Asada, Abbott win gold at Grand Prix finals

Sunday 14th December, 06:20 AM JST

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7 Comments

Hotbox08 at 01:52 PM JST - 14th December

Congratulations to Mao. Nakano Yukari didn't do so well in her free skate and fell a couple of times, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway, since Mao is the only one who nailed the triple axel (twice).
bebert at 02:32 PM JST - 14th December

Poor Yu Na Kim. This is probably the one event she wanted to win more than anything - in front of her countrymen. Still, I saw a tape of Mao's free skate at an earlier event and it looked great, making me think Asada might have a chance to win against Kim - who is usually unbeatable when she is healthy. Congratulations Mao!
Fighton at 03:00 PM JST - 14th December

Too bad Mao Asada was a victim of that stupid 16 and under rule which prevented her from winning the 2006 Olympic gold.

Technically Mao was doing more difficult stunts. How many female skaters can nail a triple axel twice?? Yu Na Kim had to skate with perfection in order to beat Mao. She knew it and she crumbled, because her routine is not as tough as Mao.

This is going to be a very interesting rival between Yu na Kim and Mao Asada.
some14some at 03:24 PM JST - 14th December

Fixed, all of it!!!

Weak Won and Strong Yen played a major role, lifetime achievement for Asada !
MikeBarrymore at 05:12 PM JST - 14th December

OOoh well done to them.

Skating is so lovely. They hardly ever show it in Britain, it's not fair!!!

I like to see the men perform, i get a lovely warm feeling in my tummy. Tee! Hee!
bebert at 05:44 AM JST - 15th December

She knew it and she crumbled, because her routine is not as tough as Mao.

Let's not be too harsh on Ms. Kim. She's a brilliant, talented skater. Mao just happened to be better that day through planning her challenging program and then delivering. They are probably both equal in ability, so now they have to out fox each other in each and every event between now and the 2010 Olympics.

I really thought a couple of the up and comers from the American Junior leagues (Nagisa, etc) would be Olympic competition, but now it looks like it is going to be a Mao Asada vs. Yu Na Kim fight. It will be great to watch.

While European soccer fans are being beaten, robbed and raped in South Africa during the World Cup, the more civilized sports fans will be watching great skating in Canada and not even worrying about whether or not they locked the rental car.
Fighton at 07:33 PM JST - 15th December

Actually, Mao Asada relies on her technicality, and Ms. Kim relies on her beauty.

Like I said, doing something like 2 triple axels is not an easy thing to do and only Mao can do it. Kim had to challenge her by skating with beauty.

I wonder if Sasha Cohen is serious about 2010, because I have not heard anything about her. Doesn't matter, 2010 will be Mao Asada vs. Yu Na Kim. Unless one of them gets injured...

Mao's technical beat Yu Na's elegance, and technical won because Mao landed 2 difficult jumps, which Yu Na can not do. Mao did fall, and Yu Na had to skate perfectly.

This is only the Grand Prix, not the Olympics. So they still have a long ways to go. I hope it turns out Asada vs. Kim in Toronto...

I think Mao has an advantage, because it looks like Kim is still growing. At this sport, it's like gymnastics, you are in a disadvantage when you are still growing. Mao does not seem to have that problem, because she is fully grown. Yu Na seems to be growing physically as of late.