Mao Asada | Page 73 | Golden Skate

Mao Asada

cocovica said:
My article about best "Swan Lakes" out there. And guess who couldn't have been missed? :)
http://www.ifigureskating.com/7-figure-skating-swan-lake-performances-that-broke-house-down/
PS: Cannot wait for Mao to come back! It will be amazing 3A showdown next year!
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I just saw your post at the thread on fsuniverse. I'm glad you included Mao on your list because she wasn't on the list mentioned on the thread.

I left this post at the following thread:

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...-skate-to-swan-lake.83911/page-3#post-4534662

Though not on the list, my favorite Swan Lake is Mao's at Worlds and 4CC's 2013. I love her guts to go for the triple axel and the triple flip and loop, and her contrasting forms of expression from melancholy early on to joyous in the intricate and athletic step sequence. I also love the illusion spins, splits, and the acrobatic arabesque to conclude and the fine lines, precise extensions and long flowing Biellmann in the middle. To me, it anticipates the subtlety, emotional complexity and technical virtuosity of my favorite: the Sochi LP and is the prelude to that performance.

I actually hope that she performs this again as her LP if she decides to skate to an old program.
 
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Thank you very much for replying!!

gotoschool said:
Mao received an undergraduate degree in Physical Education. She took classes in nutritional science and psychology, and she also did judo, volleyball and scuba diving for practical skills. rosewood said that Nutritional science and psychology must be useful for her, so I am assuming she took these kinds of classes as well. I also know that she took some Russian classes and I believe some more science classes. She also got a scuba diving licence last summer, which she seemed to enjoy the most.
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Wow! It's impressive that she found the time to study for a college degree while competing at the highest level, and it's great that she used the year off to finish her studies. I'm happy for her that she has discovered scuba diving - it could become something fun for her to do to relax from now on, and I think I've heard that swimming is good for back problems. And learning Russian is an impressive accomplishment!

And I'm very heartened to know that her decision to come back was entirely her own and made by choice.

gotoschool said:
In regards to her back pain, I know she has had recurrent back pain for a long time, but I don't know when it began. I have heard that she had numbness in her legs and back pain during her freeskate in 2013 Worlds and that she had pain that affected her skating in the World Team Trophy after that. She also had back pain around the time of Nationals just before the Sochi Olympics resulting in a break in training for several weeks in January to let it heal. I have also heard people mention that the Biellmann spin, the triple flip and loop combination and the triple axel put a lot of stress on the back, so these are the most likely causes. Since she is a true samurai, I guess Mao is intent to battle through the pain, but I do hope the pain goes away and that her spirit remains.
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Krunchii said:
If what people have calculated is correct, then Mao has some of the highest jumps so landing with her back straight while doing so many triples over the years will do that to you. I wouldn't be surprised if Mao has had ankle injuries over the years too, she's landed so many 3Fs and Yuna did a lot of toe jumps during her career and she was plagued with ankle injuries. Mao has never been very open about her injuries and I don't think she ever will be but I hope her team is looking out for her health.
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This does make me worry, though. If her back problems are of long standing nature and were caused by doing triples often, it doesn't look likely that they'll go away, does it? I just hope that, considering that her decision to return to sport is her own choice, and that it was born first of all by pleasure she takes in competing at the highest lelvel rather than a desire to win Olympic gold, she'll be able to stop if she finds it too hard to go on before too much damage is done.
 
Thanks for your reply to Spiral. I found this quote by Mao that gives even more insight into why she wants to compete.

It is translated by rosewood. "It has taken a lot of time to make me think I want to return to skating, but I have saved up a lot of energy,” Asada said. “For me, challenging myself is exciting, so I want to spend my days enjoying these challenges.”

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...es-shes-returning-to-competition.95640/page-2 post 38


I just saw this incredible performance by Mao (Nationals SP 2003) for the first time.

It is one of the most beautiful performances I have ever seen and moved me just as much as her Sochi LP, Nocturne at Worlds or Bells of Moscow. Every movement light, elegant, athletic, ethereal and so incredibly emotional as if an angel had descended to earth and every motion and extension was a moving sculpture of expressive perfection. The subtle knee bends at the end of each jump are marvelous. Nostalgic wonder for childhood innocence gone by that made me cry.

It reminds me again of Nobuo Sato's perceptive comment about Mao, ""Mysteriously she has become someone who can produce something profound."

Here is the performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVxwDIW-qzs&list=PL14C8FE71A7E8670F

Here is the article in which Nobuo Sato's quote appears:
http://nanoka12.tumblr.com/post/84038594958/mao-asada-i-wanted-to-put-the-medal-on
 
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Congratulations Mao on your Sochi LP! Over 2,000,000 views skating from the 3rd group without publicity or preference to help you. You are a spiritual warrior who cut through to the root and touched so many hearts. Just today in the Abu Dhabi airport while travelling on summer vacation I met a man from Kenya who put it so well after I told him to watch Mao's performance for the first time. He said, "Some people's light shines so bright you can't hide it even if you try."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGe6Sulrak
 
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gotoschool said:
Congratulations Mao on your Sochi LP! Over 2,000,000 views skating from the 3rd group without publicity or preference to help you. You are a spiritual warrior who cut through to the root and touched so many hearts. Just today in the Abu Dhabi airport while travelling on summer vacation I met a man from Kenya who put it so well after I told him to watch Mao's performance for the first time. He said, "Some people's light shines so bright you can't hide it even if you try."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGe6Sulrak
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great. considering the poor quality of definition and the small screen :scowl:
 
gotoschool said:
Congratulations Mao on your Sochi LP! Over 2,000,000 views skating from the 3rd group without publicity or preference to help you. You are a spiritual warrior who cut through to the root and touched so many hearts. Just today in the Abu Dhabi airport while travelling on summer vacation I met a man from Kenya who put it so well after I told him to watch Mao's performance for the first time. He said, "Some people's light shines so bright you can't hide it even if you try."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGe6Sulrak
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That’s really impressive also it’s great that you enjoying a summer vacation. :cool:

Here are the pictures of Mao’s CM which are from “airwaeve” “Arsoa” and “Asahi Stylebalance” . ;)

① airwaeve　　②　　③　　④　　⑤　　⑥　　⑦　　⑧　　⑨　　⑩

① Arsoa 2012 　　② Arsoa 2015

① Asahi Stylebalance
 
So a little birdy tweeted that Mao has decided to participate in the GPS? Can anyone confirm this?
 
chapis said:
:jaw: I hope it is true.

tomorrow is the official announcement, right?
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I want her to regional and then nationals. Too much pressure to be at the GP the expectations would be so high. I hope JSF is not pressuring her behind the scenes because they want to boost profits.
 
Minze2001 said:
I want her to regional and then nationals. Too much pressure to be at the GP the expectations would be so high. I hope JSF is not pressuring her behind the scenes because they want to boost profits.
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Yes, you are right, maybe it is better slow and without much pressure. Mentally I think it is better to face to russians from the start but reading about her physical pains she could to force herself too much.
 
If she skips GP I'd be fine with that but is it possible for her to be invited to NHK gala anyway? That would be cool.
 
So I wonder if it’s possible that I/we certainly can get the tickets.

Anyway, all I can do is praying for her. Go go Mao :cheer:
 
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