She said she won't consider 4S for Olympic,fyi
Gosh, I'm so sad for Yukari....and Fumie!
Best of luck in all their future endeavors!
I wish ISU was able to issue a few "wildcard" spots and if that was the case Yukari would certainly deserve one.
I agree with your sentiments. I was rooting so hard for Akiko - but I feel sorry for Yukari for twice coming so close and not making the Olympic team.
I wish ISU was able to issue a few "wildcard" spots and if that was the case Yukari would certainly deserve one.
Good luck to Yukari and Fumie always.......
Just watched those videos, it's fine that Suzuki came in 2nd (I thought she should have won the FS) but I don't know why she was TEN points below Mao when she landed 7 triples and Mao only landed 5. Plus that bells LP does not have a lot of choreography between the jumps. Whatever though, I'm just so happy for Akiko :agree:
Kanako Murakami is also a joy to watch, like Akiko. I love how she always looks so happy and excited about her scores rather than sulky or sad. What a cutie, can't wait to see her on the Grand Prix circuit next year!
Oh okay. Still don't think it should be ten points higher but I guess that is the beauty of nationals, she won't score a 205 internationally with a 5 triple FS.
Maybe not, but Yu Na scored even higher with only a 5 triple program.
Maybe not, but Yu Na scored even higher with only a 5 triple program.
Kanako was skating without any pressure b/c she knew she's not a contender for Vancouver. I still love it that she did her best, and I hope she can maintain her enthusiasm & love for skating for the next four years!
I know, I just love Kanako. She's so cute and her enthusiasm is incredibly charming. How old is she? (Too lazy to look it up ) I hope she goes and wins Junior Worlds, but I guess that really depends on who USFSA decides to send. hwell:
She's 15, turned 15 in November. Yes she is very cute but I think she has a shot at winning Jr. Worlds no matter who the US sends, the only real threats would be Ashley or Mirai. Kanako can probably beat Caroline, Alexe, Christina, Angela (I think her skating is great but she doesn't get very high scores), or whoever else the USFSA might send. Her biggest competition will probably come from the Russians, as Polina Shelepen and Anna Ovcharova are very good.
Here are links to the top 5 free skates:
Mao Asada FS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3HSQaJEoJI
Akiko Suzuki FS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLscBppp2b0
Yukari Nakano FS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaMVKC3lMgk
Miki Ando FS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbzUs95F21Y
Kanako Murakami FS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVXHjqdSTmE
Video of Japan's Olympic team being introduced in the arena: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy60mQxWBJY
Thanks so much, Sylvia, for posting these!
Lol, I've spent the last hour reviewing each one, and I have to say what a superbly skated event, no falls except for Suzuki's freak one after that one jump, but otherwise the top 5 skated really really well (not as extraordinarily well as the American ladies did at 2008 Nationals nor 2002 Nationals, but pretty darn close).
Here's my review of each one (btw I agree with the placements & the JFSA decision on the Olympic Team):
Mao Asada -- finally, a clean performance, no falls, just what she needed to get her confidence back. Forget about 2 mos. ago, now is the time to start anew/fresh, and it looks like exactly what she is doing. Instead of starting off with *too much*, now she is thinking smart, and starting off little by little. She can build from this. Very wise to take out the second 3A, but IIRC that was TAT's plan all along, to give Mao two 3As in the FS, so she would be able to do one without problem. Wise indeed. That said, her 3A & 3T looked textbook perfect out there, but her other triples, especially the 3F, just okay. They barely made it all the way around, leaving it up to a judge to downgrade if they are in the mood. It can go either way, just depends on the judge. Thank goodness her other elements are so good that she has at least a one-triple jump advantage over the rest of her countrywomen, just as Michelle Kwan did, and rightfully so. Final note, I hope to see a different costume, makeup, and hairstyle come the Olympics. These things can also make all the difference in the world (aka Jeremy Abbott & Evan Lysacek at the GPF).
Akiko Suzuki -- can't believe that one poster that basically called her ugly at her first competition at COC, wherein she won gold. She's far from it, her inner beauty makes her shine, and reminds me of Alena Leonova & Liz Manley. Bubbly personalities, great jumpers, as well as similar body types ~ all of which took Liz Manley far ~ she was the surprise silver medalist at the 1988 Olympics. Alena & Akiko need only to look toward Liz (or Irina Slutskaya or Midori Ito) to see that the same can happen to them.
Yukari Nakano -- I said it the first time I saw her FS at TEB, and I will say it again now, this program is a masterpiece. My favorite of all the LPs she has had over the years. Tonight just wasn't her night, just bad luck is all, because I see the tiebreaker between her & Akiko as so close that it came down to the little things. Both great jumpers, but I would give the edge to Akiko on presentation, due to the fact that Yukari's *leg wrap* has always been unpleasant & bad technique (btw this is the reason why I consider Tonya Harding the greatest jumper of all time, not Midori Ito, as Midori had the same exact bad leg wrap technique). But, as a long time fan of the wonderful/beautiful/pleasant/generous/gorgeous Yukari Nakano, I have never minded. I'm only pointing it out here to explain why I would have given it to Akiko Suzuki as well (also Akiko's bubbly personality won out over Yukari's more reserved one). That said, take heart, Yukari, there is still Worlds & 4CC! I'll never forget you, just as I have never forgotten Yoshie Onda, Angela Nikodinov, Tonia Kwiatkowski, Amber Corwin, et al. They too never made it to an Olympics, though not without trying, just bad luck is all. Just bad luck. Like you, they represented their country proudly, and with honor, dignity, and humility over the years, skating well into their 20's, earning medals along the way. And there is one thing you have that hardly anyone has, your name in the figure skating record books ~ becoming the 3rd woman (along with Ludmilia Nelidina) to land the 3axel in competition ~ your name will live on...
Miki Ando -- your FS was my favorite tonight. You looked like a magestic lady out there (btw your costume is one of my all time favorites!, it literally blew me away, fit the music & choreography so well). Mao needs to look toward you to see how to fit everything all together in terms of hairstyle, makeup, costume, and choreography. And all the jumps looked rotated except for the last 3lutz. Very good skate. I'm so proud to have seen your transformation through the years, from a young jumping bean, to what you have become today, an all around skater that skates like the lady she is. Bravo! I've been your fan since the beginning, and that has not changed. Does the heart good to see that you didn't give up after that disastrous FS at the 2006 Olympics. You are a worthy role model for all your countrywomen to look up to!
Kanako Murakami -- nice elegant performance. I look forward to seeing you develop over the years in the same way Miki Ando has.
Akiko Suzuki -- can't believe that one poster that basically called her ugly at her first competition at COC, wherein she won gold.
Uh...I'm confused.O/T - I'll scream if the US sends Caroline and/or Mirai again, for the fourth time! I hope juniors like Maxwell or Gao get a shot. They deserve it, IMO.