Mao mystery finally solved eight years later

[yuiyoshida]

In January 2008 Mao Asada suddenly split from coach Rafael Arutunian after 16 months of working together. It was a move made without warning or explanation, and left a great many in the skating community scratching their heads over the reason behind the decision.

The Armenian had taught Mao and sister Mai at their training base in Lake Arrowhead, California, since the summer of 2006. Working with Arutunian, Mao had earned the silver medal at the 2007 worlds in Tokyo, narrowly missing out on the gold to compatriot Miki Ando.

Mao would go on to win the 2008 world title in Goteborg, Sweden, a couple of months after leaving Arutunian, but she would do it without a coach.

Only recently was the real reason for the parting made public by Arutunian, who revealed it during a video interview posted on YouTube with The Skating Lesson’s Ted Flett on the sidelines at the world championships in Boston in late March.

“The story was very sad,” Arutunian told Flett. “After the (Japan) nationals she called me and said, ‘I cannot come to California.’ We had plans. And she said to me, ‘Can you come to Japan?’ and I said no.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/05/10/figure-skating/mao-mystery-finally-solved-eight-years-later/

sad story..