THANKS A LOT TO BATSUCHAN FROM BALLERINA ON ICE FOR THE TRANSLATION!!

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/feature/figure/fi20090508_01.htm?from=yolsp

Mao: The thoughts about the Olympics that she shared with her sister
The agonizing World Championships / She doesn't want to waste her dream opportunity

Mao Asada (Chuukyou University), who is expected to win a medal at next year's Vancouver Olympics. Last season, at the Grand Prix Final she became the first woman to successfully land two triple axels and won the competition, but at the World Championships, she finished 4th. Her older sister, figure skater Mai Asada (Chuukyou University) asked her about her current state of mind and her thoughts about the Olympics in this interview.

Mai: Last season, what was your happiest competition, and what was your most painful competition?

Mao: The happiest was the Grand Prix Final, and the most painful was Worlds. Isn’t that what you expected?

Mai: It’s what I expected. Were you nervous because it was the World Championships before the Olympics?

Mao: No, that’s not it. As it turned out, somewhere inside I was thinking about winning consecutive championships, and before Worlds, even in practice, I became extremely nervous.

Mai: Do you understand what it means to skate like yourself?

Mao: At the World Team Trophy (after the World Championships), I guess I skated like myself. I was able to give a skate that advanced me forward [ie, I improved]. I thought that I was able to skate freely/naturally, and even for my free program, I did not have worries like, “I wonder how this will turn out,” but I was looking forward to it. Yeah, depending on my feelings, my skating changes completely.

Mai: When you finish skating, after you take your final pose, I can definitely tell what you’re feeling from your expression.

Mao: When it’s not good, there are times when I’m mad at myself, and there are times when I feel depressed. And if there are times when I feel sad, there are also times when I am amazed.

Mai: Next season, it’s finally the Olympic season.

Mao: I think it would be good if I can try hard like I always do, and do that every day. But I’m pretty excited. Other than that, I’ll try not to get injured. Yes. That might be the most important thing now.

Mai: There’s no such thing as a skater that doesn’t get hurt. Even you have times when your knee hurts or your ankle hurts. And you practice so much. But you never say [“it hurts”].

Mao: I think that depending on what I say, I feel weak. If I talk about my weak points, then I start feeling weak, and I think I have to feel strong, so I try not to talk about them. If I think it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t hurt. To feel strong, I don’t talk [about my weak points].

Mai: The Olympics--I think you can’t aim for it half-heartedly. You set everything else aside and are trying your best for skating, after all.

Mao: The Olympics were my dream from when I was little, and I do want to go. And after all, (now) it looks like I’ll be able to go, doesn’t it? I don’t want to waste that [chance]. Because it’s the place to show everything I’ve done up to now. I absolutely don’t want to waste that [opportunity]. But Vancouver is not the end, so if I don’t do well, then after that, I’ll aim for Sochi. What happens in Vancouver (the result) is not such a big deal, I think.




http://chubu.yomiuri.co.jp/tokushu/supotomo/supotomo090508_1.htm

If she’s noticed in the school cafeteria, “I’m in trouble”
Figure skater Mao Asada

This one is a special column. Continuing with the sports-related interviews, I asked my younger sister Mao, who has been going to the same Chuukyou University as me since April, about things like her college life.

---It’s the first time I’ve gone to the same school with you since middle school. It’s really fun.

Mao: You always help me out, and I’m grateful. Because I can’t keep up with college classes at all.

---I also can’t keep up. Lining up our desks, taking the same classes – it’s strange, but it’s also refreshing.

Mao: English, biology and psychology.

---You’re really a college student now, aren’t you…

Mao: I can’t believe it. At college, I talk to your classmates [i.e. same school year] a lot.

---When you go to the school cafeteria, everyone pays attention and it must be tough. Stuff like, “Mao-chan, let me take a picture.”

Mao: It’s a little difficult.

---I like you the way you are now, but I also like the old Mao. Now you seem like an “athlete,” and your replies [in interviews] have become exemplary.

Mao: Before, I used to just obediently say whatever I was thinking. Stuff like, “I was happy, and so happy.”

---If you said that now, you’d be laughed at.

Mao: Enough already.

---As an athlete, you’ve become pretty cool. The Mao who is talking at home, and the Mao after competitions are different. Very close to me, there’s a top class athlete—somehow I can’t believe it.

Mao: Sisters are good, aren’t they? Though in the past we used to fight every day and it was tough.

---You’re more responsible/diligent, so I’m always learning from you. Rather than sisters, we’re more like best friends. We can talk about anything, and you give me the most accurate advice. If you weren’t around, I wonder what would’ve happened.

Mao: When we practice together on the same rink, it’s fun, isn’t it?

---I’m glad we did the same competitions together. Up to now, last year’s World Championships (which you won) impressed me the most. When I think that countless people around the world feel the same way, I think, “sports are great!” I’m cheering for you more than anyone else.

Mao: I know. I think that my family understands me the most, and I’m happy that many people are cheering for me. It gives me power.


Mao Asada

Born in 1990 in Nagoya. In 1995, she began skating; from 2006 she has won three consecutive Japan National Championship titles. She won the 2008 World Championships. 1.63km tall, 47 kilos [5’4”, 103lbs]

My thoughts toward Mao, number one*---after the interview

When Mao finishes a competition, she gives me a call first. Even when the results were not good, when I hear her say “It was unfortunate,” I feel like I want to listen to her story fully, and I think that Mao is cute. Even though she shows us this appearance of a tough athlete, she’s an ordinary 18-year old. This time, listening to her talk, I was impressed by how she sets a goal and knows what she has to do, and I felt like there is pressure and joy that only Mao can understand. Even if it’s just a little bit, I want to help shoulder that pressure [burden] she feels, but I don’t know how to do it.* That’s why I want to connect with Mao from the other side of the telephone. I don’t want to lose to anyone in my cheers of “Mao, try your best!”, and near Mao, as a skater, I also want to try my best.

Mai Asada

Born in 1988 in Nagoya. 20 years old. Third-year student at Chuukyou University. At age 7, she started skating with her younger sister Mao, and is active domestic and international competitions.

(2009.05.08. Yomiuri Shinbun)


THANKS A LOT TO BATSUCHAN FROM BALLERINA ON ICE FOR THE TRANSLATION!!