TOKYO: Japanese figure skater Mao Asada, the veteran of two winter Olympic Games, plans to sit out the 2014-2015 competitive season but remains unsure about retirement and wants to take the year to think about her future plans.
Asada, who took a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, had been tipped as a top contender for gold in Sochi this year but had a disastrous short programme, although she rebounded with a strong free skate that left her in sixth place overall.
She subsequently won gold at the World Championships held in Saitama, Japan, in March.
“I’m taking a year to slowly think about what my next goal will be,” the 23-year-old, known in Japan by affectionate nickname “Mao-chan,” told a news conference in Tokyo on Monday, adding that she wanted a break both physically and mentally.
“I don’t know what the future holds and basically want to take things as they come. As for the season after that, I’m still half-and-half (on retiring).”
Asada struggled with it during most of the season. She fell while attempting it in the short programme but landed it the next day. Her score in the short programme at the World Championships set a world record, beating the previous record held by long-term rival Kim Yu-na of South Korea, she won handily to take crown third time.
Asada began skating at the age of five and began drawing global attention while still at the junior level , which also saw start of her l rivalry with Kim. REUTERS
