The Korean Times' take on the changes
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2010/05/136_65207.html
The article seemed pretty fair, until that last sentence. Who suspects that Mao has passed her physical golden moment? I don't think I've ever heard anyone in the skating world say anything like that.
Besides, she's only 19. She probably could do the triple axel for a few more years. Heck Midori Ito was almost 23 when she did her 3A at the 1992 Olympics!
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2010/05/136_65207.html
Asada would greatly benefit from the new system if she can do a triple-triple combination along with a triple axel in the short program. However, the Japanese star didn't include any combined triples last season because she was more focused on polishing her trademark triple axel and her previous triple-triple attempts were mostly downgraded due to a problem with poor rotation.
A new rule in the long program, however, could challenge Kim, who strongly relies on three double axels to make up for the lack of a triple loop.
Kim, currently at No. 1 in the world ranking by a large margin, has been ruling out the triple loop in her programs for the last few seasons because of shaky landings. Asada, in contrast, did only one double axel in her Vancouver free routine.
Some critics also say the inclusion of a triple axel in the short program wouldn't be good for Mao, because it remains to be seen how much longer Asada will perform that jump.
Asada was the only skater to include the 3.5-rotation jump in her routines for the last couple of seasons, but mostly ended up receiving deductions for under-rotation.
In Vancouver, she turned the tables to land all three of her triple axels in the short and free programs. However, her success rate has remained below 50 percent throughout her career, with the Japanese skater suspected of having passed her physical golden moment.
The article seemed pretty fair, until that last sentence. Who suspects that Mao has passed her physical golden moment? I don't think I've ever heard anyone in the skating world say anything like that.
Besides, she's only 19. She probably could do the triple axel for a few more years. Heck Midori Ito was almost 23 when she did her 3A at the 1992 Olympics!
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