If she was injured then better rest this season, she won't be old enough for 2018 anyway. Better to focus on healing and doing well in the junior circle next season.I love the girls going to junior worlds, but it's really unfair for Kihira, after all she did quite well (if not extremely well) at every competition except for junior nationals. Anyway she still young!
Lesson from Japanese Nationals: everyone should learn to do an emergency 3S+3T (or some other +3T combo).
Mao is just the most exquisite artiste in the world right now. I hope she can comeback
I was going by Jackie Wong updates (so if she is not third, sorry! ), but according to his feed: 1) Satoko (70 and something), 2) Mao (65), 3) Kanako (64)
I don't think I have ever seen Mao skating as mature and artistic as before. She is just stunning. I won't make any comment on the technical part now, but interpretation-wise, and performance-wise, both of her programs at the Japanese Nationals mesmerized me completely. She really has a new level of maturity since her comeback last season.:luv17:
https://youtu.be/c_SryYSEgMUIf it hasn't been done already, somebody should splice her best short and free performances from this season into a single video.
Sorry, but I have no clue of the names. At least in Russians national protocols I struggled with the letters but it was OK. I can't say Japanese writing is easy to learn.
Honestly I am gutted for Rika because this very well could have been her last chance at getting to worlds with all the upcoming girls. Who knows though, she could have a comeback!
The best moment of the competition for me was the end of Kanako's FS when she got a huge standing ovation and she was crying. She's had a terrible season and messy long programs for quite a while, so I wasn't expecting anything when watching her FS. But Kanako came out with a new costume that fit the program well and I really enjoyed the performance. Skated clean for the first time in who knows how long. Tech content was much easier than her competitors, but it allowed her to really perform and it was really a great moment when you remember it's not always about the jumps.
It's not about the jumps if you don't care about winning. It was a great moment that got her seventh place.
Miyahara better start practice sticking her hand in the air on those tiny jumps of hers.