Mai Katze, I appreciate your efforts to keep us updated about all the interesting and fun things going on with Anna. I come here to celebrate Anna, not to read extensive stuff about other skaters or to compare Anna to others. She has her own wonderful uniqueness and is special in so many ways! I think the Olympic season is an especially busy one, and I wonder if maybe she had some other commitments that might have kept her from being in other ice shows. It was a joy to see her though, and I just LOVED her version of The Rose. Her emotion and connection to the audience were so special.
Sometimes she almost looks as if she can't believe they are applauding so wildly for her! I am hoping that this support inspires her for next season! It takes someone really special to persevere when there are other teammates who get much more attention. That seems to be a common theme with a lot of my favorites! Just keep on keepin' on Anna!
thank You Arriba for this post, especially for the bolded part.
sometimes I think that maybe her meltdowns are partially due to that 'insecurity about how she is received' thing...Yes, there goes competition nerves of course and her sensibility she wears on her sleeve while performing, but maybe she is also hesitant, unsure about people's reaction, afraid to not being what they expect? And then, if she falls on her opening combo, maybe she gets too much into her head on people's reaction, disappointment caused? I don't know, but her genuine look of surprise after such warm, loud reception, especially in Japan, could tell that she's very much concerned about not only her performance alone, but equally (or even more) about how it will be received by audience.
The thing is also for me with Anna that she truly seem so unaware how special woman, special skater she is - sometimes it looks like she's seeing herself only through those disappointing moments, or she thinks that people are seeing her like that. It could be really unhealthy way of thinking and perceiving yourself, especially in competitive world of sport. I know from personal experience that this is very difficult to overcome such projection and thinking, but I strongly believe that she can do it - to block those thoughts and focus on future and positive experiences, or to have someone around her to help her in doing that. She has to focus on herself, her work, her skate, her performance and realize that people will be there for her no matter what. Focusing on others, dwelling onto people's reactions, her own breakdowns won't be good - it just draws attention to others and to things which should be lessons learned and left past Anna.
She should be herself, do best she can to make HERSELF shine and seen as a strong, passionate athlete. I do realise that this sensibility and some kind of 'insecurity' are her features, but she should just use them for her best and transforming second-guessing herself/people's reaction into excitement of anticipation how things will unfold.
Only best to Anna
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