Ice Prince Yuzuru Hanyu retires from competitive skating
With his youthful aura and slender build, it’s not hard to mistakenly think of Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu as still being in the prime of his youth, and at just 27 years of age, by a lot of metrics he is. However, during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, Hanyu announced that he’s retiring from professional skating.
The news didn’t come as a complete shock to fans. After becoming Japan’s first men’s figure skating gold medalist at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Hanyu repeated the feat four years later in Pyeongchang. Following recurring ankle injuries and a fourth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics in February of this year, though, there was speculation that Hanyu would be retiring from competition, making it a matter of not if, but when, in many people’s minds.
“In terms of on-ice results, I’ve believe I’ve made the achievements I should,” Hanyu said during the conference. “I suppose I’m no longer after that sort of recognition.”
Figure skating is unique in that it’s appreciated by fans not just as an athletic contest, but also its artistry. Hanyu intends to continue skating in a professional, non-competitive capacity, which would imply taking part in exhibitions and shows. Though he said he isn’t in a position to reveal specifics at the moment, he says he has an idea in his head for what he’d like to do. “I do not feel sad at all [about retiring from competition],” he explained, saying he is instead filled with determination and hope for his future endeavours.
“I want to continue skating, in a way that’s a better fit for the current era, to present skating to people who have never seen it before, and in a place that will satisfy the fans who have supported me,” he declared, along with “This isn’t the end. It’s a new start.”
The Yuzu Fantasy continues
And this was just Yuzu entertaining the crowd while the ice was being repaired, what an adorable legend. Also found a video of his performance, enjoy below.
The Yuzu Fantasy
Yuzuru Hanyu at Fantasy on Ice yesterday. I’m desperately trying to find a video but no luck yet. If anyone knows of one, let me know please :) In the meantime check out this stunning 4T+3A on Twitter.
Sporty Sunday *29
Yuzuru Hanyu
Yuzu wins Japan nationals, Shoma & Yuma complete Olympic team
Yuzuru Hanyu tried a quadruple Axel in competition for the first time, and though it was downgraded with a two-footed landing, he still won a sixth Japanese figure skating title in his first skate after an eight-month injury break.
Yuzu, a two-time Olympic champion, has for years said a goal is to land the quad Axel, the hardest quad and the only one that nobody has hit in competition. He even elevated it above further Olympic success. He landed two-footed and under-rotated quad Axel attempts in practice last week at nationals in Saitama, plus in his warm-up 45 minutes before Sunday’s program.
He tried it at the start of his free skate, not completing the four and a half rotations yet still staying on his feet. It was downgraded to a triple Axel. He then hit three later quads, totaling 322.36 points for the competition. He won by a comfortable 26.54 points over Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno.
World silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama was third to round out the expected podium and the three-man Olympic team. Yuma surprised the skating scene when he came out in his World Championship debut last March to take the silver medal, even beating his idol Yuzuru.
However, Kagiyama was not an “unknown” as he had earned silver at the 2020 World Junior Championships and bronze at the 2020 Four Continents Championships, his international-senior level debut. The short skater is very quick on his feet and impresses with his jumps and skating skills. The Japanese youngster, who turned 18 in May, continued his success this season, his first full-fledged senior year.
Yuzu leads at world championships in Stockholm
Yuzuru Hanyu outscored Nathan Chen topping the world figure skating championships short program in Stockholm on Thursday. Check out his skate below.
Yuzuru Hanyu & Shoma Uno at the Japanese Nationals 2020
Two-time defending Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu delivered a dramatic and nearly flawless free skate on Saturday and won his fifth Japanese national figure skating title, tying the beloved Daisuke Takahashi in the record books and moving closer to a March showdown with Nathan Chen at the world championships.
Yuzu, who led after Friday’s short program, skated two clean programs with all positive grades of execution on jumping passes for the first time since the December 2015 Grand Prix Final — when he was at the peak of his dominance, breaking world records in back-to-back competitions.
Four-time defending champion Shoma Uno, third after the short program, delivered in a free skate that also included four quad jumps and earned him a 190.59 score which lifted him to second place.
Let Me Entertain You
Yuzu returned to a familiar place after his longest break between skating competitions: the top of the standings. The two-time Olympic champion landed a quadruple Salchow and a quad toe loop when he revealed his new short program, tallying 103.53 points in the Japanese Championships yesterday.
He’s followed by Yuma Kagiyama and Shoma Uno in places two and three so far. The competition will conclude tomorrow.
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