The mother of figure skating star Mao Asada died early Friday morning, the skater's management agency IMG reported. She was 48.
Two-time world champion Mao pulled out of the Grand Prix Final in Quebec City early Thursday morning and returned to Japan after learning that her mother Kyoko, who had been battling liver cirrhosis, was in critical condition.
Kyoko Asada passed away at a Nagoya hospital before Mao arrived back in Japan.