“I get chills just thinking about it,” stated Chan, who at 26 is the same age as Mao. “She is from my generation. We are some of the last skaters to come from a very important generation of skating. The transition from the Michelle Kwan era to now with the Medvedevas. “We were the skaters who embraced the transition of the new judging system,” added Chan. “For me, I am so happy for Mao because it takes a lot of guts, strength and independence to make that choice.” Chan acknowledged that Mao’s popularity in Japan must have made her decision difficult. “In a country like this, where skating is (so popular), that’s a huge decision. We don’t realize in North America how big skating is here,” commented Chan. “I aspire to be as successful as she is, as iconic as she is. That is my goal — to be a Mao Asada in Canada. Because those type of athletes are very rare now.” It is clear that what resonated most with Chan is the same thing that has with so many people around the world — Mao’s inner beauty. “For her to be so humble with the amount of fame, success and stardom that she has had, she is the epitome of a good role model for the future,” said Chan. “I have spent skating tours of two or three weeks with her where I forget about how really famous she is and the notoriety she has in this country. “I completely forget (about her fame) because of her sense of calm, and that life is life, and everyone is a normal human being no matter the type of success that they have had.”
Patrick Chan on Mao Asada (x)
