Mao has some words for you
Asada vows to rebound after NHK Trophy nightmare
Sunday 24th October, 04:30 AM JST
NAGOYA -
Reigning world champion Mao Asada insists she has not ‘‘fallen to pieces’’ and vowed to bounce back after a nightmare start to the Grand Prix season at the NHK Trophy.
Asada struggled throughout Friday’s short program and worse was to come on Saturday night in the free skate at Nihon Gaishi Arena, the local favorite tumbling to the ice twice and finishing with just 133.40 points, her worst score in a senior international event.
Asada finished in eighth place as Italy’s Carolina Kostner skated off with the title. Asada, who bombed the previous night in the short program, only managed to land one jump in another horror show in the free skate. Compatriot and junior world champion Kanako Murakami also made a number of costly errors but still managed to secure a spot on the medals podium on her senior debut, placing third behind Kostner and U.S. champion Rachel Flatt.
"Nothing has changed emotionally. I haven’t fallen to pieces and I am moving forward in training. Once I have enough practice under my belt I will be able to perform that in competitions,’’ said Asada.
‘‘During the off season I have been rebuilding my jumps but I haven’t perfected them. They are getting better and better but are not in my system yet and that is part of the problem.’‘
Asada came apart after botching her opening triple axel, stumbling on a triple flip-double loop before singling a triple lutz.
She then singled a double combination jump, fell again on a triple flip-double toe loop and had a shaky landing on a triple salchow before finally succeeding in her last jump-a triple loop.
‘‘I have just got to keep practicing and practicing. This event is over now. My aim is to produce a perfect performance and I am going to do my utmost to show that to the fans as soon as I can.’‘
Asada endured a slump early last season but rebounded to take the silver at the Vancouver Olympics before wresting the world title away from Olympic champion and longtime rival Kim Yu Na, who is sitting out the fall GP series to concentrate on next year’s worlds in Tokyo.
Kostner and Flatt were both sympathetic to Asada’s troubles and have hope she quickly rediscovers her form.
‘‘Unfortunately I haven’t seen her (Asada) skating but I can only hope she finds her way through it and finds the joy in skating again,’’ said Kostner.
‘‘Everybody knows that she can do the stuff. It’s not an easy situation for her as she has lot of pressure from the media. I wish her all the best to come back strong.’‘
Flatt added, ‘‘We all have rough days and unfortunately hers happened to be here. It’s a part of the sport, unfortunately. We would all like to be perfect. I am sure she will pull through and be stronger than ever.’’
TL;DR: MAO AIN'T SAD AND VOWS TO CRUSH YOU ALL
Source: http://www.japantoday.com/category/sports/view/asada-vows-to-rebound-after-nhk-trophy-nightmare
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