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Asian skaters among front-runners for gold
Source: Agencies |
February 24, 2010, Wednesday
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KIM Yu-na of South Korea bears the weight alone. For Mao Asada and Miki Ando of Japan, the responsibility is shared. All three skaters enter the short program at the Vancouver Olympics carrying the weight of their nations, because nothing less than a gold medal will do.
Asian women dominated the last three women's world championships. Now comes the really big show.
Current world champion Kim is favored. Asada, the 2008 world champion and rare female master of the triple axel, is Kim's chief rival. Ando, the 2007 world winner, has had a strong season and has Olympic experience.
"She knows there's pressure and it's understandable," said Brian Orser, Kim's coach and a two-time Olympic silver medalist himself. "She knows she has a huge fan base in South Korea and a growing one around the world. They adore her and want her to do well. She's been able to sort of acknowledge that.
"She loves skating and competing and she's doing it for the right reasons."
Kim's motivations might be different from the interests back home, though. To some Koreans, the gold is a foregone conclusion, a dangerous approach considering the last Olympic favorite to win the women's title was Oksana Baiul in 1994. Kim is the most overwhelming choice for gold since Katarina Witt in 1988.
But Orser doesn't seem concerned about outside expectations, and he's pleased with Kim's practices in Vancouver.
"Having confidence in what you do on the ice and being able to do your best, there's a comfort in that," he said.
Asada was a disappointing fourth at last year's worlds and didn't even make the Grand Prix final, which Kim won over Ando. But Asada rebounded to win her fourth Japanese title.
When Asada is on, she's an elegant skater, and the triple axel that virtually no other women attempts could be decisive. Not surprisingly, that jump is always the first thing Asada is asked about.
"As for the triple axel, I have that once in the short and twice in the long program, and I've prepared those, practiced for those," Asada said. "I hope to challenge myself and (do) those."
But Canada's Joannie Rochette has, by far, the heaviest burden. Rochette will compete just two days after her mother died.
The 55-year-old Therese Rochette arrived here on Saturday to watch her daughter, the reigning world silver medalist, compete in her second games. But Therese Rochette suffered a massive heart attack that night.
Joannie Rochette plans to compete and was at practices on Sunday and Monday.
"I think for Joannie, being able to stick with her plan of practicing and competing is giving her some stability in an otherwise uncertain time in her life," Skate Canada CEO William Thompson said.
Asian women dominated the last three women's world championships. Now comes the really big show.
Current world champion Kim is favored. Asada, the 2008 world champion and rare female master of the triple axel, is Kim's chief rival. Ando, the 2007 world winner, has had a strong season and has Olympic experience.
"She knows there's pressure and it's understandable," said Brian Orser, Kim's coach and a two-time Olympic silver medalist himself. "She knows she has a huge fan base in South Korea and a growing one around the world. They adore her and want her to do well. She's been able to sort of acknowledge that.
"She loves skating and competing and she's doing it for the right reasons."
Kim's motivations might be different from the interests back home, though. To some Koreans, the gold is a foregone conclusion, a dangerous approach considering the last Olympic favorite to win the women's title was Oksana Baiul in 1994. Kim is the most overwhelming choice for gold since Katarina Witt in 1988.
But Orser doesn't seem concerned about outside expectations, and he's pleased with Kim's practices in Vancouver.
"Having confidence in what you do on the ice and being able to do your best, there's a comfort in that," he said.
Asada was a disappointing fourth at last year's worlds and didn't even make the Grand Prix final, which Kim won over Ando. But Asada rebounded to win her fourth Japanese title.
When Asada is on, she's an elegant skater, and the triple axel that virtually no other women attempts could be decisive. Not surprisingly, that jump is always the first thing Asada is asked about.
"As for the triple axel, I have that once in the short and twice in the long program, and I've prepared those, practiced for those," Asada said. "I hope to challenge myself and (do) those."
But Canada's Joannie Rochette has, by far, the heaviest burden. Rochette will compete just two days after her mother died.
The 55-year-old Therese Rochette arrived here on Saturday to watch her daughter, the reigning world silver medalist, compete in her second games. But Therese Rochette suffered a massive heart attack that night.
Joannie Rochette plans to compete and was at practices on Sunday and Monday.
"I think for Joannie, being able to stick with her plan of practicing and competing is giving her some stability in an otherwise uncertain time in her life," Skate Canada CEO William Thompson said.
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