Mao Asada announces her retirement from competition (share your favorite memories here!)

Aerobicidal said:
My avatar, among many other things, probably disqualifies me from establishing ethos in this matter, but I still think she's the classiest skater of the past ten years.
Click to expand...

One of the things I admire in her is the way she handled the hardships and losses in her career. I don't remember ever reading her bitching about the results or making excuses. She seemed to handle those moments with class.
 
I remmeber tiny Mao skating to Czardas in the FS at one of her first worlds (She was with Raf). She was so full of spark and fun and skating brilliantly. It must have been a dull and let down last group of ladiezzzz, as I remember Mao finally lighting the arena (and me) up and before her last jump, I screamed to the TV: "Now don't you sit down!!!" (As opposed to everyone else:lol:) She didn't, and I believe she won silver.

Apart from her amazing free skate in Sochi, I will always remember her Ladies in lavender SP. That was equisite. That step seq...awwww

Mao:respec:
I will really miss her, she sure is legend. She did so much for the sport, and for Japanese skating.
 
Truly a legend who was as gracious off the ice as she was graceful on the ice. She has done so much for the sport, especially in Japan, and we've been lucky to see so many wonderful performances from her. I wish her all the best in this next stage.
 
Enchanted said:
One of the things I admire in her is the way she handled the hardships and losses in her career. I don't remember ever reading her bitching about the results or making excuses. She seemed to handle those moments with class.
Click to expand...

She handled them with class because that's who she is. She is my favorite lady in the current era and it has been a privilege and pleasure to watch her compete all these years. I will truly miss seeing her at competitions but hopefully there will be you tubes of her exhibitions.
Good luck Mao.
 
Oh I can't help it but Im soooo sad. Having that said Thank you, thank you Mao, for sharing with us your fantastic artistry ❤️
Mao is a true legend.Her performance at the Sochi OG the FP I will never forget or the FP to Madame Butterfly oh there are so many great memories.
Good luck Mao with everything!
 
I was hoping this was an old April fool's joke. It makes me so sad. I hate to see the great Mao, with the amazing three programs (including the Bach ex) she put out this year, felled by injury and unable to get back to the Olympics. Regardless of results, I think of her two skates in Sochi as one epic battle concentrated into 7 minutes, with Mao finally conquering. The medalists were anticlimactic. A Japanese skating official tried to make a scapegoat of Mao after the SP, but nothing could tarnish the love of Japanese fans for her.

What a wonderful body of work she has given us, thanks especially to her partnership with Lori. Her medals don't tell the story of her grace, heart and determination. She is in the skating pantheon.
 
Im so Sad.. My skating fandom basically has grew up with Mao. I started watching obsessively since the days she was a tiny little thing beating Slutskaya and Arakawa at the 2005 GPF.

That said, it its the right decission. She's no longer in her prime and with only 2 spots its honorable to step aside and leave the new generations fight for them.
 
I read this announcement and thread with mixed emotions. Happy for Mao to seek new challenges but so sad for all of us. She is a total gem and I am going to miss her on the competitive scene. I wish her the best of everything life has to offer!
 
Not all unexpected but sad news, anyway

I had the pleasure/honour to watch Mao skating live only once: at Ice Legends 2016. And she was just breathtaking emotions on the ice.

Domo Arigato, Mao-chan. Be for ever blessed in your future life with all the joy and love you always poured on ice for the delight of all figure skating lovers.
 
I feel so sad for Mao! In most other countries she would still be competing at the world level. She has been through so many challenges, and not just skating related. It seems not making the world team this year, and with younger skaters coming up in Japan, she must have felt really discouraged, but she is wise enough to know when her heart is not in it. So this must be the right decision for her. I wish her a happy life, on and off the ice.

I saw her skate live just twice- 2009 worlds (LA) and 2016 worlds (Boston). Even though she didn't medal at either event, she was wonderful to watch. At the 2016 worlds she received a big ovation after her Madama Butterfly LP. Such an artist!

I am really going to miss her. Of course she will skate in shows and display her wonderful artistry, so we will still see her, but the competition-Mao won't be around. This feels like the end of an era.
 
Last edited:
It's always sad to see a brilliant athlete call an end to their career but Mao has been such an ambassador for her sport I've no doubt her accomplishments will inspire countless others to follow in her footsteps. I've loved watching every minute of her time on the ice and wish her nothing but success and fulfillment in her future plans. ❤️❤️
 
I've been watching figure skating since forever and I have loved and appreciated many skaters, but Mao is the only one I've ever been a real fan of.
I remember my crazy trip to Japan, flying to the other side of the world just to see her skate live.
I remember hiding behind the couch, being barely able to watch her skate live on TV, so as not to bring her bad luck.
I remember how ecstatic I was, jumping for joy when she was doing well and how profoundly affected I was by her struggles.

She has been an inspiration and an important part of my life for more than 10 years.

I also think she has been one of the most unfairly treated skaters in recent times, but she has never been the one to complain about it and so I will try to follow her example. Not only in this comment but in my life in general.
I only wish I had half of her class and courage when it comes to dealing with whatever life brings.

So many precious memories never to be forgotten.
May God bless Mao-chan in whatever she decides to do.
 
Thank you very much to everyone here who provided translations for Mao's retirement announcement! :respec:

Sniff... Still don't want to believe it.

Asada could have won the 2006 Olympics if it hadn't been for the age rule.

Thanks for the memories lovely Mao! :wuzrobbed And take a bow on an AWESOME career! :encore:

Ot but Mao deserves her own emoticon. Just saying. :D
 
I remember seeing little Mao at an Exhibition at NHK Trophy (probably in 2003) and then at her very first Junior Grand Prix 2004 in Long Beach (USA), where she did her triple Axel and I did a little interview with her with the help of Lucinda Ruh. So much has happened since then and Mao had long and successful career with highs and lows. I wish her now the very best for her future as a show skater.
 
Mao is my favorite Japanese lady skater of all time, my favorite eligible lady since Michelle Kwan retired, and a brilliant athlete and artist who embodies every possible meaning of the word "grace." I wish she had been age-eligible in 2006 for the Olympics and Worlds. My heart broke for her in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. Unlike most FSU-ers I absolutely adored her 2010 SP (Masquerade Waltz) and 2014 (Bells of Moscow) musical choices. She also is to be commended on having the humility to go back to square one with her technique with Mr. Sato. Here's to Mao Asada - may all that she does in the future be as great as what's she's already done.
 
I got to see Mao skate live at the 2005 junior worlds where she landed a beautiful triple axel. For me her Sochi free skate after being out of medal contention is my favourite performance of hers. And her free skate at the Japan Open in her comeback season. Wow those were amazing skates.
 
Mao has truly been the epitome of loveliness and grace on and off the ice her entire career. I'm incredibly sad to hear this news, understandable as it may be.

I've been lucky enough to see her live at two Worlds (2012, 2016) and two Skate Americas (2013, 2016). She won Skate America in 2013 with those two beautiful Chopin and Rachmaninov programs, but another tiny moment stuck out to me. During one of the practices, I was sitting close to the tunnel where the skaters entered and exited. As she was getting off the ice, she graciously signed autographs for many fans. Awhile after she left, someone from the Japanese team came by and asked if anyone was missing their marker. Apparently Mao had accidentally taken the pen with her and wanted to apologize and make sure it was returned to its owner. Such a small thing and yet so symbolic of her kindness and attention to detail.

Even if we won't be seeing her compete any longer, I am heartened by the fact that some of her most memorable programs in recent years has been her exhibition programs and hope that there will be many more of those to look forward to in the future!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

Sylvia
Laura Lepistö's autobiography published April 2024 in Finland
Replies
6
Views
4K
Frau Muller
Frau Muller
Sylvia
Figure skater & team retirement announcements in 2021-22
3 4 5
Replies
148
Views
42K
sus2850
sus2850
Sylvia
Vivien Papp's decision to split from the Hungarian federation
2
Replies
45
Views
13K
Sylvia
Sylvia
Sylvia
Ice dancer Anastasia Shpilevaya's interview about her forced early retirement & new coaching life
Replies
4
Views
2K
Bigbird
Bigbird
K
Elena Radionova announces her retirement: “I gave it all”
2
Replies
41
Views
17K
Coco
Coco
Back
Top
Do Not Sell My Personal Information