After a very unfortunate season last year that left a lot to be desired, Mao Asada skated for redemption yesterday at the NHK Trophy where she won the silver medal. While it's a far cry from the Mao we all got used to and loved, the progress that has taken place within her training was showcased well and it has reinvigorated a career that people have started questioning. Asada skated to 'Liebestraum', her free programme piece from last season but modified and varied with the choreography, and it was a strong skate albeit not without flaws. First she doubled her planned opening triple axel-her calling card- and two-footed a final triple loop jump towards the end of the programme. That being said, she still won the free skate, finishing with 184.19 points overall. NHK gold medallist and fellow compatriot, Akiko Suzuki botched two of her own jumps but still managed to edge out Asada for the title with a 1.79 point margin, thanks to her great lead from the short programme the day before.
Early that morning, fellow Mao-fan, Amanda Shank (@team_swan) and I were just tweeting like crazy in support of Mao-chan and when she took the ice, my heart nearly stopped. It was a make or break skate and she needed the victory to make a statement. True to (her newer) form, Mao skated strongly and she landed every jump and twizzled every twist and spin. She changed the choreography a little bit it was still beautiful. Personally, I think both her SP and FS pieces are strong this season. Both are also light and inspiring, with less grandiose stoicism that the Russian Tarasova stamped on her for the last two years. Though she didn't win the gold, by virtue Mao still has the chance to compete in the Grand Prix Final. Hopefully she'll win the title at the Cup of Russia in two week's time, but until then, I just have to say CONGRATULATIONS!- and rest easy in that slowly but surely, Mao is returning from her skating limbo and she's giving these girls a run for their money. The British commentators actually hit the nail in the head when they said that even though Akiko performs well, she does not have the pedigree that Asada has. Definitely I agree with this statement and as much as I wish Akiko the best in her career, which is looking very great, I need Mao to win. Her struggles over the years with her constant need and drive to improve shows how much she loves her sport and you just can't help but feel inspired and graced by her.
Enjoy her skate from this weekend:
SP- Scheherazade
FS- Liebestraum
EX- Jupiter
See you guys in a fort night!
xoxo
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