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Sixteen
year-old Mao Asada is one of
figure skating’s brightest young stars. With her older sister Mai
(herself a champion skater) blazing her trail, Mao has ascended
through the ranks of Japanese skating at an alarming pace, held back
only by her age.
Growing up in Nagoya, home of many
excellent Japanese skaters, Mao has been developed by famed coach Machiko Yamada for several years. Landing triple Axels and stunning
triple-triple combinations in novice and junior competition since
2001, Mao had some time to develop her artistry while Japan was
sending other phenomenal junior skaters to international
competitions. The three-time junior national champion was finally
old enough to compete on the Junior Grand Prix circuit in 2004-05.
Mao won all of her competitions, and landed triple Axels at the
Junior Grand Prix Final in Helsinki and the World Junior
Championships in Kitchener, Ontario. She also placed a close second
behind Miki Ando at the Japanese senior ladies championship, ahead
of such talented veterans as Fumie Suguri and Yoshie Onda.
On the ice, Mao’s performances are
characterized by mature artistry and ballet (a personal interest) as
much as technical prowess. She is able to interpret programmatic
themes also, such as Dorothy Gayle in her “Wizard of Oz”-themed
short program. In public, Mao is outgoing and confident, and will
dutifully give interviews, pose for pictures and sign autographs for
fans for as long as is necessary.
The Japanese Skating Federation allowed Mao to compete on the Senior
Grand Prix tour last year,
although she was too young under ISU regulations to compete in the
Olympics and World Championships. She had a brilliant season,
winning Trophée Eric Bompard, and the Grand Prix Final in a field
that included defending world senior champion Irina Slutskaya.
At the Japan nationals, Mao became the first female skater ever to
perform two triple Axels in competition en route to a silver medal.
Although she finished the season with a slight disappointment,
failing to defend her world junior title, she was still considered a
favorite to win the 2007 World Championships in her native Japan.
Your webmasters have met
her in person and are enthusiastic to see where her
already-successful skating career takes her. No doubt, she is
the rarest of talents.
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