Worlds 2008

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Sun Mar 23, 2008 5:03 pm

i'm on the same page as you bibi!

Posts : 82 Join date : 2007-09-21

It has been such an emotional roller coaster ride that I had to wait until I've calmed down a bit. Embarassed

First, huge congratulations to Mao-chan! You were sublime, elegant, delicate, powerful, and exhibited an incredible inner fortitude! sunny

Up until now, there was a part of me that sometimes viewed you as a little girl (mainly because of the way you speak in Japanese), but no more! Mao-chan, I have the atmost and utter respect for you the way you handled yourself in these competitions. Worship

You are a mature young woman and a true champion!

Thanks, everyone, for interesting and very funny comments! Summervie, thanks for making me laugh out loud with how you described the Russian commentators! What did they consider as "impossible" about Mao's performance? If you remember, could you share it with us? Floskate, thanks for sharing with us how BBC coverage was. Yes, it was great to know that a great skater like Robin Cousins loved her. Hope it will turn up in Youtube or FSV! Wow, Mao-chan has so many fans among commentators now -- Uncle Dick, Aunt Peggy (who was totally swooning over her), Kurt, Robin...the list goes on!

Mao's SP brought me to tears because of the freedom she was able to express in the program (that I felt that I had not seen before). The LP, of course, was a shocker and I literally had to brace myself before I went to watch it knowing what had happened. I appreciate it even more after Men's LP. What happened to Verner and Dai could have easily happened to Mao-chan. And yet, Mao skated the rest of her program as if nothing had happned. What a sharp contrast from 2006 SA when a pop on the 3A distracted her from the rest of the program. Yes, Mao-chan, you are a strong young woman! Worship

Thank you, Mao-chan, for an outstanding season and making us so proud of you for standing up to all the challenges! flower

Double Axel Posts : 141 Join date : 2007-11-17

Peggy said prior to the event that Mao has skated the Chopin Fantasia LP as if she were a (musical) instrument. Dick commented after her LP that Mao was like a soufflé on ice. Mao was their very favorite and their commentary was always full of highest praises. I would miss them.

I also wanted to comment…

Congratulations Jeff!!!!!! I am over the moon right now. I am just so happy for his fantastic performances!!! Both programs were great masterpieces and performed with such technical and artistic qualities. I don't know what to say (sigh)... Love Hearts

I am over the moon.

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:28 pm

i too am speechless. it was a great world championships and even though i'm a bit sad the season is over there is always japan open to look forward too. I'm sure gunna miss all of mao's programs next season Sad

amd tessa and scots FD, they were all masterpieces! Skating also isn't going to be the same with dick, peggy and peter.

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:26 am

EX photos

Worlds 2008 - Page 8 Oth0803240815001-p1

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:16 am

i wish cbc broadcasted the whole gala, but they only focused on the canadian skaters and about 5 others. Does anyone knoe where i can download the whole gala, or at least the openeing and finale? and thanks for those pictures maoninja!

Triple Flip Posts : 431 Join date : 2007-11-22

I have the opening and ending (from the British ES). I can upload it for you on swoopshare or another hosting service! flower

Triple Axel Posts : 994 Join date : 2007-09-22 Age : 39

I couldn't help myself! ROTFLMAO

Worlds 2008 - Page 8 2004173702182287661_rs

Double Axel Posts : 141 Join date : 2007-11-17

I haven't had a chance to watch gala yet. But it seems that Mao curled her hair, which is nice! I always liked that when she did as a junior. Perhaps she had more time to prepare this time because ladies finished early here!

Someone commented on her makeup in SP. I like her makeup at SP, LP, and here at gala. It looks like she used lavender in SP and light blue at gala. Both are very elegantly done. Not heavy but makes her look more mature and luminous. Perhaps she or her family had a chance to do shopping of cosmetics after going back to Japan? But it would be difficult for Mao to go to crowd and do shopping. She is simply too famous now!

Triple Loop Posts : 592 Join date : 2007-09-18

Okami wrote:: I couldn't help myself!

Double Axel Posts : 141 Join date : 2007-11-17

I was a little bit sad that I couldn't see her clean LP performance at the Worlds. But I feel that the victory without 3A here would be a great confident boosting for Mao. Johnny made a great point about it. Figure skating is not defined by just one difficult jump.

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:56 am

The Return of the Queen cheers

Mao returned to her hometown Nagoya few hours ago! flower

But she immediately goes to Tokyo.
Worlds 2008 - Page 8 20080325-00000009-jijp-spo-view-000

http://sports.nikkei.co.jp/photo/n0/SSXKC0137%2025032008_1_1_n0.jpg
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/news/images/20080325k0000e050069000p_size5.jpg
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/zoom/20080325-OYT9I00422.htm

You can watch a news video here.
http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00129634.html

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20080325-OYT1T00348.htm
Mao said "I'm happy to win the worlds for the first time. I want to go back home, rest and relax, eat delicious food and play with Aero, Tiarra and Komachi."

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:16 am

thanks MaoNinja!! You always give us news!! Thanks a lot!!

Quote :: Mao said "I'm happy to win the worlds for the first time. I want to go back home, rest and relax, eat delicious food and play with Aero, Tiarra and Komachi."

How cute!! Very Happy

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:05 am

Mao had a press conference at Tokyo
Worlds 2008 - Page 8 20080325-00000024-jijp-spo-view-000

what a beautiful smile!!!!!

Dedicated Mao Fan Posts : 1298 Join date : 2007-10-29

This is a video showing Mao's reaction to her LP skate, the reaction to her win, and finally her exhibition with Japanese commentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57_c9bJyfGc&feature=related

My heart broke for her when she cried with frustration after finishing her LP because of her fall!

But thankfully those tears turned into happy ones when she realized she won! Love

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:46 pm

inskate wrote:: This is a video showing Mao's reaction to her LP skate, the reaction to her win, and finally her exhibition with Japanese commentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57_c9bJyfGc&feature=related

My heart broke for her when she cried with frustration after finishing her LP because of her fall! But thankfully those tears turned into happy ones when she realized she won!

thanks a lot inskate!
I didn't know she cried because of frustration before receiving her marks... poor girl! But then she cried because of happiness!!!

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:17 pm

more photos at the airport
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20080325-00000015-maip-spo.view-000
http://www.zakzak.co.jp/spo/2008_03/image/s2008032523KTasadamao_b.jpg

You can watch the no-cut news video here
https://al.ssl.dai2ntv.jp/blog/nocut/2008/03/post_330.html

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20080325-OYT1T00348.htm
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/news/20080325k0000e050063000c.html
in these articles Mao said "I hit around my pelvis. It's like a bruise. It's OK"

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/sports/other/080325/oth0803251847007-n1.htm
this article is about the press conference in Tokyo.
7 photos at the bottom.

At least 4 interviews was aired in Japan. Mao was always smiling, calm and beautiful!!! Very Happy

about THE FALL Mao said,
"I never did such type of fall. That was the first time in my life. I don't know what had happened exactly, but I think the edge slipped into a hole. At that moment, I was just surprised because the board was coming near to my face, and thought "I must stand up not to touch the board". Then I felt "well, the end". But then I thought I have to cool myself down and thought my body was OK. Then I thought I should do what I practiced, especially the next 3+3 perfectly, to recover the big mistake. I didn't feel pain during the performance. I think the performance was good, especially the step-sequence, except the axel jump"

about the pressure to win,
"I don't feel such pressure. Instead, I am roused when I am cheered by many people or covered in the articles"

sorry for my poor translation Sweatdrop

one more photo
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/zoomImage/20080326-OHT9I00007.htm

Triple Flip Posts : 431 Join date : 2007-11-22

Thank you for a great translation of a great interview, MaoNinja! flower

Helen, here is the Gala Opening from British EuroSport:
http://en.swoopshare.com/file/e046a323cf2a8fba99c875bff372635e/opening_08_worlds_exb_BritEuro.wmv.html

I'll upload the Finale as soon as possible; my Internet connection is being whimsical today. Sweatdrop

Triple Flip Posts : 431 Join date : 2007-11-22

The Gala Finale (British Eurosport):

http://en.swoopshare.com/file/5e0f3dd0641556309845d48f8b258693/Closing+Show+Worlds+2008+Gala+%5BBritES%5D.wmv.html

Rockstar

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:56 pm

thanks so much for the links oscilla! you're the best!

Triple Flip Posts : 431 Join date : 2007-11-22

Glad to help! flower

Some more links:

Mao's SP with ESPN commentary (good quality):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h-E-lMF-eE

Mao's SP with ESPN commentary (good quality):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tw9OZyKaIE

I just love the commentary! At the very end of the LP video Uncle Dick compared Mao's skating to a... soufflet! ROTFLMAO

Because she rises so lightly on her airy jumps... Cloud 9

I really hope they will continue to comment on some other TV channel now that ESPN lost the rights to NBC... Yep, Sadly

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:46 am

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hwDm0TL2j5knROyFGyoAH6pDAtMQ
World champion figure skater Asada feels old at 17
TOKYO (AFP)

"There will be many (US) girls who are younger than I am and have never competed in the world championships," Asada said Tuesday on her return from the Swedish city of Gothenburg where she won her title last week.

"I want to go all-out like they do and not be defeated," she added.

"I normally try not to think about them too much," said the pony-tailed Asada, who stands 162 centimetres (5 feet 4 inches). "But in training I think about them because it helps me push myself."

Hidehito Ito, figure skating director at the Japan Skating Federation, agreed that the new generation of US girls threatens Japan's hold on the women's singles, which they have dominated since Shizuka Arakawa won at the 2006 Turin Olympics.

"They can all jump triple-triple combinations. Asada must land two solid triple-triple combinations in free skating," he said.

At Gothenburg, Asada fell at the start of her free programme on her take-off for a 3.5-revolution triple axel, a difficult jump which has been mastered by only a few female skaters.

But she recovered brilliantly to land a triple-triple in her next jump to Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu. She under-rotated a second jump in her triple-triple combination towards the end of the programme but still took the title.

"In the short programme this year, I took on a theme with a maturity which I had lacked," said Asada, who was runner-up to Ando last year in her first worlds.

"I think I can continue to improve a lot more ahead of Vancouver by making jumps with higher quality, accelerating the speed of my spins and being more expressive," she added. Yep!

In the interview yesterday, Mao said about her height "I think it's 163cm" :bounce:

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:53 pm

here are videos!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PutyHSENrPA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK7j760K8T4&feature=user (could someone translate espacially the part about what Mao's ancien coach was telling her)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptBfqquNsb0&feature=user
Could someone translate the important informations please?
thanks a lot!
bibi =D

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Wed Mar 26, 2008 4:20 pm

awww she feels old at 17? but she is so young and has won so many titles! all she is needs is an olympic gold then she's got everything! I hope she doesn't let thoughts of mirai and caroline and rachael get to her. Who knows, maybe they won't be as consistant once they hit seniors, other than nationals they haven't been posting too great of scores. Not that i'm saying I don't want them to improve, because i really do. It'll be one heck of an olympics! Just imagine what mao's maturity and expression and everything else will be like then. These past few years she has improved so much, the progress each year is mind blowing! Very Mad

Subject: Re: Worlds 2008 Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:16 pm

another interview!
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=cBubZhGdi_8

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