The day after Japanese figure skating icon Mao Asada announced her intention to retire from competition through her personal blog, news spread like fire across the country and was received with mixed feelings.

On Tuesday, reactions and well-wishes came pouring in from all corners as the 26-year-old was pushed into the public spotlight with nationwide media coverage recognizing her for the phenomenal contribution she made to the sport of figure skating.

According to her coach Nobuo Sato who spoke to reporters in Yokohama Tuesday, Asada visited Shin-Yokohama Skate Center Monday morning and told him of her intention to draw the curtains on her illustrious career which includes a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, three world titles, three Four Continents titles and four Grand Prix Final titles.

"She said she wants to call it a career," said Sato, adding that Asada did not appear to be in low spirits as she hugged the other coaches before she left her primary practice facility.

Sato, who was hired by Asada after the Vancouver Games, reminisced about his days with the athlete affectionately known as "Mao-chan," revealing that there were times when the two disputed over whether to attempt her trademark three-and-a-half rotation jump -- the triple axel -- in competition.

"It's only natural that we had our downs having worked together for such a long time, but in the end she accomplished a lot and I only have praise for her," said the 75-year-old veteran coach.

"I want to thank her for her hard work until now. She is an outstanding skater. I'm glad I was able to join her (in her athletic development journey), something she worked very seriously for," he said.

Asada, who started skating when she was five years old, became a national star when she beat gold favorite Irina Slutskaya of Russia to win the Grand Prix Final in Tokyo as a 15-year-old in December 2005.

In December 2011 her mother died at the age of 48, but Asada made an emotional return to the national championships two weeks later, where she won her fifth of six national titles.

After taking a one-year break after the 2014 season when she won her third world title and finished sixth at the Sochi Olympics, Asada never recovered from her slump, which, along with lack of motivation, she cited as her reasons for retiring.

Compatriot Miki Ando, a former two-time world champion, was one of the first to pay tribute to her longtime rival after the news broke late Monday evening.

"She deserves credit for working hard for such a long time. I'm honored to have been able to skate with Mao in the same era and skate together as representatives of Japan," said Ando.

Former figure skater Takeshi Honda, who placed fourth at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games in the men's program, was heartbroken as he, like many other fans, had hoped to see more of the Chukyo University graduate in action.

"I can't think of any other skater who has done as much as she has. I was hoping she would continue skating until the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics (in February 2018) but she did really well. She was the best skater ever," said Honda.

"I was surprised (to hear the news) but she has done really well," said two-time Olympic figure skater Fumie Suguri on her official Twitter account.

Asada's retirement from the sport had a much bigger impact than she herself could possibly imagine, going to show her talent goes far beyond the ice rink.

Saori Yoshida, a three-time Olympic champion in wrestling, was one of the many non-skating athletes who paid respect to Asada via social media.

"It's sad to see Mao-chan retire. But she did so well thus far wearing the rising sun flag (emblem)," she tweeted.

Artistic gymnast Kohei Uchimura did not say he is sorry to see his role model Asada go as he can relate to the challenges that come with being a high-profile athlete being a seven-time Olympic medalist and 19-time world medalist.

"I was inspired by her, seeing how she led the women's figure skating world with her audience-drawing performances. I look forward to her future activities," said Uchimura.

The news came as such a shock and a surprise to the entire country that it prompted authority figures to comment, most of whom were eaten up with curiosity over what Asada had in mind as future career plans.

"She was a national hero and a skater everyone loved. She never won an Olympic gold, but did more than enough. Once she settles down, I hope she helps promote sport," said Japanese Olympic Committee executive director Eisuke Hiraoka.

"It's too bad that she's retiring at this time. She created a national frenzy and helped boost figure skating fans in the country. I hope she continues to serve as a sports ambassador and speak about the positive influence of sports," said Japan Sports Agency Commissioner Daichi Suzuki.

Seiko Hashimoto, the head of the Japan Skating Federation, summed it up by saying that Asada's contribution to the sport -- on and off the ice -- has been valuable, and hopes she continues to remain in the spotlight for the good of the country.

"We owe her. I think we can say that the skating world is where it's at because of how she continued to perform at the top level. I pray for the very best as she makes use of her experience, enters the next chapter of her life and does even better."