Is there a chance that Mirai Nagasu may get better than Mao Asada by the Vancouver Olympics?

Question

I know there is no way Mirai can beat Mao now, but Mirai has big potential and is improving... Do you think she will be able to beat Mao someday?

Answer 1

Sorry, I'm a serious fan of Mao (I'm Japanese) and I say there's no way Mirai can win. The way the American skating team was a little while ago, it was doubtful Mirai would even get to the Vancouver Olympics.

Mao has been steadily improving - by leaps and bounds. Right now, the only skater who's a serious problem is Kim Yu Na (if that's how you spell it, I've only ever seen it written in Japanese). She's got the grace now, she can convey emotion, she's not just a jumping bean anymore. But she can jump! And on top of that, she's not conversely weaker anywhere; she can spin, and just a little while ago she was the only woman with a Level 4 step sequence. (I don't know about her next program, but last season.)

No, Mirai's still got a long way to go if she ever beats Mao. If she does, it'll be the generation after Mao, after Mao peaks and is on her way down. More of a threat for Mao is Catherine Zhang . . . who is also more of a threat for Mirai.

Answer 2

Maybe, there's still 1 1/2 seasons left to Vancouver and a lot can happen then. However, Mao will still be young and she's mostly injury free, whereas Mirai will barely become age eligible for all comps in 2010 and therefore she'll be lacking on senior level skating experience.

I'd say 2010 isn't going to be Mirai's time yet. She'll only be 15 (16 at the most) then, she should just use 2010 as experience (maybe to keep the US on the top 10 at least), hope she could get a medal at the 2010 worlds and then work for 2014.

By then the age/experience/injury ratio will be in Mirai's favor. Mao will be in her early 20's by then (still quite young, but she could have injuries by then) and Mirari will have more experience as a senior skater (not to mention she'll stop growing).