The Japanese figure skater Mao Asada got her name in honor of the famous actress Mao Daichi. The athlete became a star immediately after the release of the Grand Prix among juniors in 2004. In 2010, at the Olympics, the six-time Japanese champion and three-time world champion became the first woman in the history of figure skating to perform the triple axel three times in some competitions.
The compatriot of the famous figure skater Midori Ino returned popularity to her beloved sport in Japan for many years. She was never afraid to take risks, striving for new achievements. The athlete did not despair even after she did not go to the Olympics in Turin in age, although she won the 2005 Grand Prix.
The path to recognition
The biography of the future star began in 1990. The baby was born in the city of Nagoya on September 25. She was the youngest in the family. Together with her older sister, the baby was fond of ballet from an early age. The teachers recommended that parents work on strengthening the ankle joint of their daughters.
Since Mai, the eldest girl, was already in figure skating, the youngest soon joined her. Mao's coach was Midori's mentor Ino Machiko Yamada. Assada immediately showed great potential. Along with the amazing ability to work, the baby had excellent data.
She began her studies at Nagoya International School. After finishing the first grade, the student moved to Takabari Elementary School, which she graduated from and continued her education at Takabaridai Junior High. Completion of the school course provided the graduate with the opportunity to enter Chukyo University.
Mao competed for the first time in the national rookie championship in the 2002-2003 season. The girl won the championship, having received an invitation to the national championship among juniors. There, the aspiring skater became the fourth. Assad won its first international competition Mladost Trophy.
The promising athlete was allowed to compete in the adult championship. On it, she showed the eighth result.
First achievements
In 2004-2005, Mao participated only in competitions among juniors. After winning two stages of the Grand Prix, there was a triumphant victory in the championship, victory in the national championship and admission to the national team.
The talented athlete was invited to the adult tournament of the country. The girl became the second on it. The young figure skater was not taken to the world competitions among adults because of her age. However, she managed to win the Junior World Championships in Canada. At the world championship, Assada made her debut in the adult category in 2006-2007. The athlete in Tokyo won the first of her world awards, a silver one.
At the competition, for the first time in history, Mao performed a triple axel in the short program. Mao won bronze at the first stage of Skate America 2006. She skated, losing to her rivals. A good result was the winning of the new stage of the NHK Trophy with a world record for the sum of both programs.
Mao intended to defend the title of the winner in the Grand Prix final. However, the girl took the fourth place. After the defeat, there was a new takeoff, a win in Japan. After the short program, the figure skater was fifth in the championship, but managed to win the free program, setting the world record again. Nobody managed to surpass it on points for more than six months.
New Achievements
For the first time in 2007-2008, the athlete performed at the Skate Canada stage, winning the tournament. Trophée Eric Bompard was also victorious. The next national championship was also successful. At the championship of four continents on March 20, 2008, both programs took the athlete to the second position. However, the result after the annoying drop was the third place.
In 2008, in Swedish Gothenburg, Mao became the world champion for the first time. The triple axel became the trademark of the Japanese star. The press was anticipating a rivalry between the unevenly performing celebrity and the consistently performing Korean figure skater Kim in 2010.
In the 2009-2010 season, Mao qualified for the Grand Prix finals. She performed two triple axels in one program. As the reigning champion, Siege appeared at the Four Continents Championship in Vancouver. In the last tournament of the season, she scored a record number of points, becoming the best among women.
The athlete prepared for the championship without a coach herself. The athlete was in the lead in the free program and in total. In the short program in 2009-2010, Mao took gold. At the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the Siege for completing three triple axels in one competition was included in the Guinness Book of Records. The result of the competition was silver.
She was again the first at the World Championships. The skater decided to start training under the guidance of Tatyana Tarasova. At the NHK Trophy, the famous coach created a short program for the star "Scheherazade" as a choreographer. The celebrity won the Rostelecom Cup, the national championship. The joint activity ended in 2010.
Among the contenders for victory in Sochi-2014, Assada's name was among the favorites. However, an unsuccessful performance did not bring any prizes. But immediately after the loss, the athlete brilliantly confirmed her leadership, for the third time the best in the world. Mao announced that she would skip the 2014-2015 season. During this period, the athlete performed only in commercial projects.
Completion of a career
She returned after qualifying for the 2015-2016 Grand Prix finals. Due to injuries, they had to refuse to participate in 2016-2017. For a decade, the star has not left its place on the list of the best figure skaters in the world. The celebrity announced her retirement in April 2017.
Mao decided to continue skating, participating in ice shows. With a group of skaters, the athlete began a tour of the country. In his show, Asada performed not only group numbers, but also 10 solo numbers. The celebrity admitted that she skated daily, and she began to train even more than before. However, the schedule finally allowed her to relax at home and do other creativity.
Assada rejoiced at the lack of restrictions. She tried her hand at ice hockey and boxing, organized a TV program. In it, she also works as a presenter.
Mao continues to follow his favorite sport and its development. She is confident that the programs will become more and more complex due to the increase in the level of skiing.
The athlete prefers not to tell anyone about her personal life. The star is sure: her husband and children should not be at the sight of cameras.
