Japan national figure skating championships on Saturday had several athletes looking to secure a place in the Vancouver Olympics. Among them was 19-year-old Mao Asada, winner of the women’s short program. Her last win was at the 2008 Japan nationals. She had a few set backs this year which did not help secure a place in the Olympics, but her showing in the Japan nationals added hope to her Olympic dream.
“I came here with the intention of booking a ticket to the Olympics,” Mao said. “I feel like I’ve cleared one hurdle and hope to carry this momentum into the free skate. I got a lot of support from the fans today. It’s been a while since I got a standing ovation.”