The Japanese figure skater Mao Asada received her name in honor of the famous actress Mao Daiti. The athlete became a star immediately after the release of the Junior Grand Prix in 2004. In 2010 at the Olympics, the six-time champion of Japan and the three-time world champion became the first woman in the history of figure skating to perform the triple axel three times in one competition.
The compatriot of the famous skater Midori Ino returned in Japan her favorite sport for many years. She was never afraid to take risks, striving for new achievements. The athlete did not despair even after she did not pass the age at the Olympics in Turin, although she won the 2005 Grand Prix.
Path to recognition
The biography of the future star began in 1990. A child was born in the city of Nagoya on September 25. In the family, she was the youngest. Together with her older sister, the baby was fond of ballet from an early age. Teachers advised parents to work on strengthening the ankle joint of their daughters.
Since May, the oldest girl, was already engaged in figure skating, the youngest soon joined her. The coach of Mao was Midori's mentor Ino Machiko Yamada. Assad immediately showed great potential. Along with an amazing ability to work, the baby had excellent data.
She began her studies at Nagoya International School. After graduating from first grade, the student moved to Takabari Elementary School, which she graduated from and continued her education at Takabaridai Junior High. The completion of the school course provided the graduate with the opportunity to enter the University of Chukyo University.
Mao first performed at the national rookie championship in the 2002-2003 season. The girl won the championship by receiving an invitation to the national championship among juniors. There, the beginning skater became the fourth. Assad won her first international Mladost Trophy competition.
A 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 the two stages of the Grand Prix, there was a triumphant victory in the championship, a victory in the national championship and enrollment in the national team.
A talented athlete was invited to an adult tournament in the country. On it, the girl became the second. The young figure skater was not taken to world competitions among adults because of age. However, she managed to win the junior world championship in Canada. At the world championship, Assad made her debut in the adult category in 2006-2007. The athlete in Tokyo won the first of her world awards, silver.
For the first time in history, Mao performed the triple axel in a short program. Mao received bronze at the first stage of Skate America 2006. She skated, losing to her rivals. A good result was winning the new NHK Trophy stage with a world record for the sum of both programs.
Mao intended to defend the title of winner in the Grand Prix finals. However, the girl took fourth place. After the defeat, there was a new take-off, a win in Japan. After a short program, the figure skater was fifth in the championship, but managed to win a free program, again setting a world record. No one was able to surpass her in 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 brought the athlete to the second position. However, the result after an unfortunate fall was third place.
In 2008, in the Swedish Gothenburg, Mao first became the world champion. The trademark of the Japanese star was the triple axel. The press was looking forward to the rivalry of an unevenly performing celebrity and always showing stable results for Korean figure skater Kim in 2010.
In the 2009-2010 season, Mao entered the Grand Prix finals. She completed two triple axels in one program. As a reigning champion, the Siege appeared in the championship of four continents in Vancouver. In the last tournament of the season, she scored a record number of points, becoming the best among women.
The athlete was preparing for the championship without a coach, herself. The athlete was the leader in the free program and in the total amount. In the short program in 2009-2010, Mao took the gold. At the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the siege for the performance of three triple axels in one competition is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The result of the competition was silver.
Again she was the first at the World Cup. The skater decided to start training under the leadership of Tatyana Tarasova. At the NHK Trophy, the famous coach created the short program of the Scheherazade star as a choreographer. The celebrity "Rostelecom Cup" won the national championship. The joint activity ended in 2010.
Among the contenders for the victory in Sochi-2014, the name of Assad was listed among the favorites. However, an unsuccessful performance did not bring prizes. But immediately after the loss, the athlete brilliantly confirmed leadership, the third time the best in the world. Mao announced the skipping season 2014-2015. In this period, the athlete performed only in commercial projects.
