Sochi Olympics 2014 ［Ladies Competition］

klarification wrote:

Also, waking up to this news:

Quote :

Russia’s ‘tiny genius’ prepares to take on ‘The Queen’ for figure skating gold

I thought I would be upset that they are completely disregarding Mao, but surprisingly I feel okay with the spotlight on these two. Let them battle it out, I don't care! I just want Mao to do two clean skates, and go out with a bang. Of course, OGM would be a wonderful way to secure her legacy but it's not the end of the world if she doesn't get it. As long as she skates the lights out, I'd be one happy and thankful fan.  

I logged in to my PC and saw that on my Win8 screen also and I was like     haha!

I don't care now. I just want Mao's skate to do the talking.
Mao, please, when you step onto the rink later just say to yourself "3A means nothing... I am not novice. I am Mao Asada." and then own that piece and have the short program of your life. We all know you can!

[quote="zarinaballerina"]

klarification wrote:

[

chapis, I've just been to Golden Skate and someone kindly explained what the article is about. The original was written in Korean paper (surprise, not  ) and all Speedy said (in casual conversation) according to this poster was, that if he were to bet his money on someone it would be Kim, because she doesn' get easily intimidated. All will come down to mental toughness, or something like this.

Yes, thank you, it was a mistake in translation but as president of the isu may be he should reserve his comments even if it is a question.
I am very nervous, now I understand to Mao   at first of the olympics I was kind of relaxed but now when the time for the sp is closer I am getting very anxious. Poor Mao

My one wish for Mao before her Sp is for her to NOT slow down too much before going into her 3a. That's what causing her to UR and 2foot her landing. I watched her entrance during her practice yesterday and her entrance during 2005-08, and one major change is the amount of time it takes her to setup her 3a now than she did then. What ever fear she has about her jumps, she has to overcome it/them if she wants to succeed tomorrow/today.

fingers crossed she will overcome her jumps fears before competing her SP/LP.   

Her winning OGM doesn't matter to me as much as her skating her absolute best in both programs.  Good luck and many blessings to you Mao...and all of the competitors.     

Well, I haven’t been here for a very, very long time, but on the eve of the ladies’ short program, I thought I would drop by and wish Mao good luck!   

Mao-chan, I first saw you when you were an adorable 15-year old wunderkind who brought such infectious joy to the ice.     Since then, it has been an absolute privilege to watch you grow into a sublime ballerina on the ice and an exemplary person off the ice.  Even though you have faced enormous pressure, encountered numerous difficulties, and received lots of criticism, you were always gracious, and you never complained.  Your constant desire to strive to be better, to challenge yourself, and to aim not just for medals but for your vision of a perfect performance—these were all an inspiration for me.          Over the next two days, I hope that you skate the short and long program of your dreams and walk away with a gold medal!     

To the members of this forum—it has been a privilege and a pleasure to share Mao’s journey with you.   I have always felt that the fans on this forum are some of the most welcoming, warm-hearted, and thoughtful fans in the world—a true reflection of Mao herself!   

**
After watching those practice clips, I can't help but think, gee, I've really missed the loop combos!  I love how Mao just pops up into the air immediately after completing the first jump!    

On a more serious note, although I am hoping that Mao wins, I am seriously nervous about the competition and Mao’s chances.      When I looked at the starting order and saw that Mao will be skating last, my heart started hammering!      

I do believe, however, that since Mao is skating last, if she skates clean and nails the triple axel, she can set a new world record score in the short program.     Her “Nocturne” SP is just a masterpiece, and I do think the judges will reward it if she skates it perfectly!   

However, I do feel like Yulia has the momentum, and she has the home crowd advantage, and she has been skating very cleanly.  And Yuna just seems to know how to be perfect in the major competitions.  But if everyone is thinking that the gold medal fight is between Yuna and Yulia, then I do think Mao can sneak in there and take the gold if they mess up and she skates clean.

So c’mon Mao, find that fighting spirit, that “semeru kimochi,” and go out and make up for that mistake you made in the team competition by skating perfectly.  Go Mao!!      

Tomorrow I may not be able to comment on the forum during the competition, but I will be watching it live and hoping and praying for Mao!!  

Welcome back Batsuchan   

chapis wrote:

Welcome back Batsuchan   

Thanks chapis!    NBC had a mini ladies event preview, and they named Yuna, Mao and Yulia as the gold medal contenders.  They also showed Mao landing a beauty of a triple axel!  

Welcome back, Batsuchan!

I am wondering right now why I am not as nervous as I thought I would be... I hope it's a sign of good things to come for Mao.

Welcome back batsuchan!
And thanks for the wonderful post!   

roma wrote:

Welcome back, Batsuchan!

I am wondering right now why I am not as nervous as I thought I would be... I hope it's a sign of good things to come for Mao.

You should tell me your secret roma! I might not be able to sleep because I am too nervous for our girl.  

klarification wrote:

Welcome back batsuchan!
And thanks for the wonderful post!   

roma wrote:

Welcome back, Batsuchan!

I am wondering right now why I am not as nervous as I thought I would be... I hope it's a sign of good things to come for Mao.

You should tell me your secret roma! I might not be able to sleep because I am too nervous for our girl.  

Klarification, maybe because I am code tracing right now. My mind is focused on finishing this so I can go home on time and concentrate on the ladies later. haha.

NEW FORUM!!! I was nervous a few days ago, but now, I feel calmer. In all honesty, as long as Mao is happy, I'm happy.

PochinkoPotanko wrote:

Sorry people, I'm a bitch so I actually want Mao to win gold in whatever way possible.
Don't get me wrong, of course I want her to have 2 fantastic skates, and I do believe she can do it.
But even if things turn out like the mens event, I'd be totally fine with Mao winning in the same sort of way Yuzu did. She's already said that she hopes to bring home OGM if she can, which means she's got her competitor spirit back in shape again. She will be skating to give the best performances of her life, but at the same time, she will be skating for the win and if she skates 2 clean pros, logically there is no way she can lose provided the judges score fairly.

So I am going to save the 'I'm okay since Mao seems happy even though she didn't win' attitude only for after the entire event is over. Until then, I am going to stick to believing she can perform great and win, cause I'm sure that's exactly what Mao is trying hard to believe in right now.

I've been nervous since yesterday, I'm terrified to watch the ladies' event, but I know that's precisely because I believe Mao has much a chance for OGM as any other skater this time, unlike Vancouver Olys. Back then I already knew they'd never give Mao anything higher than silver, so I wasn't as nervous as I am now, and all I hoped was for her to be able to be satisfied with her skate and be able to smile in the end. But we can hope for a hell of a lot more this time. So if any of you are a nervous wreck as I am now, consider yourselves living proof that Mao has a good chance for OGM this time.  

It's all up to her now. All we can do is pray and hope her best so let's do that well.  

I understand how you feel. I suddenly started having the tinniest of nervous break downs. I honestly don't know how I will make it through tomorrow because I will be at work during the time of the last 3 groups. Since I am in the pacific time zone I will have to wait a good 10+ hours until I can watch NBC coverage.   (me all day tomorrow). I will be staying away from all forms of technology and social media because I don't think I will be able to concentrate if I know the results good or bad.

Asada_Rising wrote:

I understand how you feel. I suddenly started having the tinniest of nervous break downs. I honestly don't know how I will make it through tomorrow because I will be at work during the time of the last 3 groups. Since I am in the pacific time zone I will have to wait a good 10+ hours until I can watch NBC coverage.   (me all day tomorrow). I will be staying away from all forms of technology and social media because I don't think I will be able to concentrate if I know the results good or bad.

I was like this in Vancouver. Since I was at work I resisted the urge to check social media and news sites. Pretty tough thing to do when you're in the IT department but managed to do it. And then when I got home my friend spoiled it all for me...   

I just hope we'll have better results this time. I just want Mao to be able to give the skates she wanted.

The Olympics, how it affects my heart each time.

I'm so glad to hear from our veteran members, welcome back chineseteacup and batsuchan

It's so great having this forum to share this special moment with and have a team behind Mao to cheer for her!

Go Mao!!! I believe in you, skate like you want to, you can do it!!!   

I can't believe tomorrow we'll get to know, who will be olympic champion. I'm so nervous!   
I hope she will do everything she planned, especially today, in SP. GO MAO!!!   

Finally the Big Day! Mao you can do it, we trust you    
Good luck to all the ladies 

dress of luck!

She fully rotated her 3A in this SP dress at Skate America. Two footed but fully rotated.

I really really appreciate this dress now...previously I liked the 2nd dress better, but looking at this dress now, it's really beautiful!

It's getting so close to crunch time.....I know Mao can bring the house down with her ethereal skating.

I'm just hoping she can bring to competition what we see in the practices, that beautiful 3A!

Batsuchan, it's great to see you again!

I know Mao can do this. Just show us what you can do, girl!  

Mao's practice today. She looks sharp.
2/19 every浅田真央　(Mao Asada)　直前練習映像
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76NeC-sM0jc

☆Genie wrote:

Mao's practice today. She looks sharp.
2/19 every浅田真央　(Mao Asada)　直前練習映像
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76NeC-sM0jc

wow that was beautiful     

zarinaballerina wrote:

klarification wrote:

chapis wrote:

Someone know what say this article
http://sochi.headlines.yahoo.co.jp/sochi/hl?a=20140218-00000039-cnippou-kr
In golden skate someone said that Cinquata show his supoort ot something like this to Yuna. I knew it, Yuna = money  

Don't let it bother you. Real statement or not, even Speedy knows that the skaters have to deliver a worthy performance first. And frankly, I'm more worried about Mao's order. She has the potential to close the night with a bang, but she'll have to sleep at like, what, 1AM? Then there's the doping tests, press conference, practice, etc. I really hate the scheduling of events this Olympics!  

I think the doping is being done after the entire event. So after the LP, not SP. there are random tests being performed on random athlestes, but if she were tested it would've happened today at the latest.

Hmm... I don't want to disappoint but Peter Liebers complained on German TV that after he skated in the last group in SP he had to got to the doping control and was in bed at 2.30am or something like this... And they have to get up quite early on the next day for practice so he admitted that he was really tired and thought that could be a reason why the Men FS was such a splatfest!

Batsuchan wrote:

Well, I haven’t been here for a very, very long time, but on the eve of the ladies’ short program, I thought I would drop by and wish Mao good luck!   

Mao-chan, I first saw you when you were an adorable 15-year old wunderkind who brought such infectious joy to the ice.     Since then, it has been an absolute privilege to watch you grow into a sublime ballerina on the ice and an exemplary person off the ice.  Even though you have faced enormous pressure, encountered numerous difficulties, and received lots of criticism, you were always gracious, and you never complained.  Your constant desire to strive to be better, to challenge yourself, and to aim not just for medals but for your vision of a perfect performance—these were all an inspiration for me.          Over the next two days, I hope that you skate the short and long program of your dreams and walk away with a gold medal!     

To the members of this forum—it has been a privilege and a pleasure to share Mao’s journey with you.   I have always felt that the fans on this forum are some of the most welcoming, warm-hearted, and thoughtful fans in the world—a true reflection of Mao herself!   

**
After watching those practice clips, I can't help but think, gee, I've really missed the loop combos!  I love how Mao just pops up into the air immediately after completing the first jump!    

On a more serious note, although I am hoping that Mao wins, I am seriously nervous about the competition and Mao’s chances.      When I looked at the starting order and saw that Mao will be skating last, my heart started hammering!      

I do believe, however, that since Mao is skating last, if she skates clean and nails the triple axel, she can set a new world record score in the short program.     Her “Nocturne” SP is just a masterpiece, and I do think the judges will reward it if she skates it perfectly!   

However, I do feel like Yulia has the momentum, and she has the home crowd advantage, and she has been skating very cleanly.  And Yuna just seems to know how to be perfect in the major competitions.  But if everyone is thinking that the gold medal fight is between Yuna and Yulia, then I do think Mao can sneak in there and take the gold if they mess up and she skates clean.

So c’mon Mao, find that fighting spirit, that “semeru kimochi,” and go out and make up for that mistake you made in the team competition by skating perfectly.  Go Mao!!      

Tomorrow I may not be able to comment on the forum during the competition, but I will be watching it live and hoping and praying for Mao!!  

Welcome back, Batsuchan!   
I absolutely agree with you on members of this forum. You guys are trully the best!   

I like it that Mao is skating after everyone, because like you said, if she'll hit, they will give it to her, if she skated in Yulia's place, there would be a good chance, that the judges would hold her back.

The thing about Yulia, yes she has the momentum, but Adelina hasn't competed at the team event, and Russian Fed prefers Adelina. So it's going to be interesting what will happen, if both of them hit. My bet, they will place Adelina ahead of Yulia.

Again, thanx everyone for posting the links, pics...  Mao looks so amazing.    let's hope she'll bring it to competition.
Go Mao, you can do it!

Hello to everyone! It's my first time to post here though I've been reading this forum for quite some time now. Like everyone else here, I'm also a big fan of Mao. I hope she will be able to execute her programs well. I admire her desire to keep challenging herself. Hope she will be happy with her performance and see her sweet smile at the end of programs.

Mao you can do it!