Challengers on Ice (1)

After the Ladies Free Skating Game at Sochi Olympic, Evgeni Plushenko praised Mao Asada:  "You're real fighter!!" on his twitter.  "Fighter" is the most suitable title for her and her fans and many top skaters are also calling her so.  

I think no other skaters, including medalists, could impress the audience like her.  Her freestyle presentation had become Myth on Ice.  We figure skating lovers will remember her at Sochi forever, even though forget the medalists.  Despite missing a medal, she is a real Champion in Sochi Olympic.

We were deeply moved by her presentation, not only for the perfectness but also for too much intensity.  All the components in the program were struggle and challenge.  She tried 8 triple jumps including a triple axel. What she challenged was not a gold medal, nor a record.  But she challenged herself. And after severe experience including the sad result at short program game, she had won herself, the most strict judge.

Her challenge and achievement inspired other skaters. Yuzuru Hanyu, 19-year-old gold medalist, watched her skating at audience seat.  After the exhibition show, this talented teenager told about his next challenge.  He will try to be the first quad axel jumper to the next Olympic. Since the start of his career, he might be inspired by many challengers, like Evgeni Plushenko, Johnny Weir, etc.  And now Mao Asada’s challenger spirit had also inspired him. In this way, Challengers’ DNA is being inherited. 

(To be continued)