Ulrinis

This is what I hope, too. One of the reasons why I would love to see Yuzu keeping competing AS LONG AS HE ENJOYS IT is that I'm afraid we overseas fans will have less opportunities to see him live and show him how much he means to us. Fantasy on Ice, Stars on Ice, Dreams on Ice etc. is a wonderful thing but not accessible to at least me. So I really hope he considers such world tours. However, as this will probably happen only after r-word: not too soon, I hope ...

During Helsinki GP I saw Valtter for the first time and immediately liked him. My family has cheered for him during 2 Finlandia Trophys afterwards. He has our greatest respect!

Yes, I think I heard him say in an older video that he washes his costumes himself. OK, not "heard" but "read" because he was talking in Japanese and there were subtitles. I recall this because I found it remarkable.

Maybe we expect too much of them and it’s just not like them. In all interactions which at least I have seen so far, Yuzu was the active part, such as Yuzu joking and Shoma laughing or Yuma casting side glances at Yuzu when they shared the podium, in order to do the right thing at the right time. They were accustomed to Yuzu always knowing what to do and take the lead, taking care that everyone is comfortable. This (the venue ceremony) - even more than the charismatic Seimei FS - was what impressed me most 4 years ago: That Yuzu treated Shoma and Javi like family on the podium, like a caring mother. I hadn’t seen any of them before, didn’t know who they were, but I felt immediately that this (Yuzu’s) behaviour was unusual and reassuring and it made me feel comfortable. I somehow cannot imagine Shoma or Yuma hugging Yuzu first. Further, they are not accustomed to seeing him in such a situation and maybe they were hesitant and insecure? Maybe they were afraid that hugging or patting Yuzu might seem arrogant or inappropriate? Not sure, just my personal thoughts ...

Oh, I'm even much older than you. That's what makes it so frightening! Yuzu makes some of us feel and behave like teenagers again ...

Hi and welcome! Reading what you are going through is so ... familiar! I spent those 2 nights of SP and FS with almost no sleep in front of our TV but couldn't sleep well the other nights either and was haunted by crazy dreams about Yuzu. I am lucky to have my family to discuss all this because we are all Yuzu fans, however, like you, I still don't understand how a sensible person can get emotionally involved so deep. How good we have THE PLANET ...

Hello and welcome! I can only agree. Also thank you for this valuable insight regarding SLC! If NC knew this ...

Did JSF even want a medal from Yuzu? They were probably sure upfront that the gold was reserved for NC, so silver and bronze were possible and they got it. Did it matter for them who would get it? I still can't get over them not applauding. What can Yuzu possibly have done to annoy them? Refuse to be a torch bearer during Tokyo Olympics? We all know Yuzu's tiger look when he is on the ice and he hates losing and he knows he's on a different level - but I cannot imagine him being rude or arrogant to other skaters ...

Yes, I couldn't believe my eyes either. One person not even applauding. First I thought she might have been one of the audience who simply are not so much into figure skating, but she wears the same red team jacket.

Welcome! What you are going through sounds exactly like what my family experienced 4 years ago: We could hardly sleep that night and I had to print out a picture of Yuzu for my daughter first. Ever since our life has become so rich and I guess yours will, too! 😊

Exactly. After feeling sad and miserable for the last 3 days I have now come to the conclusion that 4th is the best place under the present circumstances. It's just coming to my mind that the number 4 is in it, just like in his extraordinary jump. He is off podium, but the FIRST off podium. This way, as others have already said, he was spared the nasty press conference. He didn't have to stand beside NC when he got all the praise. It's so much Yuzu-like to have pursued his main goal 4A - which will last. Commentators have admitted that only a tiny bit was missing and that this jump should be worth 18 points or so. I am selfish, too, and would love to see Yuzu going on competing as long as he himself ENJOYS it - after resting properly and taking care of his ankle. We can only guess how much Yuzu has been torturing himself training the 4A during the last weeks before the Olys and how much his ankle has suffered from it. So it's amazing how beautifully Yuzu skated here. I'm also relieved that asthma didn't strike this time. I remember feeling lost and empty 4 years ago when I had just discovered Yuzu and feared he would retire. I feel only pride and thankfulness this time. And I can only admire his way of communicating with the media: Turning away to hide his emotions and appearing composed and friendly in front of the cameras - the perfect way of dealing with the situation. Yuzu getting support from everywhere is heartwarming and nobody should mix it up with pitying him. What we saw of him recently is not a man whose time is over. In this respect I think he could really feel like the other back-to-back Olympic Champion, Kati Witt, who challenged the Olympics a third time after a pause ...

Hm ... I listened to the video twice but didn't hear him say that Yuzu didn't complete the 4A. At least not in the clip above. Maybe it was only a typo? He said in the beginning that, unfortunately, the 4S didn't happen/work (не получился) in Yuzu's SP this time but Yuzu wanted to show us the beautiful skating he is capable of. (Roughly summarized.) I haven't scrolled to the last page here, so this might already have been discussed meanwhile. In this case: Sorry for the repetition!

Dear Laura, I hope Yuzu can see your post. On this day of mixed emotions it has brought me to tears again - but it shows exactly what Yuzu's magic is about! Ah, and: Thanks, ISU!

This whole text reflects almost exactly how I feel myself. I had settled in front of my TV for the night, struggled to stay awake (alarm clock set, though) and tried to watch all skaters. When Yuzu skated and the (really nice and competent) livestream commentator held her breath, I thought: Oh please, not a popped jump AGAIN! (I wasn't aware of the hole.) Then I admired Yuzu's calm and friendly reaction. I rewatched his program and was amazed by its beauty, comparing to none of the other skaters who got more points. I really like Donovan, Shoma, Yuma and some others but it's not the same. It was heartwarming to see new fanyus registering here after the SP, meaning: not after a victory but after an unfortunate but beautiful performance. I'm convinced others will follow because that's Yuzu's magic.

Yes, after the first shock and sadness I've come to this conclusion, too: Bad luck regarding the element but no fall, no injury, so he was lucky and we should be relieved and looking forward to Thursday.

Exactly. His program was so beautiful to watch - apart from how his every move perfectly went with the music, I liked those soft landings. Just pure magic.

Particularly as it seems to be his OWN story Yuzu is telling. I think this is - again - unprecedented. (If you don't count Masquerade which was Toshl's story but Yuzu somehow made it his own ...)

How can a judge who is KNOWN to have made a serious mistake by not correctly recognizing one of Yuzu's elements be chosen for Beijing? Is there any chance this judge may have learned anything or may have received proper training and instructions meanwhile?

The thought of somebody else being successful first, as unlikely as it might seem, really bothers me. I would find it unfair although you can't forbid others to try. However, they should not forget it was Yuzu who opened up the doors for applying the correct technique by speaking so openly about the advice he got from athletes of other sports disciplines. Therefore, although I was afraid first, I am now happy that Yuzu challenged the 4A at JNats. Nobody can take that away from him. Again it turned out to be a clever move to try it when it was not quite ready. So now ... please, skating god! Let Yuzu earn the fruits of his hard work!

In my opinion this is extremely important! If I understand this correctly, there are people inside ISU who are aware of how superior Yuzu is. I wouldn't be surprised if this was really true: Yuzu presents the judges the finest details of his skills and silently shakes his head when, again, they just haven't spotted them. Because this seems to be all he can do if they are not inclined to give him the scores he deserves and nobody launches an official protest. And if so, having observed the judges not seeing every detail, he has used this observation in his thesis as an argument for AI, explaining that it's just human that the judges don't see every detail. How smart and kind of him! OK, so there is an ISU representative who openly admits how brilliant Yuzu is! Shouldn't this be a wake-up call for the judges? Can (and will!) they go on underscoring him?

Thank you! It's good to know you keep an eye on the conditions in Montpellier, Yuzuwinnie!

Thank you! Yes, exactly! It's always so touching when we get to know he has seen some of our comments - for example that many fans are afraid he would retire soon, comments telling him "he is still desired" as a recent translation had it. And when he apologizes for making us worry about him. And when he admits he sometimes sees folded hands in the audience while performing ... So, in the unlikely case of only ONE fanyu making it to the ice rink in Beijing, there will still be (if the pandemic doesn't get worse) many folded hands at Worlds in Montpellier ...

This already brought me to tears when I saw a former version of it. Yuzu defending his fans ...

I've taken week no. 6 off because it's also school holidays here, but completely forgot about 4 February! Don't know yet how I'll be able to work on Friday after having watched the live stream from 3 to 8 a.m., even if I'll be in home office ...

Other people put cucumber slices on their eye lids ...