Yes, I know that Japan has been waiting for her to succeed with an Olympic gold medal, Japan's pride over South Korea has been riding on this wispy 19-year-old who didn't have a clue growing up that she would be holding up a nation, and who maybe thinks she should have stuck to ballet. Standing on the podium, I wonder if she was thinking that she could have been a successful ballerina in Japan -- there's no Olympics in ballet and she would have enjoyed touring with the various companies all over the world and admired for doing a triple axel on the ground. Maybe she could have even auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance, been a great choreographer, who knows what was going through her mind while receiving her medal. Probably nothing because she looked numb, gave gold medalist Yu-Na Kim a half hug and looked miserable.
My lingering thought yesterday was that Mao didn't, or couldn't, allow herself to enjoy for a moment that she won the silver, that she tried her best, and this is still a huge accomplishment for her. At least that's what it looked and felt like on the podium. Maybe she was stunned or just needed to maintain her expression to remain composed. Maybe she cried in private. If I knew her e-mail address or fax, I would have sent her a note immediately which would read, "Dear Mao, You were terrific, I enjoyed watching everything you did, and three triple axels in an Olympics is historic."
So I was very happy to see her smile at these Olympics at the exhibition gala yesterday. NBC didn't show her skate (of course not) but photos from WSJ.com and Vancouver2010.com do show a smiling Mao looking pleased and perhaps happy that this ordeal is finally over! Maybe she was celebrating that this will be one of the last times she'll have to skate to coach Tatiana Tarasova's choreography! Tarasova has choreographed all three programs for Mao this season -- the short, long and exhibition -- and they have not worked for her.
Mao is an ethereal presence on the ice -- the music for all three programs seems heavy and Mao's costumes (long sleeves, gloves, chokers) seem heavy. If Yu-Na's skating to James Bond, Mao should be thinking, "I'm skating to the Pink Panther and showing everyone how it's done!" I'm sure she has a cheeky side to her personality and can wink to the audience with the best of them. That's the Mao that was missing from the Olympics. But what do I know? I've never had millions of people watching my every move and holding me up to be the next great thing. All I know is that a smiling Mao will be the last impression I have of her, regardless of her plans for Sochi in 2014.
Although NBC didn't show Mao's exhibition, here's a YouTube link to her Cup of Russia performance. It was to Capriccio Number 24 by Niccolò Paganini.
Shame on NBC for showing only 20 minutes of the exhibitions, and scattered through a 3 hour broadcast.
Posted by: Phil Cohen | February 28, 2010 at 09:32 AM
Agreed. That was egregious, considering that Figure Skating is their biggest Winter Olympics draw.
But we've seen a lot of Mary Carillo sightseeing haven't we?
Disgraceful.
And, yes, Mao, needs to lose Tarasova, who's "my-Russian-way-or-the-highway" approach to music, dress and skating regardless of what the skater brings to the table prior, is not working for her.
Mao is a powerhouse. But she needs a different choreographer to bring out her lighter side. Tarasova has her seeming sullen.
And how about Mirai Nagasu? Amazing.
Posted by: Masquerade | February 28, 2010 at 02:11 PM
NBC's Olympic tape-delayed, half-baked Olympics coverage-especially the figure skating the Game's marquee event-was CRAPTACULAR as usual. I need to move elsewhere during the Olympic years-to Canada, or maybe Europe where the respect Olympic sports like figure skating much more.
Posted by: meg | February 28, 2010 at 06:35 PM
Hello!
I am a japanese girl and I'm fun of Mao!
I'm so happy to read your article, to know many foreigners cheer up and considerate her feelings.
Her tears are so sad but now, on TV she said she's going to forcus on next olympic game to get a gold medal.
Her charms are innocence and sweetness like an angel, so I hope her new choreographer will light up her best side than ever.
Posted by: mariko | February 28, 2010 at 06:49 PM
She's vert artistic skater,with a very high level in technique.I think she can do much more.
Posted by: Vlad | March 01, 2010 at 02:03 PM
Let's say,,, she is like "gonna-do-only-what-I-want-then-I-can-win", such a person. So I think it's kinda good for her that she couldn't reach to the top this time. But I don't blame on herself at all because she's still 19 years old. Anyway this is just my opinion. (maybe too mean)
However I noticed from her interview that she's grown up so much after the Olympics. I really hope she will get over what she needs to do and believe she can do it!
Posted by: nivea | March 17, 2010 at 12:03 PM
well even so she was very dissapointed about not winning gold, because that was her dream since she was a little girl you can even find an interview where she say's that she want's to win gold. so I totally understand that she was dissapointed, but I get to say a silver medal is a huge accomplishment, and that is only a start because there will be another olympic in 4 years and she is still only 19 years, and I really hope she then wins gold but no matter what the outcome is she has made history., and is one of the greatest skater ever if not THE BEST SKATER EVER... and I actually liked her SP and LP and EX by tatianna tarasova, but even so I still think that light music is more mao....
Posted by: mary | May 24, 2010 at 04:07 PM
Hello if anyone is interested i've made a book about the last stars on ice japan tour 2010 where there are some photos about Mao chan and others famous japanese and international skaters
http://www.blurb.com/books/1367049
Stars on Ice Japan Tour 2010 x Keigo Moriyama by Keigo Moriyama | Make Your Own Book
pls leave comments and why not, if you really like, buy it ^_^ hehhe
Posted by: keigo | June 02, 2010 at 01:37 AM