced at NBC by Lipinski, Weir, and Gannon, called them a "phenomenon" and "such a breath of fresh air".<ref name=NYT180220/> ''[[GQ]]'' called their commentating style "a [[Malcolm Gladwell|Gladwell-ian]] ability to demystify figure skating for the uninitiated and an extreme candor for which they've caught some heat".<ref name=GQ180212/>
''[[Cosmopolitan (magazine)|Cosmopolitan]]'' considered Lipinski and Weir's commentating style honest and colorful, and noted that they used banter and avoided what the magazine called "fluffy, polished performances".<ref name=CP180213/> They tried to present figure skating in an accessible way to their viewers, keeping the more technical aspects of the sport to a minimum but emphasizing its "gossipy nuances".<ref name=BR180210/> Sports writer and media critic Bill Goodykoontz named their enthusiasm for figure skating their "calling card".<ref name=AR220216>{{Cite news|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2022/02/16/tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-quiet-during-kamila-valievas-skate/6812334001/|title=Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir Kept Quiet During Kamila Valieva's Skate. It Was Powerful TV|newspaper=[[The Arizona Republic]]|first=Bill|last=Goodykoontz|___location=Phoenix, Arizona|language=en-US|issn=0892-8711|date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=October 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010001730/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2022/02/16/tara-lipinski-johnny-weir-quiet-during-kamila-valievas-skate/6812334001/|url-status=live}}</ref> In Dick Button's opinion, Lipinski and Weir were "excellent", but that Lipinski "might talk a little too much", although Tom Weir stated that when skaters were "elegant and error-free", both Lipinski and Weir had "the good sense to stay silent".<ref name=BR180210/> Goodykoontz pointed out that Lipinski and Weir were uncharacteristically quiet during the short program of Russia's [[Kamila Valieva]], representing the [[Russian Olympic Committee athletes at the 2022 Winter Olympics|Russian Olympic Committee]], who was allowed to compete despite failing a drug test prior to the 2022 Winter Olympics. They chose to simply announce Valieva's jumps and express their opinions that she should not have been allowed to compete afterwards instead. Their style was applauded and called powerful, but slammed by the Russian media.<ref>[https://spletnik.ru/193767-tara-lipinski-i-dzhonni-veyr-molchali-ves-prokat-kamily-valievoy-298644 Тара Липински и Джонни Вейр молчали весь прокат Камилы Валиевой]</ref><ref name=AR220216/>
In 2018 and 2019, Lipinski and Weir hosted and appeared in a few shows on [[Food Network]], including two seasons of ''Wedding Cake Challenge''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/01/04/tara-lipinski-and-chef-maneet-chauhan-love-first-bite/9057216002/|title=If You Want to Meet Tara Lipinski in Nashville, Hang Out at One of Maneet Chauhan's Restaurants|newspaper=[[The Tennessean]]|first=Brad|last=Schmitt|___location=[[Nashville, Tennessee]]|language=en-US|issn=2835-7523|date=January 4, 2022|archive-date=October 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010001730/https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/01/04/tara-lipinski-and-chef-maneet-chauhan-love-first-bite/9057216002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://lancasteronline.com/features/johnny-weirs-food-network-wedding-cake-baking-show-begins-season-2/article_a9511a38-7520-11e9-a041-97b9e5bbb8a6.html|title=Johnny Weir's Food Network Wedding Cake Baking Show Begins Season 2|newspaper=[[LNP (newspaper)|Lancaster Newspaper]]|first=Mary Ellen|last=Wright|___location=[[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]]|language=en-US|issn=2692-3750|date=May 13, 2019|archive-date=August 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820162033/https://lancasteronline.com/features/johnny-weirs-food-network-wedding-cake-baking-show-begins-season-2/article_a9511a38-7520-11e9-a041-97b9e5bbb8a6.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, Lipinski co-hosted ''Wedding Talk'' with event planner José Rolón and wedding designer Jove Meyer, produced by [[Chicken Soup for the Soul|Chicken Soup for the Soul Studios]].<ref name=ChickenSoup>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/tara-lipinski-wedding-talk-show-inside-black-box-season-2-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-1235286242/|title=Chicken Soup for the Soul Sets Tara Lipinski Wedding Talk Show, Crackle's 'Inside the Black Box' Season 2 (Exclusive)|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|first=Jennifer|last=Mass|___location=Los Angeles|language=en-US|issn=0042-2738|date=June 7, 2022|archive-date=August 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820155607/https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/tara-lipinski-wedding-talk-show-inside-black-box-season-2-chicken-soup-for-the-soul-1235286242/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same year, Lipinski and her husband, Todd Kapostasy, a sports producer and documentary director, co-produced ''Meddling: The Olympic Skating Scandal That Shocked the World,'' a four-part documentary series focusing on the [[2002 Winter Olympics figure skating scandal|skating controversy]] at the [[Figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Winter Olympics]], which was aired on the NBC streaming service [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1317236/how-tara-lipinski-surprised-herself-when-investigating-olympic-figure-skatings-big-scandal|title=How Tara Lipinski "Surprised" Herself When Investigating Olympic Figure Skating's Big Scandal|work=[[E! News]]|first1=Mike|last1=Vulpo|first2=Alli|last2=Rosenbloom|___location=Los Angeles|language=en-US|date=January 21, 2022|archive-date=April 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424095519/https://www.eonline.com/news/1317236/how-tara-lipinski-surprised-herself-when-investigating-olympic-figure-skatings-big-scandal|url-status=live}}</ref> Lipinski, who called the series "a deep and responsible look at what happened",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-sports-entertainment-tara-lipinski-figure-skating-9aaa3ab535c8b90e46c0ba48be9487e2|title=Tara Lipinski and Husband Examine 2002 Skating Scandal|work=[[Associated Press]]|first=Barry|last=Wilner|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216104051/https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-sports-entertainment-tara-lipinski-figure-skating-9aaa3ab535c8b90e46c0ba48be9487e2|url-status=live}}</ref> said that she and Kapostasy chose to create the series because it was the 20th anniversary of the scandal and there had been no comprehensive look at what happened.<ref name=UT220114>{{Cite news|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/olympics-tara-lipinski-figure-skating-2002-judging-scandal-meddling|title=Q&A: Tara Lipinski on Olympics Docuseries about the 2002 Figure Skating Scandal That Changed the Sport|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|first=Michelle R.|last=Martinelli|___location=[[McLean, Virginia]]|language=en-US|issn=0734-7456|date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823185130/https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/olympics-tara-lipinski-figure-skating-2002-judging-scandal-meddling|url-status=live}}</ref> They interviewed people in Russia, France, and Canada who were involved in the scandal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/tara-lipinski-on-meddled-and-olympic-figure-skating-judging-scandal|title=Two Decades Later, Tara Lipinski Says 'Meddling' Skating Scandal Should 'Not Be Forgotten'|work=[[Oxygen (TV channel)|Oxygen]]|first=Gina|last=Tron|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=January 28, 2022|archive-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823185130/https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/tara-lipinski-on-meddled-and-olympic-figure-skating-judging-scandal|url-status=live}}</ref> ''USA Today'' calls the documentary "a deep look into the scandal".<ref name=UT220114/>
==Personal life==
Lipinski expressed her [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] faith with a devotion to [[St. Therese of Lisieux]] since 1994 and Lipinski credited St. Therese for her Olympic win in 1998 and the recovery from her hip surgery in 2000. During the Olympics, she wore a medal of St. Therese. She thanked St. Therese at the [[kiss and cry]] after her short program in Nagano, and her coach held a small statue of St. Therese during her free skate.<ref name="PPG220830">{{Cite news|url=https://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20010211tara4.asp|title=Saint Inspires an Olympic Champion|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|first=Ann|last=Rodgers-Melnick|___location=[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]|language=en-US|issn=1068-624X|date=February 11, 2001|archive-date=August 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830211831/https://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20010211tara4.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also wore a necklace with a good-luck charm, given to her by her uncle, with the words, "Short, but good".<ref name="CP180213" /> Lipinski would also place a statue of St. Therese on the boards before every competition. A few months after the Nagano Olympics, she donated her medal and costume to an exhibit. In 2001, Lipinski established a playroom in St. Therese's honor in the children's ward in a [[Detroit]] hospital. She said that roses, a symbol of St. Therese, had "always appeared at her best and worst moments".<ref name="PPG220830" />
Lipinski married sports producer Todd Kapostasy in June 2017. They met at the 2015 [[Sports Emmys]], where she presented his award, and dated the following two years. Johnny Weir was a bridesman and Scott Hamilton was among the invited guests.<ref name="CP180213" /> She has detailed her struggles with [[infertility]] in her [[podcast]] ''Tara Lipinski: Unexpecting''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Tara Lipinski: Unexpecting on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tara-lipinski-unexpecting/id1703350436 |access-date=October 29, 2023 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2023, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, via [[surrogacy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tara Lipinski Opens Up About Close Bond with Surrogate Mikayla: 'Teammates on the Deepest Level' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/tara-lipinski-on-close-bond-with-surrogate-teammates-exclusive-8379574 |access-date=October 29, 2023 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenbloom |first=Alli |date=October 25, 2023 |title=Olympic gold medalist Tara Lipinski welcomes first child via surrogate |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/25/entertainment/olympic-gold-medalist-tara-lipinski-welcomes-first-child-via-surrogate/index.html |access-date=October 29, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2020, in order to help raise awareness of the condition, Lipinski made public her diagnosis of [[endometriosis]] after having [[Laparoscopy|laparoscopic surgery]] to treat it. Although her symptoms were not severe, the intermittent pain she experienced worsened over five years before it was diagnosed and treated. She reported that her surgery was successful, all of her adhesions were removed, and her recovery was "mainly pain free".<ref name=TTV200917>{{Cite news|url=https://www.today.com/health/tara-lipiniski-shares-endometriosis-diagnosis-raise-awareness-t191910|title='No Woman Should Live in Pain': Tara Lipinski Undergoes Endometriosis Surgery|work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]|first=Meghan|last=Holohan|___location=New York City|language=en-US|date=September 17, 2020|archive-date=March 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324004616/https://www.today.com/health/tara-lipiniski-shares-endometriosis-diagnosis-raise-awareness-t191910|url-status=live}}</ref> She credited dancer and actress [[Julianne Hough]] with increasing awareness of endometriosis, which encouraged Lipinski to seek out her own treatment.<ref name=TTV200917/>
==Records and achievements==
*Youngest athlete (12 years old) to win a gold medal at the U.S. Olympic Festival (1994)<ref name="kidstuff"/>
*First woman to complete a triple loop-triple loop combination, her signature jump element, in competition (1996)<ref name=CP180213/>
*Youngest woman (14 years old) to win the World Figure Skating Championships (1997)<ref name=NYT970323/>
*Sixth American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating (1998)<ref name=WP960318/>
*Youngest skater (16 years old) to win the World Professional Figure Skating Championships (1999)<ref name=LAT991212/>
*Youngest inductee into the [[United States Figure Skating Hall of Fame]] (2013)<ref name=SDUT181211/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldskatingmuseum.org/TaraLipinski2006USHallofFame.html|title=Tara Lipinski: 2006 U.S. Hall of Fame|work=[[World Figure Skating Hall of Fame]]|___location=[[Colorado Springs, Colorado]]|language=en-US|year=2013|archive-date=March 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314022654/http://www.worldskatingmuseum.org/TaraLipinski2006USHallofFame.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Figure skating==
===Programs===
{{smalldiv|
*Program details mentioned at first occurrence
*[[Winter Olympic Games|Olympic]] seasons highlighted in blue
*Programs performed at the [[Figure skating at the Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics]] highlighted in '''bold'''
}}
{{Figure skating program list
|exhibition=yes
|ref=<ref name=ISU-TL/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/tara-lipinski.51071/|title=Tara Lipinski|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|date=June 25, 2014|archive-date=August 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818184512/https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/threads/tara-lipinski.51071/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|season1=1994–95
|SP1=[[Cirque du Soleil]]
|FS1={{FS program|''[[Samson and Delilah (opera)|Samson and Delilah]]''|composer=[[Camille Saint-Saens]]}}
|season2=1995–96
|EXnum2=2
|SP2={{FS program|''[[On the Town (musical)|On the Town]]''|composer=[[Leonard Bernstein]]}}
|FS2={{FS program||music1=''[[Speed (1994 film)|Speed]]''|composer1=[[Mark Mancina]]
|music2=''[[The Prince of Tides]]''|composer2=[[James Newton Howard]]}}
|EX2=''On the Town''
|EX2_2={{FS program||music1=''Speed''|music2=''The Prince of Tides''}}
|season3=1996–97
|SP3={{FS program|''[[Little Women (1994 film)|Little Women]]''|composer=[[Thomas Newman]]|choreographer=[[Sandra Bezic]]}}
|FS3={{FS program|''[[Much Ado About Nothing (1993 film)|Much Ado About Nothing]]''|composer=[[Patrick Doyle]]}}
|EX3={{FS program|"[[Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves song)|Walking on Sunshine]]"|performer=[[Katrina and the Waves]]}}
|season4=1997–98
|olympic4=yes
|SP4={{FS program|'''''[[Anastasia (soundtrack)|Anastasia]]'''''
|composer=[[David Newman (composer)|David Newman]]|performer=[[Liz Callaway]]|choreographer=Sandra Bezic
|track1="[[Once Upon a December]]"|track2="[[Journey to the Past]]"}}
|FS4={{FS program|'''Medley:'''|music1="Prelude and Opening"|from1=''[[The Rainbow (1989 film)|The Rainbow]]''|composer1=[[Carl Davis]]
|music2="Scenes of Summer: Festival"|composer2=[[Lee Holdridge]]|performer2=the [[London Symphony Orchestra]]
|choreographer=Sandra Bezic}}
|EX4={{FS program|'''''Anastasia'''''|annotations="Journey to the Past"}}
}}
===Competitive highlights===
{{columns-start}}
{{smalldiv|
*GP – Event of the [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|ISU Champions Series]]
*WD – Withdrew from event
}}
{{Figure skating competitive highlights
|level=senior|ref=<ref name=ISU-TL/>
|season1=1995–96|season2=1996–97|season3=1997–98
|{{FS placements|3|[[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]]|p3=1st}}
|{{FS placements|3|[[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]]|p1=15th|p2=1st|p3=WD}}
|{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} [[Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Final]]|p2=1st|p3=1st}}
|{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Nations Cup]]|p2=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} [[Skate America]]|p3=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]]|p2=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} [[Trophée Éric Bompard|Trophée Lalique]]|p2=3rd|p3=2nd}}
|{{FS placements|3|[[Nebelhorn Trophy]]|p1=4th}}
|{{FS placements|3|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=3rd|p2=1st|p3=2nd}}
}}
{{column}}
{{smalldiv|
*J – junior level, N – novice level
}}
{{Figure skating competitive highlights
|level=junior and novice
|ref=<ref name=ISU-TL/>
|season1=1993–94|season2=1994–95|season3=1995–96
|{{FS placements|3|[[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]]|p2=4th|p3=5th}}
|{{FS placements|3|[[Nebelhorn Trophy]]|p3=4th}}
|{{FS placements|3|[[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Championships]]|p1=2nd|lv1=N|p2=2nd|lv2=J}}
}}
{{columns-end}}
===Professional===
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*1998 Skate TV Championships: 1st<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/rock.shtml|title=Rock 'n' Roll Championships: 1998 Skate TV Championships|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|archive-date=April 16, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020416041807/https://goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/rock.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1998 Ice Wars: 1st (Team USA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/icewars.shtml#1998|title=Ice Wars: Ice Wars|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|archive-date=February 20, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030220074021/https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/icewars.shtml#1998|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1998 Jefferson Pilot Financial Championships: 1st<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/legends.shtml|title=Legends Figure Skating Championships:1998 (Jefferson-Pilot Championships)|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|archive-date=February 20, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030220074806/https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/legends.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1999 Team Ice Wars: 2nd (Team USA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/otherpros.shtml |title=Other Professional Championships: ESPN Pro Skating Championships|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|archive-date=March 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317122629/https://www.goldenskate.com/figure-skating-results/figure-skating-results-professional-and-pro-am-competitions/figure-skating-professional-championships-1992-1999/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1999 Ice Wars: 1st (Team USA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/icewars.shtml#1999|title=Ice Wars: Ice Wars|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|archive-date=February 20, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030220074021/https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/icewars.shtml#1999|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1999 Grand Slam Super Teams of Skating: 1st<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/otherproam.shtml#grandslam99|title=Ice Wars: Ice Wars VI|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|archive-date=February 16, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030216061457/https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/otherproam.shtml#grandslam99|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1999 World Professional Championship: 1st<ref name=LAT991212/>
*2001 World Ice Challenge: 1st (Team USA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://taralipinski.com/skating/#pro-skating|title=Skating: Pro Skating|website=taralipinski.com|language=en-US|archive-date=April 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401073415/https://taralipinski.com/skating/#pro-skating|url-status=live}}</ref>
*2002 Ice Wars: 1st (Team USA)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/icewars.shtml#2002|title=Ice Wars: World Ice Challenge|work=Golden Skate|___location=[[Cary, North Carolina]]|language=en-US|archive-date=February 20, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030220074021/https://www.goldenskate.com/competitions/proam/icewars.shtml#2002|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
==Television credits==
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*''[[Early Edition]]'' (1997), Herself<ref name=TVDB-TL>{{Cite web|url=https://thetvdb.com/people/272086-tara-lipinski|title=Tara Lipinski|work=[[TheTVDB]]|language=en-US|archive-date=September 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901161138/https://thetvdb.com/people/272086-tara-lipinski|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Touched by an Angel]]'' (1999), Alex Thorpe<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/touched-by-an-angel/episode-15-season-5/on-edge/100551/|title=''Touched by an Angel'': Season 5, Episode 15 On Edge|work=[[TV Guide]]|___location=New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318045723/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/touched-by-an-angel/episode-15-season-5/on-edge/100551/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'' (1999), Herself<ref name=ET211202/>
*''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' (1999), Marnie Kowalski<ref name=HC110223/>
*''[[Ice Angel]]'' (2000), Tracy Hannibal<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2000/tv/reviews/ice-angel-1200460391/|title=Ice Angel|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]]|first=Steven|last=Oxman|___location=Los Angeles|language=en-US|issn=0042-2738|date=February 28, 2000|archive-date=August 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818202737/https://variety.com/2000/tv/reviews/ice-angel-1200460391/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Are You Afraid of the Dark?]]'' (2000), Ellen<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/episode-4-season-7/lunar-locusts/199796/|title=Are You Afraid of the Dark: Season 7, Episode 4 Lunar Locusts|work=[[TV Guide]]|___location=New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318175510/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/are-you-afraid-of-the-dark/episode-4-season-7/lunar-locusts/199796/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Vanilla Sky]]'' (2001), Girl at Party – Uncredited<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2001/10-21/0028_lipinski_has_no_regrets_as_olympi.html|title=Lipinski Has No Regrets As Olympics Approach|website=[[Kitsap Sun]]|___location=[[Bremerton, Washington]]|language=en-US|date=October 21, 2001|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318180812/https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/2001/10-21/0028_lipinski_has_no_regrets_as_olympi.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Arliss (TV series)|Arliss]]'' (2002), Herself<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/arli/episode-5-season-7/playing-it-safe/199800/|title=''Arliss'': Season 7, Episode 5 Playing it Safe|work=[[TV Guide]]|___location=New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318194532/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/arli/episode-5-season-7/playing-it-safe/199800/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'' (2003), Christine<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/7th-heaven/episode-21-season-7/life-and-death/100006/|title=''7th Heaven'': Season 7, Episode 21 Life and Death|work=[[TV Guide]]|___location=New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=March 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318195324/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/7th-heaven/episode-21-season-7/life-and-death/100006/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''The Metro Chase'' (2004), Natalie Jordon<ref name=HC200223/>
*''[[Still Standing (American TV series)|Still Standing]]'' (2005), Sarah<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/still-standing/episode-18-season-3/still-admiring/100418/|title=''Still Standing'': Season 3, Episode 18 Still Admiring|work=[[TV Guide]]|___location=New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319021710/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/still-standing/episode-18-season-3/still-admiring/100418/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[What's New, Scooby-Doo?]]'' (2005), Grey – Voice role<ref name=TVDB-TL/>
*''[[Malcolm in the Middle]]'' (2006), Carrie<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/malcolm-in-the-middle/episode-20-season-7/cattle-court/100283/|title=''Malcolm in the Middle'': Season 7, Episode 20 Cattle Court|work=[[TV Guide]]|___location=New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319022259/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/malcolm-in-the-middle/episode-20-season-7/cattle-court/100283/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Whose Line Is It Anyway? (American TV series)|Whose Line Is It Anyway]]'' (2014), Herself<ref>{{Citation|title=Whose Line is it Anyway?|work=Pynchon and Philosophy|date=2014 |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]|doi=10.1057/9781137405500 |last1=Eve |first1=Martin Paul |isbn=978-1-349-48773-8 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
*''[[Superstore (TV series)|Superstore]]'' (2016), Herself<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/superstore/episode-12-season-1/olympics/800949/|title=''Superstore'': Season 1, Episode 12 Olympics|work=[[TV Guide]]|___location=New York City|language=en-US|archive-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319023224/https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/superstore/episode-12-season-1/olympics/800949/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Kidding]]'' (2018), Herself<ref name=ET211202/>
*''[[Family Guy]]'' (2018), Herself – Voice role (Episode: "Griffin Winter Games")<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/04/05/olympic-figure-skater-johnny-weir-takes-break-for-fundraiser/|title=Olympic Figure Skater Johnny Weir Takes Break for Fundraiser|work=[[NBC Sports]]|agency=[[Associated Press|AP]]|___location=[[Stamford, Connecticut]]|language=en-US|date=April 5, 2019|archive-date=January 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126045651/https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2019/04/05/olympic-figure-skater-johnny-weir-takes-break-for-fundraiser/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''[[Amphibia (TV series)|Amphibia]]'' (2019), Herself – Voice role<ref name=TVDB-TL/>
*''[[Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?]]'' (2020), Herself – Voice role<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/scooby-doo-and-guess-who-s2-comes-home-in-june/|title=''Scooby-Doo! and Guess Who?'' S2 Comes Home in June|website=[[Animation Magazine]]|first=Mercedes|last=Milligan|___location=[[Calabasas, California]]|language=en-US|issn=1041-617X|date=April 19, 2022|archive-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422023837/https://www.animationmagazine.net/home-entertainment/scooby-doo-and-guess-who-s2-comes-home-in-june/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*''Wedding Talk'' (2022), Herself – Host<ref name=ChickenSoup/>
*''[[Night Court (2023 TV series)|Night Court]]'' (2023), Herself.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hailu|first=Selome|date=January 15, 2023|title=''Night Court'' Revival Sets Guest Stars Including Pete Holmes, Melissa Villaseñor, Wendie Malick|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/night-court-guest-stars-pete-holmes-melissa-villasenor-1235490134/|access-date=February 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228230738/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/night-court-guest-stars-pete-holmes-melissa-villasenor-1235490134/|archive-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Hurley|first=Laura|date=February 21, 2023|title=''Night Court'': Figure Skating Icons Tara Lipinski And Johnny Weir Reveal Cast And Crew Reactions To Their Guest Roles, Despite Feeling Nervous|work=CinemaBlend|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/night-court-figure-skating-icons-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-reveal-cast-and-crew-reactions-to-their-guest-roles-despite-feeling-nervous|access-date=February 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307162448/https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/night-court-figure-skating-icons-tara-lipinski-and-johnny-weir-reveal-cast-and-crew-reactions-to-their-guest-roles-despite-feeling-nervous|archive-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref>}}
==Bibliography==
* Lipinski, Tara; Costello, Emily (1997). ''Tara Lipinski: Triumph on Ice''. New York: Bantam Dell. {{ISBN|978-0553097757}}.
* Lipinski, Tara; Zeigler, Mark (1998). ''Totally Tara: Tara Lipinski – An Olympic Journey''. New York: Universe Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0789301420}}.
==Notes and references==
{{notelist}}
==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
}}
===Works
{{Refbegin}}
*{{Cite book |title=Landing It: My Life On and Off the Ice |publisher=[[Kensington Books]] |first1=Scott |last1=Hamilton |first2=Lorenzo |last2=Benet |___location=New York City |language=en-US |date=October 1, 2000 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/landingitmylifeo00hami/page/318 |isbn=978-0786011490}}
*{{Cite book |title=Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield#Imprints|Scarecrow Press]] |first=James R. |last=Hines |___location=[[Lanham, Maryland]] |language=en-US |date=April 22, 2011 |url=https://archive.org/details/historicaldictio0000hine/page/149 |isbn=978-0810868595}}
*{{Cite book |title=Culture on Ice: Figure Skating and Cultural Meaning |publisher=[[Wesleyan University Press]] |first=Ellyn |last=Kestnbaum |___location=[[Middletown, Connecticut]] |language=en-US |date=May 21, 2003 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/cultureonicefigu00kest/page/285 |isbn=978-0819566423}}
*{{Cite journal |title=Skater Tara Lipinski Speaks Out About DVT |journal=[[MedlinePlus]] |volume=6 |issue=1 |publisher=[[United States National Library of Medicine]] |author=MedlinePlus |___location=[[Bethesda, Maryland]] |language=en-US |date=Spring 2011 |url=https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/pdf/MLP_Spring_2011.pdf |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306101500/https://medlineplus.gov/magazine/issues/spring11/articles/spring11pg5-6.html |url-status=live}}
{{Refend}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Tara Lipinski}}
* {{Official website|https://taralipinski.com/}}
* {{Olympics.com profile}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{
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