Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist
2018.02.16
Source: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL2H4PPML2HUNHB00P.html
(Miyagi) “There’s no need to worry about Yuzu” — Hanyu aims for back-to-back titles as he heads into the short program.
The men’s figure skating competition, which begins on the 16th, will feature defending champion Yuzuru Hanyu (23). Having overcome an injury to his right ankle sustained in November last year, he is aiming to become the first skater in 66 years to win consecutive Olympic titles in the men’s event. Amid a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, people who knew him during his time in Sendai are watching over him with confidence, saying, “There’s no need to worry about Yuzu.”
Hanyu began skating at the age of four at Ice Rink Sendai, located in Izumi Ward, Sendai. The rink closed in 2004 due to financial difficulties, and Hanyu, who was then in the fourth grade of elementary school, moved to Katsuyama Skating Club in Aoba Ward, also in Sendai.
Tatsuyoshi Matsuda (73), who was a coach there, recalls his first impression of Hanyu, who was already among the top skaters in his age group: “He was a slender, frail-looking boy.” However, Hanyu had exceptional natural talent, and Matsuda says he was convinced that “he could win an Olympic medal.”
Matsuda attributes Hanyu’s success to the fact that “he simply hates losing.” At the time, Swiss figure skater Stéphane Lambiel, who was known as a “master of spins,” visited the rink and demonstrated his high-speed spins. The children were delighted. However, Hanyu stood alongside Lambiel and showed off his own spins, as if to say, “I'm not going to lose to you.”
“He was already driven by a competitive spirit, even against the world’s top skaters. I suppose he was looking toward the world stage even back then.”
Although Hanyu was returning to competition for the first time in about four months, Matsuda was not worried.
“He’s an optimistic kid, and I actually feel that he performs even better when faced with adversity. If he can deliver everything he’s capable of, I think he can aim for gold.”
Kazue Chiba (62), who served as the figure skating club adviser at Hanyu’s alma mater, Sendai Municipal Nanakita Junior High School, is also among those watching over him. The school’s skating club resumed activities in the same year Hanyu enrolled.
“He was a cute boy with a mushroom-style haircut,” she recalled.
Hanyu was outstanding even off the ice. At an award ceremony at his junior high school, he reportedly stood with one foot placed forward, like a ballerina. When Chiba asked him why he stood that way, he replied, “My sport is one in which people watch me, so I’m always conscious of how I present myself.”
Chiba fondly remembers, “Just as he looks on television today, he was always neat and well-groomed.”
When Hanyu graduated, Chiba made him promise, “If you win an Olympic medal, you have to give me your autograph!” While other teachers received his autograph, Chiba waited for the right moment. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Hanyu fulfilled his promise and returned to Sendai in triumph. Chiba received his autograph and was even allowed to hold his gold medal.
When Chiba said, “Next is Pyeongchang, right?” Hanyu reportedly replied with a smile, “Sensei, are you going to come to PyeongChang to watch me?!”
Unfortunately, Chiba was unable to get tickets to the PyeongChang Olympics, so she will cheer him on from home this time. Concerned about the condition of his injury, she says, “Perhaps he doesn’t need to push himself to land so many quadruple jumps.”
However, she also recognizes that “he always wants to deliver his very best performance, so he probably wouldn’t be satisfied with that. I hope he’ll skate beautifully again this time.”
Hanyu is scheduled to skate 25th in the short program (SP) on the 16th. The free skate will take place on the 17th.
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