Mao Asada, 17, gold medalist at this year’s World Figure Skating Championships, is looking ahead to the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010. But her successful future may well depend on the new coach she is currently looking for.

At the end of February, Asada canceled her contract with Russian coach Rafael Arutunian because she reportedly had difficulty communicating with him in English. Since then, Asada has been receiving a lot of offers from professional figure skating coaches all over the world.

One source at the Japan Skating Association said, “During the World Figure Skating Championships, many coaches visited Mao to get to know her. They see a chance to become ‘the famous coach’ of a world champion as part of their career development. Some of them even offered ‘discounts’ to be her coach.”

However, Asada will not easily make the decision on the new coach. Another figure skating insider says: “Asada wants Russian Tatiana Tarasova who trained Shizuka Arakawa, gold medalist at the Turin Winter Olympic Games in 2006, to be her dedicated coach. She has trusted her since Tarasova helped choreograph her routine last summer. But Tarasova cannot be with her because she has to take care of her mother in Russia. So the two are still negotiating.”

Sports journalist Hirono Aoshima said, “Asada will have to compete with several rivals from now on, such as South Korean Kim Yona, American Mirai Nagasu and Caroline Zhang. Since mentality is often a big issue for figure skaters, the absence of a coach will affect Asada’s performance.” (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

7 Comments

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  eastokyo at 10:18 AM JST - 2nd April

  This is my big chance to be on TV. I'll just tell her whatever she wants to hear, and then sit next to her when the results are announced (^-^)v

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  greenteaonsens at 11:40 AM JST - 2nd April

  Women of Asian ethnicity are DOMINATING figure skating these days - why is that? More petite and better balance than white women?

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  romulus3 at 02:32 PM JST - 2nd April

  east, its not fair. first you have asa over for dinner after you lessons at g-com and then you coached the first スケバン刑事 and now this?? when do I get my turn? I am huge fan of this ice skating pixie.

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  Smythe at 04:10 PM JST - 2nd April

  To not sound like this is a Cdn matter. I can tell you there were two female asian teams over & competiting with the top curling teams from North American & all of Europe. By one shot the Cdn teams won gold, but the asian teams were catching he eyes of the jammed spectators with the Japanese team winning Silver medals. Looks like Asian women can do very well in many sports where height is not the main advantage point.

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  Konsta at 05:27 PM JST - 2nd April

  Please consider correcting the surname of "Tatiana Tarasov". It should be Tatiana Tarasova and not Tarasov. For reference, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatiana_Tarasova. In Russian, Tarasov is a male version of the same surname, and it may sound a little insulting for a woman to be called in that manner. I wish Mao Asada all the best. Tatiana Tarasova is definitely one of the greatest coaches out there.

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  Princeska at 03:32 PM JST - 3rd April

  Why all the famous skaters seek Russian coaches? Aren't there any good Japanese coaches?

  T greanteansens, yes, asian women are smaller and have shorter legs, which helps them jump and keep balance better. Taller and longer legged women cannot perform well. That is why Asian people have advantage in skating and gymnastics...I think at least in this sport Japan cannot say that the bigger Europeans/Africans etc have an advantage ...

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  Princeska at 03:35 PM JST - 3rd April

  I feel sorry for her coach Rafael Arutunian. He made great routines for her... it is a pity that she fell at the worlds during her tripple axel and could not show her best. Tatyana Tarasova can make great routines too but she won't teach her how to jump.

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