TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese figure skater Mao Asada, a silver medallist from the 2010 Winter Olympics and three-time world champion, is retiring from the sport after a disappointing season, saying she has lost the will to compete. "After coming back to competition, I have not been able to achieve either the techniques or the results I wanted, and the number of things I worried about increased," wrote Asada, known in Japan by the affectionate nickname "Mao-chan." "After last year's Japan nationals, all the goals that had kept me going disappeared, along with my will to compete." Plagued by knee pain this past season, Asada finished 12th at the national championship in December, the lowest finish of her career. This climaxed at the 2010 Games, when Asada had to settle for silver while Kim claimed gold.

Source: The Star April 11, 2017 01:52 UTC