Mao Asada

[yhmafan]

Thanks for the posts connecting Mao to Yuzuru. Of all the skaters now competing, Yuzuru reminds me the most of Mao so I agree about the sense they give of totally committing themselves to a technically dazzling performance no matter the risk, not to mention the artistic way they deliver their performances and the depth and heights of emotion they display.

Here is a link to Mao's radio show for April 6th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoimSpV8m5w

I couldn't agree with you more


This is one of my favorite gifs, it shows the moments about their senior World championship debuts.
Their legendary performances besides, I was even more moved by their tears.

 

[yhmafan]

We should be glad to have Asada reminding us for so long of the existence of the 3A for ladies. After Ito and Harding went away, it took 8 years when Nedlidina and Nakano landed one each and Mao to come along after 2005 to show us it can be done. She kept the 3A alive singlehandedly until 2014 Worlds. When she decided to sit out the next season and may possibly retire, I thought thats it. Thank goodness Liza Tuks gave us new hope of the 3A being a regular feature.

agree :yes: Thanks.

 

[gotoschool]

I couldn't agree with you more


This is one of my favorite gifs, it shows the moments about their senior World championship debuts.
Their legendary performances besides, I was even more moved by their tears.

Thank you, yhma fan. Those are really impressive side by side "moving' pictures. It really captures the heartache, triumph and how emotional Mao and Yuzuru really are. The similarity of their expressions and reactions in the K&C is amazing.

 

[gotoschool]

Here is a video showing all of Mao's triple axel attempts along with the judge's evaluation of the jump. Many times the high quality of the jump doesn't match up with the judge's harsh evaluation. I think it is better to watch her beautiful triple axels without the evaluation beside it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRRne5CADs

 

[yhmafan]

Here is a video showing all of Mao's triple axel attempts along with the judge's evaluation of the jump. Many times the high quality of the jump doesn't match up with the judge's harsh evaluation. I think it is better to watch her beautiful triple axels without the evaluation beside it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRRne5CADs

Her 3A’s are very smooth to my eyes it’s like there is nothing comparable to it.
The uploader says that it must have needed to have a strong will like diamond-hard to continue such a difficult jump more than ten years (for a female skater). much respect

Here is the video of Mao’s new “Mattress” CM.
https://youtu.be/CIURp1ch4IA

 

[Franklin99]

Here is a video showing all of Mao's triple axel attempts along with the judge's evaluation of the jump. Many times the high quality of the jump doesn't match up with the judge's harsh evaluation. I think it is better to watch her beautiful triple axels without the evaluation beside it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRRne5CADs

I'm gutted every time I see the score for her 3A at the 2013 GPF. How anyone can downgrade that superb 3A I just don't know.

 

[yhmafan]

Not sure if these have been posted before in this thread.
Here are the tweets and comments about Mao (her Sochi performance) from Skaters.

Mao – you was great. Special thanks for Axel 3.5! You’re real fighter!! ---Evgeni Plushenko

Mao Asada – made me cry…a performance that we will all remember forever!---Michelle Kwan

Kexin Zhang finishes strong and MAO ASADA steps onto the ice!! YUZURU AND I are freaking out! We Love Mao!!

Mao kills it with absolute case and poise! Ending in tears and a standing ovation from the crowd…leads with 198!!---Jason Brown

Well....no wonder Jason is so beloved such a lovely hearted man!

Amazing performance to add to her already decorated career. Great job Mao! Grace of a champion.---Sasha Cohen

Sochi. Ladies free skate! Mao Asada! WOW!!! Bravo!!! So sad for her short! :-( --- Alexei Yagudin

I had tears in my eyes. Thank you Mao! Magnificent.---Jeffrey Buttle

Mao Asada, WOW!!! What a skater! What a fighter! 142.71---Joannie Rochtte

I just have to say I am teary eyed for Mao Asada, makes my heart smile! ---Elvis Stojko

A stunning skate…so nice to see Mao not give up, Gambatte kudasai!---Kristi Yamaguchi

What a come back by Mao!!! Amazing skate. So happy for her!---Denis Ten

There’s the Mao we know. Such determination.---Braian Boitano

YES!!! SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW. TEARS OF JOY!!! GREAT JOB MAO!!!---Kimmie Meissner

......., but still just to get through this performance the way she did, it doesn't matter who calls what or what judge says that it was under-rotated versus not, it was the moment. This is why we love to watch figure skating. ---Johnny Weir

Johnny’s words just explained everything :thumbsup:

 

[yhmafan]

Mini-Mao

 

[gotoschool]

Mini-Mao

Thanks for the pictures of Mao as a youngster and for all the tweets from all the skaters for Mao's Sochi LP.

Here is a link to a new commercial Mao made for "airweave" matresses where she is dressed in maiko style and practices traditional Japanese dance. Again, post information taken from rosewood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDS1gjOg3Ew

 

[lyndichee]

Here is a video showing all of Mao's triple axel attempts along with the judge's evaluation of the jump. Many times the high quality of the jump doesn't match up with the judge's harsh evaluation. I think it is better to watch her beautiful triple axels without the evaluation beside it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRRne5CADs

The chart at the beginning of video is really a testament to Mao's work. Simply amazing.

 

[yhmafan]

Since Kanako decided to continue her competitive skating I hope her determination will be a good influence on Mao

As we know she continue to training on ice as much as she can, not only because of her ice shows but also she loves skating very very much.
So fans believe even though she has great SS already she is getting better and better on that.
I know many of her fans still really want to see her competition programs despite that they don’t want to see her inexpressive sad face in K&C

 

[yhmafan]

Random Mao gifs.


Everything is going to be alright ♫♪
That is ALL (Effortless gorgeous 3A)
Mao Asada - Ballade No.1, Op. 23 in G Minor ll COI 2010 (Words are not necessary here) :
with Daisuke , with Yuzuru in gala practice at Olympic 2014.
Awwwww

 

[gotoschool]

Thanks for all the links yhma fan. It was wonderful to see Hanyu skate to Ballade in the World Team Trophy. The step sequence at the end reminded me of Mao's. Here is Mao's great performance to Ballade in Astana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzz7HRKDUeU

In a follow up to a post I made earlier about Mao's attitude towards rules, there is a post by rosewood at fsuniverse in which she translates a song by by Ayumi Hamasaki called "Rule." In the post rosewood says that Mao mentioned the following lyrics from the song during her March 30th radio show:

*Rules decided by someone
No need for such damn things

**Same old damn rules
I don't want to be forced
Start by demolishing them
You and me**

Here is a link to the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUIu_f67xmw

Here is a link to the post (number 690): http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...say-figure-skating-is-wonderful.89260/page-24

My opinion

I can certainly see how these words helped Mao to endure all the rules under which she had to skate that often seemed disadvantageous for her. I know she often had a poker face after seeing her scores. I don't want to speak for her, but I was often frustrated and angry with the scores many times after seeing her performances. I also think that great artist / athletes like Mao feel the need to express themselves in a way that can't be gauged by "a system of rules" because the very nature of great art is to question and redefine them and sometimes as the song mentions demolish them because rules by their very nature restrict freedom of expression. I believe the friction between the two is what creates great artists like Mao who create masterpieces with their performances.

I also think her quoting of these words shows the gutsy and fighter side of Mao that she has always had from an early age. I know many people say that she is best at light and ethereal programs, but for me the desperate, passionate and even defiant side of Mao that comes out so well in her Bells of Moscow and Rach 2 performances is the side I like best, especially since she combined it with her elegant and ethereal side at the same time.

What do the rest of you think about Mao quoting these lyrics?

 

[yhmafan]

Thanks for all the links yhma fan. It was wonderful to see Hanyu skate to Ballade in the World Team Trophy. The step sequence at the end reminded me of Mao's. Here is Mao's great performance to Ballade in Astana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzz7HRKDUeU

That was beautiful as always even though the position of the camera was a bit far.

Also every time he does spread eagle beautifully in his SP that makes me think of Mao’s so much

My opinion

I can certainly see how these words helped Mao to endure all the rules under which she had to skate that often seemed disadvantageous for her. I know she often had a poker face after seeing her scores. I don't want to speak for her, but I was often frustrated and angry with the scores many times after seeing her performances. I also think that great artist / athletes like Mao feel the need to express themselves in a way that can't be gauged by "a system of rules" because the very nature of great art is to question and redefine them and sometimes as the song mentions demolish them because rules by their very nature restrict freedom of expression. I believe the friction between the two is what creates great artists like Mao who create masterpieces with their performances.

I also think her quoting of these words shows the gutsy and fighter side of Mao that she has always had from an early age. I know many people say that she is best at light and ethereal programs, but for me the desperate, passionate and even defiant side of Mao that comes out so well in her Bells of Moscow and Rach 2 performances is the side I like best, especially since she combined it with her elegant and ethereal side at the same time.

What do the rest of you think about Mao quoting these lyrics?

I think you explained everything and I can’t say any better thing that you mentioned.

As much as I like her elegant and ethereal side that she skate to Ballade, I want to see her programs which showing the inner samurai spirit of her like Rach2,
at the same time I would love to see her skating passionate and fascinating program like Caprise and light programs like Mary poppins and Smile…
That said maybe I would like to see everything from her and I miss her in competition so badly :hopelessness:

 

[hurrah]

Just got to watching a clip comparing Mao and Liza's triple axel, and it actually shows that Liza's setup is longer than Mao's! And Mao's jump is higher than Liza's. But Mao seems to come down more quickly than Liza. Is this because Mao is heavier than Liza?

BTW, I would love for someone to make a comparison of Mao's 16-year-old triple axel with Liza's axel this season.

 

[YesWay]

For the 2013-2014 Olympic season I made the trip to Skate America, specifically to see Mao and Daisuke - because I'd never seen either of them skate in person, and with retirements looking likely at the end of that season, I was afraid that would be my last chance.

I was not disappointed, Mao was... how can I explain? She was just "Mao". Divine...

Anyway, I took a bunch of photos of her, and originally posted them on a free Photobucket account along with photos of many other skaters/competitions. Perhaps some of you saw them there. Unfortunately, my monthly bandwidth quota on Photobucket was being eaten up within about 2 days, so my photos were basically unavailable most of the time and I just shut it down.

But now I have my own site to host my photos with lots more space and bandwidth...
...and I've just got around to re-uploading my photos of Mao to it:
Mao at 2013 Skate America

I hope they are of interest/enjoyable for anyone who didn't see them before.

This may have been the first time she wore that fabulous Olympic free skate costume, certainly it was the first time I saw it. I heard it was not quite right though (too heavy or something?) - so she changed to that other costume while it was remade. If you look closely you can see the costume at SA is definitely not the same as the one she wore at the Olympics...

 

[daphenaxa]

Thanks for all the links yhma fan. It was wonderful to see Hanyu skate to Ballade in the World Team Trophy. The step sequence at the end reminded me of Mao's. Here is Mao's great performance to Ballade in Astana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzz7HRKDUeU

Seriously Mao/Chopin OTP

 

[amazingMao]

For the 2013-2014 Olympic season I made the trip to Skate America, specifically to see Mao and Daisuke - because I'd never seen either of them skate in person, and with retirements looking likely at the end of that season, I was afraid that would be my last chance.

I was not disappointed, Mao was... how can I explain? She was just "Mao". Divine...

Anyway, I took a bunch of photos of her, and originally posted them on a free Photobucket account along with photos of many other skaters/competitions. Perhaps some of you saw them there. Unfortunately, my monthly bandwidth quota on Photobucket was being eaten up within about 2 days, so my photos were basically unavailable most of the time and I just shut it down.

But now I have my own site to host my photos with lots more space and bandwidth...
...and I've just got around to re-uploading my photos of Mao to it:
Mao at 2013 Skate America

I hope they are of interest/enjoyable for anyone who didn't see them before.

This may have been the first time she wore that fabulous Olympic free skate costume, certainly it was the first time I saw it. I heard it was not quite right though (too heavy or something?) - so she changed to that other costume while it was remade. If you look closely you can see the costume at SA is definitely not the same as the one she wore at the Olympics...

Thank you very much for your photos. Great shots
I can see clearly the nice details of her costumes. And she is soooo beautiful....

 

[Poice]

F
Anyway, I took a bunch of photos of her, and originally posted them on a free Photobucket account along with photos of many other skaters/competitions. Perhaps some of you saw them there. Unfortunately, my monthly bandwidth quota on Photobucket was being eaten up within about 2 days, so my photos were basically unavailable most of the time and I just shut it down.

But now I have my own site to host my photos with lots more space and bandwidth...
...and I've just got around to re-uploading my photos of Mao to it:
Mao at 2013 Skate America

I hope they are of interest/enjoyable for anyone who didn't see them before.

OMG what quality! Your photos are gorgeous! Mao's dress is amazing :shocked:

 

[yhmafan]

For the 2013-2014 Olympic season I made the trip to Skate America, specifically to see Mao and Daisuke - because I'd never seen either of them skate in person, and with retirements looking likely at the end of that season, I was afraid that would be my last chance.

I was not disappointed, Mao was... how can I explain? She was just "Mao". Divine...

Anyway, I took a bunch of photos of her, and originally posted them on a free Photobucket account along with photos of many other skaters/competitions. Perhaps some of you saw them there. Unfortunately, my monthly bandwidth quota on Photobucket was being eaten up within about 2 days, so my photos were basically unavailable most of the time and I just shut it down.

But now I have my own site to host my photos with lots more space and bandwidth...
...and I've just got around to re-uploading my photos of Mao to it:
Mao at 2013 Skate America

I hope they are of interest/enjoyable for anyone who didn't see them before.

This may have been the first time she wore that fabulous Olympic free skate costume, certainly it was the first time I saw it. I heard it was not quite right though (too heavy or something?) - so she changed to that other costume while it was remade. If you look closely you can see the costume at SA is definitely not the same as the one she wore at the Olympics...

You are my Hero