Good form

Good form? Didnt she finish in something like 6th place?

@Yubaru: i think this picture is in Good Form :)

Mao Asada won the bronze medal, and said she was satisfied with her performance.

Congratulations on your bronze medal, Mao.

Mao. Doesn't do it for me. I'd rather see the advertising in the background, or the gold medal winner KIM YUNA hot hot hot. A picture of her melting the ice would be fine.

My bad, 3rd place. Personally speaking Mao gets way too much press coverage and the media puts too much pressure on her to perform. There are plenty of other skaters out there that do just as well at times if not better than her but get little coverage.

I think a few photos from all angles wouls have captured her form way better.

Yubaru: agreed. One of the reasons I knock her so much is because she, like Takahashi, Honda, and other 'golden boys' (girls) chosen by the media for some reason are WAY over-hyped and often fail to live up to said hype. Her costume is hideous as well.

WAY over-hyped and often fail to live up to said hype.

She won a silver medal at the Olympics and consistently finishes high in other competitions. Still not good enough hey.

Her costume is hideous as well.

Agreed. Needs to fire her costume manager, song selector, and whoever teachers her those bizarre, almost childish moves.

Actually, this photo was taken from an exhibition for the top skaters.

Daijiboots: her skill is just fine--it's the media. I mean, while Mao was bombing constantly and her fellow skaters Murakami and... The one marrying her Russian coach... were winning they were still being relegated to nicknames like "mini-Mao" and what not. As I said above, this is a big problem here. When Murakami was third after the opening skate she got a by-line while Mao's sixth place finish that day got more attention.

Yes well when they win a silver or gold medal at the Olympics and perform consistently over a long period, then you might have a valid claim. Unfortunately it will become invalid as they too will be then hyped by the media. Undeservedly, you would say.

When Murakami was third after the opening skate she got a by-line while Mao's sixth place finish that day got more attention

And who finished on the podium and who didn't?

I like she is called Mao. also she is pretty and good. Most skaters costumes lack taste, but the women still look good in them.

If everyone stopped and took a look at her media created "rival", Kim from SK, Kim's performances on ice are more artistic, creative, and there is more showmanship than with Mao. Seems to me Mao's coaches and handlers could do a better job of how she presents herself on the ice.

Well smithinjapan, who finished on the podium and who didn't?

Daijoboots: "Well smithinjapan, who finished on the podium and who didn't?"

If you followed the J-media, you'd think only Mao finished on the podium -- not the first and second place athletes. Probably not the answer you wanted, but it doesn't change the fact that you yourself admit the media here is a joke when it comes to coverage. But hey, show me a link to where we've seen ONE picture of the second place finisher, my friend. We've seen Mao twice, when she creamed everyone the first day and continued flawless to win on this day, and now we've seen the 6th place contestant gone third. How about the second place finisher if you want to talk about how the media is not biased? :)

I still remember back when I used to bother trying to watch the news; stories of terrorists attacks here and there would get a few minutes while excuses as to why Ichiro couldn't get a base hit that day in the MLB (back when he started in Seattle, for example) would get up to 20 minutes ("The MLB strike zone is different!!! He's not used to it!!!").

Yubaru: "Seems to me Mao's coaches and handlers could do a better job of how she presents herself on the ice."

Yes and no. A coach is an integral part of what the athlete becomes, especially when that athlete is young and developing, but they are by no means the ultimate factor in how an athlete performs. Look at Kim as a perfect example; there is NO doubt she developed under her former coach Orser, but she's still winning under new coaches. Mao, on the other hand, who has had the media blame coaches and has changed numerous times (and rumors abounded she would go to Orser, in fact), is still not beating Kim when they perform together. She does need better coaching, but she also needs more confidence in general -- she is ultimately in charge of how well or how badly she does.

Well, Daijoboots, where's the picture of only the second place finisher, my friend? Suddenly you clam up and just thumb everyone down? Is she holding an umbrella like Mao? A ridiculous costume? You would never know because you can never see it. I'm glad you agree with me.