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- Dec 22, 2012
Once again your attempt to make this thread about comparing skaters. What does a retired skater and a current skater have to do with Mao's comeback.
Mao Asada plans comeback
- Thread starter demarinis5
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Once again your attempt to make this thread about comparing skaters. What does a retired skater and a current skater have to do with Mao's comeback.
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- Aug 8, 2009
Of course. She is literally the most well-known female athlete in Japan:
http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/repucom-japan/mao-asada_b_7303002.html
at 99.4% of the population recognizing her, and voted the most attractive athlete (both males and females) overall.
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- Jan 25, 2013
I have no idea how you could consider Russia vulnerable. They won 4 out of 6 GP events, won 9 out of 18 GP medals (via 5 different skaters), had FOUR GPF qualifiers and took gold and silver there, swept the European podium with ease, and had 2 World medalists. This was arguably the most dominant showings of a country in any discipline (only the Japanese men in the 2013-2014 season were as dominant), and that's with Lipnitskaia not making it past Nationals...
Not to mention Medvedeva's score at Junior Worlds would have gotten her World bronze, and World silver if she got to do a second footwork sequence. Russia is saturated with talent. There will be very little room for second chances next year. In Japan, however, Mao has it pretty easy -- Miyahara can definitely put pressure on her, but hasn't improved yet to a point where she can contend with Mao (unless Mao bombs).
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poor Hanyu =D
It is actually very good for Hanyu that Mao takes a lot of attention again. He would experience less pressure thanks to famous Team Japan member stepping into the light again. Good luck to Mao-chan!
Because for Japan or USA, a single world medal of an colour would be considered a success. (If Ashley/Gracie/somebody medals in Boston, I think half the forum would run off in the streets to party, no?
) But with Russia, anything less than a complete sweep of GPF, Europeans, and Worlds would be considered a failure, and valid "proof" that the Russian girls aren't very good--just an overhyped, overscored mess. 
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- Mar 5, 2014
I already posted this at the Mao Asada fan thread. Here is what rosewood posted at fsuniverse:
Mao's manager showed negative prospect about her participation in GPS events
(my rough translation)
On 18th figure skater Mao Asada(24) announced her comeback. Assignments for the Grand Prix are to be announced on June 15th. Asada has a spot for a GPS event based on her results in the past. JSF plan to ask her whether she'll participate in the event before long. That said, her manager showed negative prospect about her participation. "No (realistic) possibility," she said based on the fact that she just started training.
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/inde....89260/page-27
Mao's manager showed negative prospect about her participation in GPS events
(my rough translation)
On 18th figure skater Mao Asada(24) announced her comeback. Assignments for the Grand Prix are to be announced on June 15th. Asada has a spot for a GPS event based on her results in the past. JSF plan to ask her whether she'll participate in the event before long. That said, her manager showed negative prospect about her participation. "No (realistic) possibility," she said based on the fact that she just started training.
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/inde....89260/page-27
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- Dec 28, 2013
The latest media reports suggest that Mao won't do the GP series and her first competition will be the Chubu sectionals, presumably so that she can then do Nationals and Worlds.
,
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/05/19/kiji/K20150519010374660.html
She also did an exclusive interview with Fuji TV and said: "I'm mostly practicing technical stuff. I'm doing all the jumps, including triple-triples and the triple axel. If I'm in good form I can do it, sometimes it seems impossible. My goal is to get back to my best form. I have expectations of myself."
http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00292765.html
So she seems pretty determined to get back into competition, but will be sensible about it. Sounds like the way to go!
,
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/05/19/kiji/K20150519010374660.html
She also did an exclusive interview with Fuji TV and said: "I'm mostly practicing technical stuff. I'm doing all the jumps, including triple-triples and the triple axel. If I'm in good form I can do it, sometimes it seems impossible. My goal is to get back to my best form. I have expectations of myself."
http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00292765.html
So she seems pretty determined to get back into competition, but will be sensible about it. Sounds like the way to go!
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- Jan 25, 2013
Because for Japan or USA, a single world medal of an colour would be considered a success. (If Ashley/Gracie/somebody medals in Boston, I think half the forum would run off in the streets to party, no?
But of course!I think it's a veritable possibility that Ashley/Gracie medals in Boston. People would go nuts though, because it's "only" been 10 years since a US lady medalled at Worlds. I don't think it's a testament to the US getting weaker so much as the rest of the World, particularly Japan, getting stronger - hugely thanks to Mao/Miki.
I mean, it's not as bad as the 20 year drought that Joannie ended for Canada!
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Honestly, as Ashley's fan, I'm a little worried. I think 2015 was truly a great chance, with several stronger Russians out (Adelina and Yulia), Anna injured (and incapable of beating a semi-clean Ashley anyway), no Mao, ect. And considering the mistakes that went down in the LPs, Ashley and Gracie both had chances not only of bronze, but of silver.
I think it's a veritable possibility that Ashley/Gracie medals in Boston. People would go nuts though, because it's "only" been 10 years since a US lady medalled at Worlds. I don't think it's a testament to the US getting weaker so much as the rest of the World, particularly Japan, getting stronger - hugely thanks to Mao/Miki.
I mean, it's not as bad as the 20 year drought that Joannie ended for Canada!
I suspect next year will only be harder, with Mao back and possibly Yulia/Adelina/Evgenia on the Russian team.
As for Canada... what drought? We were never good at ladies to begin with!
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- Jan 25, 2013
I think Gold was more capable of silver than Wagner, but both had sloppy SPs. Again, I love Ashley for going for broke, but had she simply done a 3-2 combo to open her SP, and done her more reliable 3L instead of 3F<, she'd have set herself up well for a bronze, instead of burying herself in 11th (which itself was generous).
With Mao back and a rock solid Medvedeva, and possibly Lip, it will be very difficult for the US ladies to make the World podium. They were lucky this year that Pogorilaya was the third Russian entry and bombed, but couldn't capitalize on it (or capitalize on Elena's only truly bad competition of the season).
With Mao back and a rock solid Medvedeva, and possibly Lip, it will be very difficult for the US ladies to make the World podium. They were lucky this year that Pogorilaya was the third Russian entry and bombed, but couldn't capitalize on it (or capitalize on Elena's only truly bad competition of the season).
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- Dec 25, 2012
Not to mention Satoko isn't going anywhere.
She was actually on the Japan National podium by the time she was 14, even with Akiko, Miki and Mao competing... but she gets pushed to the back of people's minds a lot due to more 'flashy' skaters at the forefront. She punches above her weight though so you can't count her out of medal contention.
Rika may improve technically next season and place again between 6th-4th at Worlds and on the podium at other competitions.
With Mao in the lead, the Japanese ladies show promise for next season.
She was actually on the Japan National podium by the time she was 14, even with Akiko, Miki and Mao competing... but she gets pushed to the back of people's minds a lot due to more 'flashy' skaters at the forefront. She punches above her weight though so you can't count her out of medal contention.
Rika may improve technically next season and place again between 6th-4th at Worlds and on the podium at other competitions.
With Mao in the lead, the Japanese ladies show promise for next season.
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It's figureskating! Anything can happen. Injury could take out any of the top ladies, and growth spurts will haunt the Russian ladies for few more years.
I remember 18-year-old Mao did 3a-2toe combo in the SP at World Trophy, and then few months later, soon after she'd turned 19, at the beginning of the Olympic season, because her bones had grown oh so slightly during the break, she'd lost nearly all her jumps! It was a frightening moment to witness that. As a fan, a moment of pure disbelief.
That said, I kind of expect either Ashley or Gracie to medal, not necessarily because there will be some kind of home brewing, but just because both Ashley and Gracie must realize the significance of next Worlds and will train especially hard, and well, just because.
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- Jan 25, 2013
I think that Gracie will be the one to medal of the two, but it will be exceedingly difficult with Mao and 3 Russians.
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Satoko was really one of the more enjoyable skaters for me last season and loved her version of Miss Saigon the most from the ones I have seen so far. I don't get the criticisms about her lack of expressiveness because I feel like she moves to the music well. For me she is like Julia where because of their size people seem to expect them to be these cute pixie skaters but they are really more like stone-cold tough competitors.
I think Mao's comeback will benefit her a lot because the inevitable spotlight on Mao will give Satoko the space to develop and improve without having the sole pressure of being the next great Japan female skater. Also, it's going to force her to improve and toughen up with increased competition at home.
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With Satoko, she's kinda like a Chan -- instead of drawing attention to her face with over-the-top emotions like many other skaters, she rather focuses on using her body to interpret the music and pick up nuances. Even Mao didn't have Satoko's musicality and finesse at her age (although a 3A certainly made up for it, lol).
I don't agree with this, I think when it comes to finese, musicality and elegance Mao was waaay better at her age, take a look at Mao's "Nutcracker", "Nocturne" and "La Boutique Fantastique" and you will see there is no comparison when it comes to these three categories i just mentioned above, just notice how precisely she hits every note with her choreography riight on time, and that despite the crazy layout she had to deal with at the same time lol.
I really like satoko and her programs, but she stills has a long way to impress me artistically like Mao did her age
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There's musicality and there's hearing music. It's not a hit on Mao at fifteen because its true. Mao hit the accents and skated with the frolic of a child ingenue- but it's not the same with Satoko. Satoko is naturally more attuned to to her body because of the precedent. Somehow I can't imagine that a young Mao could ever convey feeling in Miss Saigon the way Satoko has, and there's nothing wrong with that. I don't think Yamada focused much on Mao's artistry because she had the 3A and the triple-triples. However, Satoko's generation would have been schooled a little bit more on the artistic side because the precedent (a mature Mao skating to more lyrical pieces like Clair de Lune, Kim and Carolina) were trying to be more well rounded to gain points, and also because they were growing up. Mao was skating to the music and hitting her choreography (esp in Carmen and the Nutcracker) without much awareness of her lines and lyricism. Satoko is.
There's no shame in saying Mao wasn't graceful when she was younger. She wasn't. Instead she was sprightly and full of energy. For the first season she looked like she was just happy to be there. But that just means Mao has matured GREATLY over the years as she transitioned into the skater we know today. Obviously, I respect your opinion, and I am such a Mao fan. However, it doesn't do her legacy, or any other Japanese figure skater (like Shizuka or Akiko whose artistry were much more obvious and organic than Mao) to belittle the younger skaters' strengths.
Besides, Mao didn't impress me on artistry at 15-16. She was going to be the second coming of Midori Ito. Those jumps. Her full musical potential didn't kick in till Tarasova took over with Ladies in Lavender.
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