I think we Mao fans should be patient. She has had to deal with so much in her life this year. Losing a parent is hard enough; combine that with the pressure of being your country's marquee female athlete and it's easy to see how having so much on her mind can negatively impact her results. I am confident she will have better results. I don't know if she will regain a consistent 3A, but she will need that or a 3/3 to compete for gold in the future.
I'm not sure anyone could have beaten YuNa on that particular night in Vancouver. But Mao did an astonishing job, with three triple axels in two days...and she almost pulled it off.Originally Posted by NMURA
I think the problem now is that she isn't able to provide three triple axels, or even one a lot of the time. As Kurt Browning used to say, her triple axel is on vacation. So she needs to revise her approach and concentrate on other jumps that get her points. I bet she can do it. She's a powerhouse, and she's also an artistic skater. That combination comes along very rarely. At her best, no one in the world can touch her. I hope she's able to retrieve her best by next season, but I'll love her no matter what. I could watch her skate all day.
If only she'd gotten a jump coach six years ago who would give her a stable flip and lutz. If only her mother's illness hadn't made living in Japan an imperative. If only, if only. But she did it her own way and she's got no regrets. And her coming back to Japan definitely encouraged the growth of figure skating in Japan, so lots of good things happened as well.
BTW, as long as she has 3F-3L and 2A-3T, she has no need for a 3F-3T. And if she gets the 3-lutz, OGM is nearly guaranteed, and if she gets her new 3-axel down pat, nothing could take away OGM from her. But Sochi's still two years away, and anything can happen in between.
^ Nothing whatsoever guaranteed, or practically guaranteed, about an OGM, much as I might wish it were locked up for a renewed, fitter Mao.
3F-3L is just too hard to get ratified. Even powerhouse jumpers like Miki couldn't get most of her 3loop combo ratified.
3F-3T should be her combo.
I agree, no regrets on her part. A lot of regrets for fans, though. Coulda woulda shoulda, fans said.
Well, some fans said. Speaking as a fan, I have no regrets, and I'm sure I'm not alone. (The only thing I regret is that dirge of a Rachmaninoff prelude she skated to in 2010.) If I get to watch her skate, I'm satisfied. If I get to watch her improve, I'm even happier.
Mao said she'll be taking a break (which I think is a good thing for her--it's been a difficult year for her)
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/n...03-928117.html
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks