If Mao Asada fails to win Gold in Sochi, should she carry on for another quad? | Page 3 | Golden Skate

If Mao Asada fails to win Gold in Sochi, should she carry on for another quad?

drivingmissdaisy

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2010
It must be a tough decision. Here you are, the best in the world at what you do. Whatever you decide to do afterward, the chances are remote that will will be anywhere near as good at it.

She is one of the few skaters who can make a living doing shows, so she wouldn't have to stop skating unless she wants to. As far as competing, she has worked so hard the last 4 years and is basically in the same position as underdog for gold. She may win, she may not but I don't think she will be competitive for the top of the podium for another four years because the young skaters whom she beats only on PCS will eventually get better on that mark.
 

miki88

Medalist
Joined
Dec 28, 2009
She is one of the few skaters who can make a living doing shows, so she wouldn't have to stop skating unless she wants to. As far as competing, she has worked so hard the last 4 years and is basically in the same position as underdog for gold. She may win, she may not but I don't think she will be competitive for the top of the podium for another four years because the young skaters whom she beats only on PCS will eventually get better on that mark.

Or they might not. I remember the same thing was said about Mirai four years ago. Who knows if the young skaters will have longevity in the sport.
 

skateluvr

Record Breaker
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
Much as I love Mao, I'd never wish 4 more years. She will skate shows as she loves to skate and people love her skating. She has been a valiant warrior. She deserves rest. I loved her 2010 effort. I loved Orser. Gold did not define Nancy, Irina, Michelle. So, whatever.
 

Nater

Match Penalty
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Or they might not. I remember the same thing was said about Mirai four years ago. Who knows if the young skaters will have longevity in the sport.

Not the same situation. There was quite a bit of holdover from last Quad into this Quad, and the judges did a lot of work to hold down the up-and-comers to benefit them. I don't see the judges being as willing to rip off the younger skaters moving forward, if this season has been any indication. Asada, Kim, Kostner, Suzuki, Wagner are all holdovers.

This time, it will be different. All of the holdovers will be newbies, and countries like the US and Russia have a ton of Junior level skaters that will invade the senior ranks in a couple years.

Edmunds
[Karen] Chen
Radionova
Medvedeva
Sotskova
Sakhanovich
Proklova

That's not talking about Sotnikova, Tuktamysheva (when she gets over her back issues), Lipnitskaya, Gold, and others.

If Mao wants to stay in until 2018, she will have to do 2-3 triple axels per competition for 4 more years because the judges will find it increasingly hard to justify gifting her wins based on PCS for that long.

I don't see her being competitive. Even now, she's pushing the envelop and I'm not sure she will be able to do 3 clean 3As, but anything can happen at the Olympics so we'll have to wait and see that...
 

RABID

Final Flight
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Not the same situation. There was quite a bit of holdover from last Quad into this Quad, and the judges did a lot of work to hold down the up-and-comers to benefit them. I don't see the judges being as willing to rip off the younger skaters moving forward, if this season has been any indication. Asada, Kim, Kostner, Suzuki, Wagner are all holdovers.

This time, it will be different. All of the holdovers will be newbies, and countries like the US and Russia have a ton of Junior level skaters that will invade the senior ranks in a couple years.

Edmunds
[Karen] Chen
Radionova
Medvedeva
Sotskova
Sakhanovich
Proklova

That's not talking about Sotnikova, Tuktamysheva (when she gets over her back issues), Lipnitskaya, Gold, and others.

If Mao wants to stay in until 2018, she will have to do 2-3 triple axels per competition for 4 more years because the judges will find it increasingly hard to justify gifting her wins based on PCS for that long.

I don't see her being competitive. Even now, she's pushing the envelop and I'm not sure she will be able to do 3 clean 3As, but anything can happen at the Olympics so we'll have to wait and see that...


Compared to the last quad there is an intimidation factor present now that wasn't then. Still I would like it if it was just Mao hanging in there whilst the new order shake things up. It would be an interesting new chapter in her competitive career.
 
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
I'd really love to see her go in another direction and explore more artistic skating in a freer environment. The Asian pro skating scene seems to be unusually lively, and she would surely have a huge audience both in arenas and on Japanese TV (which I hope fans would share with the rest of us on YouTube). This is not a skater who should be evaluated in tenths of points any longer. She has far more to offer.
 

Bartek

On the Ice
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
I'd really love to see her go in another direction and explore more artistic skating in a freer environment. The Asian pro skating scene seems to be unusually lively, and she would surely have a huge audience both in arenas and on Japanese TV (which I hope fans would share with the rest of us on YouTube). This is not a skater who should be evaluated in tenths of points any longer. She has far more to offer.

Wow, I love this comment of yours; totally agree with you :).
 

minze

Medalist
Joined
Dec 22, 2012
I'd really love to see her go in another direction and explore more artistic skating in a freer environment. The Asian pro skating scene seems to be unusually lively, and she would surely have a huge audience both in arenas and on Japanese TV (which I hope fans would share with the rest of us on YouTube). This is not a skater who should be evaluated in tenths of points any longer. She has far more to offer.

Agree. Imagine how beautiful her show programs will be
 

pangtongfan

Match Penalty
Joined
Jun 16, 2010
Not the same situation. There was quite a bit of holdover from last Quad into this Quad, and the judges did a lot of work to hold down the up-and-comers to benefit them. I don't see the judges being as willing to rip off the younger skaters moving forward, if this season has been any indication. Asada, Kim, Kostner, Suzuki, Wagner are all holdovers.

This time, it will be different. All of the holdovers will be newbies, and countries like the US and Russia have a ton of Junior level skaters that will invade the senior ranks in a couple years.

Edmunds
[Karen] Chen
Radionova
Medvedeva
Sotskova
Sakhanovich
Proklova

That's not talking about Sotnikova, Tuktamysheva (when she gets over her back issues), Lipnitskaya, Gold, and others.

If Mao wants to stay in until 2018, she will have to do 2-3 triple axels per competition for 4 more years because the judges will find it increasingly hard to justify gifting her wins based on PCS for that long.

I don't see her being competitive. Even now, she's pushing the envelop and I'm not sure she will be able to do 3 clean 3As, but anything can happen at the Olympics so we'll have to wait and see that...

Exactly. It would be a big mistake for any of the holdovers (well apart from maybe Wagner as she has different goals than the others) to stay in any longer past this season.

The only part I disagree with is the judges working to hold down the newer generation. The newer generation simply hasnt risen this quad. The girls who looked like the new generation 4 years ago like Nagasu, Flatt, Murakami, Lepisto, simply havent gone anywhere, apart from Murakami to a degree but she has << and jump quality and consistency issues. Then the generation of Sotnikova, Tuktamysheva, Lipnitskaya, and Gold havent done anything to justify being competitive except for Lipnitskaya this year on the grand prix series. Sotnikova and Gold finally getting it together for their own Nationals this season for the first time really. Had someone made their mark sooner it would be a different situation, but that didnt happen.
 

Jammers

Record Breaker
Joined
Nov 4, 2010
Country
United-States
Exactly. It would be a big mistake for any of the holdovers (well apart from maybe Wagner as she has different goals than the others) to stay in any longer past this season.

The only part I disagree with is the judges working to hold down the newer generation. The newer generation simply hasnt risen this quad. The girls who looked like the new generation 4 years ago like Nagasu, Flatt, Murakami, Lepisto, simply havent gone anywhere, apart from Murakami to a degree but she has << and jump quality and consistency issues. Then the generation of Sotnikova, Tuktamysheva, Lipnitskaya, and Gold havent done anything to justify being competitive except for Lipnitskaya this year on the grand prix series. Sotnikova and Gold finally getting it together for their own Nationals this season for the first time really. Had someone made their mark sooner it would be a different situation, but that didnt happen.
The generation of Sot, Gold and Lip simply haven't had the time to establish themselves like Kim and Asada did heading into Vancouver. Kim and Asada were eligible for Worlds the very next season after the 2006 Olympics and had the full 4 years before the Vancouver Olympics to make a name for themselves while someone like Sot wasn't old enough to go to Worlds until last season and Lip still wasn't old enough for Worlds until this season. As for someone like Gold she simply wasn't a phenom at 14 and took more time to start becoming a contender. But just in the last year the kids have really started putting the pressure on the veterans and have made huge improvements so i say it's time for the holdovers from the last 8 years to retire.
 

yude

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Mao said in the article of Yomiuri newspaper a few weeks ago that she wanted to try Honolulu marathon after retiring. Her sister, Mai, has participated in it before and that was inspiring for her.
Mao is an athlete by nature. :)
 
Top