Asada spearheads Japanese Ladies podium sweep at Four Continents

Japan’s Mao Asada is truly back. The two-time World Champion spearheaded a Japanese podium sweep in the Ladies event at the 2013 ISU Four Continents Championships Sunday in Osaka, Japan, and set herself up as one of the top contenders for Worlds.

Teammates Akiko Suzuki and Kanako Murakami, who placed second and…

Asada leads Japanese Ladies to short program sweep at Four Continents

Mao Asada led the Japanese ladies to a sweep in the Short Program at the 2013 ISU Four Continents Championships in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday. Teammates Akiko Suzuki and Kanako Murakami, placed second and third respectively and all three skaters delivered excellent performances.

For the first time in two years, Asada landed…

Asada wins third Grand Prix Final title in Sochi

Seven years after her triumph in Torino (Italy), and three years after her victory in Goyang City (Korea), Japan’s Mao Asada won her third title in the Ladies discipline at the…

Asada nails Short Program at Grand Prix Final

In the first event of the Senior part of the 2012-13 ISU Grand Prix Final of Figure Skating, Japan’s…

Asada edges out Suzuki for NHK Trophy gold

Mao Asada of Japan edged out teammate Akiko Suzuki by just 0.05 points to capture the gold medal at the 2012 NHK Trophy Saturday. The bronze went to USA’s Mirai Nagasu.

Asada had to skate last and ran…

Asada leads ladies at 2012 NHK Trophy

Japan’s Mao Asada, looking confident and happy, skated to the lead in the Ladies figure skating Short Program at the 2012 NHK Trophy on Friday. USA’s Mirai Nagasu and Zijun Li of…

Asada edges out Lipnitskaia for the gold in Shanghai

Mao Asada of Japan won the Ladies figure skating event at 2012 Cup of China with a little luck on her side. Overnight leader Julia Lipnitskaia settled for the silver medal, while Kiira Korpi of Finland rose…

Wagner captures 4CC title

The American ladies made a pronouncement to the rest of the world last night—they are back, and they are ready to start winning titles again.

Ashley Wagner, fresh off of her win at the U.S. National Championships, threw her hat…

Asada dons new costume; wins ladies short at 4CCs

Mao Asada, the 21-year-old former World Champion from Japan, showed off a new costume and rekindled confidence in today’s short program at the 2012 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo.

With a strong short program—marred only by a glitch…

Asada takes gold at Cup of Russia

The second competition day of the Rostelecom Cup attracted a sizable crowd to the Megasport Arena in Moscow, Russia. The venue with a 14,000 seat capacity was more than two thirds full for the Saturday finals, a major improvement over half-empty stands in…

Asada edges Leonova for the overnight lead in Moscow

The final stage of the 2011-12 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series began today in Moscow with the Ladies Short Program. With the diverse field ranging from debutants to World Champion, the level of the event was surprisingly even. Japan’s Mao Asada currently leads the ladies, followed by…

Akiko Suzuki wins NHK Trophy

Akiko Suzuki led the Japanese women to a one-two finish at NHK Trophy on Saturday when she won ahead of Mao Asada. Russia’s Alena Leonova earned the bronze medal in the figure skating event.

Suzuki wasn’t flawless in her classical routine to Die Fledermaus. She nailed…

Suzuki claims Ladies short at NHK Trophy

Akiko Suzuki of Japan claimed the Ladies short program with a strong performance ahead of Russia’s Alena Leonova and Japanese figure skating super star Mao Asada.

Suzuki skated last, and her performance to a modern arrangement of the Hungarian Rhapsody was a true highlight of the…

Asada recaptures World title

The Ladies long program provided a satisfactory conclusion to the long Olympic season as a number of skaters in the two final war-up groups managed to put forward very strong  performances.

Japan’s  Mao Asada recaptured the world title, while Yu-Na Kim (KOR)…

Mao Asada fights back

Japan’s Mao Asada overcame a disappointing start into the Olympic season by winning the 2010 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Jeonju, Korea, and  is  now headed to the Olympic Winter Games with refreshed confidence.

Some had…

Asada Assumes Azimuth

Japan’s Mao Asada won her first gold medal at the World Figure Skating Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden in March. The event proved to be redemption for the teenager who had been edged off of the top of the podium the preceding year by teammate Miki Ando,…

Asada claims World title

Yu-Na Kim of South Korea, who was fifth after the short, won the long program with a nearly flawless performance to Miss Saigon, but had to settle for another bronze medal.

The 17-year-old landed five high quality triples, including an opening triple…

Asada wins gold at Four Continents

The 2008 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships concluded with the Ladies Long Program.

Japan’s Mao Asada maintained her lead to win the gold at her first appearance at this event, while teammate Miki Ando slipped to third to settle from…

Asada takes lead at Four Continents

Japan’s Mao Asada and Miki Ando are currently first and second, respectively, after the short program, while Joannie Rochette of Canada is in third. All three ladies are separated from each other by less than a point.

Asada earned a seasonal best of 60.94 (31.89/29.05)…

Asada wins Trophee Eric Bompard

Mao Asada of Japan easily maintained her overnight lead to win the gold by over 21 points.

USA’s Kimmie Meissner won the silver, while teammate Ashley Wagner won the bronze with only a 0.11 point difference.

Asada had a rough stat when she underrotated…

Asada leads ladies in Paris

Japan’s Mao Asada won the Ladies Short Program event by a small margin over USA’s Kimmie Meissner and Estonia’s Elena Glebova, who placed second and third respectively.

Asada captivated the audience with her ethereal routine to Fantasia for…

Asada captures Skate Canada gold

Japan’s Mao Asada and Yukari Nakano moved up two spots each to win the gold and silver, respectively.

Canada’s Joannie Rochette, who was in fifth after the short, also moved up to capture the bronze.

Skating to Fantaisie Impromptu…

2006-07 Grand Prix Final: Ladies Highlights

Yu-Na Kim was the gold medal winner in her first appearance at this event, while Japan’s Mao Asada and Switzerland’s Sarah Meier captured the silver and bronze, respectively.

Performing to Nocturne by Frederic Chopin, Asada opened her ethereal routine with a triple Lutz, followed by a good triple flip-triple loop combination, a very good level four spiral sequence, and a solid double Axel. The 2006 World Junior silver medalist…

2006 NHK Trophy: Ladies Highlights

It was a Japanese sweep in the ladies event, with Mao Asada, Fumie Suguri, and Yukari Nakano winning the gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.

Performing to to Nocturne by Frederic Chopin, Asada opened her routine with a triple Lutz, followed by a good triple flip-triple loop combination, a very good level four spiral sequence, and a solid double Axel. The 2006 World Junior silver medalist also displayed good spins…

2006 Skate America: Ladies Highlights

Miko Ando of Japan won her first senior Grand Prix gold medal at her second visit to Skate America, while teammate Mao Asada captured the bronze. USA’s Kimmie Meissner settled for the silver in her first appearance at a Skate America event.

Asada, who was last to skate, opened her routine with a triple Lutz followed by a good triple flip-triple loop combination. The Junior World silver medalist also…

2005 World Junior Figure Skating Championships: Ladies Highlights

Japan’s Mao Asada led the ladies throughout the event, winning the gold. Yu-Na Kim of South Korea catapulted from sixth place after the short to win the silver, while USA’s Emily Hughes rose from fifth place to win the bronze. It was the first time all three competitors competed at this event.

The ladies event began with the Qualifying Round (QR). The qualifying round did not impact the final score…

2004 Skate Long Beach: Ladies Highlights

Japan’s Mao Asada was the gold medal winner in the Ladies event, while USA’s Kimberly (Kimmie) Meissner won her second consecutive silver in the JGP series. Teammate Danielle Kahle won the bronze in what is slated to be her only JGP event of the season before the JGP final.

Skating to music from The Wizard of Oz, Asada attempted a triple Lutz/double loop combination but stumbled out of the loop….