Worlds 2008

Mar 16 - 23, 2008
Göteborg, Sweden

Official Page: http://www.goteborg.com/default.aspx?id=23606
Wiki Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_World_Figure_Skating_Championships
The results will eventually be up here: http://www.isufs.org/results/wc2007/

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And here is a short fluff with Mao, including interview, short practice clip and a clips from ballet lessons in Russia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qje_iRaR8M4

And another one with YuNa, Brian Orser and a bit of Mao's practice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUHWpxuZ9R4

Oscilla wrote:

Mar 16 - 23, 2008
Göteborg, Sweden

Official Page: http://www.goteborg.com/default.aspx?id=23606
Wiki Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_World_Figure_Skating_Championships
The results will eventually be up here: http://www.isufs.org/results/wc2007/

---

And here is a short fluff with Mao, including interview, short practice clip and a clips from ballet lessons in Russia:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qje_iRaR8M4

And another one with YuNa, Brian Orser and a bit of Mao's practice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUHWpxuZ9R4

thanks a lot for the videos Oscilla!!
Couls someone translate her interview in the first video please?
thanks!
bibi =D

I'll translate/summarize it once I get back home. It's too busy a day today to slack off at work.

Sorry it took so long!

This is more of a summary than a translation, I wrote it from memory and might have skipped something.

Q: Question
S: Speaker
M: Mao

Q: Since I saw you first time 2 years ago you became really more mature-looking... I was surprised!

M: I grew a lot, so that's probably why I look more mature!

S: Although she grew a lot, her dynamic jumps are as consistent as usual, plus she has more power now. This season this girl undertook a new challenge.

M: When I started training in Russia last year I started watching ballet, and I started practicing it.

S: Mao started learning dance in Russia. She practices ballet to help her to achieve better power of expression and beauty of movement. She also challenges a new choreography created by former coach of gold medallist Shizuka Arakawa.

M: I went to Russia and had a new short program created. It's really... how should I put it? It shows me as I have never been before.

S: Last year she made an unexpected mistake in the short and it was Miki who became the queen. That's why this year short program is like a battle. By combining great jumps with beautiful expression she strives to challenge her rivals.

Q: Who do you consider your rival?

M: The skater that beat me at last year's Worlds (Miki)... and Yu-Na Kim.

Q: In this World Championships what kind of program do you want to skate?

M: Last year I became second, so this year I want to do my best to win.

Q: Do you think you can win?

M: If I don't make any mistake... Hm... I'll do my best not to make any mistake and this is my goal!

S: With second-to-none powerful jumps and newly improved power of expression she now enters the road to victory.

THanks a lot for your translation!!

Quote :

M: If I don't make any mistake... Hm... I'll do my best not to make any mistake and this is my goal!

How cute.

Good luck, Mao!


A bit sad news: Domnina/Shabalin withdrew because of Shabalin's knee problems.
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080312&content_id=45612&vkey=ice_news

This interview was filmed before the 4CC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qje_iRaR8M4
So Mao doesn't seem to have self-confidence. I hope Mao has self-confidence now because she did great performances in the 4CC. :bounce:

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20080314-OHT1T00046.htm
This article says Mao will depart from Japan on 16th.

Tomorrow Fuji TV will air 60 minutes special program about Mao "Legend of Seventeen - Teenage Dream".

Quote :

Tomorrow Fuji TV will air 60 minutes special program about Mao "Legend of Seventeen - Teenage Dream". Dance

Can't wait to see this program!!

Also, I really hope Mao has self-confidence, she should, she has really improved from last year!

An article mostly on Belbin/Agosto and ice dance, but it also mentions other disciplines:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-03-13-1736970273_x.htm

Quote :

Tomorrow Fuji TV will air 60 minutes special program about Mao "Legend of Seventeen - Teenage Dream". Dance

Did someone watch it? Is there somewhere I can watch it on the internet?

bibi wrote:

Quote :

Tomorrow Fuji TV will air 60 minutes special program about Mao "Legend of Seventeen - Teenage Dream". Dance

Did someone watch it? Is there somewhere I can watch it on the internet?

I'm downloading it, but it will take a few hours! If nobody gets it sooner than me, I'll post it on YT.

I watched it! Mao was cute and funny as always.
The interview was filmed on March 1st.
At the begining the narration said Mao's ankle was injured 10 days ago. The interviewer asked about that, Mao answered "I feel much better".

Mao showed her daily schedule.
08:00 wake up
10:30-12:30 training on ice (spins, skating, programs)
lunch
14:30-15:30 training on ice (jumps)
16:30-17:30 strength training
relax time (watching TV, short sleep)
21:00-22:00 training (this is to minimize jetlag between Japan and Sweden)

Thank you so much, MaoNinja!

It's very smart to take the jet lag into account.

Can't wait to see the program!

I was too late... JNWiest posted the program before I even downloaded it.

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWxlu3CPapg
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUBhSkb8FR4
3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oh8OeX9YkI
4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGPMcEzDVa8
5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9QjZD57OXM

Thanks you Oscilla !!!

I have a question,
she talked about her puppies and she said Tiara, Fairy and Angel...what are the names she choosed finally for her 2 puppies?

Mao chose Tiara and Komachi. Mao said Fairy and Angel are too cute for puppy.

Mao departed!!!!!! She had a press conference at Chubu airport near Nagoya.
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/flash/KFullFlash20080316017.html
Mao said "I don't think anything but my performance and do my best" "If I think of gold medal, I become nervous. I want to concentrate on my performance".
About the merit of changing the training place to Nagoya, Mao said "I can relax" .




http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/news/photonews_nsInc_f-sp-tp0-20080316-336261.html
http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/2008/03/16/0000876673.shtml

http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=spo_30&k=2008031600056
About her condition, Mao said "fine"
About YU-Na, Mao said "I hope both of us can do the best performance at the biggest competition"

http://www2.nagoyatv.com/LanDB/jsp/NewsH0200/NewsH0200.jsp?id=24759
Mao said "As I got the silver medal at the last worlds, of course I wish to win the gold medal. But first I should to concentrate on my elements and success them properly. Axel jumps are in good condition. 3x3 jumps are also fine. I think they become better in Sweden."

sorry for my poor English.
Gooooooooooooo Maooooooooooooooo

Thank you so much, MaoNinja!

Mao's press conference at the airport:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmdoZ7pEMIo

one more photo
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/photo/20080316-1591621-1-L.jpg

MaoNinja wrote:

one more photo
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/photo/20080316-1591621-1-L.jpg

Ganbatte, Mao-chan!!
MaoNinja, thanks for all the links! Oscilla, thanks for all the links and for the translation!
I get more nervous with every day passing by. Mao may feel herself more happy and comfortable while training at home, but how will she handle the lack of a strong coach near her side?.. Technically she will be OK, I think, but mentally - that will be a real challenge.
While Yu-na is going eager for fight after missed 4CC and, imo, much more strong mentally after her injury. And Miki... for some reason I have a feeling she will be second this time.
Ganbatte, Mao-chan! Please believe in yourself!

I finally watched the Legend of 17. Great program!

Kokubun seemed to have a crush on Mao.

I loved all the practice clips. Back arabesque with hand assist before the 2A in SP looked great (though the entrance Mao uses now is also great). I liked the classical sit and scratch spins at the Arena rink... I wonder if Mao will use them in pprograms, or if she practiced them only to improve speed on her other spins?

The spiral had amazing stretch!

I hope the injury they spoke about didn't hamper Mao's training too much.

Now I can't wait for the practice clips!

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20080316-OYT1T00409.htm
This article says the Japan Skating Federation will support Mao during the worlds same as the 4CC. About next coach, as Mao will stay in Nagoya next season, they are searching coach who can come to Japan. But it is difficult to find such personal coach, so maybe they choose several coaches who are specialized in choreography, jumps or spins.

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20080317-OHT1T00126.htm
This article says, Reiko Ogawa, deputy director for support athletes of the Japan Skating Federation, will sit in the kiss & cry. She is Japanese ladies champion in 1980.


They are NFL 49ers cheerleaders. They came to Japan not for Mao but for the United Airlines's campaign "Come to the west coast"