MatchaBeans

Does anyone remember in which video/documentary did Yuzu appear in his red Under Armour training gear at TCC? Thanks! I've combed through the Spirit of the Athletes videos available on Youtube and couldn't find it Edit: Nevermind, I found it! It's here if anyone's interested

Here is a translation of Yuzu's latest interview by Ice Jewels magazine (Apr 2020) that I have translated from Mandarin source. It was translated from Japanese to Mandarin quite literally, so I tried my best to do the same from Mandarin to English, translating every word so as not to lose the nuances. Because neither Japanese nor Mandarin have tenses, so I used present/past tense here according to the context. For those who have read it in Japanese, feel free to point out any mistakes/inaccuracies! Thank you! There aren't too many new info this time, but it's like a more detailed version of things that he has said before in the season. I find it very interesting, hope you all can enjoy the same! * Yuzuru Hanyu x Ice Jewels: To surpass myself is to become my better self Because the last competition of the season - Worlds - was suspended, the 2019/20 season has come to an abrupt end. This was a season where Hanyu won competitions that he has not won before. The victory at 4CC resulted in him achieving a Super Slam, leaving behind glorious records and memories. Through this interview, Hanyu looked back at this season, and at the same time talked about his aspirations for the next season. About winning 4CC --- Upon winning 4CC, does Hanyu have any special thoughts? I really wanted to be able to get the 4CC gold medal, I feel very happy to have won it. Although probably Worlds & Olympic titles are the titles that should have been won last, but in this season, by winning my first Skate Canada's gold medal etc, I have completed the task that has been up until now. More importantly, I had already won a 4CC silver medal at the age of 16, but from then on it had been tough ride to get the gold medal. I feel, I finally got the gold medal, that's really nice. --- When the Japanese Nationals 2019 was over, you said it had been hard to pull yourself back together. How were you feeling after the Nationals? How did you rearrange yourself? Please discuss in detail. It could be due to the succession of the 3 competitions (NHK - GPF - JNats). I was generally tired, probably. I was thinking this way while getting through that period of time. I had always been putting pressure on myself, there wasn't time to recover, emotionally and physically, so I just followed my heart and did as I please during that period. Did not really take notice of / care for anything in particular, basically don't really remember how I lived through it anymore.... The 'SEIMEI' & 'Ballade No.1' that was unique to the moment (4CC) --- About the decision to change programs, especially to repeat SEIMEI and Ballade No.1, two programs that have reached completion, was there any hesitation and uneasiness? Besides, what made you determined to change the programs? About SEIMEI, although there was a slight thought of 'completing the program without being able to include both 4Lz and 4Lo in the layout', but these two programs, in a certain sense, are programs that I consider had been completed properly. However, I did not feel a loss of motivation (because of this) at all, or shall I say, I would like to make these programs better than they were before. I was thinking, was there anything that could only be done with my current self, was there anything that I wanted to express, any content that I wanted to skate. Of course I had uneasiness. Whether or not (the judges) approve of this program, to boil it down, I am not sure even now. The judges are human. Whether or not it would get the recognition it did in 2015, it could only be found out from the competition results. The judging system is different now, it's not possible to surpass the past performance without bringing out an excellent performance, this is for sure. Besides, (underperforming) would spoil the program, I also had this feeling. However, I really wanted to skate these two programs. This frame of mind has been motivating me from behind since training started. I wanted to use a difficult layout that is even closer to the limit than before, to present SEIMEI and Ballade No.1 that could only be done with my current self. --- The short program Ballade No.1 at 4CC was exceptionally performed. In the past, you said before (that skating to this) was like transforming yourself into the pianist's breathing, the sound of the keys to execute the performance. What kind of mood did you perform it with this time? This time, I skated with the feeling of moving my body with the music notes that I hear in my mind. All the music notes, tones permeated my body. As I was feeling the rhythm of the music, I let my body dance along with it. Of course, I was nervous for the jumps and difficult elements, and there were many places where focus was needed to complete (the elements), but I felt I had handed over 80% of my consciousness to the music. --- About the free skate SEIMEI, the program duration was reduced by 30 seconds. In order to not spoil the outlook of the program, when adjusting the program, which parts of it were placed extra attention to? Generally, I didn't want to spoil the flow of the music and the program, this kind of thought was very strong, therefore did not cut out parts that had left a deep impression on people. Although there was a part where the tempo was sped up to shorten the length of the program, but even after accelerating the tempo, one of the significances of me skating to this program is that (this program has) a rhythm that belongs to me, I was very careful not to spoil my own rhythm in the part where the tempo was accelerated. If the change in tempo was too much, the essence of me skating to this program would have become different. --- What were the intentions behind the jumps layout for the new SEIMEI? Especially the inclusion of four jumps in the first minute. Within that included (jumps with) no set-up, 3A was followed by 3F with just turns, the jump layout that only Hanyu is able to do. Please talk about the turning point when the idea of this layout was born. Firstly, I wanted to do my best to value the music that forms the program. The program was rearranged based on this premise. I didn't want to change the rhythm of the first half of the program, and I also wanted to place, in the second half of the program, only three jumps that are able to achieve positive GOEs. Therefore, had to add a jump somewhere in the first half of the program, and the solution I figured out was to jump 3F at that point. Although the possibility of placing 3Lo or 3Lz was also considered, but I believed the jump that won't interrupt the music and rhythm there was 3F. Shae-Lynn had a full picture of the program after the revision was done, she was also satisfied, therefore this layout was decided. --- What was it that could only be expressed after having skated Otonal and Origin? Though Otonal was a piano piece, it was also an orchestral music. I tried to express Otonal as a music piece completed with the piano as the core, tried to feel every kind of sounds. In Ballade No.1, exactly because I had attempted to express Otonal's orchestral music before, I had a deeper feeling towards the echos, transparency, spread and propagation of the pure piano notes. Origin, on the other hand, was performed by integrating a vigorous gush of power from the ground. This had always been the mainstay of executing my performance in this program. While I was running forwards non-stop, I felt that the power had become my core. In SEIMEI, maybe while receiving this power and energy, I had to let everything be within my own control, only then it'll be ok. I was hoping that the program was not about continuously releasing its full energy, but through the program, displaying an impression of being able to float in the sky, surveying the overall situation, although having both feet on the ground. The achievements of this season, the goals for the next season --- Since the Grand Prix series, Hanyu had been changing jump layout through competitions, participated in the Grand Prix series, Grand Prix Final, Japanese Nationals. What kind of rewards did you get from them? I think the biggest reward was precisely no injury. If I force myself towards my best form when the body was in poor condition to adjust the peaking, it would result in a prolonged case of bodily functions not being able to keep up, and mentally not having any room to deal with things calmly. However, in this season, I adjusted very well. --- Please talk about the results of the trainings etc for injury prevention that had been done up until now. I started to know it was already almost enough if I force myself to this extent, started to know where the line is. It's just, if I don't go beyond that line, then I won't achieve any growth, I also understand this. Therefore, I started to think, little by little, about when it's ok to go over that line, when it's not ok to go over that line. --- Worlds has been cancelled, but how was the training results in the timeframe between the end of 4CC and Worlds? Was there any results / experience that connects to the next season? I felt I trained by paying more attention to skating skills and jump transitions during trainings. Although it's difficult to say that it's been completed, but I felt that if I train by firmly paying attention to skating skills and jump transitions, then in the next season (we will be) seeing a different scenery probably. --- Was your training and life in Canada affected by Covid-19? Was there anything you need to pay attention to? I washed my hands and gargled very carefully and thoroughly. Besides, when getting home after finishing trainings, I would also sterilise and disinfect various things. (Covid-19's) impact on training was not huge. --- In the coming off season, is there any training content that you would like to try specially because you're in the off season? I hope to spend time doing the Axel jump practice. Because to train a new jump during the competitive season is very difficult. Also, my training base has been closed. Although the situation has become very difficult, I intend to put effort in off-ice training etc, lay a solid foundation. --- For the next season, the idea of the program, the image of the music. Please, within the possible limits, tell us about it. I intend to use new programs. Although I don't know how much time is needed until the 4A is trained to the degree where it can be included in a program, but I want to strive hard with this as a goal as well in the next season. Regarding the music and program, I do not have a concrete image yet. However, I hope to be able to make programs that are meaningful to me. --- About 4A, in the GPF, you showed everyone 4A for the first time. At that time, what were your thoughts and feelings of revealing 4A to the public for the first time in the arena? Although I was very nervous, but because I was jumping in front of everyone, I slightly looked forward to whether it could be successful. It felt very pleasant to attempt to leap over the limit barrier. --- How is the completion of the 4A now? Starting to be able to fully rotate, starting to be able to jump with a more relaxed form a little bit. Because 4A is not (something that) can be trained everyday, so it can be considered that, bit by bit, the body is able to specifically sense the image of a successful 4A. --- Did the training of 4A affect other jumps? After training 4A, because it's quite energy consuming, the intensity and focus of other trainings have somewhat decreased. On this, I did trainings by setting my priorities clear. --- Lastly, please talk about aspirations for the next season and a message for the fans. In this season as well, thank you very much to everyone for your support for me until the end. Now, everyone is experiencing the same difficulties because of Covid-19. Everyone, please take care. Facing the next season, including the training of 4A, I will also continue to work hard to train. *

Worlds has been definitely cancelled. Mindful of the escalating negative COVID-19 developments, the resulting world-wide human tragedy and the measures taken by the public authorities as well as logistical challenges the ISU Council during its on-line meeting held on April 16, 2020 concluded that a postponement of the pending 2020 ISU Championships is not possible. Consequently, the ISU Council has decided that the following ISU Championships must be definitely cancelled: ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships, Seoul, March 13-15, 2020 ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Montreal, March 16-22, 2020 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships, Lake Placid, April 3-5, 2020. https://isu.org/isu-news/news/145-news/13139-isu-statement-definite-cancellation-of-pending-2020-isu-championships?templateParam=15 I can't help but thinking there is a higher power at play when it comes to Yuzu. He's reached his silver medal quota of two this year, and then Worlds get cancelled... It feels like he's being watched and protected in his every step. Well whatever that is, please keep protecting this boy!

Here I have done a condensed transcript of Brian Orser's recent video interview with Skate Oakville. Not much about Yuzu, but I have them in bold nevertheless. Couple of cute stories about Javi, and the way things work at TCC, some insights from Brian when he was a competitive skater. Quite a relaxed and pleasant interview. I've also included the time stamps in case anyone wanna listen to a particular section. Video is at the bottom. Enjoy! Please correct me if there are any mistakes! * H: Host B: Brian Q: Question from the public H: Everybody wants to know about Yuzuru and Evgenia. What can you tell us? [2:04] B: Well just to respect their privacy, I haven't even spoken to them about this but I just know that I really can't say much or really anything about them, where they are what they're doing. I know that they're staying healthy and they're following all the conditions that all of us are. As much as I'd like to say things there's not much I can say. There's actually not much stuff that I know, to be honest with you. Even during the season when we're just doing our regular training... I'll go to competitions, say I'm not going with Yuzu but I'll be with Jason/Evgenia/Jun/somebody, and the media will ask me how's Yuzu doing and it's not really fair to the skaters that I'm with to be talking about the skaters who's not there. They have a routine life during a normal season when they're back with their training. Yuzu would have us plagued with a lot of injuries the last couple of years. Most of his attention was getting better. It's not that groundbreaking. People are recovering from injuries, they get re-injured. He's very smart, so he knows what to do, he's got good people around him. When we're training, we had a lot time of this year where he was not injured, which was fantastic, so he was training just like the others. H: This will be a great time for people to get healthy (for those injured) and get their bodies back into working order. [4:22] (Truncated) B: Yes. Every athlete is always dealing with some kind of injury. That's sport. Figure skaters injuries - mostly hips, ankles and knees. H: What are the things you're doing with your athletes now / would recommend? [5:52] (Truncated) B: We have what we're having right now (video teleconferencing). We have physical trainers in our club who're doing exactly this with some of our athletes. Fitness stuff. Some coaches are doing off-ice jumping. It's a good way for them to be with each other, whether it's virtually. We can put them through a series of exercise for warming up, off-ice jumps, technique. This is the perfect time of the year to be doing that. Don't necessarily have to be on ice. - rant on skaters who don't like working on flexibility yada yada - I think figure skaters need to be able to do the splits. H: Flexibility - important for injury prevention. [9:20] (Summarised) B: They have to warm up properly, take time, set goals, know what areas you need to be flexible, and when we come back to the ice, we can check that flexibility box off. H: When skaters come back to the ice, what do you anticipate the challenges are gonna be? [10:02] (Summarised) B: Skaters can't expect themselves to be able to do what they were able to do after a long hiatus from on-ice training. It's gonna take some time. I think if they are being fit, using imagery, doing rotational jump exercises, I don't think it'd be that hard to get the jumps back. They just have to be smart about how quickly they will regain their jumps. - talked about his own self-training experience - H: Is there value in taking some time off ice? [12:53] (Summarised) B: Yes there is a great value. I think they (skaters and parents) would be pleasantly surprised. I think it's critical that they take the time off. An example is Javier. When I first started working with him, we had a discussion back in May, he was going to come to Toronto ... and I said OK I will see you in June, and he just wrote back 'Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha'. He thought I was joking, and was like 'I will be there in August'. We negotiated and started on July 1st. Even then he thought I was ridiculous, that was so early. He started July 1st and then took two weeks off in August for camping with his family. He was always fine. I learned as a coach to not be bossy. He's different from the others, that worked for him. H: Would your skaters have their own schedule/routines/what works for them? [15:09] (Truncated) B: Everybody's schedule (seniors, juniors etc) is different. We have to adapt to them. H: What's your favourite part of the season? Planning, training, competition? [16:28] (Summarised) B: It's actually right now. Usually in May/June is when we work on skating skills a lot. Tracy and I come up with new exercises, do a lot of sessions where we're not even jumping. We need at least a month of doing just that. Try to give skaters a bit of foundation then only start jumping. H: Skaters just want to jump. It's hard to keep them motivated to do only skating. [18:24] (Truncated) B: We don't just show them exercises and ask them to do them. We say this is why you're doing it. We need you do feel a certain thing. It's fun to see when they 'get it'. - Brian takes a walk down memory lane - [21:15] B talks about Evgenia, how it takes time to develop skating skills (SS) etc H: What do you say to skaters who are impatient? SS doesn't happen overnight. [22:45] B: You might see some improvement in the skills/choreo whatever in a few weeks because they are just trying harder, but when a skater is under the pressure of a competition, you fall back onto some old habits, that's natural, normal. Then there's gonna be a time where the new stuff takes hold and becomes a new normal. - Talks about Jason Brown: this season, the past few months, on a upward direction, peaking looks like was gonna be at Worlds, disappointed for him that it's cancelled. He's got such a great attitude, good spirit. Tracy taking the reins, experimenting things, now they know what works and will carry on to the next season. - H: What things do you do with your skaters heading into a competition season? [25:46] (Summarised) B: Training, just training training training. Be aware of the peaking process. Maybe a month before competition, practice the peaking. Do a simulation. Usually the actual performances are not always great, but we learn something. Keeping an eye on their spirit, keeping them energised, looking at energy levels. Take a day off if needed. H: How do you feel as a coach now (compared to his competitive days)? How would you coach Brian as a skater? Would you listen? Would you do your own thing? [28:08] B: When I was a skater I did my own thing and I did way too much. I wanted to be ready really early in the season. I honestly don't think my programs were built properly but that was just me, as I wanted to prove that I can do a triple Axel at the 4-minute mark of a program. (He shrugs to himself) Like why? I always felt like in a Step Sequence you should go both directions. We didn't have to back then. I just wanted to show that I can, but whether that helped me or not, I have no idea. That was just me as a skater, I wanted to push it. I looked back at my programs, I had a tonne of transitions. If I was to do it again, I would probably have a different strategy in how I build programs - trying to maximise getting the job done without trying to show off everything that I could do. H: When you're building programs now for skaters, do you find some of them have the same intention that they want to do as much as they can and show it off? How/does the program change from initial choreography to when the elements start getting built in? [29:58] B: It's constantly changing. Have to be careful when building a program. David Wilson is really clever as is Jeff Buttle, they'll get the skeleton down. As we're doing it, David will say, 'now you have to do it with the jump, you have to put the jump there, we need to see the timing of landing the jump and getting to the next element. And then the spins. I think what makes these choreographers crazy is when the kids just mark the spins by just twirling with their finger. (Isn't this what Yuzu does during official practice run-throughs? Hahahahaha) I didn't have to do spins like they do now. Those spins are hard and exhausting. We have to start going 'OK, I know you don't want to do this but you gotta put the jumps in, you gotta do the full spin.' - more talk about spins - I am quite bossy about that. I remember the first year when Javi, he always forgot what his spins were. I remember having it written on a piece of paper, and literally chasing behind him. Sometimes he leave out spins, and when we do a run-through he'd do the same spin twice, thinking that I didn't know the difference. OMG we had a few battles over that, but he came around. (This story is so cute and funny!) H: Skaters who are well-trained can do the wrong spins when they get into the moment. [32:46] B: It's just because of the training of the program. Sometimes you don't always have to do a full run-through, but there's time you gonna do the program from start to finish. You don't have to do all the jumping passes, you can do all the StSq, whether it's the choreo step or the regular step or you can do all three steps, and you gonna do them like you've never done them before, so that they get used to doing great quality spin at the end of their program. Have to try to make it interesting for them, there's a way of building up to doing a run-through. But I always tell them, we pick a day to do the run-through, and I say 'Just so you know, it's gonna be ugly & painful, but you gonna just hunker down and get into the trenches.' H: Positive reinforcement is so important. [34:57] (Summarised) B: It's the whole community that has to get involved, it's not just one coach. I cheer for other coaches. Gotta keep the wheel of emotion well lubricated and turning. As soon as it's slowing down a bit, take a particular athlete to the office and have a chat with them. The other part of the year that I like too is just before a major competition. - talks about the TCC bell that rings when someone does a clean run-through. The next person up really wants to hear that bell. The bell rings a lot before big competitions. - Q&A session: Q: Any tips to prevent circling? [37:28] (Summarised) B: OMG. It's almost like you have to get into their head a little bit to figure out why they're circling. It's usually because of a lack of confidence. Maybe change the setup for the jump, do it to music, you gotta change something. H: Do you limit the number of times they circle before you stop? [39:37] (Summarised) B: 3-4 times, then I'll bring them over and have a little chat. Q: What do you do when your athletes are doing through a rough patch? [40:33] (Summarised) B: Communicate with them. Give them the tools to get themselves out of it. Q: What was your favourite exercise as a figure skater? What's your fav exercise/element as a coach? [42:02] (Truncated) B: - talks about him enjoying improvising music in the past - Tracy and I, we don't have a particular favourite. From the first year we started teaching, we came up with exercises and we're always building on it. This will be a question for the kids as they all have their favourites. I have now named them. The Jason exercise, the Yuzu exercise (I wonder what this is!!!), the Evgenia exercise, the Jun exercise. They'll know which exercise that is because that skater came up with the exercise. When I'm out for a competition, I'd say 'Just go do the Evgenia exercise' and they'd know what that is. Q: All time favourite program (your own and your skaters)? [44:56] B: My own fav - both programs from 1988, especially my long. It was the first time I actually had some kind of concept of a program from the same composer that went from the beginning to the end. - rambling about his older programs, music cuts that didn't make sense - Fav programs now. These days I go on YouTube, went through John Curry's programs, just marvelling at how incredible he was. I always found myself looking at Yuna Kim's long program from Vancouver Olympics, it was a complete masterpiece. Javi, when he did 'Luck Be a Lady' from Boston, that was his shining moment. There were too many of Yuzu's that were brilliant. I was amazed season after season where, sometimes it's the same program, I'll go omg that was my favourite. I do find myself watching some of his programs over and over. Quite often at a competition I will get back to my hotel room, when somebody has had a great moment, I need to see how great this was, and I will go on YouTube and watch it over and over and over. - talks about JunWan - H: This is a great time to rewatch classic, good performances. [48:48] (Summarised) B: The cool thing about YouTube is - the automatic recommendations - - talks about compulsory figures - H: When we get kids back on the ice, it'd be fun to go back on some basics - feeling the ice, body, edges. [50:20] (Summarised) B: A lot of our exercises are based on compulsory figures without doing compulsory figures. We were conditioned to do 4 hours of figures every single day. Q: What is Brian Orser's fav competition? [51:28] (Summarised) B: 1987 Worlds. I went there and I knew absolutely 100% that I was going to win. Another fav: the first time I won Nationals in 1981. 1988 Budapest - best long program of my life - another fav. H: Do you (now) still jump? Doubles or triples? [53:12] (Summarised) B: Do I now? No I don't, and i don't miss it either. Quite often I dream about skating, jumping, triple Axels, delayed single Axels. Q: Have Yuzu, Javi or any of your skaters hold any pranks on you? [54:19] B: Oh. Yuzu isn't really a prankster. If anybody would have, it would've been Javi. He pulled a prank on me one time which I thought was quite funny. I have this one thing with my skaters, that no. 1 rule when we start together as coach and student, one thing I cannot tolerate is if somebody lies to me, so don't tell me a lie. Tell me the truth, I'm a big boy I can deal with it. I may not wanna hear it, but if I ask you a question, I want the truth. One time Javi came into the rink and he was a little bit late, that makes me crazy too. So he was late, and he obviously hadn't warmed up yet. I said 'Javi, did you do a warm up at least?' and the session was just starting. He's like, 'I came here with my bike.' I'm like, ok, because he lives down the hill, so to come up to the club with his bike, that'd be a pretty good warm up. I was like OK, and then one of the kids came over and said 'Brian, he came with his bike on a bus'. So he took a bus up the hill and had his bike with him. So he didn't lie to me, but he said he came with his bike. Didn't come on his bike, came with his bike. I'm not sure if that's a prank or not, but I thought it's quite funny. Q: Somebody asked if you had thought about writing another book... [56:23] (Summarised) B: I don't know, I hadn't thought about it, but never say never. I always say I'll never be a skating coach and here I am teaching skating. - talks a lil about the current covid situation in general - To me, health comes first. I think everybody just needs to take a little break, skating will always be there. Great things are gonna come. - says he asks his kids to use this time get through the choreo, costumes for the next season - I was texting Jeff Buttle for music ideas, this is the time where we can do all those things. After (now cancelled) Worlds I was gonna take two weeks off, so my vacation is here but supposed to be in India. Now that time has passed, I can be more productive in my craft. Helping Jeff, David find music. We have a group chat where everybody's sharing some stuff with each other. I touch base with all my skaters every other day, to make sure everybody is fine. *

Are you referring to this? In this video, from 06:45. They were talking about Boyang's arms position for his textbook 4Lutz - that the arms are not crossed, probably a technique borrowed from Chinese divers, to increase rotational speed. Yuzu used to have different arm positions for different jumps when he was younger. I only realised this when I watched some of his old programs when he first entered Seniors. There was this 3Lz+2T he did, where his arms were crossed in 3Lz and then in the 2T his hands were on his hips for a more open position lol. Now his doubles are always rippon, his triples have the same air position as his quads, i.e. pic below. I personally find his air position very aesthetically pleasing, even if that was not the intention Cr: gettyimages

Whoa, I didn't know he was this upset/in disbelief when he lost 4CC2017 to Nathan Chen. From the first video in that thread, starting from 0:21 He yelled: "And?... annddd? Did I lose? Maybe not?!" in such a funny way, a rare side of him that we don't get to see often. Even Patrick Chan sitting beside him was amused. The rest of the thread are cute videos, worth a look!

I try my best at a very quick literal translation for the Figupedia documentary (Yuzu parts). Please correct me if there are any mistakes! (It's a double translation as I'm translating from Chinese subtitles) Outside 4CC building with his 'Clever' mask on, talking about program changes: Yuzu: The most important thing is that I want to skate in a style that suits me. How do I say. In my heart, it felt/became difficult, after Japanese Nationals. About what figure skating actually is, I've thought about it a lot. Although figure skating is a sport that I have been doing for 20+ years, I felt there was something wrong somewhere, the things I was chasing after didn't feel quite right. Indeed, when challenging high difficulty contents, it's very interesting. Challenging myself makes me very happy. When I finish/complete the challenges, I feel very happy. However, I feel this is not 'happiness'. Not only to complete the challenges. For example, the feeling when skating, being able to see the content that I want to perform/express, or the fusion of jumps with the music, I actually really like these. The programs that can convey all of these the most are SEIMEI and Chopin. The playing with echo part: Yuzu : It's very interesting, the echos. It's different when done from different parts of the rink. A sound that starts from the edge of the shorter side of the rink takes longer to travel, hence it takes longer to echo. If it's done from the middle of the rink, the echo is much faster because the sound waves reach the walls faster and reflect faster. I was just experimenting with these, it's really fun. In TCC, with the rink behind him, talking about Chopin: Yuzu: There are about 17 seconds at the start of the music where I am just standing and not moving. That was something I told the choreographer - that I wanted the 17 seconds of idleness, hoping that I can feel closer to the music, let the feeling that I can express to be closer to the music. I always keep this (feeling close to music) in check. In the van with a laptop on his lap, talking about SEIMEI music: Narrator: He chose the music himself, and also arranged the music himself. Yuzu: Over here (when the long music note was playing), this is very long. Although the second piano note is like 'qiang qiang qiang' ... there is 0.8 seconds between the first 'qiang' and the second piano note. I feel it's not the same. The jumps, the programs, steps, spins, everything. Every movements need to become one with the music and program, then only it's ok I think. Of course, it's ok if I don't jump on the 'qiang', but if I don't go with the 'qiang', the rest of the choreography will need to match the music properly. These are the things I really pay attention to. 4CC interview in front of the blue curtain: Yuzu: This Hanyu Yuzuru, is very affected by music. It's because of the presence of music that the art, technique and performance/expression of figure skating is born. In my heart, music and figure skating is almost an equal. To me, hmm, that one, how do I say... (fusing music and figure skating together) is my life principle, the reason I figure skate. Skate Canada Victory Ceremony last part closing in on the camera showing off his medal: Yuzu: I finally got it! The last part where he's in a suit holding a red-white paper board: What he's written: The aim/goal is 5 steps to the front of my limit!

It's not that bad. They still have 44m x 30m space to skate on, which is about the size of ice show rinks.

My guess is either Otonal/Origin. Really though I will watch him even if he's just rolling around on the ice laughing... But I heard only the gold medalists will perform at the gala/awards show, so it's quite unlikely that Yuzu will get to perform there, unless Nathan bombs, which is even more unlikely.

Sorry this is slightly off-topic, I'd like to create some GIF content of Yuzu. Does anyone know of any free but decent online websites that can create GIF from videos (ideally without watermark)? Thanks!

Jeez if they are going to interview him in the hotel anyway why hoard him at the airport?! Let him get through the airport as quickly as possible then they can ask all they want in the hotel zzz

My take: it won't happen. Even if he gets good GOE for 4A at Worlds, I simply don't think he will feel emotionally fulfilled enough by then to call it (especially when Chen's gold is pretty much locked unless he bombs, which won't happen as we know his programs by then will just be crossovers+jumps). He said he still wants to do 4F.... and all 6 types of quads in one programs lol that boy As for program change, I think the Free Skate experience at JNats gave a good shock to his system to realise how tiring those two tribute programs have been, because he has been skating them for somebody else, not himself. Personally, I feel those two programs, though beautiful, have such deep dark vibes and they suck the life out of him. It's good for his mental health to change back to the programs he has great memories of and confident with. I can't wait to see Yuzuru in his happy self again with Chopin/SEIMEI.

I would rather not! Excerpts from the article: "Not long ago, Under Armour was a darling of investors. But it has since faced tough scrutiny, resulting in lawsuits from shareholders, who accuse the company of misleading investors, and media coverage around real estate deals involving the company and Mr. Plank’s private holdings. Questions have also arisen about a culture that allowed strip club visits to be expensed on corporate credit cards and, more recently, a disclosure by The Wall Street Journal that federal authorities are conducting investigations into accounting practices." We have seen Yuzu in many different brands, and looks like he prefers it that way. His on-ice training tops are from UA, pants from Marina (I think?). He wears lots of Mizuno, and we have seen him in venex too. I am sure he receives tonnes of sportswear from companies and he just picks what he likes to wear.

Thanks for the analysis. I was drawing comparison with regards to scores manipulation, not tech content. Sotnikova's GOE and PCS was heavily inflated to produce a certain outcome, same with Nathan. They both did/does not deserve their GOE and PCS given.

I don't think so, not even if Yuzu has 5 clean quads including 4A. The BV for 4A is just one point higher than 4Lutz. Nathan is surely going for 5 quads in Worlds and if he goes clean they are 100% going to give it to him, and it will be higher than his GPF19 score. A clean Yuzu can't win against a clean Nathan at this point not because Nate is better, but because ISU wants him to win. It'd be like a Sochi14 Yuna situation or the recent European Champs Ice Dance situation.