Mao Asada capped off an incredible year by rallying for her third straight national title in Nagano on Dec. 27.
Trailing Yukari Nakano following the short program, Mao summoned the energy for one last blast in her free skate and came away victorious once more.
It was a fitting end to a year which saw Mao capture her first world title in March, score an impressive win over rival Kim Yu Na in the Grand Prix Final earlier in December, then top it off by retaining her All-Japan crown just before the calendar turned to 2009.