Mao Asada | Page 52 | Golden Skate

Mao Asada

I really think Mao is the best female skater.. she has a great technique and all the passion and felling, acording with awesome programs... she's perfect and my favourite performance is her LP at Sochi... simply perfect and emotive for me =)

http://youtu.be/zcpr5_1wAZE
 
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Minze2001 said:
Mao was underscored in Vancouver. Sochi don't care about anyone's scores. I only remember Mao's LP

Confession of a Mao fan. I have never watched her Sochi SP. When I read on her fan forum what happened, I never went back to watch the video. It is too hard for me


Thankfully, I have her record breaking performance from world.
Click to expand...

I watched Mao's performance in her SP at Sochi and just went, "Oh Mao." kind of upset and tried to forget it. I was a fan but not a true fan yet. The tragedy of what happened hadn't really hit me. I remember reading the words on an online article that went something like, "And Mao Asada formerly considered the greatest skater in the world is now in 16th place." That made me a little more upset because she was my favorite and I felt she had fallen. I wasn't a believer yet, but I really wanted to be and I didn't realize how prophetic those words were because she was about to become "the greatest skater in the world again with her LP performance." No matter what the judges said.

I watched her freeskate not really knowing what to expect but hoping for the best. The screen froze on the live feed but half way through the connection started to flow through as smoothly as Mao's balletic movements and once she hit her final 3 loop, sit extension, Biellmann and step sequence I felt pools collecting in my eyes. Then, when she skidded to an abrupt stop at the end of her arabesque and looked up to the sky the full impact of this moment of an overwhelming mix of contradictory emotions hit me (the tragedy, the redemption, the bold athletic daring, and the bittersweet joy). I broke down the instant that she did and she converted me into a big fan, so I took to the forums for the first time.

Her Sochi LP for me is something that is so transcendent and pure that it can never be quantified. For me, it is beyond a world record, or as the poster audit101 wrote, "not worth gold but diamond." A true inspiration. It is like a great dramatic performance on a real-life stage with ballet, acrobatics, purity of expression and profound injustice thrown in because the judges made it blatantly obvious that Mao's history of underscoring was a reality. That she carried this performance level into her next SP performance at Saitama makes her achievement even more remarkable. I don't know if or when any female skater can ever reach such a high peak of technical excellence, artistry and emotional intensity again.

One of my favorite quotes about Mao's Sochi performance comes from a youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbq6VHRHUfM The comment "not gold but diamond" is at the same site

Here is my favorite part.

This will be forever the most inspiring free skate in ladies figure skating, and belongs more to history than a lot of medal winning skates. Some things go beyond world records, technicalities, medals or prestige. I'm tired of supposed 'perfect techniques", GOE's, UR's, PCS, politiking. This skate was a breath of fresh air, finally someone could capture perfectly the essence of figure skating and sports in general.
 
Last edited:
Minze2001 said:
Mao was underscored in Vancouver. Sochi don't care about anyone's scores. I only remember Mao's LP

Confession of a Mao fan. I have never watched her Sochi SP. When I read on her fan forum what happened, I never went back to watch the video. It is too hard for me


Thankfully, I have her record breaking performance from world.
Click to expand...

Awww, I understand you, I already watched but I won´t do it again :no:
 
gotoschool said:
I watched Mao's performance in her SP at Sochi and just went, "Oh Mao." kind of upset and tried to forget it. I was a fan but not a true fan yet. The tragedy of what happened hadn't really hit me. I remember reading the words on an online article that went something like, "And Mao Asada formerly considered the greatest skater in the world is now in 16th place." That made me a little more upset because she was my favorite and I felt she had fallen. I wasn't a believer yet, but I really wanted to be and I didn't realize how prophetic those words were because she was about to become "the greatest skater in the world again with her LP performance." No matter what the judges said.

I watched her freeskate not really knowing what to expect but hoping for the best. The screen froze on the live feed but half way through the connection started to flow through as smoothly as Mao's balletic movements and once she hit her final 3 loop, sit extension, Biellmann and step sequence I felt pools collecting in my eyes. Then, when she skidded to an abrupt stop at the end of her arabesque and looked up to the sky the full impact of this moment of an overwhelming mix of contradictory emotions hit me (the tragedy, the redemption, the bold athletic daring, and the bittersweet joy). I broke down the instant that she did and she converted me into a big fan, so I took to the forums for the first time.

Her Sochi LP for me is something that is so transcendent and pure that it can never be quantified. For me, it is beyond a world record, or as the poster audit101 wrote, "not worth gold but diamond." A true inspiration. It is like a great dramatic performance on a real-life stage with ballet, acrobatics, purity of expression and profound injustice thrown in because the judges made it blatantly obvious that Mao's history of underscoring was a reality. That she carried this performance level into her next SP performance at Saitama makes her achievement even more remarkable. I don't know if or when any female skater can ever reach such a high peak of technical excellence, artistry and emotional intensity again.

One of my favorite quotes about Mao's Sochi performance comes from a youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbq6VHRHUfM The comment "not gold but diamond" is at the same site

Here is my favorite part.

This will be forever the most inspiring free skate in ladies figure skating, and belongs more to history than a lot of medal winning skates. Some things go beyond world records, technicalities, medals or prestige. I'm tired of supposed 'perfect techniques", GOE's, UR's, PCS, politiking. This skate was a breath of fresh air, finally someone could capture perfectly the essence of figure skating and sports in general.
Click to expand...

Ah gotoschool I really enjoy reading all your long posts :)
I never watched Mao's Sochi SP too. I really just can't bring myself to. Maybe I'll trying watching it and then follow it up with her LP one day... but for now I'll just stick to her SP at worlds.
 
gotoschool said:
I watched Mao's performance in her SP at Sochi and just went, "Oh Mao." kind of upset and tried to forget it. I was a fan but not a true fan yet. The tragedy of what happened hadn't really hit me. I remember reading the words on an online article that went something like, "And Mao Asada formerly considered the greatest skater in the world is now in 16th place." That made me a little more upset because she was my favorite and I felt she had fallen. I wasn't a believer yet, but I really wanted to be and I didn't realize how prophetic those words were because she was about to become "the greatest skater in the world again with her LP performance." No matter what the judges said.

I watched her freeskate not really knowing what to expect but hoping for the best. The screen froze on the live feed but half way through the connection started to flow through as smoothly as Mao's balletic movements and once she hit her final 3 loop, sit extension, Biellmann and step sequence I felt pools collecting in my eyes. Then, when she skidded to an abrupt stop at the end of her arabesque and looked up to the sky the full impact of this moment of an overwhelming mix of contradictory emotions hit me (the tragedy, the redemption, the bold athletic daring, and the bittersweet joy). I broke down the instant that she did and she converted me into a big fan, so I took to the forums for the first time.

Her Sochi LP for me is something that is so transcendent and pure that it can never be quantified. For me, it is beyond a world record, or as the poster audit101 wrote, "not worth gold but diamond." A true inspiration. It is like a great dramatic performance on a real-life stage with ballet, acrobatics, purity of expression and profound injustice thrown in because the judges made it blatantly obvious that Mao's history of underscoring was a reality. That she carried this performance level into her next SP performance at Saitama makes her achievement even more remarkable. I don't know if or when any female skater can ever reach such a high peak of technical excellence, artistry and emotional intensity again.

One of my favorite quotes about Mao's Sochi performance comes from a youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbq6VHRHUfM The comment "not gold but diamond" is at the same site

Here is my favorite part.

This will be forever the most inspiring free skate in ladies figure skating, and belongs more to history than a lot of medal winning skates. Some things go beyond world records, technicalities, medals or prestige. I'm tired of supposed 'perfect techniques", GOE's, UR's, PCS, politiking. This skate was a breath of fresh air, finally someone could capture perfectly the essence of figure skating and sports in general.
Click to expand...

Very well said gotoschool. For me I anticipated Mao to be in the podium before the Olympics. And I thought that she is going to be in a good position since she is close to a russian coach choreographer and Russian pride Tarasova. But when I knew she was the last to skate it made me worry. Its the last placement a skater would hope for. My family was watching with me. And since I'm the biggest fan of this sports and they are not familiar with the girls I was like introducing them to the girls. I remember my mom liked Yuna Kim after she skated her Send in the clowns SP even if it was her first time to see her. She said she was so graceful, and I was like telling her she is the former olympic champion and a rival to my most favorite skater. When it was already Mao's turn, and her name was already called, I was like, there's my girl! there's the champion! let's watch her soar! but then she fell and it was heartbreaking. And my family was like, she's a beautiful skater though. Her body and movements are so pristine. Like a ballerina so elegant, but thinks the nerves got her since she skated last.

On the day of the long program my whole family was still watching it with me. And when the group of Mao was already summoned on the ice they were quite surprised with how the crowd instantly increased in number went crazy was reacting to Mao, from the people cheering for her, to the cameras all zoomed on her. And I told them that of course there is a massive love for that girl she is a living legend that is why everyone's cheering for her. When it was already her turn, I did not really expect anything. I just prayed Mao will deliver the best that she can. Then she started her program, and not a pin dropped in my family. They were in constant awe all throughout the program. And after the program I was literally crying and my family too became emotional especially my mom. How Mao and her program brought us to tears and moved us is something that is priceless and no other skaters can ever do.
 
Thank you for the beautiful thoughts.
Also I never thought such a day would come what watching FS that made me burst into tears then, until I saw her Sochi LP.
and seeing Sochi’s spectators that they gave her a warm cheer is really wonderful.
 
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iceberg said:
Very well said gotoschool. For me I anticipated Mao to be in the podium before the Olympics. And I thought that she is going to be in a good position since she is close to a russian coach choreographer and Russian pride Tarasova. But when I knew she was the last to skate it made me worry. Its the last placement a skater would hope for. My family was watching with me. And since I'm the biggest fan of this sports and they are not familiar with the girls I was like introducing them to the girls. I remember my mom liked Yuna Kim after she skated her Send in the clowns SP even if it was her first time to see her. She said she was so graceful, and I was like telling her she is the former olympic champion and a rival to my most favorite skater. When it was already Mao's turn, and her name was already called, I was like, there's my girl! there's the champion! let's watch her soar! but then she fell and it was heartbreaking. And my family was like, she's a beautiful skater though. Her body and movements are so pristine. Like a ballerina so elegant, but thinks the nerves got her since she skated last.

On the day of the long program my whole family was still watching it with me. And when the group of Mao was already summoned on the ice they were quite surprised with how the crowd instantly increased in number went crazy was reacting to Mao, from the people cheering for her, to the cameras all zoomed on her. And I told them that of course there is a massive love for that girl she is a living legend that is why everyone's cheering for her. When it was already her turn, I did not really expect anything. I just prayed Mao will deliver the best that she can. Then she started her program, and not a pin dropped in my family. They were in constant awe all throughout the program. And after the program I was literally crying and my family too became emotional especially my mom. How Mao and her program brought us to tears and moved us is something that is priceless and no other skaters can ever do.
Click to expand...

That's a wonderful post too, iceberg and thank you leolion and yhma fan too. I honestly don't think it is possible to fully appreciate the impact of Mao's LP performance unless somebody saw the SP program first. It's the stark contrast between the two programs- the disappointment followed by greatly exceeding expectations that makes it so overwhelming, and the way Mao expressed everything she had been through in her life in the previous 4 years and exorcised all her sadness and disappointment, transforming it into triumphant but bittersweet joy.
 
Last edited:
iceberg said:
Very well said gotoschool. For me I anticipated Mao to be in the podium before the Olympics. And I thought that she is going to be in a good position since she is close to a russian coach choreographer and Russian pride Tarasova. But when I knew she was the last to skate it made me worry. Its the last placement a skater would hope for. My family was watching with me. And since I'm the biggest fan of this sports and they are not familiar with the girls I was like introducing them to the girls. I remember my mom liked Yuna Kim after she skated her Send in the clowns SP even if it was her first time to see her. She said she was so graceful, and I was like telling her she is the former olympic champion and a rival to my most favorite skater. When it was already Mao's turn, and her name was already called, I was like, there's my girl! there's the champion! let's watch her soar! but then she fell and it was heartbreaking. And my family was like, she's a beautiful skater though. Her body and movements are so pristine. Like a ballerina so elegant, but thinks the nerves got her since she skated last.

On the day of the long program my whole family was still watching it with me. And when the group of Mao was already summoned on the ice they were quite surprised with how the crowd instantly increased in number went crazy was reacting to Mao, from the people cheering for her, to the cameras all zoomed on her. And I told them that of course there is a massive love for that girl she is a living legend that is why everyone's cheering for her. When it was already her turn, I did not really expect anything. I just prayed Mao will deliver the best that she can. Then she started her program, and not a pin dropped in my family. They were in constant awe all throughout the program. And after the program I was literally crying and my family too became emotional especially my mom. How Mao and her program brought us to tears and moved us is something that is priceless and no other skaters can ever do.
Click to expand...

Great story. Thanks for sharing!
 
yhmafan said:
I found the picture, Daisuke, Tatsuki, Yuzuru were watching Mao’s Sochi LP.
And even these guys ended up getting emotional :cheer:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the photos yhma fan. It seems that Daisuke is the most emotional in your picture, though of course from the Japanese team, Nobunari Oda broke down the most during her skate. I have posted this link before, but it goes so well with your pictures that I am posting it again: http://onehallyu.com/topic/49484-md-everyone-who-cried-before-mao-asada-did-get-in-this-thread/

I am a bit embarrassed, but I admit to often crying before Mao does when I watch her Sochi LP now. How about the rest of you? And do you still watch Mao's freeskate after almost a year? I wonder if there will be an anniversary celebration.
 
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gotoschool said:
Thanks for the photos yhma fan. It seems that Daisuke is the most emotional in your picture, though of course from the Japanese team, Nobunari Oda broke down the most during her skate. I have posted this link before, but it goes so well with your pictures that I am posting it again: http://onehallyu.com/topic/49484-md-everyone-who-cried-before-mao-asada-did-get-in-this-thread/

I am a bit embarrassed, but I admit to often crying before Mao does when I watch her Sochi LP now. How about the rest of you? And do you still watch Mao's freeskate after almost a year? I wonder if there will be an anniversary celebration.
Click to expand...

Yes Great idea lets have an anniversary celebration. To be honest, I watch the record breaking SP more than the LP. The Sochi performance, is so amazing that I only watch it on special ocassions:cheer:
 
gotoschool said:
That's a wonderful post too, iceberg and thank you leolion and yhma fan too. I honestly don't think it is possible to fully appreciate the impact of Mao's LP performance unless somebody saw the SP program first. It's the stark contrast between the two programs- the disappointment followed by greatly exceeding expectations that makes it so overwhelming, and the way Mao expressed everything she had been through in her life in the previous 4 years and exorcised all her sadness and disappointment, transforming it into triumphant but bittersweet joy.
Click to expand...

i couldnt agree more and thanks gotoschool. I was crying of sadness in her sochi sp and was crying for joy and triumph in her sochi LP. A one of a kind experience! :)
 
Heh I realise this is super late and it's probably already been said but when I went to Mao's exhibition in Shinjuku, Tokyo last summer they were replaying Sochi LP over and over on a loop. I was surprised it wasn't Nocturne but I guess that's what is actually more popular :) (I stood there and watched a few replays before leaving haha.)
 
last night mao sister mai appear on tv with their home video when they were little
i only see some clip in twitter

does anyone have a full cut of the video?
 
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