Mao Asada (34), a former figure skater from Japan, expressed her feelings that she had suffered from the rivalry with her former rival Kim Yu-na (34).
On the 17th, Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun published an interview with Mao Asada, a silver medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and Shizuka Arakawa, a gold medalist at the 2006 Torino Olympics.
When Arakawa said, “Asada taught me how to enjoy it,” Asada said, “I didn’t enjoy it,” and “I had a hard time for the first time in the Vancouver Olympic season when I was 18 years old.”
At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Mao Asada became the first female athlete to run three triple axels, setting a new personal record (205.50).
Kim Yu-na then achieved the world record (228.56), rising to the highest point on the podium. The gap between the two is 23.06.
At the time, Asada said, “I did everything I could, but it’s a shame.”
At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, he made a series of mistakes, including a fall from his first jump, and ranked 16th in the short program and 3rd in the free skate, finishing 6th overall.
Kim, who played her last game before retirement at the Sochi Olympics, won a silver medal for her flawless performance.
Asada was able to claim No. 1 place at the 2014 World Championships after Kim Yu-na left the ice. Recalling the past, Asada said, “It has been painful since the Vancouver Olympics. I always wanted to be No. 1, and it wasn’t until I retired that I thought ‘skating’ was good.’
Kim Yu-na and Mao Asada are representative figures in Korea and Japan, and they are the same age as each other, who grew up together from an early age. They have long been called rivals that have developed through good faith competition over a long period of time on the international stage.
After retirement, the two are living their lives focusing on their own lives.
Mao Asada said after retiring, “I want to establish a skating rink under my name.” An Asada official said, “The link will be completed around the fall of 2024.” 퀸알바
Mao Asada appeared on Japanese broadcaster Kansai Terevi in February 2023 and said, “I broke up with my boyfriend who thought about getting married. At some point, I found myself unable to respond to my lover’s request to see her because I was practicing an ice show, and I notified her of the breakup first.”
Kim Yu-na highlighted the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics as the finalist of the torch. At the time, Kim Yu-na was admired and applauded by all around the world as she showed off her figure skating skills on the ice that was prepared for the figure skating queen.
In addition, he has greatly contributed to the spread of donation culture by donating talents to UNICEF campaigns as well as sponsoring through the fund. In 2023, he served as a daily teacher for juniors who dream of participating in the youth Olympics.
In 2022, she married Go Woo-rim, a member of the group Forrestella.
