Favorite/least favorite moments?

[Spun Silver]

That is just so nice to read. So maybe there is a chance that Caroline and Mirai will continue to be best buddies even if they are competing neck and neck over the next few years.

I like Mao's concept of "powerful femininity." I like that about Miki, too! And I agree with Miki about Mao's perfection.

Thank you so much for the translations, Morninglight.

 

[morninglight]

That is just so nice to read. So maybe there is a chance that Caroline and Mirai will continue to be best buddies even if they are competing neck and neck over the next few years.

I like Mao's concept of "powerful femininity." I like that about Miki, too! And I agree with Miki about Mao's perfection.

Thank you so much for the translations, Morninglight.

I agree that powerful femininity is a good description of Miki's style. And I just couldn't imagine a World Champ in any sports would describe his/her opponent(s) as being "perfect" in "everything" the day after winning a Gold. Her humble, graceful attitude makes her achievement even more special.

Yes, it would be really great if Carolina and Mirai continue to be good friends, too!

 

[mikittyfan]

Yes, Miki has come back as a graceful skater.

I agree that powerful femininity is a good description of Miki's style. And I just couldn't imagine a World Champ in any sports would describe his/her opponent(s) as being "perfect" in "everything" the day after winning a Gold. Her humble, graceful attitude makes her achievement even more special.

Dear Morninglight,
Your comment about Miki Ando is the most beautiful one that I have ever read
and I'm writing this message to thank you so much.

And I admire that you translated very well what Miki and Mao said in Japanese!
I want to write a lot more about your comment, but as I'm Japanese, I can't
express myself well in English.

Very soon, on the 29th April, "Japan Open 2007" will be held and I'm really
looking foward to seeing again Kimmie Meissner with Miki and Mao.
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/japanopen2007/

 

[morninglight]

I agree that powerful femininity is a good description of Miki's style. And I just couldn't imagine a World Champ in any sports would describe his/her opponent(s) as being "perfect" in "everything" the day after winning a Gold. Her humble, graceful attitude makes her achievement even more special.

Dear Morninglight,
Your comment about Miki Ando is the most beautiful one that I have ever read
and I'm writing this message to thank you so much.

And I admire that you translated very well what Miki and Mao said in Japanese!
I want to write a lot more about your comment, but as I'm Japanese, I can't
express myself well in English.

Very soon, on the 29th April, "Japan Open 2007" will be held and I'm really
looking foward to seeing again Kimmie Meissner with Miki and Mao.
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/japanopen2007/

You are most welcome!

 

[Mathman]

Hi Mikittyfan, welcome to Golden Skate and thanks for joining us. I hope you want to post often! I look forward to your impressions of the Japan Open.

Mathman

 

[mikittyfan]

Thank you so much for your warm welcome!

Hi Mikittyfan, welcome to Golden Skate and thanks for joining us. I hope you want to post often! I look forward to your impressions of the Japan Open.

Mathman

Hello, Mathman san, Morninglight san! Thank you so much for welcoming me
warmly. This is my first time to participate in Forum in English, so I'm very
excited and happy!

Yes, I'll tell you my impressions of Japan Open next week.:agree:

By the way, recently I read a message written by Miki Ando herself to a fan
site in Japan. She writes; " Thanks to the fans who keep supporting me
without abandoning me, I have kept skating and won the Gold Medal...
I have been still criticized after the World Championship, but I won't give up
and I'll do my best...I thank all of my fans from my heart..."
By reading her message, I felt how deeply she appreciated fans' support,
but at the same time, I wondered why she is still criticized.
After the Olympic season last year, she was so harshly criticized
and there was certainly "Miki bashing", but I don't understand why there are
still criticisms about her.
Anyway, in such a situation, I read the message written by Morninglight san,
so I was truly moved by it. I also feel that Miki has become very humble and
I really hope that people will stop criticizing her.

In a interview, Miki says, " I want to become strong and beautiful not only
as a skater but also as a human being." I think that for her, to be beautiful
as a human being is to be humble and to be graceful whatever happens.

Personally I respect Miki who won the gold medal after enduring harsh and
long bashings and vulgar gossips silently.

 

[Mathman]

About bashing and unkind criticism, I think all skaters at the top level reach the point where they just ignore all that and think it is silly.

Most of the "snarking" is by fans of rival skaters. In the United States for several years we had big flame wars going on between Michelle Kwan fans and Sasha Cohen fans. Now the biggest rivalry seems to be on the men's side, between people who like Johnny Weir those who favor Evan Lysacek.

The funny part about it is that the skaters themselves all seem to be good friends. I have read that Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa is regarded as a special friend and mentor of Miki Ando, just like Miki in her turn is a "big sister" to Mao Asada.

 

[SeaniBu]

mikittyfan, your posts are very polite and I am happy to hear such a nice tone. Thanks for joining GS.

I do remember questioning Miki's (angelic-kitty) return via influence from others comments or whatever, but was unsure if she was going to want to come back. I believe the comment made during the Olys about her year said a lot though. She has something haunting her, some Demon / Akuma or Yoma??? - i don't think Akuma is the right kind of demon??? An how she must over come this to continue. She did!!!!! Just like Shi-Chan.

There will always be bashers but we know the b a is for baka:agree: - most of the time.

 

[mikittyfan]

Thank you for letting me know the American situation.

About bashing and unkind criticism, I think all skaters at the top level reach the point where they just ignore all that and think it is silly.

Most of the "snarking" is by fans of rival skaters. In the United States for several years we had big flame wars going on between Michelle Kwan fans and Sasha Cohen fans. Now the biggest rivalry seems to be on the men's side, between people who like Johnny Weir those who favor Evan Lysacek.

I'm sorry to know these kinds of "fan battles" which exist everywhere.
Like skaters, I think we should have Sportsmanship!:agree:
Don't you think so?

By the way, there are many young Japanese female fans of Johnny
Weir; to our eyes, he looks like a "Prince Charming" skater with a lot of
talent and grace.

The funny part about it is that the skaters themselves all seem to be good friends. I have read that Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa is regarded as a special friend and mentor of Miki Ando, just like Miki in her turn is a "big sister" to Mao Asada.

You know very well Friendship between Shizuka and Miki!
Yes, Shizuka is a affectionate big sister of Miki who becomes sometimes sensitive.
In an interview just before the Oymplic games, Miki was asked about her
father who passed away when she was 8 years old. Miki tried to answer,
but she began weeping without speaking, then Shizuka beside Miki rubbed
gently her shoulders and Shizuka went out with Miki off the Press
Conference.

Before this World Championship, Shizuka gave Miki special shoes to protect
her wounded heels.
In her Free Program, did you notice that Miki smiled one moment before her
powerful Step Sequence. Yes, Mike smiled at Shizuka to thank her.
several hours later after Miki won the gold medal, she was wih Shizuka in
TV Sport News. And Miki said, "When I saw Arakawa san's face, I was
encouraged and I thought I could finish this hard step sequence. "
Shizuka said smilingly, " Me, I was already crying, so through tears, I looked at
your smile. I was relieved by your warm and calm smile."
Then a broadcaster said; " Miki san, it was a smile of gratitude toward Arakawa
san, right?" and Miki answered ; " Yes, yes..."
And at the end of the TV program, the broadcaster thanked Arakawa san,
saying " Thank you for joining us as a commentator for a week. "
At the moment, together with the broadcaster, Miki bowed graciously to
Arakawa san to thank her for her one week's commentator work.
The scene was so agreeable to watch.

 

[mikittyfan]

mikittyfan, your posts are very polite and I am happy to hear such a nice tone. Thanks for joining GS.

I do remember questioning Miki's (angelic-kitty) return via influence from others comments or whatever, but was unsure if she was going to want to come back. I believe the comment made during the Olys about her year said a lot though. She has something haunting her, some Demon / Akuma or Yoma??? - i don't think Akuma is the right kind of demon??? An how she must over come this to continue. She did!!!!! Just like Shi-Chan.

There will always be bashers but we know the b a is for baka:agree: - most of the time.

Thank you for sharing my interest about Miki!
I was also agreeably surprised to see Miki again, especially I was
fascinated by her powerful, sensational performance in Skate America
2006.
After the competition, she said; " I can accept to be beaten by superior
skaters, but I can't accept to be beaten by my weakness."
I imagine that she didn't want to be beaten by vulgar gossips and harsh
bashing, so she came back strong and by her performance, she showed
who she is.

 

[SolarisFyre]

You know very well Friendship between Shizuka and Miki!
Yes, Shizuka is a affectionate big sister of Miki who becomes sometimes sensitive.
In an interview just before the Oymplic games, Miki was asked about her
father who passed away when she was 8 years old. Miki tried to answer,
but she began weeping without speaking, then Shizuka beside Miki rubbed
gently her shoulders and Shizuka went out with Miki off the Press
Conference.

That is just about the sweetest thing I have ever read. I love to hear about friendships between the skaters. I have a soft-spot for Miki, she comes across as a very sensitive and gentle sort of person... it's lovely to hear that she has someone to support her through all this.

 

[Spun Silver]

Yes, and I like her fighting spirit too.

After the competition, she said; " I can accept to be beaten by superior
skaters, but I can't accept to be beaten by my weakness."

She really sounds like a champ. Go, Miki!

 

[mikittyfan]

That is just about the sweetest thing I have ever read. I love to hear about friendships between the skaters. I have a soft-spot for Miki, she comes across as a very sensitive and gentle sort of person... it's lovely to hear that she has someone to support her through all this.

Your message is so beautiful and heart-warming to read.

 

[mikittyfan]

Tomorrow "Japan Open 2007" will be held in Saitama,Japan.

Thank you, Spun Sliver san!
We'll support all the skaters together!!:agree:

 

[mikittyfan]

I enjoyed American skaters' performance!

Hi Mikittyfan, welcome to Golden Skate and thanks for joining us. I hope you want to post often! I look forward to your impressions of the Japan Open.

Mathman

Hello, Mathman san!

I hope you have also enjoyed Todd Eldredge's wonderful jumps,
watching Youtube videos.:agree:
Yuka Sato commented his jumps like this;" What is amazing about his
jumps, he can land any kind of jumps beautifully from any position
like a cat!"
I thouhgt, "What an expression! Like a cat?!":think:
If you are angry at this comment, I'm very sorry.

But I wrote it in order to tell you that the atmosphere of this special
competition "Japan Open 2007" was more or less relaxed.

Unfortunately Mao's performance was not so good, but after the competition, when she was asked by an interviewer what she was thinking, watching Miki Ando's performance, Mao said cheerfully; " I made so many mistakes that I was hoping that Miki would do well to win!" Then, Japanese audience laughed aloud, and Miki also laughed with a cute smile.

You'll see Gala(exhibition) of this "Japan Open" very soon through
Youtube and you'll enjoy it too!!

 

[Mathman]

The old saying is, if you throw a cat, no matter how awkward it looks in the air, it will always land on its feet.

Yuka Sato is good friends with Todd. Yuka and her husband Jason Dungjen live in the same area (suburbs north of Detroit) as Todd and his wife. They also tour in Stars on Ice together.

 

[icesk8erdude4e]

I like Michelle Kwan for her definition of artistry on ice for her generation, and she delivered so many wonderful performances throughout her skating career its incredible. But for this world championships my favorite lady skater was Mao Asada and I thought that she was going to win

For the Pairs': Xue Shen and Hongbo Zhao will always be my favorites, they display wonderful power and artistry and they are the ones that have the total package and are one of the only ones that i've ever seen with the total package.

For the Dance: Belbin and Agosto were my favorites, I assure you that if they would've had their Amelie free dance from the very beginning of the year they would've kicked some Bulgarian *** at this competition.

For the Men: My favorite was Stephane Lambiel I just wish that he would've finished higher.

 

[doubleaxel]

My absolute darling this year was Yu-Na Kim. How can anyone forget that stunning, absolutely heavenly El Tango de Roxanne SP (record breaker, by the way)? It is a very dazzling and exceptionally well-choreographed program, Yu-Na's expression then was fantastic. She had a beautiful LP, too, and I loved her airy skating style and presentation in that one. She skated as if she was the music, such a lyrical skater she is. Despite the two lutz falls, it was not surprising that she still medaled. I completely adore Yu-Na! Brilliant skater, and strong personality on and off the ice.