ZuCritter

Happy Anniversary to our extraterrestrial home. I can't say how much I appreciate the hard work and steady hands of all the admins and mods. I know it takes a lot of time and care to keep everything running, and you all do an amazing job! And thanks to all the satellites who share their hearts and souls here. I think we collectively are a real credit to Yuzu -- and that's saying a LOT!!!! It's been especially fun to see so many new fanyus join our ranks in recent months (or emerge from the lurker shadows). Long live Yuzu, and long live the Planet.

When did you become a fan of Yuzu? A few weeks before PyeongChang. When and why did you sign up for Planet Hanyu? In the wake of the '18 Olys, I was eager to find other lunatics people who would understand my total obsession with Mr. Hanyu! Did you make any irl friends through Planet Hanyu? Yes, and it's been a real joy. Have you participated in any group projects on Planet Hanyu? Yes, a couple of the birthday projects. Did you attend any meetups with other satellites at competitions? Yes, I met many wonderful fanyus in Torino. What do you like the most about this forum? What's not to like? It's comprehensive, welcoming, well organized, well moderated, bursting with wonderful resources like the video archives and populated by a crazy array of different personalities who all share a love for Yuzu. Would you like to participate in the giveaway? Thanks, but no. I've already got way too much stuff.

I wonder if he even has 1.0 anymore. I guess I’ve assumed unconsciously that he got rid of it. If he shows up in that, it will be a goosebumps moment! Seriously, of all the times Yuzu has faced down adversity and emerged looking (even more) superhuman, that skate is probably the most iconic!

"Uneasy is the head that wears the crown." As I've slowly come to grips with the earthquake that was the last few days, that line from Shakespeare has lodged itself more and more firmly in the forefront of my mind. (Sorry, I know "earthquake" is an unfortunate metaphor, but it's the one that fits best.) Unnerving but wonderful, I woke up yesterday after the FS feeling miraculously liberated. I hope that, given more time, Yuzu will feel the same. Having something to defend, something of great value, purchased at great price, is an oppressive and exhausting way to live. Being the "defending" Olympic champion is a burden as much as an honor. Over the past four years, especially, I think that burden weighed mightily on Yuzu's heart and mind. Now he is free . He can, I hope, relax a bit and rediscover some of the joy of skating, without feeling that he owes anything to the authorities who have treated him so shabbily. Let Yuma carry the weight of obligation and expectation. Let the ISU crumble under the weight of its own shortsightedness and arrogance. He owes them nothing. He can wash his hands of the whole corrupt circus and laugh in private at its ruin. Yuzu will land the 4A and compete for as long as he chooses, but without the pressure of "defending his crown" troubling his dreams. When he stops competing he will still be be famous, rich and adored. Nathan will be a footnote. The corrupt regime will eventually fall, and if he chooses, Yuzu may have an opportunity to reform the sport he loves. But that's for another time. For now, he is finally free to skate for himself and his fans only, and that's a blessing for all of us.

Note to judges: TAKE THE MAN AT HIS WORD! He knows it. The world can see it. His skating is mediocre at best.

Let’s not forget, either, that a sufficiently egregious result can blow up the entire system when it happens on the Olympic stage. (See: Salt Lake, 2002.) That might be the only legacy better than a 3rd OGM. Of course, that scenario would probably require JSF to grow a spine, but a fanyu can still dream.

I listen to a meditation app that includes discussions of the neurological bases of the meditation experience. Last night, I learned that, neurologically speaking, anxiety and excitement are identical. That was so affirming, because it matched my own observations. I've wondered for years what people were talking about when they said they experienced anxiety. I just couldn't locate anything in my experience that I would describe with the word "anxiety." The more closely I paid attention to other people's descriptions, the more I realized that I felt the same sensations but classified them as positive rather than negative. My internal labeling system called them "excitement" rather than "anxiety." Not only that, those sensations were hugely important to me in providing the impetus to do the things I care about. I'm just hugely grateful that I naturally frame things that way rather than having to work at switching my point of view. Perhaps Yuzu is the same.

I agree with every word of this. I fully believe Yuzu has been so public in his pursuit of the 4A not in spite of the hype he knew it would cause but because of the hype he knew it would cause . It’s largely a mental battle at this point, and he’s a seasoned warrior at the height of his prowess. I am loving it!

Can you imagine how dominant Yuzu would have been in an era with AI scoring? The very thought must send the ISU into panic mode. The part of me that dreads his r*****ment hopes that the prospect of exposing the corruption in scoring with the help of the technology will induce him to compete for a few more seasons. Even if the tech is only deployed unofficially, the gap between the AI scores and the judges’ scores will make a mockery of the current system.

Well, the IOC does have a hotline for reporting instances of "competition manipulation." If the scores are too outrageous, fanyus can always flood the hotline with complaints. i'm sure @Henni147 and some of our other statisticians could provide a convincing analysis of inconsistencies in the scoring. And Max would certainly get on the bandwagon. Just a thought.

Some time ago, i showed my partner a selection of videos of Yuzu's skates, starting with 4CC Chopin. He was suitably impressed. He still doesn't feel the need to get up in the middle of the night to watch competitions with me, but he's always interested in seeing the videos afterward. (The two of us live separately -- one benefit of which is that I have the freedom to cheer Yuzu or curse the judges as loudly as I please at 3 am.) This morning I awoke to find a late-night text from him. It said: "I just watched a video of a Yuzu performance. He really is a beautiful specimen of humanity." I texted back: "This makes me ridiculously happy."

I've been thinking about what Yuzu means when he says he needs Nessie as a "weapon" to win the Olys. As we know, 4A doesn't bring much of a point bonus, compared to 4L. But it brings a huge bonus in terms of dominating the narrative around the competition -- already demonstrated in the (abortive) run-up to NHK and then in the commentary around JNats. Stating his goals and his expectation of victory out loud is also a time-tested Yuzu strategy for managing his frame of mind. To put it crudely, and meaning no disrespect, he puts himself in the position of feeling that he has to live up to his own hype. For a skater with less mental fortitude, that strategy might backfire, causing him to bomb. But for Yuzu, it fortifies his his winning spirit. In effect, he wins because he has created a situation in which he feels he has to win. Both those things -- winning the external psychological battle as well as the internal psychological battle -- are marks of a veteran and a champion. His physical gifts are immense, but his dominance is at least as much mental as physical. Truly, he is the storm.

This makes me cry. But then so much about Yuzu makes me cry. May he and all satellites find joy and peace in 2022! I am eternally grateful to the wonderful admins who created and maintain this site and to all the fanyus who share my love for our miracle boi.

Note to Raf: The GOAT does not need a Pooh rain to wage psychological warfare.

Ahhhhh. Thank you.

Not sure this is the right thread. If not, apologies. I find myself suddenly looking up flights and rooms in Tallinn. What do veteran satellites think are the odds that Yuzu will compete at 4CC? It seems to me he would want more experience with Nessie and his programs before Olys. But I never feel confident trying to predict what Chaos Boy will do. Thanks in advance for any wisdom you can share.

Why am I crying? I don't know.

Five posts in 24 hours = the sound of fanyus worldwide collectively holding their breath. ETA: And desperately repeating to themselves: "It's fine. Whatever happens, I trust him. I'm good, either way. There's always the next competition ... season ... whatever. I'm fine. ... Really."

Such mixed feelings. This boi does give us an emotional workout, doesn’t he?

Thank you, @Henni147. As always, your observations and analysis enrich my understanding of Yuzu and his skating. I also want to acknowledge the private matters you allude to and send wishes for a quick resolution and much happier days ahead. The theme of sacrifice and Kenshin's internal conflict remind me of a wonderful quote from the Hindu epic the Bhagavad Gita. It's a line spoken by Lord Krishna, who is acting as charioteer for the warrior-prince Arjuna. Arjuna is deeply troubled on the eve of a particular battle, because he will be fighting against some of his own relatives. Krishna urges him to remember and be true to his destiny as a warrior. He says: "Yoga [meaning unity or perhaps integrity] is the practice of tolerating the consequences of being yourself." One measure of Yuzu's greatness, I believe, is his willingness to tolerate the consequences of being himself. It makes him a spiritual figure as well as a phenomenal athlete.

Dearest Yuzuru, Thank you for being our light. May this day be the start of a joyous year in which you enjoy perfect health, happiness and success on and off the ice. With love and gratitude, ZuCritter (Victoria)

I won't pretend to have followed Shohei Ohtani's career, but his achievements are marvelous, and the comparisons with Yuzu seem quite apt. I can't help thinking, though, of how different the sports are, especially in the risks and rewards for those who compete in them. Obviously, the financial rewards of baseball are, if you'll pardon the pun, in a whole different league. I'm sure Yuzu is quite comfortable financially, but even a moderately successful major league baseball player will easily eclipse him in earnings -- let alone a megastar like Ohtani. Then there's the fact that, at 26, Ohtani is only now launching into what can be a long career, while Yuzu is considered remarkable for having stayed in the game this long. That just highlights how figure skating brutalizes the athletes' bodies, despite its image as a "soft" sport. Beautiful and soft are not the same thing (just ask any dancer!). But the prejudice persists. Gymnastics is the closest equivalent I can think of in terms of the physical demands, but at least the surfaces gymnasts fall on are padded! I really can't imagine the mental fortitude it takes to attempt a jump 1,000 times without success, knowing that a high percentage of those attempts will result in a painful fall. May the skating gods (and the doctors and physical therapists) protect and preserve Yuzu long enough to reach his dreams.

OK, I know I'll probably get a lot of push-back on this, and before I say it, let me emphasize that I am NOT questioning Yuzu's intelligence, his skill, or his maturity (OK, maybe a little on that last one -- he is only 26, after all). If prudence ruled all Yuzu's decisions, we would never have seen him attempt Nessie, which he did in Torino and Stockholm not because he had planned it but because he was frustrated and wanted to re-establish his dominance even though he had lost (or was sure to lose) the competitions. It may have been all in his calculations, but the calculation was about commanding attention and proving his superiority, not about avoiding undue risk. In his line of work, daring and determination are excellent -- even necessary -- qualities. They are part of what makes Yuzu the GOAT. They are part of what has kept him at the pinnacle of this sport for more than a decade. In short, I celebrate him because of, not in spite of, his uncompromising drive to win (even when he doesn't win). But I fear it's not always compatible with making the most objective, reasoned decisions based on his health or his long-term goals. He's no longer the reckless kid who was rash to a fault, but he's the heir to that kid, with all his virtues and all his foibles. In fact, being human, his strengths and weaknesses are inextricably bound together. I'm not criticizing his decisions, and I certainly don't question his right to make them. I'll love and support him however many risks he takes. Along the way, I'll pray every day that the risks will reward him as richly as he deserves.