There is an article on Ashley Wagner in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/27/sports/othersports/27skate.html?_r=1
She sounds very optimistic. One may interpret it as being overconfident, but I like it.
I personally do not think that she will medal at the Olympics, but I think she has a right mindset. She still has to be chosen into the US team, but this is nice to see that she is so open about what she thinks her chances are.
But I think that the journalist was being rather unfair to Yuna
Yuna did not learn about Mao not going to GPF at Skate America news conference, she must have been aware of it since Mao's poor appearance at the competition in Russia. And Yuna does not seem to be a kind of person that would smirk about it at the press conference. Maybe she simply tried to think of some polite answer. And I do not think there is anything inappropriate in what she said. Typical PR-friendly answer. Maybe the journalist tried to artificially cause some stir.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/27/sports/othersports/27skate.html?_r=1
She sounds very optimistic. One may interpret it as being overconfident, but I like it.
I personally do not think that she will medal at the Olympics, but I think she has a right mindset. She still has to be chosen into the US team, but this is nice to see that she is so open about what she thinks her chances are.
I really think the winner of the gold medal will be whoever skates the best on that day. Someone will surprise everyone. I really hope it is me.
But I think that the journalist was being rather unfair to Yuna
Asada, the 2005 and 2008 Grand Prix Final champion, failed to qualify for the event this year after finishing second in Paris and fifth in Moscow. Her big rival, Kim Yu-na, was not too heartbroken about it.
Addressing a room of reporters at a news conference at Skate America earlier this month, Kim could not hold back a smirk when she learned that Asada did not make the final.
“For the last several seasons, I competed against Mao Asada, but there are so many other strong skaters in the final,” Kim said through a translator. “I will try to do my program perfectly and I will concentrate on my performance."
Yuna did not learn about Mao not going to GPF at Skate America news conference, she must have been aware of it since Mao's poor appearance at the competition in Russia. And Yuna does not seem to be a kind of person that would smirk about it at the press conference. Maybe she simply tried to think of some polite answer. And I do not think there is anything inappropriate in what she said. Typical PR-friendly answer. Maybe the journalist tried to artificially cause some stir.