* machine translation, inaccuracies may exist
Source: https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404856379658862708
2011
Silver Medal at the Four Continents Championships
On February 18, 2011, the second day of the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu competed in the men's short program. He scored a personal best of 67.43 points, placing third. Hanyu commented: “Since this is the final season of my junior eligibility, I'm glad I was able to perform at the level I had shown before. Achieving such a high score at an overseas competition gives me confidence.”
On February 19, the third day of the competition, the men's free skate took place. Hanyu finished third in the free skate, moving up from third place after the short program to secure second place overall. At his first Four Continents Championships, he had earned his first medal at a major senior international competition. Looking back on his performance, Hanyu said: “My jumps weren't in the best condition, so I made a conscious effort to perform every movement carefully. Towards the end, fatigue began to make things a little difficult.”
Nebelhorn Trophy Champion
On September 23, 2011, Yuzuru Hanyu competed in the men's free skate at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany. Having placed first in the short program, Hanyu also finished first in the free skate, securing the overall victory with a combined score of 226.26 points. Earlier that year, the 16-year-old Hanyu had endured the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake in March. Having overcome considerable difficulties, he was now looking forward to making further progress in his second season as a senior skater. The Nebelhorn Trophy served as an important competition ahead of the official start of the season. Although he still had several areas to improve, Hanyu managed to finish first in both the short program and free skate. His total score was close to his personal best, marking a convincing victory. For his free skate that season, he chose the famous music from Romeo and Juliet. Hanyu spoke about making the program his own: “Others might associate the music with the original characters, but I want to turn it into my own performance. Even if it's Hanyu and Juliet.” His next challenge would be the ISU Grand Prix series, beginning with the third event of the season, the Cup of China.
Memo: After steadily developing throughout his first season in the senior category, Hanyu finished second at the Four Continents Championships in February 2011. However, on March 11, while training at an ice rink in Sendai, he was caught in the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake. He was forced to take refuge in an evacuation centre and did not resume training until ten days later. Leaving behind his severely damaged training rink, Hanyu travelled to Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture, where he worked on the choreography for his new programs. He continued preparing for the upcoming season by travelling between different locations to train on the ice. Due to the earthquake's impact, the ice rink in Sendai remained closed until late July. During this difficult period, Hanyu took part in ice shows, making the most of every opportunity to get back on the ice. He reportedly said: “During this time, I was able to get on the ice at ice show venues earlier. I wanted to skate as much as possible.” Although he was still young and retained his boyish appearance, the hardships he experienced had made him stronger and more resilient.
Fourth Place at the Cup of China
On November 4, 2011, the third event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Cup of China, opened in Shanghai, China. In the men's short program, Yuzuru Hanyu scored a personal best of 81.37 points, placing second. He successfully landed his quadruple jump and delivered an impressive performance, demonstrating his growing technical ability. On the following day, the final day of the Cup of China, the free skate competitions took place. Hanyu finished fourth overall with a combined score of 226.53 points. For the first time, he missed out on a place on the podium at a senior international competition. Speaking to reporters after the competition, Hanyu reflected: “I was too focused on each individual element.” Despite his disappointment, he also offered a positive assessment of his performance: “Last year, I finished fourth at the NHK Trophy with a performance I was satisfied with. This year, I finished fourth after a rather messy performance, and I was still quite far from the podium. So, in that sense, I received a pretty strong evaluation.” Although he was disappointed with the result, the competition gave him valuable experience in recognising areas that needed improvement as he continued developing in the senior category.
Rostelecom Cup Champion - His First-Ever Victory on the Senior Grand Prix Circuit
On November 25, 2011, the sixth event of the ISU Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, was held in Moscow, Russia. In the men's short program, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu placed second, trailing the leader by just 0.76 points. It was an encouraging start to the competition. During his quadruple jump attempt, he had to put both hands on the ice to steady himself after landing. However, rather than allowing the mistake to affect the rest of his performance, he demonstrated his ability to recover and move forward. Although mistakes on difficult jumps can place considerable physical and psychological demands on a skater, Hanyu refused to dwell on the failure. Instead, he focused entirely on what came next. He successfully completed his three spins and incorporated a Level 4 step sequence for the first time, the highest difficulty level available. His performance to the classical music remained composed and expressive throughout. His program also received particularly strong marks for its Program Component Scores, with several components earning scores above 7 points.
Although these scores can involve a degree of subjective judging, Hanyu's improved performance components reflected his artistic development in only his second senior season. His combined score became a new personal best at an international senior competition, bringing him closer to his target score. Hanyu expressed his happiness, saying: “I've come close to the score I was aiming for.”
With this victory, Hanyu had secured his place in the Grand Prix Final. He remained determined not to become complacent, saying: “I must not let my guard down. I also want to mentally rehearse the quadruple jump and make sure I can land it. I want to successfully land my signature jump and make a strong impression.” On November 26, the men's and women's free skate competitions took place. Yuzuru Hanyu, who had been second after the short program, staged a comeback to win the competition. This was his first-ever victory in the senior ISU Grand Prix series.
Having suffered through the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, Hanyu overcame tremendous difficulties and transformed adversity into motivation, eventually claiming the championship. He reportedly reflected on the experience of facing death and the fragility of life: “I only live once. I feel that my life is very short.” On the day of the earthquake, schools were closed, and Hanyu was practising at the Sendai ice rink, his home training base, when the powerful tremors suddenly struck. The ice beneath his skates became uneven and unstable, making it impossible to stand properly. His home was also affected by the disaster, and he and his family spent several days living in an evacuation centre.
On November 27, the leading skaters from the sixth event of the Grand Prix series, the Rostelecom Cup, participated in the exhibition gala. As the newly crowned champion, Hanyu also took to the ice. With youthful energy and an upbeat style, he performed to a lively, romance-themed song, showcasing a different side of his skating. During a press conference that day, Hanyu expressed his sense of accomplishment: “Being able to push myself during the second half of the free skate gave me a great sense of achievement. Staying focused and skating through the entire programme was the biggest reason I won.”
Memo: Hanyu explained that experiencing the fear of death had changed his thoughts and values. Things he had previously taken for granted no longer seemed so certain. He began to appreciate and cherish every moment. The earthquake also changed his attitude towards competition and training. Because his home training rink was forced to close for more than four months, Hanyu travelled between different locations and participated in more than 60 charity ice shows to support disaster relief efforts. To make time for training, he would sometimes arrive at ice show venues early. Whenever he performed, he approached the ice with the same intensity and dedication as he would in a competition, never treating a single performance carelessly. Over time, this attitude became part of his approach to skating and contributed to his eventual breakthrough as a champion. Following the earthquake, Hanyu had also struggled with doubts about whether he should continue skating. However, he gradually developed a stronger sense of purpose. He wanted people to see him skating with energy and vitality, and hoped that his performances could offer encouragement to others. He also wanted to contribute in whatever way he could. His determination to keep skating and bring hope to his hometown of Sendai had become an important source of strength. His first senior Grand Prix victory was therefore more than a sporting achievement. It was also a reflection of the resilience he had developed through one of the most difficult periods of his young life.
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yuzurujenn ·
