To be completely fair we should remember that Kim lost to Ando who didn't have a 3-3 and only did 5 triples in LP. Kim made only one costly error and did not bomb at all. I don't see why Mao wouldn't be able to skate at the level that Miki skated 2 years ago.
In 2011 Kim also couldn't depend on 2A's as much as she did before. The use was restriced. She needed to expand her jumps. In 2011 Mao had a 3A<<. It wasn't a benefit. Did lutz and flip. But in 2009 and 2010 everyone did point out 3A+2T was not actually a good mathematical combo because it was worth less than a triple triple. All 3A ever did was keep Mao close to Kim so if Kim made a mistake Mao could benefit and she did benefit even if Mao didn't even actually do a 3A!!
Mao did not dominate 2007-2009. She did not dominate any season in her career. 2006-2007 Mao lost to Miki Ando twice, including at the Worlds. Kim won the GP final. Mao was dominant with a 3rd at Skate America, 2nd at the GP final, and 2nd at Worlds, you are crazy. In 2007-2008 Kim was the dominant skater all season until Worlds, and even at Worlds Asada won with a 2nd in the SP to Kostner and 2nd in the LP to injured Kim. In 2008-2009 Kim had the overall edge all season long, Asada came out ahead at the GP final, but otherwise Kim was the top skater from beginning to end. Asada was 1-3 vs Joannie Rochette this year, so please dont pretend she was even close to Kim even before Worlds. So in short 08-09 and 09-2010 Kim was by far the dominant skater of the season, and 06-07 and 07-08 there was no dominant skater (although 07-08 it was Kim until Worlds). Lastly the dominant Asada is the only 2 time World Champion in history to win neither of her titles by winning a single program, placing 2nd in both the short and long at both the 2008 and 2010 Worlds she won. Kim lost only 3 events from fall 2007-2011 Worlds, that in any sense of the World is both dominant and much more "dominant" than Asada has ever been.
Who is choosing to mention only half of what really happened?you know what i find it soo amusing it's how denial you are, and how selective you are, you only chose to mention half of what really happened.
Mao attended 4cc where she was the only contender there(please remember that Yuna withdrew due to injuries), a snoozefest(sorry for the contestants at 4cc), if you will. Mao attended Japanese Nationals which is, Nationals! In this season, Yuna competed at four events. So it's 4 out of 5 ISU sanctioned competitions vs 3 out of 4 ones. Mao was the most dominating skater?2007-2008
Mao won every competition she entered except the GPF (where she placed second) that's five out of six competition that she won, where as yuna only won three competitions in the same season and those where in the GP and GPF, which clearly shows that Mao was the most dominating skater that season
Why four wins? Nationals, really? So it becomes three wins out of six ISU sanctioned competition which includes World Championships where she didn't even make the podium. Yuna competed in five competitions that season, therefore, it would be 3 out of 6 vs 4 out of 5. Not to mention how Yuna won those competitions. Both dominated?2008-2009
Mao won 4 competitions and a silver and a bronze and yuna also won 4 competition and a silver (they both dominated)
Again, why keep including Nationals? And again, she was the only contender at 4cc, another snoozefest(again, sorry). Yuna was dominant without any doubt.2009-2010
Mao won Nationals, 4CC, and Worlds, yuna won the Olympics and in the Granprix circuit (both winning two each of the most important competitions)
overall results:
Mao Asada won 6 big competition ( GPF twice, 4CC Twice, Worlds twice)
Yuna Kim won 6 big competitions (3 GPF, 4CC once, Worlds once, OL once)
Can we not turn this into a Yuna vs Mao debate?
I don't know what Mao's chances are to be Olympic Champion in 2014, however, I do hope that she has the skate of her life.
Let's see how the season goes first. Also, I don't think we should underestimate Lipnitskaya's chances. She has the jumps and there is time for her PCS to improve. Also, if she emerges as a contender she will have the backing of the host country.
She is quite artistic for her age I find. She reminds me of a young Sasha Cohen except with way better jumps and edges. Her PCS are already better than the other young Russians, only Sotnikova comes close but without near the jumps anymore.
I have seen Sasha at 15 but Julia is what - only 14?
Even so I don't see Julia anywhere near as interesting a skater to watch yet. That could change - but for now I see little in Julia's skating that equals the exquisite stylings Sasha had at such a young age.
IMO Sasha was already an artist at 15 and Julia is skating through the music with little or no projection to the audience.
To be honest I find Julia's skating to be a perfect example of "JUNIOR SKATER."
That could change and I hope it does. She has many nice qualities - but commanding the ice is not one of them yet.
Here is Sasha at 15..........notice her jumps actually get off the ice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-loMk4Zrko