Mao Asada

[roma]

Lets enjoy the little improvements Mao made... 3As are now getting stable barring the one here when she was noticeably slow at the start. Now she's got that difficult combo ratified again (it looked really ok in real time plus it got +0.7 goe) and the single lutz definitely had an outside edge (that I got pretty confident till she popped it). Lets hope we'll see another improvement tomorrow. I'm hoping for she'll nail a real 3Lz tomorrow.

I hope finding out her efforts on the combo has paid off will make her feel better and give her confidence tomorrow.

 

[Vili67]

I'm sure she's going to be amazing tomorrow:agree2:

I hope that too :clapper:

 

[solar]

Better to have a rocky performance here than at the GPF/Worlds. Hoping she can pull up in the ranks with her beautiful FS! I'd love to have two Japanese ladies on the podium at NHK!

 

[gotoschool]

Despite the difficulties. Mao's 3F / 3L was marvelous and her step sequence was fluid, rhythmic and intricate. I thought it was the best of the competition by far. I also thought her PCS score was too low. Both eurosport commentators and Tatianna Tarasova praised Mao's 3F / 3L, step sequence and skating skills highly and the eurosport commentators highly praised her musicality as well. It seemed that Mao also picked up speed after the triple axel, which is what Tatianna Tarasova said. Tatianna also said Mao was beautiful like a movie star, but I thought she was even more beautiful. In my mind's eye, I can seen Mao opening up a case of inspiration in her freeskate, flying through the sky like a butterfly in her jumps with her success in the 3F / 3L to help guide her through.

 

[yhmafan]

After I knew Yuzu executed almost perfect SP and got new WR :luv17:, then Mao’s kinda not-so-good SP that leads me to flashback the situation of that Sochi immediately!! That being said, that means…..something good thing yea?..

Anyway, my wishes and praying for Mao

 

[hurrah]

So several internet sites are remarking that it looks like Mao might have a cold, and I swear, I actually did think that , too, yesterday when I saw her sniffling her nose before her short---just didn't want to say anything. So... does Mao have a cold?

Anyway, hope Mao will do well enough to get into GPF. She just needs to place above 6th place, was it?

 

[yhmafan]

So several internet sites are remarking that it looks like Mao might have a cold, and I swear, I actually did think that , too, yesterday when I saw her sniffling her nose before her short---just didn't want to say anything. So... does Mao have a cold?

Anyway, hope Mao will do well enough to get into GPF. She just needs to place above 6th place, was it?

She needs to place above 4th place, I think.

I believe her a great comeback in her free today! let's make a prayer circle

 

[gotoschool]

She needs to place above 4th place, I think.

I believe her a great comeback in her free today! let's make a prayer circle

I may be wrong, but I think hurrah is right. If Mao finishes 5th or higher, I think she is in the Grand Prix final. I hope that Mao is feeling better and that she gives a great performance in her LP.

 

[yhmafan]

I may be wrong, but I think hurrah is right. If Mao finishes 5th or higher, I think she is in the Grand Prix final. I hope that Mao is feeling better if she is actually sick and that she gives a great performance in her LP.

Oh really! Sorry if I am wrong. but I really hope you and hurrah are right!

ETA: According to some reports, if she places above 5th then she will be in the GPF, but if she finishes 5th it will depends on others results.

 

[yhmafan]

I am getting nervous even more. Hopefully the men's results will be the good motivation for her.

 

[Franklin99]

As I said to Yuzuru right before his LP, I expect and hope for the best from Mao. And she will deliver.

 

[yhmafan]

She didn't seem to be in good condition but that was nonetheless really beautiful skate from Mao. I wish her speedy recovery.

 

[Maria Victoria]

It wasn't Mao's best skate, but she qualified for GPF so I am happy. I hope she gets well soon from whatever is ailing her so she can be at her best in Barcelona.

 

[gotoschool]

My friend and I who watched Mao skate both knew when we looked at her finishing pose that Mao was sick because she couldn't even muster up the strength for a smile and kneeled on the ice for a long time, as if she were weak. She was also sweating a lot and looked pale. I think the sweating is a sign of a fever. There were many people who posted that Mao appears to be sick here and on forums at the LP thread for NHK trophy.

This link was posted by rosewood: This person posted a short gif of Mao putting her palm on her forehead and sniffling.
https://twitter.com/maoyuupiano/stat...51569552592896

I think Mao skated beautifully given her condition. What I like best is Mao doesn't complain or make excuses about it. To me, this is one of her most stunningly beautiful programs. One positive is that she got a ! on her 3lutz.

I really sympathize with Mao having to try and fulfill the expectations of so many fans especially at home in such a condition.

It reminds me of a quote Mao made in the following video which I have posted before: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQD0k4IgDA4 at 1:50

While it is mortifying for people to see my mistakes I feel there is meaning in competing while I am in this condition, only here at the NHK it was Mao's illness not reworking her jumps.

Congratulations to Mao for making the Grand Prix final in this condition. It showed guts to do it in her condition. I hope she rests for a while to recover and get her health back.

 

[paperhearts]

Congratulations to Mao for fighting through even though she (probably) has a cold! Hope for her to be healthy and ready by GPF. <3

 

[mikaboo]

Not her best skate at all but something positive that came out of it is she only got a ! for the lutz
I hope she gets well soon if she's sick but I don't think we'll ever get a confirmation unless Coach Sato says something afterwards. He usually does so for Kozuka so we'll see.
Good luck to her at GPF!

 

[hurrah]

Yes, the great positive here is that she only got a ! on her lutz. She must be pleased with that. If Mao is sick (I tend to think so), I hope it won't affect her preparation for her Grand Prix Final.

Have a good rest, Mao-chan!!

 

[Plumededragon]

Yes, she is indeed sick, there were reports on that. That would explain how she did her best without being herself. Still, I'm sure if she rest and train well, she'll be on top at Barcelona. Looking foward to it!

 

[solar]

So she is sick. That's too bad, but like I said earlier, better here than at the GPF/Worlds! I'm looking forward to happy, healthy performances from Mao in the future. We all saw her marvelous FS from japan open! I hope to see her perform like that in the future.

 

[gotoschool]

I thought these were really moving photographs of Mao's condition after her LP performance. I noticed in her first two performances she only dropped to one knee without leaning back, but in this first picture after the LP at NHK you can see Mao fall to two knees and lean back in apparent exhaustion after the performance. In the second photo, she covers her face while kneeling down. Right click the mouse and press save as to save a better version of the picture.

http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/ne...the-ladiess-free-skating-news-photo/499038732

http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/ne...r-performance-during-the-news-photo/499036506

Fortunately, Mao seemed to be feeling a bit better during the Medal ceremony:

http://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/ne...f-japan-pose-with-medals-news-photo/499038740

I hope she gets to feeling better quickly,

Many photos of Mao at NHK 2015 can be found at the following site. Just right click and save the image.

http://www.gettyimages.ae/photos/ma...=1&phrase=Mao asada nhk trophy 2015&sort=best