CONGRATULATIONS, MIKI ANDO!!!
Knew you could do it........just a matter of time........what a way to end the year.
^) Now time to relax, enjoy the new year, and begin preparing quietly for Jr. & Sr. Worlds respectively in March (only 2 weeks apart).
For those new to Miki, here are some links to recent pics of her:
http://jp.a1.yimg.com/7/50/6316/107.../jijp/20031227-01591321-jijp-spo-view-001.jpg
***the above shows a podium pic of Miki, Fumie, & Shizuka at 2003 Sr. Nationals***
http://www.jgpfinal2003.se/pictures_sunday.html
***absolutely gorgeous pics of Miki at the 2003 JGPF a few weeks ago (need to scroll down a bit) - shows off her stunning tall/lithe figure, especially in that lovely layback (soooo flexible) - btw the gold blades, which make her stand out & which she started wearing about a year ago, were inspired by Irina Slutskaya (she saw Irina's & emulated her; no lie)***
I, myself, have been a Miki Fan since I first saw her skate
Swan Lake at 2002 Jr. Worlds almost two yrs. ago. Kinda funny b/c the same
exact thing happened to me w/Oksana Baiul & Sarah Hughes (no lie).......became lifetime fans of them also when I saw each, respectively, skate
Swan Lake.......Oksana at 1993 Worlds & Sarah at 1999 Worlds. Weird how the first time I ever set eyes on these particular skaters was when they skated
Swan Lake and, consequently, I fell in love w/their skating. Ah, there must be something about "Swan Lake" and me.
Back to Miki, the following are some stats I have kept on her over the last two years for those interested:
MIKI ANDO (JPN, 12/18/87, 160 cm., aka "Quad Queen")
Japan Jr. Nationals -
1st 2001, 2002, 2003 ***Tied w/Shizuka Arakawa for most consecutive wins ever at Jr. Nationals*** Also, first time she ever landed both the
3Z/3R & 4S together in the FS at 2003 Jr. Nationals!
JGPF -
1st 2001 & 2003 ***First lady skater ever to land a quadruple jump -
4S - in competition at the 2002 JGPF.***
Jr. Worlds - 2nd in 2003 & 3rd in 2002.
Japan Sr. Nationals -
1st 2003, 5th 2002, 3rd 2001.
JGP Series -
1st in
ALL competitions she has entered since she hit the junior grand prix in the 2001/2002 season ~ Canada, China, Mexico, Japan, et al.
By the way, Miki has been practicing the
3Z/3R & 4S since the 2001/2002 season, but the former more than the latter. In fact, she has landed the
3Z/3R practically each time she has tried it in competition except at the 2002 JGPF, 2003 Jr. Worlds, 2003 JGP Japan, & 2003 Sr. Nationals. I'd say her percentage rate is around 64% successful taking into consideration she has tried it 11 times & has landed it 7 out of those 11 times. However, for the
4S she has only tried it 7 times, and has landed it 4 times out of those 7, with the first one attempted & landed at the 2002 JGPF and the last one at 2003 Sr. Nationals! {two thumbs way up}
^D
***Note: Miki is overall fairly consistent, but not as consistent if she
weren't trying high level risky elements such as the
3Z/3R & 4S. She
is gaining little by little as each year passes though - has averaged at the
very least 5 triples per competiton except at 2003 JGP Japan (2 triples) & 2003 Sr. Nationals (4 triples).***
Peace & Love, Nadine
"Having a dream, I'll go up into the sky" - M.F. Thomson
MODIFIED TO ADD: Miki has always reminded me of the late actress Audrey Hepburn (think she looks like her), especially in looks & body build. JMHO.
^)
