Mao, you are a legend in figure skating and made such a contribution to the sport. I really wish you had competed in the 2006 Olympics, but it wasn’t meant to be. It’s okay. You don’t need an Olympic gold medal to make a mark in the sport.
I do love everything about Mao. If I were able to do so, I would create a montage of Mao, but unfortunately there ARE a set of rules that due to copyright issues, I would leave the montage making to those who do have the permission from the athlete herself to use her photo in whatever ways possible.
This was absolutely beautiful. Stunning for her age then really. I always think Mao lost a lot of flow and grace in her skating as she grew older and tried to rework her jumps. Nowadays many of her programs almost look forced and contrived, her gestures seem mechanical and her jumps all over the place. Here she is so naturally graceful, the way Kim Yuna was later in her career. What happened?
She is naturally graceful...not just here. I am glad the skates found her. They will be true good friends forever. She is still stunning in her later years, but the choreography is more intricate to match a more experienced skater. This very polished program at age 14 is the reason she moved forward to become one of the elite Olympics skater. A legend ... in the words of Hanyu Yuzuru.
