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Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生 結弦, Ha'nyū Yuzuru, born December 7, 1994) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He is a two-time Olympic champion (2014, 2018), a two-time World champion (2014, 2017), a four-time Grand Prix Final champion (2013–2016), a Four Continents champion (2020), the 2010 World Junior champion, the 2009–10 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a six-time Japanese national champion (2012–2015, 2020–2021). He has also medaled at five other World Championships, taking bronze in 2012 and 2021, and silver in 2015, 2016 and 2019, making him the only male single skater along with Jan Hoffmann to win seven world championship medals in the post-war era.

Yuzuru Hanyu
Hanyu at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki
Personal information
Native name	羽生 結弦 (Japanese)[1]
Country represented	Japan
Born	(1994-12-07) December 7, 1994 (age 27) Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Home town	Sendai
Residence	Sendai
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)[2]
Former coach	Brian Orser Tracy Wilson Ghislain Briand Nanami Abe Shōichirō Tsuzuki
Former choreographer	Jeffrey Buttle Shae-Lynn Bourne David Wilson Kenji Miyamoto Kurt Browning Nanami Abe
Former skating club	ANA Minato Tokyo Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club Miyagi FSC
Former training locations	Sendai Toronto
Began skating	1998
Retired	July 19, 2022
ISU world standings and season's bests World standing 7 (2021–22) 2 (2020–21) 2 (2019–20) 3 (2018–19) 1 (2017–18) 1 (2016–17) 1 (2015–16) 1 (2014–15) 1 (2013–14) 2 (2012–13) 4 (2011–12) 19 (2010–11) 24 (2009–10) 95 (2008–09) Season's bests [3] 6 (2021–22) 2 (2020–21) 2 (2019–20) 2 (2018–19) 3 (2017–18) 1 (2016–17) 1 (2015–16) 2 (2014–15) 2 (2013–14) 5 (2012–13) 4 (2011–12) 10 (2010–11) 21 (2009–10)
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	322.59 2019 Skate Canada
Short program	111.82 2020 Four Continents
Free skate	212.99 2019 Skate Canada
Medal record Representing  Japan Men's figure skating International competitions Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 0 0 World Championships 2 3 2 Four Continents Championships 1 3 0 Grand Prix Final 4 2 0 World Junior Championships 1 0 0 Junior Grand Prix Final 1 0 0 World Team Trophy 1 0 2 Total 12 8 4 Detailed medal list Olympic Games 2014 Sochi Singles 2018 Pyeongchang Singles World Championships 2014 Saitama Singles 2017 Helsinki Singles 2015 Shanghai Singles 2016 Boston Singles 2019 Saitama Singles 2012 Nice Singles 2021 Stockholm Singles Four Continents Championships 2020 Seoul Singles 2011 Taipei Singles 2013 Osaka Singles 2017 Gangneung Singles Grand Prix Final 2013–14 Fukuoka Singles 2014–15 Barcelona Singles 2015–16 Barcelona Singles 2016–17 Marseille Singles 2012–13 Sochi Singles 2019–20 Torino Singles World Junior Championships 2010 The Hague Singles Junior Grand Prix Final 2009–10 Tokyo Singles World Team Trophy 2017 Tokyo Team 2015 Tokyo Team 2021 Osaka Team

This article is part of a series about Yuzuru Hanyu
Two-time Olympic champion in men's figure skating 2014, 2018 Olympic seasons Career achievements
Filmography The Magnificent Nine
Related Fantasy on Ice
Commons Wikiquote
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Having been called one of the greatest figure skaters in history[lower-alpha 1] by many sport writers, commentators, and skaters for his well-rounded skills, achievements, popularity, and impact on the sport, Hanyu is the first men's singles skater to achieve a Super Slam, having won all major competitions in both his senior and junior careers. He has broken world records nineteen times—the most times among single skaters since the introduction of the ISU Judging System in 2004. He is the first man to have received over 100 points in the men's short program, over 200 points in the men's free skate, and over 300 total points in competition. Upon winning his first Olympic title, Hanyu became the first Asian men's singles skater to win the Olympic gold. At nineteen years old, he was the youngest male skater to win the Olympic title since Dick Button in 1948. In 2018, he became the first man to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals since Button's back-to-back titles in 1948 and 1952. At the 2016 CS Autumn Classic International, Hanyu became the first skater in history to successfully land a quadruple loop in a competition. He is the first men's singles skater from Asia to win multiple World Championships.

In recognition of his achievements, Hanyu became the youngest recipient of the People's Honour Award, bestowed by the Prime Minister of Japan for "giving dreams and thrills to the people and hope and courage to society".[15] He is the first figure skater to be nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award and was named the Most Valuable Skater by the inaugural ISU Skating Awards in 2020. Hanyu also has been featured in prestigious lists, such as Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia as well as ESPN's World Fame 100 and The Dominant 20. On July 19, 2022, Hanyu announced his decision to turn professional and "step away" from competitive figure skating after a 12-year senior career, which according to Nikkei Asia, "marks the end of an era".

Early life

Hanyu was born on December 7, 1994, in Izumi-ku, Sendai, Japan,[16] the second and youngest child to his father, Hidetoshi Hanyu, who is a junior high school teacher, and Yumi Hanyu, a former clerk at a department store.[17][18] Hanyu's father was also an adviser to the baseball school club and recommended the sport to him before he eventually chose figure skating.[17] His mother used to make all of Hanyu's costumes in his early career, including costumes for his 2010–2011 season free skate which was designed by American figure skater Johnny Weir.[17][19] She accompanied him during his training in Toronto, Canada, while his father and older sister, Saya, stayed in Japan.[17][20] Hanyu's given name came from the desire of his father so he would "live a dignified way like a tightly drawn bowstring",[21][22] and also symbolizes confidence, strength, and straightness.[20]

At the age of two, Hanyu was diagnosed with asthma, a condition that slowly improved with time. The condition remained an issue for Hanyu well into his career in junior competition, and Canadian choreographer David Wilson has stated that it was not until Hanyu's transition into adult competition that he succeeded in learning to cope with his endurance issues caused by his asthma and experienced in the later parts of his performed programs as a junior.[23]

Hanyu began skating at the age of four after his sister's coach Mami Yamada had suggested he try the sport instead of being a nuisance during his sister's training.[24][20] Yamada noted Hanyu's impatience when he first got onto the ice. He came running and jumped on the ice, then fell hard, hitting his helmet onto the ice, quickly got up and running again. However, Yamada praised Hanyu for his ability to express his sincerity. After coaching him until the end of his 2nd grade in elementary school, Yamada had to move to another prefecture and asked Shōichirō Tsuzuki [ja], former coach of Japan's first World Figure Skating Championships medalist Minoru Sano, to coach Hanyu and "not put his talent to waste".[24]

Competitive career

Early career and junior world title (2004–2010)

Hanyu first competed nationally as a novice skater in the 2004–05 season. He skated and won gold at the 2004 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice B category, the lower of the two novice level categories.[25] His home rink then closed due to financial problems, reducing his training time.[26] His coach at that time, Shōichirō Tsuzuki, eventually had to move to another rink and was replaced by Nanami Abe who guided Hanyu until he switched to Brian Orser years later in 2012.[26][27] In the 2006–07 season, Hanyu won the bronze medal at the 2006 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category. Hanyu winning a bronze medal at the 2006 Japan Novice championships earned him an invitation to compete at the 2006–07 Japan Junior Championships where he placed 7th.[28][29] Hanyu's home rink reopened in 2007 after being closed for two years.[26] He then placed first at the 2007 Japan Novice Championships in the Novice A category and won the bronze medal at the 2007–08 Japan Junior Championships.[30][31]

In 2008, Hanyu moved up to the junior level and debuted at the ISU Junior Grand Prix. He placed 6th in the short program and 4th in the free skate, finishing 5th overall at the event in Merano, Italy.[32] Following his Junior Grand Prix event, Hanyu won the gold medal at the 2008–09 Japan Junior Championships. At 13, he was the youngest male skater to win the Japan Junior Championship. This result also qualified him for the 2009 World Junior Championships.[33] His high standing in the ranking of performances won him a medal and also earned him an invitation to compete on the senior level at the 2008–09 Japan Championships where he placed 8th.[34] At the 2009 World Junior Championships in February, Hanyu placed 11th in the short program and 13th in his free skate, giving him a total of 161.77 points to finish 12th overall.[35]

In the 2009–10 season, Hanyu won both of his Junior Grand Prix events, in Croatia and Poland, and finished as the top qualifier for the Junior Grand Prix Final where he achieved a new personal best score of 206.77 points and won the event.[36] In the same season Hanyu also won the 2009–10 Japan Junior Championships and earned an invitation to compete on the senior level at the 2009–10 Japan Championships.[37] He then placed first on the junior level and sixth on the senior level in the event. Based on his results, Hanyu was chosen to compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships. He won the competition after placing third in the short program and first in the free skate to earn a new personal best of 216.10 points. He became the fourth and the youngest Japanese man to win the junior world title.[38]

First Olympic cycle (2010–2014)

2010–11 season: Senior international debut

For the 2010–11 season, Hanyu moved up to the senior level at the age of 15. His assignments for the 2010–11 Grand Prix series were the 2010 NHK Trophy and the 2010 Cup of Russia.[39] In his senior debut at the 2010 NHK Trophy, Hanyu placed 5th in the short program with 69.31 points. In his free skate, he landed his first quadruple toe loop jump in an ISU competition and came in 4th with 138.41 points, giving him a total of 207.72 points to finish 4th overall.[40] Hanyu finished in seventh place at the Cup of Russia.[41] At the 2010–11 Japan Championships, Hanyu was in second place after the short program, but faltered in the free skate and finished fourth overall. As the result, he was selected to compete at the 2011 Four Continents Championships, where he won the silver medal with a new personal best score.[42]

Hanyu was skating at his home rink in Sendai when the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami struck his hometown and the region. The water pipes at his rink burst as a result of the April 2011 Miyagi earthquake.[43][44] He trained in Yokohama and Hachinohe, Aomori until his home rink reopened on July 24, 2011.[20][43][45] He also skated in 60 ice shows, using them as an opportunity to train.[26] In April, he participated in an ice show to raise money for the victims.[20][45]

2011–12 season: First world medal

Hanyu began the 2011–12 season with a win at the Nebelhorn Trophy. He placed first in both the short program and the free skate, for a combined total score of 226.26 points.[46] For the 2011–12 Grand Prix series, he was assigned to the 2011 Cup of China and the 2011 Rostelecom Cup.[47] He finished 4th at the Cup of China,[48] then won the Rostelecom Cup with a new personal best score[49] to qualify for his first senior Grand Prix Final, where he placed fourth.[50]

Hanyu then won the bronze medal at the 2011–12 Japan Championships, earning a spot on the Japanese team for the 2012 World Championships. In his senior Worlds debut, Hanyu was seventh in the short program but placed second in the free skate. He won the bronze medal overall with a total score of 251.06 points, behind gold medalist Patrick Chan of Canada and silver medalist, his teammate, Daisuke Takahashi of Japan.[51]

In April 2012, Hanyu switched coaches to Brian Orser in Toronto, Canada.[52][53] It was reported he would make frequent trips to Toronto and continue to attend high school in Sendai.[52] After moving to Canada, Hanyu increased his on-ice training to 3–4 hours a day, up from 1–2 hours, which had been due to a combination of limited ice time in Sendai, schooling, and asthma.[20][26]

2012–13 season: First senior national title

Hanyu began his season at the 2012 Finlandia Trophy, where he won the gold medal. He landed two quadruple jumps, a quad toe loop, and a quad salchow, in his free skate. It was the first time he had landed the latter jump in competition.[53][54] Hanyu won the silver medal at his first Grand Prix event of the season, the 2012 Skate America. His short program score at the Skate America, 95.07 points, was a new world record.[55][56] At his second event, the 2012 NHK Trophy, he scored 95.32 in the short program, beating his world record,[57][58] and went on to win the gold medal in his hometown.[59][60] Hanyu qualified for the 2012–13 Grand Prix Final in Sochi, where he finished second.[61]

In December 2012, Hanyu claimed his first national title at the 2012–13 Japan Championships after placing first in the short program and second in the free skate.[62] He took silver at the 2013 Four Continents Championships, having placed first in the short program and third in the free skate.[63] At the 2013 World Championships, he was ninth in the short program and third in the free skate, finishing fourth overall.[64]

2013–14 season: First Olympic and world titles

Hanyu began his season with a win at the 2013 Finlandia Trophy.[65] He won silver in both of his 2013–14 Grand Prix events, the 2013 Skate Canada International and the 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard, qualifying him for the 2013–14 Grand Prix Final. At the competition, Hanyu set a new world record in the short program with 99.84 points and won the title.[55][66] He subsequently competed at the 2013–14 Japan Championships where he went on to win a second Japanese national title and named to Japan's teams to the Olympics and World Championships.[67]

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Hanyu took part only in the men's short program at the Figure Skating Team Event for Team Japan. He won that segment, giving Team Japan 10 points.[68] Hanyu later broke his world record and became the first skater to score over 100 points in the short program in the men's short program individual event with 101.45 points.[69] Hanyu won the overall event and earned the first Olympic gold medal for Japan in the men's figure skating event, and only the second for the nation, following Shizuka Arakawa's gold medal in the women's event in 2006 in Turin.[70]

Hanyu completed the season with a victory at the 2014 World Championships in Saitama, Japan.[71] Hanyu became the first skater since Alexei Yagudin (in 2002) to win the Olympics, World Championships, and Grand Prix Final in the same season.[72]

Second Olympic cycle (2014–2018)

2014–15 season: Third Grand Prix Final win

Hanyu withdrew from the 2014 Finlandia Trophy due to a back injury.[73][74] For the 2014–15 Grand Prix season, he was selected to compete at the 2014 Cup of China and 2014 NHK Trophy.[75]

At the Cup of China, Hanyu was second in the short program.[74] The next day, during the free skate warm-up, Hanyu collided with China's Yan Han. Hanyu was visibly injured but decided to compete. He fell five times in the free skate but scored enough to win the silver medal. After the competition, he received stitches on his head and chin due to the collision and the multiple falls.[76][77][78] He flew to Japan for further treatment. He had bruising to his chin and head, hurt his midriff and left thigh, and sprained his right ankle.[79][80][81][82]

A few days before the NHK Trophy, Hanyu announced that he would compete but stated that he wasn't in top form.[83][84] He struggled in the short program, placing fifth.[85][86] The next day, he continued to have difficulties but placed third in the free skate, fourth overall. The score just barely, by a 0.15 point margin, earned him a spot to the Grand Prix Final.[87][88] At the Final, he was first in both the short program (94.08 points) and free skate (194.08 points, a new personal best score, and the overall highest free skate score of the season),[89] earning the gold medal. His total score was 34.26 points higher than silver medalist Javier Fernández's score.[90]

In December 2014, Hanyu competed in the 2014–15 Japan Championships. He placed first in both the short program and free skate with a total score of 286.86 points, earning him his third consecutive Japan National Championships title and the first spot for Japan at the 2015 World Championships.[91] He withdrew from the gala following the competition due to abdominal pain.[92] Hanyu was diagnosed with a bladder problem related to the urachus and had surgery. He was hospitalized for two weeks and expected to resume training a month afterward. However, on February 9, he sprained his right ankle and was once again suspended from on-ice training, this time for two weeks. In March, he resumed training in Japan without his coach Brian Orser.[93]

Hanyu competed at the 2015 World Championships, where he scored a season's best in the short program. He entered as first into the free skate, and scored 175.88, for a total of 271.08. He finished second behind Spain's Javier Fernández by less than 3 points.[94]

Hanyu competed for the first time at the 2015 World Team Trophy, in Tokyo, Japan. He scored first in both the short program (with a new season's best) and the free skate, receiving 24 points to help Team Japan win the bronze medal, behind Team USA and Team Russia. He was the only skater to win both segments in the competition.[95]

2015–16 season: Back-to-back world records

For the 2015–16 season, Hanyu skated to the soundtrack from the films Onmyōji and Onmyōji 2 in his free program, portraying natural philosopher and astrologer Abe no Seimei.[96] He also met with Mansai Nomura, the actor who portrayed Seimei in the film, to get advice on how to portray the character.[97] Hanyu started his season by winning gold at the 2015 Skate Canada Autumn Classic, finishing 36 points ahead of the silver medalist, Nam Nguyen.[98] For the 2015–16 Grand Prix series, Hanyu was selected to compete at the Skate Canada and the NHK Trophy.[99]

At the 2015 Skate Canada International, Hanyu placed sixth in the short program with a score of 73.25 points after missing his quadruple toe loop and doing a double instead.[100] In the free skate, he pulled up to second with a score of 186.29 after executing three quadruple jumps including the quad Salchow and quad toe loop in the first half followed by a quadruple toe loop-double toe loop in the second.[101] He finished second overall behind Patrick Chan with a total score of 259.54.[102][103] At the 2015 NHK Trophy, Hanyu placed first in the short program with a world record score of 106.33.[104] He cleanly executed a quadruple Salchow, a quadruple toe loop-triple toe loop combination, and a triple Axel.[105] In the free skate, he landed four clean quadruple jumps to receive 216.07 and a combined total of 322.40, breaking the world records for the free skate and the combined total. With this result, he qualified for the Grand Prix Final in second place with 28 ranking season Grand Prix points which were accumulated over the several international events which are part of the Grand Prix.[106][107]

At the 2015–16 Grand Prix Final in Barcelona, Hanyu broke the short program record which he had just set two weeks prior, totaling a score of 110.95 points, putting him in the lead.[108][109] In the free skate, he broke another new world record, scoring 219.48 points, giving him a combined total of 330.43 and his third Grand Prix Final title in a row. Hanyu is the first man to have won Grand Prix Final for three consecutive seasons.[110] He won with a total margin of 37.48 points ahead of Javier Fernández, breaking the previous victory margin record held by Evgeni Plushenko in 2004 (35.1 points).[111]

On December 26, 2015, Hanyu won his fourth consecutive title at the 2015–16 Japan Championships, leading in both the short program and the free skate.[112] Following that event, Hanyu announced that he would not compete at the 2016 Four Continents Championships because he planned to focus on training for the 2016 World Championships.[113]

Hanyu skated another clean short program at the 2016 World Championships, scoring 110.56 points. He won that segment of the competition and had a 12.04-point lead over Javier Fernández, who came in second.[114] In the free skate, Hanyu put a hand down on a quadruple Salchow, fell on the second attempt without putting it into a combination, stepped out of a triple Axel, decided to do a double rather than a triple Salchow, and had another hand down on the triple Lutz. Following these errors, he finished the competition in 2nd place, behind Javier Fernandez.[115][116]

On April 26, the Japan Skating Federation announced that Hanyu would take two months off the ice to heal from injury. He had been dealing with pain in his left foot since the beginning of the season, which worsened in January. The pain was the reason why Hanyu elected to do a Salchow instead of a toe loop as his third quadruple jump in his free skate at Worlds. Hanyu was diagnosed with Lisfranc ligament damage in his left foot.[117][118]

2016–17 season: Second world title

For the 2016–17 Grand Prix, Hanyu's assignments were the Skate Canada International and the NHK Trophy. His short program music was "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince and the free skate music consisted of "Asian Dream Song" and "View of Silence" by Joe Hisaishi, while Hanyu titled the program "Hope and Legacy". Hanyu competed at the Autumn Classic International, where he won the gold medal and became the first skater in history to successfully land a quadruple loop in a competition.[119][120]

At the 2016 Skate Canada International, Hanyu placed fourth in the short program, after landing his first jump on one knee, nearly putting his hand on the ice on the second, and electing not to perform a planned jump combination.[121] In the free skate, he pulled up to first with a score of 183.41. Overall he finished second behind Patrick Chan, and ahead of Kevin Reynolds. At the NHK Trophy, Hanyu scored 103.89 in the short program and led this segment of the competition by almost 16 points over Nathan Chen. In his free skate, Hanyu landed three quadruple jumps: a loop, a Salchow, and a toe loop, but made mistakes on two other jumping passes. He received a total score of 301.47 and won the gold medal.[122]

At the 2016–17 Grand Prix Final in Marseille, Hanyu placed first in the short program with 106.53 points after a solid showing. During the free skate, Hanyu had a strong start with clean jumps in the first half of the program but made mistakes on three jumping passes in the latter half. He came in third in that segment but was helped by his score advantage from the short program finished first overall. He became the first men's singles skater to win four consecutive Grand Prix Finals.[123]

After contracting the flu, Hanyu withdrew from the Japanese National Championships.[124] Despite this, he was selected to compete at the 2017 Four Continents Championships and 2017 World Championships. At the 2017 Four Continents Championships, Hanyu placed third in the short program with a score of 97.04 points, due to a mistake in his combination.[125] During the free skate despite a strong start, he again made an error in what was supposed to be a quadruple-triple combination. Hanyu then improvised his layout for the second half of the program, successfully changing three of his jumping passes into more difficult elements to maximize his score after the mistake. He placed first in the free skate with a score of 206.67 but overall finished second behind Nathan Chen by about four points.[126]

At the 2017 World Championships, Hanyu was fifth after the short program after invalidating the second part of his combination and receiving a time deduction. In the free skate, Hanyu landed all of his jumps cleanly with high grades of execution, including four quadruple jumps and two triple Axels, as well as executing level four footwork and spins. He scored 223.20 in the free skate which set both a new world record and a personal best, finishing the competition with 321.59 points and winning his second World title.[127][128]

At the 2017 World Team Trophy, Hanyu came in seventh place after a mistake-laden short program which left out a planned combination.[129] In the free skate, Hanyu placed first after receiving 200.49 points for a program that featured four quadruple jumps, three of which with positive grades of execution, while also becoming the first skater to complete three quadruple jumps in the second half of a free skate program. However, he turned two other jumps into a single.[129][130] Overall he added 18 points to the team score and took gold with Team Japan.[131]

2017–18 season: Second Olympic title

For the 2017–18 season, Hanyu returned to Ballade No. 1 (Chopin) for his short program, the same music he used two seasons ago for his world record-breaking short program. He also decided to repeat his free skating to the soundtrack from the film Onmyōji, with an upgraded layout compared to the one he performed in the 2015–16 season.[132] At his first competition of the season, Skate Canada Autumn Classic International, Hanyu broke the world record he set previously at the 2015–16 Grand Prix Final with 112.72 points. However, his performance placed 5th in the free skate and won the silver medal overall behind Javier Fernández.[133]

At the 2017 Rostelecom Cup, Hanyu was second after the short program.[134][135] In the free skate, he landed his first quadruple Lutz in competition and received +1.14 Grade of Execution (GOE) for the jump. He finished second overall behind Nathan Chen by about three points. Hanyu injured a lateral ligament in his right ankle while practicing the quadruple Lutz on November 9, 2017, and withdrew from the 2017 NHK Trophy, which automatically prevented him from competing for his fifth consecutive Grand Prix Final title.[136][137][138] Due to his recovery taking longer than expected, Hanyu also withdrew from the 2017 Japanese Championships. Despite missing the event serving as an Olympic qualifier for Japanese skaters, Hanyu was assigned to represent Japan at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and the 2018 World Figure Skating Championships in Milan, Italy,[139][140] given his top world standing as well as his position as the reigning world champion and the defending Olympic champion.[141]

Hanyu did not participate in the team event at the Olympics to buy more practice time at his training base in Toronto in preparation for the individual event.[142] At a press conference held by Hanyu after one of his official practices on February 13, he revealed he was off the ice until January[143] and started executing triple jumps just three weeks, and quadruple jumps just two weeks before the competition,[144] and that he still had not decided which technical elements he would use for the event.[145]

On February 16, Hanyu performed a flawless short program, for which he scored 111.68 points, putting him first in that segment of the competition.[146] In the free skate, he scored 206.17 points with a solid program. He earned 317.85 points overall, winning his second consecutive Olympic gold medal, a feat that had not been achieved since Dick Button's back-to-back titles in 1948 and 1952.[147] On March 7, 2018, the Japan Skating Federation announced that Hanyu had decided to withdraw from the upcoming World Championships in Milan, Italy, to allow his injured foot to recover. After a medical examination following his Olympic win, it was revealed that the damaged ligaments in his right ankle and other unspecified injuries required at least two weeks of rest and three months of rehabilitation to heal.[148]

In April, Hanyu performed a medley of his various old programs in his first self-produced show Continues with Wings at the Musashino Forest Sports Plaza in Tokyo, Japan, skipping jumps due to his injury.[149][150] On June 1, 2018, it was announced that Hanyu would receive the People's Honour Award, a prestigious government commendation bestowed by the Prime Minister of Japan. Hanyu is the youngest among the 27 recipients since the award's creation in 1977 and the first figure skater to be given the honor.[15]

Third Olympic cycle (2018–2022)

2018–19 season: Records in new judging system

In August 2018, Hanyu announced that his upcoming short program would be set to "Otoñal" by Raúl di Blasio and choreographed by Jeffrey Buttle. His free skate, titled "Origin" by Hanyu, would be performed to "Art on Ice" and "Magic Stradivarius" by Edvin Marton and choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne. The former paid tribute to Johnny Weir's 2004–05 free skate program and the latter is a homage to Evgeni Plushenko's "Tribute to Nijinsky" program, which was his free skate in the 2003–04 season. On choosing music used previously by his skating idols, Hanyu remarked "I am satisfied that as a result (of my Olympic success) I have been released from the pressure that I have to produce results. I think and feel, that I can skate for myself from now on. I want to go back to my skating origins".[151]

For the 2018–19 Grand Prix series, Hanyu was assigned to the Grand Prix of Helsinki and Rostelecom Cup.[152]

Hanyu started the season by competing at Skate Canada Autumn Classic International. He received 97.74 points for his short program after one of his spins was invalidated.[153] In the free skate, Hanyu received 165.91 points due to several mistakes on his jumps, which placed him second behind training mate Junhwan Cha. He finished first overall with a score of 263.65 thanks to his lead after the short program.[154]

At his first Grand Prix event, the Grand Prix of Helsinki, Hanyu placed first in the short program with 106.69 points, a world record score under the newly introduced +5/-5 GOE system.[155] In the free skate, he performed four quadruple jumps, including the never-before-attempted quadruple toe loop-triple Axel sequence. Despite underrotating two of his jumps, Hanyu scored 190.43 points for a total of 297.12 points, setting two more world records in the process and winning the gold medal by a margin of nearly 40 points.[156][157]

At the 2018 Rostelecom Cup, Hanyu placed first in the short program with 110.53 points, a new world record. On the following day, he re-injured his right ankle in practice after falling on a quad loop jump. He considered withdrawing from the event but opted to compete, aided by painkillers, and changed his program layout to not exacerbate the injury. He placed first in the free skate and overall with a score of 278.42. This marked the first time Hanyu won gold at both of his Grand Prix assignments.[158] Subsequently, he stated: "I thought about withdrawing because of the injury, but it is my choice. I really wanted to skate this program in Russia."[159] He received his medal at the victory ceremony while using crutches. Japan Skating Association head of development Yoshiko Kobayashi reported recommending three weeks of rest for Hanyu's ankle to recover.[160]

On November 29, 2018, the Japanese Skating Federation announced that Hanyu would withdraw from the Grand Prix Final due to injuries to ligaments and tendons in his right leg, for which he required around one month of rehabilitation.[161][162] His withdrawal from the Japan Figure Skating Championships was announced two weeks later.[163]

Despite missing nationals, Hanyu was assigned to represent Japan at the 2019 World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan, based on his record from previous seasons.[164] Ahead of the competition, he stated that his injured ankle hadn't yet fully recovered, but insisted that he was "100% ready" for the competition.[165] He came in third after the short program with a score of 94.87 due to invalidating one of his elements.[166] He placed second in the free skate with a score of 206.10 after delivering a nearly clean program, which placed him second overall. Both his free skate score and his total score of 300.97 were world records but were quickly surpassed by Nathan Chen, who ended up taking gold in the event.[167] After the event, he stated he was "regretful" about his performance, but assured the result motivated him to continue skating and improve in the next season.[168] Similar to his preparations for the Olympics, he relied on painkillers before and during the event to make jumping possible. The expected timing of his recovery was uncertain.[169] Subsequently, the Japanese federation announced he would not be participating in the season's final event, the World Team Trophy, due to his injury.[170]

2019–20 season: Achieving Super Slam

Hanyu opted to retain both of his programs for the new season.[171] Competing at the 2019 CS Autumn Classic International, Hanyu placed first in both programs to claim the gold medal, despite a fall on his quad Salchow in the short program and a few turnouts on landings in the free skate. Coach Orser praised Hanyu, saying "I have never seen him at this time of the year to be so focused."[172]

Commencing the Grand Prix, Hanyu went to his fourth Skate Canada International, having won the silver medal there on his three previous outings. Hanyu placed first in the short program with a clean skate, twenty points ahead of American Camden Pulkinen. Assessing his performance, Hanyu said it "was not so great, but I felt I did my best today."[173] In the free skate, Hanyu turned out of his opening quad loop, but otherwise landed all jumps cleanly, setting a new personal best and winning the event by almost sixty points.[174] His 59.82-point margin over silver medalist Nam Nguyen was the widest in the history of the ISU Grand Prix series.[175] He won his second Grand Prix, the 2019 NHK Trophy, by a similar margin.[176][177]

Hanyu went into the Grand Prix Final in Torino as co-favorite for the title alongside Nathan Chen. Hanyu's coach Ghislain Briand was delayed in traveling to the event, resulting in him having no coach present for the competition's first segment. In the short program, Hanyu stepped out of his quad toe loop without executing a combination, and as a result, placed almost thirteen points behind Chen.[178] In the free skate, Hanyu landed five quad jumps in one program for the first time in his career, including his first quad Lutz since his Olympic season injury, but popped an intended triple Axel-triple Axel sequence. He finished second behind Chen in that segment as well, taking the silver medal overall.[179]

Competing at his first Japanese championships since the 2016–17 season, Hanyu placed first in the short program, 5.01 points ahead of Shoma Uno.[180] Several jump errors in the free skate saw him place third in that segment, behind Uno and Yuma Kagiyama, and win the silver medal overall. It was Hanyu's first loss to Uno.[181]

Heading into the Four Continents Championships in Seoul, Hanyu opted to return to his Ballade No. 1 (Chopin) program and his "Seimei" program from prior seasons.[182] Referencing the 2018 Winter Olympics which were held in Pyeongchang, Hanyu noted that while he wanted to win a gold medal once again in South Korea, he wanted to showcase and focus on his own style of figure skating even more. In the short program, Hanyu broke his previous world record with 111.82 points.[183] Hanyu called it "the most perfect performance I've ever done."[184] Despite errors on two of his quad attempts in the free skate, he won that segment as well, taking the gold medal overall with 299.42 points.[185] Hanyu's victory on February 9, made him the first and only male singles skater to win all of the major ISU championship events at the junior and senior levels, a feat known as the Super Slam, previously only achieved by five other competitors in the other three skating disciplines.[186] He was assigned to compete at the World Championships in Montreal, but these were canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[187]

At the ISU Skating Awards in 2020, Hanyu was nominated for Best Costume and Most Valuable Skater for the 2019–2020 season, and proceeded to win the latter.[188]

2020–21 season: Seventh world medal

On August 28, Hanyu announced that he would skip the Grand Prix series, citing the risk of COVID-19 for himself, the competition staff, and for his fans who would gather to support him.[189] Despite feeling "conflicted" over whether he should have competed or not as COVID-19 continued and practicing without his coaching team, Hanyu decided to compete in Japanese championships, which doubled as the final qualifier for the upcoming World Championships in Stockholm.[190][191] He placed first in the short program (103.53 points) and the free skate (215.83 points) with all positive grades of execution on jumping passes and won his fifth national figure skating title with a total score of 319.36 points.[192][193]

The 2021 World Championships were to be the first direct competition between Hanyu and Nathan Chen since the 2019–20 Grand Prix Final.[194] Hanyu placed first in the short program with a solid performance, 6.02 points ahead of compatriot Yuma Kagiyama.[195] In the free skate, Hanyu opened with three consecutive quadruple jumps but touched the ice on two of them. Scoring 182.20 points, he placed fourth in the free skate and third overall, behind Chen and Kagiyama.[196] It was the first competition Hanyu had placed below second since 2014. On the following day, Hanyu confirmed the report of his asthma attack by overseas media. He stated that he felt a little painful after finishing the free skate, and explained: "There were few small troubles that kept stacking up ... However, if asked whether that was what led to the huge mistake (in the free skate), I don't think it was as big of a miss as it was in terms of the miss in the score."[197] Hanyu's placement combined with Kagiyama's qualified three berths for Japanese men at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[198] Hanyu competed as part of Team Japan for the 2021 World Team Trophy. He placed second in both the short program and the free skate, only behind Nathan Chen. He achieved a personal season's best score in both the short program and the free skate with 107.12 and 193.76 points respectively and earned a total of 22 points to help his team take home the bronze medal.[199][200][201]

2021–22 season: Sixth national title and third Olympics

Hanyu confirmed his plans to compete in the 2021–22 Olympic season, and was scheduled to compete at the 2021 NHK Trophy and 2021 Rostelecom Cup in November for the 2021–22 Grand Prix series.[202] On November 4, 2021, the Japan Skating Federation announced Hanyu's withdrawal from the NHK Trophy due to an injury in his right ankle ligament during a fall in practice.[203] The JSF subsequently announced his withdrawal from the Rostelecom Cup prior to the event, but said that he would remain in consideration for the Olympic team.[204][205]

Hanyu made his season debut at the 2021–22 Japan Figure Skating Championships, placing first in both the short program and free skate, winning his sixth Japanese National title, tying Takeshi Honda's record of most national titles in the last 50 years. He also attempted a quadruple Axel for the first time during the free skate, although it was downgraded to a triple Axel with a two-footed landing.[206] Hanyu was assigned to represent Japan at the 2022 Winter Olympics and the 2022 World Championships.[206][207]

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Hanyu missed his opening quadruple Salchow jump in the short program due to a hole in the ice and placed eighth with 95.15 points, qualifying him for the free skate. The score was his lowest in the segment since the 2019 World Championships.[208] In the free skate, he fell twice in his first two opening jumps, a quadruple Axel and a quad Salchow.[209] His quad Axel attempt is the first that was not downgraded to triple Axel.[210] Other than these two mistakes, he delivered a clean skate, placing third in the free skate and fourth place overall with a total score of 283.21 points, behind fellow Japanese compatriot and bronze medalist Shoma Uno.[209] Following his free skate, Hanyu confirmed in a press conference that he had re-injured his right ankle in practice the day before the free skate, but since it was the Olympics and not a normal competition, he chose to compete on painkillers instead of withdrawing.[211] On March 1, 2022, the Japan Skating Federation announced Hanyu's withdrawal from the 2022 World Championships due to the unhealed injury.[212]

Professional career

At a press conference on July 19, 2022, Hanyu announced his decision to "step away" from competitive figure skating and turn professional, stating that "he had achieved everything he could achieve, and stopped wanting to be evaluated".[213] He also stated his intention to continue pursuing his "ideal skating" and dream of completing the quadruple Axel as a professional athlete.[214] Nikkei Asia noted that Hanyu's exit from the competitive circuit "marks the end of an era".[214] Juliet Macur of The New York Times remarked that "we may never see another skater like Yuzuru Hanyu".[215] Numerous sports figures from and outside figure skating reacted to Hanyu's announcement with gratitude and praise, including Japanese gymnast Kōhei Uchimura,[216] baseballer Shohei Ohtani, and tennis player Naomi Osaka.[217][218]

Hanyu later opened accounts on social media, having long eschewed it for years, that are mainly managed by staff.[219] He stated his intention to show his skating through his YouTube channel and increase opportunities for everyone to watch it, including those who are unable to attend ice shows and live overseas,[220][221] but that he did not have plans to make videos about his daily life.[222] On August 10, Hanyu live-streamed an open practice session on his channel, where he performed his past free skate programs, including a flawless performance of Seimei with the same elements as he had performed at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[223] As of October 1, Hanyu has over 720,000 subscibers with over 9 million views.[224]

On September 30, 2022, Hanyu announced his first ice show as a professional figure skater, titled Prologue, a one-man, self-produced and self-directed ice show to be held in Yokohama in November and Hachinohe in December.[225] He opened the first show – a 90-minute, six-piece act – on November 4, 2022, to a sell-out crowd in Pia Arena MM in Yokohama.[226]

Former coaches and choreographers

Before the 2011–12 season, most of Hanyu's career was guided by Nanami Abe in Sendai.[52] After winning bronze at the 2012 World Figure Skating Championships, he switched coaches to Brian Orser, who is known for guiding Kim Yuna to gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics. In switching, Hanyu continued to attend high school in Sendai but made frequent trips to Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club (TCSCC), where Orser works as a skating instructor.[227] Hidehito Ito, the figure skating director at the Japanese Skating Federation, said the change was necessary to "challenge" Hanyu and "raise the level [of his skating] more".[52] During his time at TCSCC, Hanyu was also coached by Tracy Wilson and Ghislain Briand.[228][229] On his experience working as a jump specialist with Hanyu since 2014, Briand stated that he was given a lot of room: "I have to admit [Hanyu] is probaby the first athlete who really recognizes what I'm doing with him."[229] After Hanyu turned professional, Briand stated that he would continue to work with him when he was needed.[230]

During Hanyu's junior career, all of his programs were choreographed by Nanami Abe.[231] Starting from his 2012–2013 season, his programs were choreographed by others, with Shae-Lynn Bourne and Jeffrey Buttle as frequent collaborators.[232][233] Hanyu has also worked with Canadian choreographer David Wilson for several years, including his free skate program for the 2014 Winter Olympics,[23][233] before collaborated on many exhibition programs.[234] Other choreographers for his exhibition programs include Kurt Browning, Kenji Miyamoto, and former coach Nanami Abe.[232]

In 2021, due to travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, Hanyu started to train alone in Sendai with some remote consultation from his coaches. Despite the difficulties of training alone, Hanyu found that it had been a good opportunity to learn how to control and analyze himself,[235] which led him not return to Canada until he turned professional and made Ice Rink Sendai his training base again.[223][236] Hanyu also opted to receive remote choreography for his programs ever since and has contributed significantly to the choreography of his programs in the 2020–21 season.[237]

Skating technique and style

• Hanyu's signature moves
• 
  Layback Biellmann spin
• 
  Doughnut camel spin
• 
  One-handed hydroblading
• 
  Layback Ina Bauer
• 
  Side lunge (pistol pose)

Hanyu is regarded by analysts as an accomplished skater known for his high-level technical elements as well as mature and versatile artistry.[8][14][238] His performance is often characterized as "the perfect combination of skills, strength and elegance",[239][240][241] tending to "[blur] rigid gender lines".[9] According to four-time Olympic medalist Evgeni Plushenko, Hanyu had a "decided edge over other skaters in the completeness of his performance—spins, skating skills, transitions between jumps and musical interpretation".[9] Two-time world champion Stephane Lambiel described him as "the most complete athlete in figure skating, probably ever."[9]

Hanyu is known for his ability to generate skating speed "out of nowhere" and cover long distances with only a few strokes.[12][240][242] At the 2021–22 Japan Championships, he managed to perform a clean short program without using consecutive crossovers and reduce the number of basic skating movements to a minimum.[243] This is a feat that has long been considered near impossible, as stated by former competitive skater John Misha Petkevich in his book Figure Skating: Championship Techniques from 1989: "Without a doubt, crossovers are the staple of every skater. Not only are they used to negotiate corners, but they are also used to pick up speed. Skating without crossovers would be virtually unthinkable."[244]^: 56

The ability to accelerate with a few strokes allows Hanyu to execute his jumps from a variety of difficult entries. Notable are the backward counter turn, twizzle, and spread eagle into his signature triple Axel jump.[245][246][247] Hanyu is also known for his strong vaulting technique with minimal pre-rotation on the ice at the take-off,[248][249][note 1] achieving trajectories of impressive size.[240][242] With a height of 70 centimeters and covering a distance of 3.62 meters, his triple Axel was the largest measured jump in the men's short program at the 2019 World Championships.[251]^: 1 In 2018, Hanyu's triple Axel from the 2018 Winter Olympics was used as a demonstration example by the ISU for the GOE judging criteria "very good height and very good length" as well as "steps before the jump, unexpected or creative entry".[252] Despite the complex preceding steps and big trajectory, he manages to land his jumps smoothly and increase his skating speed from take-off to landing.[240][242][251]^: 1 With the toe loop, Salchow, loop, and Lutz, Hanyu has successfully executed four different types of quadruple jumps in the course of his competitive career. He stated his preference for edge jumps, and notably featured all three types in his short program of the 2016–17 season.[253]^{: ch. 1}

Hanyu is able to execute the layback Biellmann and doughnut camel spin,[254] which are more commonly seen in women's singles and known for their difficulty among male skaters due to the high flexibility required in spine, hips, and shoulders.[1][11][255] Other signature moves include the layback Ina Bauer, hydroblading, and the side lunge.[256] Overall, Hanyu's technical elements stand out for their high quality of execution,[8][10][240] having received a total of 29 maximum scores in international competition,[257][note 2] covering all four types of required elements in the men's singles discipline: jumps, spins, steps, and choreographic sequences.[258][259][260] Beyond that, his elements are noted for their seamless embedding into the choreography and his movements for their precise timing with the music,[261][262] the latter being awarded a perfect 10.00 in the interpretation component at the 2021–22 Japan Championships.[263]

Hanyu's programs cover a variety of different music genres, including classical pieces, modern pop rock, musicals, and traditional Japanese music.[264][265] He notably portrayed the historical Japanese figures Abe no Seimei and Uesugi Kenshin in his free skate programs at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.[266][267] He also dedicated various exhibition programs to the victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and performed them as live music collaborations at shows like Fantasy on Ice among others.[268] Hanyu is known to be involved in all aspects of his programs, from the music selection and editing process to the costume design and choreography.[239][267] As his choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne stated, "He knows what costume he wants. He knows what jump order he wants. He makes a lot of the decisions on his own. You can't say 'no' to that ever. You know, with music especially, because he is going to skate with conviction."[266]

Figure skaters Hanyu looked up to while growing up are Evgeni Plushenko and Johnny Weir.[1][269] With his competitive programs for the 2018–19 season, he paid homage to the two skaters by skating to "Otoñal" by Raúl di Blasio as well as "Art on Ice" and "Magic Stradivarius" by Edvin Marton, which had been used by Weir and Plushenko, respectively, in their programs.[270] At the press conference of the 2018 Winter Olympics, Hanyu also mentioned Stephane Lambiel, Javier Fernández, and Dick Button as the skaters who had influenced him as a skater.[271]

Public life

Endorsements and ambassadorships

Hanyu has appeared in many commercials and advertising campaigns over the years. In 2013, Hanyu, alongside fellow Japanese figure skater Daisuke Takahashi, became the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics campaign ambassador for P&G's global "Proud Sponsor of Moms" campaign.[272] He also signed an affiliation contract with All Nippon Airways and from February 8 to 23, 2014, Hanyu endorsed their new line of flight attendant outfits, which were designed by Prabal Gurung and appeared in a TV commercial for their 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics "Hello Blue Hello Future" campaign.[273][274][275] In September 2014, Hanyu starred in a TV commercial for Capcom's new video game Monster Hunter 4G.[276] and endorsed Lotte's Ghana milk chocolate with Mao Asada, singer Airi Matsui, and actresses Suzu Hirose and Tao Tsuchiya, in following years he also endorsed Lotte's Xylitol Whites and GUM FOR THE GAME.[277][278][279][280]

Hanyu has also worked with other brands such as Ajinomoto endorsing their sport nutritional products Amino Vital and nutritional meals along with other athletes like Uta Abe,[281] bath salts Bathclin Kikiyu,[282] bedding products Nishikawa Sangyo co.,[283] and Phiten for their line of Rakuwa nylon-coated necklace models including Hanyu's inspired necklace 'Wings Gold'.[284][285][286][287] In 2019, Hanyu became the ambassador for Citizen in China, Hong Kong, and Macau,[288] as well as the global ambassador of the Sekkisei series by Kosé.[289] He was later appointed as the global "muse" of the Sekkisei Miyabi brand in 2020.[290] In October 2021, Hanyu was chosen as a face of Towa Pharmaceutical co. appearing in a TV commercial with veteran actress Tetsuko Kuroyanagi[291][292] and endorsed ANA's new teleportation services "avatarin".[293]

In 2013 and 2021, Hanyu was appointed as the model for Miyagi Prefecture Police's traffic safety poster aiming to encourage compliance with traffic rules and spread awareness of safe driving. According to an official in March 2021, Hanyu was chosen because "he embodies sportsmanship".[294]

In June 2021, Hanyu was appointed as the ambassador of the world's first official Paralympics game The Pegasus Dream Tour, making his video game debut with his avatar appearing in the game. According to the representative of the game's developer company, Hanyu was chosen because "he is an athlete as well as a person who has artistry in his way of life".[295][296]

Since April 2014, Hanyu has been acting as the tourism ambassador of Sendai and featured in the city's tourism posters as well as tourist guidebooks.[297][298][299]

Philanthropy

Since the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami, Hanyu has been an advocate for and supporter of various campaigns to help earthquake victims, as he was also directly affected by the disaster, stating: "When the earthquake hit, I was on the ice at my home rink in Sendai".[20] Shortly after the disaster, he and other skaters skated in ice shows to raise money for the victims, raising a total of more than $150,000. He also sold his personal belongings at the show, fundraising an additional ¥2,954,323 ($35,387).[20]

Hanyu donated his 2014 Olympic gold medal 6 million yen ($55,000) prize money as well as his 2018 Olympic gold medal 10 million yen ($92,000) prize money received from the Japan Skating Federation and Japanese Olympic Committee to Sendai and Miyagi Prefecture to help the disaster areas reconstruction.[300][301] He also has been helping his original home rink Ice Rink Sendai, rendered unusable after the disaster, by donating all the royalties and part of the proceeds of his autobiographies Blue Flames and Blue Flames II which were released in 2012 and 2016 respectively.[26]. It was revealed, in 2021, that a total of ¥31,442,143 ($286,000) had been donated to the rink.[302][303]

In September 2014, Hanyu was appointed as the Tsunami Disaster Prevention Ambassador for one year participating in activities to spread tsunami disaster prevention public awareness.[304] In February 2015, Hanyu became the spokesman for reconstruction efforts led by the Japanese Red Cross Society.[305] He also lent his image as the spokesman for the Red Cross' "Hatachi no Kenketsu" donation campaign where he starred in the promotional video with patients.[306] In March 2019, he donated a pair of figure skates to an online charity auction which raised 7.12 million yen ($64,000) for the disaster area reconstruction.[307] He also collaborated with Line Corporation supervising the creation of "Yuzuru Hanyu 3.11 Smile Stamp" which went on sale with all revenues donated to the Nippon Foundation's "Special Fund for Disaster Reconstruction" to support acts for reconstruction and future disaster preparation.[308][309] On August 21, 2019, a poster of Hanyu with the protagonist of the anime Yowamushi Pedal was released to promote Tour de Tohoku, an annual charity cycling event held to support the cause. He appeared in five of the nine posters being released.[310] In 2021, marking the 10th anniversary of Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Hanyu organized the "Together, Forward" exhibition that traces his footsteps during that difficult period, revisiting the affected people and places. The exhibition is held in multiple Japanese cities in an effort to remind everyone of the importance of disaster prevention and preparation.[311]

Hanyu also regularly participates in Nippon TV's annual charity program 24-Hour Television since 2014, holding special ice-shows and visiting victims in disaster areas. In 2014, he held a one-night ice show to bring in donations.[312] In 2015, he and Hey! Say! JUMP member Yuri Chinen designed "Chari-T-shirts" for the program under the slogan "To connect: a smile beyond time". The shirts were to be sold with the profits given to charity.[313] He also visited earthquake-affected areas in Fukushima and Ishinomaki, interviewing the victims as part of the program segment.[314][315]

Film and television

On December 31, 2015, Hanyu served as a judge on Japan's popular New Year's Eve music show Kōhaku Uta Gassen.[113] He made his on-screen debut as Date Shigemura, a samurai lord, in the 2016 movie, The Magnificent Nine.[316][317]

Hanyu's first DVD/Blu-ray album Time of Awakening, which compiled his career before the 2014 Winter Olympics, was released on May 21, 2014, selling 21,000 copies.[318][319] It was the first DVD from an athlete to top Oricon's DVD ranking since its establishment in 1999. The album also peaked at number 3 on the chart's Blu-ray ranking.[320] On December 18, 2015, NHK Enterprises released the DVD of The Flowers Bloom on Ice, featuring behind-the-scenes and interviews with Shizuka Arakawa and Yuzuru Hanyu as they skate at the ice show together to support reconstruction after the 2011 Japan earthquake.[321]

In 2018, Hanyu's first self-produced show Continues with Wings was live broadcast on TV Asahi CS and live-streamed at 66 movie theaters throughout Japan.[322][323] He is also one of the lead cast members besides Stéphane Lambiel and Johnny Weir at the annual touring ice show Fantasy on Ice, having participated in all editions of the tour since its revival in 2010 with one exception, having missed the shows in 2016 due to rehabilitation from a ligament injury.[268][324]^: 61

Books and magazines

In addition to his autobiographies Blue Flames and Blue Flames II, Hanyu also released some photobooks. His first photo book, Yuzuru, was released on October 4, 2014, selling over 23,000 copies. It ranked first in Oricon's weekly charts for photos and sport-related categories, as well as second in the chart's general books category.[325] On September 25, 2015, Yuzuru Hanyu Goroku was released containing pictures and quotes by the skater. In September 2015, the book topped Amazon's reservation sales rankings.[326][327]

Hanyu has graced covers of numerous Japanese sports magazines as well as well-known magazines, such as An An and Aera.[328][329]

Personal life and education

Since Hanyu began carrying a Winnie-the-Pooh tissue box to competitions in 2010, his supporters and fans eventually made it a custom to acknowledge the end of his performances by throwing Pooh bears onto the ice instead of other kinds of stuffed toys or gifts, which has been a tradition in figure skating. Hanyu donates the bears to disadvantaged children at local hospitals and charities surrounding the arena that hosted the event.[330][331]

Hanyu studied at Nanakita Elementary and Junior High School.[332] In 2013, Hanyu graduated from Tohoku High School [ja] then entered an e-school program on Human Information Science at Waseda University.[333][334][335] He attended the school from his training base in Canada.[336] In August 2020, it was revealed that his graduation thesis summarizes how 3D motion capture technology could be used in figure skating, and in particular its potential for use in figure skating judging.[337] One area of research he did is recording and analyzing his movement while doing the triple Axel jump off-ice which he hopes can be used to improve the skills of athletes and AI judging.[338] He officially graduated from the university in September 2020, but was unable to attend the ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[339] In March 2021, a bulletin paper summarizing his graduation thesis was published on the Waseda Journal of Human Sciences.[340]

Accolades and impact

Many sport writers, commentators, and skaters have made the case for Hanyu as the greatest skater in history,[5][9][13][10] particularly after his second Olympic victory, for his well-rounded skills, longevity at the top in a highly competitive field, and ability to deliver under pressure.[6][7][8][12][14] His decision to attempt the quadruple Axel at the 2022 Winter Olympics instead of taking a conservative option was seen to have strengthened his status.[8][12]

Hanyu is regarded as part of the vanguard of the quad revolution in men's figure skating.[4][12] He was one of the few skaters who challenged quadruple Salchow at the 2014 Olympics.[1] He is credited as the first figure skater to successfully land a quadruple loop in competition after performing it in the short program at the Autumn Classic International in Montreal, Canada on September 30, 2016.[119][341] He is also the only skater who has landed a quadruple toe loop-triple Axel sequence in competition, doing so for the first time at Grand Prix Helsinki 2018.[342] Hanyu is also the first skater to land a quadruple toe loop-Euler-triple flip combination at Skate Canada 2019.[343] At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Hanyu made his first attempt on the quadruple Axel in an international competition. Despite falling on the jump, he received the base value of quad Axel before being reduced for under-rotation.[344] It was the closest quad Axel attempt in a competition until American Ilia Malinin successfully landed one at the 2022 CS U.S. Classic,[345][346] who cited Hanyu as his inspiration to attempt the jump.[346] However, in regards to the ongoing debate on jumps versus artistry in the sport,[347][348][349] Hanyu spoke through an interpreter after his second Olympic win in 2018:[350]

"I believe [...] that this artistry is very much based on having the correct technique and a strong foundation at the core of everything. It is upon these that the artistry is built, and without that strong foundation and that basis in technique, it is not possible to have that full artistry required as well. [...] Of course there are some other figure skaters who perhaps place a much higher priority on the jumps themselves and they are also successful in winning in competitions through this as well. However, [sic] personally I believe that within these different difficult jumps these are used as the basis for the artistry, and this relationship is balanced, which comes together to form what is most important."

In recognition of his achievements, Hanyu has been awarded numerous accolades, including the People's Honour Award in 2018 becoming the first figure skater and the youngest recipient of the award.[15] He was also awarded the Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon in 2014 and 2018,[351][352] and received two monuments depicting his trademark poses performed at the 2014 and 2018 Olympics in his hometown of Sendai.[353][354] He was also nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Comeback of the Year in 2019 becoming the first figure skater to be nominated for the award,[355][356] and was awarded the Most Valuable Skater of the 2019–20 season at the inaugural ISU Skating Awards in 2020.[188] In 2021, he was awarded the Azusa Ono Memorial Award, the most prestigious award that can be conferred to students and given to those recognized as a model, from Waseda University.[357][358]

Hanyu was featured in prestigious lists, such as Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia 2018[359] as well as ESPN's World Fame 100 and The Dominant 20,[360][361] and has received multiple awards and ranked high in multiple lists and popularity polls from various media outlets.[362][363]

World records and other achievements

Throughout his career, Hanyu has broken world records nineteen times – seven times under the current +5/-5 GOE system and twelve times before the 2018–19 season.[note 3] He holds the historical world records for the short program, free skating and total score.[55][365]

• SP – Short program
• FS – Free skating
• Incumbent world records highlighted in bold and italic
• The table only lists Hanyu's world records under the current +5/-5 GOE system.

World records in the senior men's singles short program, free skating and combined total score[365]

No.	Date	Score	Seg.	Event	Place
1	November 3, 2018	106.69	SP	2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki	Helsinki
2	November 4, 2018	190.43	FS
3	November 4, 2018	297.12	Total
4	November 16, 2018	110.53	SP	2018 Rostelecom Cup	Moscow
5	March 23, 2019	206.10	FS	2019 World Championships	Saitama
6	March 23, 2019	300.97	Total
7	February 7, 2020	111.82	SP	2020 Four Continents Championships	Seoul

Programs

• ^show – Program only performed in an ice show in that season
• Encore performances at exhibition galas and ice shows are not included in the list.
• If the gala or show program is identical to one of the competition programs of the same season, only the latter is included in the list.
• Ice show debuts of competition programs are not included in the list.

Competition, exhibition gala and ice show programs by season

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition gala/ ice show
2004–05 [366]	Spartacus Composed by Alex North Choreo. by Shōichirō Tsuzuki [ja]	From Russia with Love Composed by John Barry Choreo. by Shōichirō Tsuzuki	—
2005–06 [366]	—	From Russia with Love
2006–07 [366]	"Amazonic"/ "Totentanz" Performed by Maksim Mrvica Choreo. by Megumu Seki Tracks used "Amazonic" "Totentanz" (composed by Franz Liszt)	"Summer Storm" Based on "Storm" from The Four Seasons Performed by Ikuko Kawai Choreo. by Megumu Seki
2007–08 [367]	"Sing, Sing, Sing" Performed by Louis Prima Choreo. by Nanami Abe	The Firebird Composed by Igor Stravinsky Choreo. by Nanami Abe	"Amazonic"/ "Totentanz"show
2008–09 [16]	"Bolero" From the Moulin Rouge! Composed by Steve Sharples Choreo. by Nanami Abe	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Composed by Sergei Rachmaninov Choreo. by Nanami Abe	"Change [ja]"[368][369] Performed by Monkey Majik, Yoshida Brothers Choreo. by Nanami Abe
2009–10 [370]	Mission: Impossible II Composed by Hans Zimmer Choreo. by Nanami Abe Tracks used "The Bait" "Bare Island"	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini	"Change"[368]
			"Vertigo"[371]show Performed by U2 Choreo. by Nanami Abe
2010–11 [372]	"White Legend" From Swan Lake Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Performed by Ikuko Kawai Choreo. by Nanami Abe	Zigeunerweisen Composed by Pablo de Sarasate Choreo. by Nanami Abe	"Vertigo"
			"Change"show
2011–12 [231]	Étude in D-sharp minor Composed by Alexander Scriabin Performed by Maksim Mrvica Choreo. by Nanami Abe, Natalia Bestemianova, Igor Bobrin	Romeo + Juliet Composed by Craig Armstrong Choreo. by Nanami Abe, Natalia Bestemianova, Igor Bobrin Tracks used "O Verona" "Kissing You" (performed by Des'ree) "Escape" (from Plunkett & Macleane)	"Vertigo"
			"Somebody to Love"[373] Performed by Justin Bieber Choreo. by Nanami Abe
			"White Legend"[374]
2012–13 [375]	"Parisienne Walkways" Performed by Gary Moore Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle	Notre-Dame de Paris Composed by Riccardo Cocciante Choreo. by David Wilson Tracks used "Le Temps des cathédrales" "Les Sans-papiers" "Tu vas me détruire" "Danse Mon Esmeralda"	"Hello, I Love You"[376] Performed by The Doors Remixed by Adam Freeland Choreo. by Kurt Browning
			"花になれ" (Hana ni nare)[377][378] Performed by Fumiya Sashida Choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
			Étude in D-sharp minor
			"True Love"[379]show Performed by Fumiya Fujii
2013–14 [23]	"Parisienne Walkways"	Romeo and Juliet Composed by Nino Rota Choreo. by David Wilson Tracks used "The Ride from Mantua" "Love Theme"	Étude in D-sharp minor
			Notre-Dame de Paris
			"Story"[380] Performed by Ai Choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
			"花になれ" (Hana ni nare)
			"White Legend"
			Romeo + Juliet
			"言えないよ" (Ienai yo)[381]show Performed by Hiromi Go Choreo. by Camerlengo
			"Change"show[368][369]
			"The Final Time Traveler"[382]show Performed by Sarah Àlainn Choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
2014–15 [232]	Ballade No. 1 in G minor Composed by Frédéric Chopin Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle	The Phantom of the Opera Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne Tracks used "The Music of the Night" "The Point of No Return" "Phantasia"	"花は咲く" (Hana wa saku [ja])[383] Composed by Yoko Kanno Performed by Fumiya Sashida Choreo. by Nanami Abe
			"The Final Time Traveler"[382]
			"Parisienne Walkways"
			"Vertigo"show
			"Believe"[382]show Performed by Che'Nelle Choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
			"Hello, I Love You"show
			"Requiem of Heaven and Earth"[382][384]show From Requiem for the Great East Japan Earthquake 3.11 Performed by Yasunobu Matsuo [ja] Choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
2015–16 [385]	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	Seimei From Onmyōji, Onmyōji II Composed by Shigeru Umebayashi Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne Tracks used "陰陽師・メインテーマ" (Onmyoji Main Theme) "荒ぶる神" (Araburu Kami) "五芒星" (Gobousei) "陰陽師IIメインテーマ" (Onmyoji II Main Theme)	"Requiem of Heaven and Earth"[386]
			"The Final Time Traveler"show
2016–17 [269]	"Let's Go Crazy" Performed by Prince Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle	Hope and Legacy Composed by Joe Hisaishi Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne Tracks used "View of Silence" (from Pretender) "Asia Dream Song" (from Piano Stories II – The Wind of Life)	"Notte Stellata (The Swan)"[382][387] Composed by Tony Renis, Camille Saint-Saëns Performed by Il Volo Choreo. by David Wilson
			Ballade No. 1 in G minorshow
2017–18 [388]	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	Seimei	"Notte Stellata (The Swan)"[387]
			Continues With Wings medleys[note 4]
			"Wings of Words"[389]show Composed by Yukinojo Mori, Yoko Kasinagaya, Naohisa Taniguchi Performed by Chemistry
			Hope and Legacy[390]show
			"春よ、来い" (Haru yo, koi [ja])[382][391]show Sung by Yumi Matsutoya Performed by Shinya Kiyozuka [ja] Choreo. by David Wilson
2018–19 [392]	"Otoñal" (Autumnal) Composed by Raul di Blasio Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle	Origin Composed by Edvin Marton Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne Tracks used "Art On Ice" "Magic Stradivarius"	"春よ、来い" (Haru yo, koi)[393]
			"マスカレイド" (Masquerade)[382][394]show Performed by Toshi Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne
			"Crystal Memories"[382]show Performed by Toshi Choreo. by David Wilson
2019–20 [395][396]	"Otoñal" (Autumnal)	Origin	"Parisienne Walkways"
			"春よ、来い" (Haru yo, koi)
			"Notte Stellata (The Swan)"
			Seimei
	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	Seimei	Hope and Legacy
2020–21 [237]	"Let Me Entertain You" Performed by Robbie Williams Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle	Heaven and Earth (天と地と) Composed by Isao Tomita Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne Tracks used Ten to Chi to (Opening theme song) Shin Heike Monogatari (Opening theme song) Ten to Chi to ("Winter of Echigo")	"春よ、来い" (Haru yo, koi)[397]
			"花は咲く" (Hana wa saku)"[383]
			"Let's Go Crazy"[398]show
2021–22 [399]	Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Composed by Camille Saint-Saëns Performed by Shinya Kiyozuka Choreo. by Jeffrey Buttle, Shae-Lynn Bourne	Heaven and Earth (天と地と)	"マスカレイド" (Masquerade)show
			"Let Me Entertain You"
			"春よ、来い" (Haru yo, koi)[400]
			"Real Face"[401]show Performed by Shikao Suga Choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne, Yuzuru Hanyu
			"レゾン" (Raison)[402]show Performed by Taisei Miyakawa [ja] Choreo. by David Wilson, Yuzuru Hanyu

Competitive highlights

Senior seasons

• ^team – Team event
• GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
• CS – ISU Challenger event
• C – Event cancelled
• WD – Withdrew from event
• TBD – Assigned, result yet to be decided
• Medals at team events are awarded for the team result only. The individual placement at the World Team Trophy is listed in brackets.

Placements at senior events since the 2010–11 season[403][404]

Event	10–11	11–12	12–13	13–14	14–15	15–16	16–17	17–18	18–19	19–20	20–21	21–22
Olympics				1st				1st				4th
Olympicsteam				5th
Worlds		3rd	4th	1st	2nd	2nd	1st	WD	2nd	C	3rd	WD
Four Continents	2nd		2nd				2nd			1st	C
GP Final		4th	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st		WD	2nd	C
GP Cup of China		4th			2nd
GP Finland									1st
GP France				2nd
GP NHK Trophy	4th		1st		4th	1st	1st	WD		1st		WD
GP Rostelecom Cup	7th	1st						2nd	1st			WD
GP Skate America			2nd
GP Skate Canada				2nd		2nd	2nd			1st
CS Autumn Classic[note 5]						1st	1st	2nd	1st	1st
Finlandia Trophy			1st	1st	WD
Nebelhorn Trophy		1st
Japan Championships	4th	3rd	1st	1st	1st	1st	WD	WD	WD	2nd	1st	1st
World Team Trophyteam		WD	WD		3rd (1st)		1st (3rd)		WD		3rd (2nd)

Junior and novice seasons

• JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
• A – Event at novice level A
• B – Event at novice level B

Placements at senior, junior and advanced novice events until the 2009–10 season[403][404]

Event	04–05	05–06	06–07	07–08	08–09	09–10
Junior Worlds					12th	1st
JGP Final						1st
JGP Croatia						1st
JGP Poland						1st
JGP Italy					5th
Santa Claus Cup	1st
Mladost Trophy			1st
Skate Copenhagen				1st
Japan Senior					8th	6th
Japan Junior			7th	3rd	1st	1st
Japan Novice	1st B	2nd B	3rd A	1st A

Notes

References

Further reading

• Hanyu, Yuzuru (March 16, 2020). "Figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu shares his emotional journey to becoming world's best". CBC Sports (Interview). Interviewed by Russell, Scott. Canada: CBC. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

External links

• Yuzuru Hanyu's channel on YouTube
• Yuzuru Hanyu on Instagram
• Yuzuru Hanyu on Twitter
• Yuzuru Hanyu at the International Skating Union
• Yuzuru Hanyu at Olympics.com
• Yuzuru Hanyu (JSF Profile) at the Wayback Machine (archived February 10, 2018) (Japanese)
• Yuzuru Hanyu: All Nippon Airways's athlete at the Wayback Machine (archived June 7, 2021)
• Yuzuru Hanyu at IMDb 
• Yuzuru Hanyu score database at SkatingScores.com

На других языках

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[de] Yuzuru Hanyū

Yuzuru Hanyū (japanisch 羽生 結弦, Ha’nyū Yuzuru; * 7. Dezember 1994 in Sendai, Präfektur Miyagi) ist ein ehemaliger japanischer Eiskunstläufer, der im Einzellauf startete. Er ist der Olympiasieger von 2014 und 2018 sowie der Weltmeister von 2014 und 2017. Darüber hinaus ist Hanyū vierfacher Gewinner des Grand-Prix-Finals (2013–2016), fünffacher japanischer Meister (2012–2015, 2020), Gewinner der Vier-Kontinente-Meisterschaften 2020, Juniorenweltmeister 2010 und Sieger des Grand-Prix-Finals der Junioren 2009.

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- [en] Yuzuru Hanyu

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[fr] Yuzuru Hanyu

Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生 結弦, Hanyū Yuzuru?), né le 7 décembre 1994 à Sendai au Japon, est un patineur artistique japonais. Il est champion olympique 2014 et 2018, champion du monde 2014 et 2017, quadruple vainqueur consécutif de la Finale du Grand Prix ISU entre les saisons 2013 et 2016, champion du monde junior 2010, champion de la Finale du Grand Prix junior 2009/2010, 6 fois médaillé des Championnats du Monde : bronze en 2012, et argent pour les saisons 2015, 2016 et 2019, quadruple médaillé du Championnat des Quatre Continents en 2011, 2013, 2017 et 2020, sextuple champion du Japon entre 2013 et 2016 et en 2020, 2022.

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[it] Yuzuru Hanyū

Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生 結弦 Hanyū Yuzuru?; Sendai, 7 dicembre 1994) è un pattinatore artistico su ghiaccio giapponese.

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[ru] Ханю, Юдзуру

Юдзуру Ханю (яп. 羽生 結弦 Ханю: Юдзуру, ромадзи: Hanyu Yuzuru; род. 7 декабря 1994 года) — японский фигурист, выступавший в одиночном катании. Двукратный Олимпийский чемпион 2014 года и 2018 года в одиночном катании, двукратный чемпион мира (2014, 2017), чемпион четырёх континентов (2020), четырёхкратный победитель финала Гран-при (2013—2016), шестикратный чемпион Японии (2013—2016, 2021, 2022). Серебряный призёр чемпионатов мира 2015, 2016 и 2019 годов, бронзовый призёр чемпионатов мира 2012 и 2021 годов, серебряный призёр чемпионата четырёх континентов 2011, 2013 и 2017 годов, чемпион мирового командного чемпионата (2017), бронзовый призёр командного чемпионата мира (2015, 2021). Чемпион мира среди юниоров (2010), победитель финала Гран-при среди юниоров (2009), двукратный чемпион Японии в юниорском разряде (2009, 2010).

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