[2014.02] Sochi Olympics

[yuzurujenn]

Interviews relating to 2014 Winter Olympics held at the Iceberg Skating Palace in Sochi, Russia. 

 

Feb 6th - Team Event

Feb 13th - Men's SP

Feb 14th - Men's FS

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2014.02.14

 

Source: 

 

Regarding the performance
"I couldn't move my body at all from the 6-minute practice... I think I was nervous."

 

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Q&A with Hanyu

After winning the gold medal.
-I'm really surprised. I'm not satisfied with my performance. I fell on the quadruple salchow and also missed the flip, which I thought had a high chance of success. In the end, I think I was a little nervous or tense.

Did your body not move as you wanted?
-I couldn't move at all and I was anxious from the 6-minute practice. But I tried my best to give it my all. I think the reason I won this time was because I was able to do so well in the SP.

 

(From overseas media)

You experienced a major earthquake three years ago. What do you want to convey to your hometown?
-That's a very difficult question. I'm not really sure if I should talk about the tsunami and earthquake. I've become a gold medalist now, but just my effort alone won't contribute to the recovery. But one thing is for sure, after the earthquake, I couldn't skate anymore. I really thought about quitting. I was doing my best just to make a living. But I was able to stand here thanks to the support of so many people. There's only one Olympic gold medalist, but when I stood at the top of the podium, I was carrying the hopes and dreams of thousands, tens of thousands of people. I hope I was able to give back a little.

Are you thinking of doing something to contribute to your hometown?
-Now that I've won (the gold medal) once, when I become a professional skater in the future, I'd like to raise funds and hold charity events not only for Tohoku but for Japan as a whole.

 

(At the press conference the day after)

Do you still have strong feelings for Sendai?
-After all, I was born there and discovered skating there. It felt like a natural progression. If I had been anywhere else, I might have been an unknown baseball player. I think it's because of Sendai that I'm here now.

 

[yuzurujenn]

Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2014.02.15

 

Source: https://www.joc.or.jp/news/005098.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20240816073731/https://www.joc.or.jp/news/005098.html

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QLI_vflvqg

 

 

[Medalist Press Conference] Hanyu "I hope I can become a person who is truly Japanese" Prime Minister Abe also congratulates him

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the first gold medal of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics in men's figure skating, held a press conference at the Japan House on the 15th. He shared his feelings a day after his victory. At the beginning of the conference, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated Hanyu via an international phone call. After the press conference, Hanyu was awarded the "Team Leader Award" from Team Japan leader Seiko Hashimoto.

 

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■ Congratulatory Call from Prime Minister Abe

 

Prime Minister Abe: Congratulations! I believe many Japanese people watched your performance yesterday and were deeply moved.

 

Hanyu: Thank you very much. I did make a few mistakes, but thanks to the support of so many people, I was able to achieve the best result.

 

Prime Minister Abe: I was also excited and nervous while watching, but I thought it was amazing how you stayed calm and never gave up until the very end. You managed to stay so composed.

 

Hanyu: After the score was announced, I wasn’t calm at all. I thought to myself, "I’ve missed the gold medal."

 

Prime Minister Abe: I’m sure people in Sendai and the disaster-affected areas are also very happy.

 

Hanyu: Yes. I performed with all my might, hoping to bring some strength to those people, so I’m really happy.

 

Prime Minister Abe: I believe the reason you were able to keep pushing until the very end is because of the strength you've built by overcoming so many challenges. I think it’s because you carry the hopes of so many people, and you're really strong in competition.

 

Hanyu: My house was declared totally destroyed after the earthquake, and it was a really tough time. I couldn’t even use the rink for a while. After Shizuka Arakawa won the gold medal at the Torino Olympics, the rink was rebuilt, but then it became unusable again. However, with support from the government, Sendai City, and Miyagi Prefecture, I was able to achieve the best result here.

 

Prime Minister Abe: According to news reports, I heard that you have asthma. Is it alright now?

 

Hanyu: After the competition yesterday, I had a bit of an asthma attack, but honestly, the joy I feel is much stronger.

 

Prime Minister Abe: Your wonderful performance and the way you bowed to the ice were truly a display of the Japanese spirit. Please continue to do your best.

 

Hanyu: Thank you very much.

 

■ The Joy of Winning the Same Gold Medal as his fellow countryman Arakawa

 

— How do you feel a day after winning the medal?

Hanyu: First of all, I'm really happy to be the first Japanese man to win a gold medal in figure skating. At the same time, I’m proud to have received so much support from people all over Japan, and to have earned the highest recognition—this gold medal—on such a grand stage. Moving forward, I want to keep working hard to become a person who reflects the values of a true Olympic gold medalist and a proud Japanese citizen.

— How did it feel to receive congratulations from the Prime Minister?

Hanyu: I was very nervous. I think the Prime Minister was also very supportive, and he was also concerned about my asthma, so I was really grateful. This doesn't mean the competition is over, and I need to keep working hard from here on.

— Team Leader Hashimoto, what do you think about Hanyu’s achievement and the overall performance of Team Japan?

Hashimoto: We are truly grateful that the Japanese team was able to finally win this long-awaited gold medal. I believe Hanyu-san truly felt the weight of the real challenge of the Olympics through his performance. From this point onward, we will give our best in the second half of the Games, and as a team, we will work together to do our best. We are very grateful to Hanyu-san.

— Last night, you said you felt both frustration and joy. Now that it’s a day later, how do you feel about the balance between frustration and happiness?

Hanyu: I'm really happy to win this gold medal. I'm the first Japanese man to win a gold medal in singles, and Arakawa, who is also from Miyagi Prefecture, is the first Japanese woman to win a gold medal. I had always dreamed of winning a gold medal after Arakawa, so I'm really happy that my dream has come true. It doesn't really feel real, but I'm happy that my dream has come true. However, during my free program last night, I think I felt the real fear of the Olympics, the 'Olympic demon'. Since I still want to continue competing, I know I have to keep working hard with  skating, which I love.

— What reactions have you received from people around you between last night and this morning?

Hanyu: I haven’t had time to check much because of everything going on. I don’t know the current situation in Japan, but I'm really glad that I was able to bring home the gold medal as a Japanese.

— Do you think that your ability to perform so well on the Olympic stage came from the tough competitions you faced domestically in Japan?

Hanyu: Yes, I think so. It’s because I was able to win the All Japan Championships that I was able to deliver a strong performance. Also, throughout this season, not only in Japan, but also in every Grand Prix event, I competed against Patrick Chan (Canada). With each competition, I thought about how I could surpass him and how to bring out my full potential, and I think that helped me on the Olympic stage. However, the free program was still difficult.

— During practice, you seemed quite relaxed. At what point did the fear set in?

Hanyu: I don’t think there was any particular trigger. But looking back, I deeply regret how I performed in that program. Even though I was able to win the gold medal, I feel like I couldn’t fully demonstrate my abilities on such a big stage... I was nervous. It really made me realize how tough this stage is.

— The Olympics is known for its unique tension. Did you ever consider playing it safe and lowering the difficulty, such as with a quad salchow attempt?

Hanyu: I didn’t have any special thoughts about it. Since I’ve been doing it all season, I didn’t want to change anything. In other sports like speed skating or short track, perhaps you have to adjust depending on your opponent, and maybe there are special things to do at the Olympics. But figure skating is always a battle against yourself. The most important thing is how much I can do my absolute best and bring out all my energy. So it wasn’t about changing anything for the Olympics, but about giving my all in this competition just like any other.

— This season, you won the Grand Prix Final title, and now you’ve won the Olympic gold medal. What do you think was the key to achieving titles that many of your seniors struggled to win?

Hanyu: The level of Japanese men’s singles is currently very high, and when you’re in such a situation, you have to push yourself harder to secure an Olympic spot. People work really hard and put in a lot of effort when they’re in that kind of competitive environment. I think that’s why I’ve been able to grow. Also, I competed against Patrick Chan in the Grand Prix Series, and I didn’t just focus on winning. I focused on what I could learn and how to improve when I lost. I think that mindset really helped me this season and led to my success here.

— Evgeni Plushenko (Russia) had to withdraw from the competition. Do you have any thoughts about that?

Hanyu: Plushenko has been an idol of mine for a long time, and I still greatly admire him. For me, the Olympics wasn’t so much about the Olympics themselves, but about watching incredible competitions between Plushenko and Alexei Yagudin (Russia). I admired Plushenko and started aiming for the Olympics when I was about 8 years old. I was saddened to hear that he withdrew, but having the opportunity to skate alongside him in the Olympic team event felt like a dream. It was an honor. It’s unfortunate that we may not see his skating again, but I’m so thankful for all the emotion and inspiration he has given me over the years, and I just want to express my gratitude.

 

■ Thoughts on the Disaster-Stricken Areas and Sendai

 

— Many people from the disaster-affected areas have expressed that your gold medal has been a source of encouragement. How do you feel about that?

Hanyu: I hope that my winning the gold medal can bring some energy to the people in the disaster-affected areas and to the people of Japan as a whole. As someone from Sendai, I am especially happy if this can serve as a stepping stone for further progress in the reconstruction efforts. Donations and other things like that from volunteers have pretty much stopped coming.

— You’ve been nurtured in both Sendai and Toronto, but it seems you have strong feelings for Sendai. Why do you feel such a connection to Sendai?

Hanyu: I think it’s because it’s where I was born. I was born and raised there, where I first encountered skating, and followed my older sister into the sport... It’s a natural flow of events. If it hadn’t been for that, I probably wouldn’t be here today. I might even be a famous baseball player now (laughs). I think it’s because of Sendai, the place I was born, that I’m here today. That’s why I feel a strong connection to Sendai.

— You mentioned wanting to become a person who reflects Japanese values. What does that ideal of a Japanese person look like to you?

Hanyu: I want to make sure not to forget Japanese cultural values. Things like respect, and the complexities of the Japanese language, such as honorifics, polite language, and humble language, reflect a mindset of respect—such as lowering oneself when speaking to someone senior. I think these are important aspects of Japanese culture. The most important thing for me is that I can hold my head high as a Japanese citizen. When I appear on television, I want to be able to stand proud as a Japanese person. 

— You will likely become someone that children look up to. What kind of athlete do you want to be?

Hanyu: I don't think there's much to look up to in me (laughs). I was made painfully aware in Toronto that my skating skills were still immature. While my short program went well, I realized my mental weakness in the free program. I want to become a stronger athlete who can perform flawlessly in any situation. I admire Plushenko for being such a strong athlete, and I’d like to be like him—someone who is strong no matter the circumstances.

— To aim for a consecutive victory in four years, is there anything you need to focus on?

Hanyu: Nothing in particular. I don’t think about it in terms of "I have to do this." I love skating, and I love jumping, so if there’s something I want to try, it’s because I enjoy it. It’s not that I’m doing things specifically for the next Olympics. I just want to elevate my skating to even greater heights.

— The women’s singles competition is about to begin. As a medalist, do you have any advice for Mao Asada?

Hanyu: I don’t think there's anything I can advise her. I think Asada-san and I know how scary the Olympics can be, so I think it's really important to enjoy it as much as possible. Before my free program, I told myself, "Let’s enjoy this," but in reality, I couldn’t enjoy it. Looking back, though, I think I did enjoy performing my best at the Sochi Olympics, which was the only one I could experience at 19. So, I hope she can enjoy herself to the fullest.

 

 

[yuzurujenn]

Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2014.02.13

 

Source: https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2014/02/13/hanyu-yuzuru-100pts_n_4782762.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20140214044035/https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2014/02/13/hanyu-yuzuru-100pts_n_4782762.html

 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu becomes the first figure skater in history to score over 100 points in the short program at the Sochi Olympics

 

In the men's short program of the Sochi Olympics figure skating event, Yuzuru Hanyu performed flawlessly, scoring over 100 points for the first time in short program history, and got off to a good start ahead of his free skating performance on the 14th.

 

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The Sochi Olympics held the men's singles short program for figure skating on February 13th (local time). Yuzuru Hanyu, the 2013-14 season Grand Prix Final champion, performed flawlessly, scoring over 100 points for the first time in the history of the short program, taking the lead and getting off to a good start in the free skating competition on the 14th.

 

Patrick Chan (Canada) is in second place, trailing by about 4 points. Javier Fernandez (Spain) is in third place. Daisuke Takahashi is in fourth, while Tatsuki Machida is in 11th place, about 3 points behind him in 10th. Evgeni Plushenko (Russia), who was considered one of the gold medal candidates, withdrew after holding his lower back immediately following a triple axel during the 6-minute practice just before the competition.

 

Hanyu, who started in 19th place, landed a perfect quadruple toe loop and triple axel in the first half. He also completed a triple Lutz and triple toe loop without any mistakes, and the audience cheered loudly for his dynamic performance. He received a score of 101.45 points, the first time in history that anyone has scored over 100 points in a short program. The moment the score was announced, he gave a big fist pump and then a small applause to himself.

 

Next up was Javier Fernandez (Spain), who lost his balance on the landing of his first quadruple Salchow. He managed to get through the triple Axel, triple Lutz, and triple Toe Loop in succession, but the mistake on his favorite jump affected his score, which was only 86.98 points.

 

Next, Patrick Chan (Canada) took the ice. He executed a flawless combination of a quadruple toe loop followed by a triple toe loop at the beginning, but over-rotated on the triple axel, losing his balance on the landing. After that, he performed with remarkable stability and authority, captivating the audience with his smooth execution. He received a high score of 97.52 points, approaching 100 points, and was about four points behind the top-ranked Hanyu.

 

Daisuke Takahashi, skating 29th, under-rotated on his opening quadruple toe loop, but he recovered well with a clean triple axel and a triple Lutz to triple toe loop combination. He showed the steady and composed performance expected of a veteran. After finishing his routine, he bowed with a big smile to the audience. He scored 86.40 points and placed in 4th.

 

Machida Tatsuki, who was last to perform, lacked brilliance in his jumps. He landed a quadruple toe loop, but the triple toe loop in the following combination was one rotation short. He landed a triple axel after that, but the triple Lutz, which was supposed to be the highlight of the second half, was one rotation short. His score was only 83.48 points, and he finished in 11th place.

 

Hanyu said, "It was far from my usual performance. After all, it was the Olympics, so my legs were shaking in some places," but added, "Rather than going over 100 points, I'm happy that I was able to surpass my personal best. I did what I needed to do today. I'll rest my body well for tomorrow, and I want to put on a good performance tomorrow."

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

Source: https://www.joc.or.jp/olympism/experience/media/olympian/2014/

Video: 

 

 

Newsletter "OLYMPIAN" 2014

 

The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) publishes a public relations magazine called "OLYMPIAN" every year, which contains Olympic-related information, with the aim of promoting the Olympic Movement.

 

A look back at the Sochi Winter Olympics
・Front page interview/Yuzuru Hanyu: The path the gold medalist is looking ahead to

 

 

The Path a Gold Medalist Envisions

In Sochi, Russia, the Japanese flag was raised to the center pole. It was a long-awaited gold medal brought about by the beautiful performance of a 19-year-old ace. What does this young gold medalist, who captivated fans at the venue and around the world, aim for in the future? Text / Katsuaki Iwamoto

 

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Cover Interview: The Role of a Gold Medalist

 

— Congratulations on winning the gold medal at the Sochi Olympics. Have your feelings changed since then?
Hanyu: No, my mindset hasn’t changed at all. Of course, I understand that winning an Olympic gold medal is a significant result that I must accept. However, my feelings toward skating will never change. Just like before, I continue to dedicate myself completely to the sport.

 

— How did you feel when the Japanese national anthem played on the podium?
Hanyu: Throughout last season, I had been hoping to hear the Japanese national anthem. However, in the first half of the season, I kept finishing second when competing directly against Patrick Chan (Canada), so I didn’t get the chance. That’s why hearing the anthem in Sochi was something I had truly been waiting for.

 

Speaking of Olympic gold medals, Shizuka Arakawa's victory at the 2006 Turin Olympics left a strong impression on me. At that time, the skating rink I trained at in Sendai had been shut down, but thanks to Arakawa’s gold medal, there was a growing movement to reopen it. She donated money, many people signed petitions, and through the efforts of the local government, the rink was reopened.

 

I was filled with gratitude toward everyone who made that possible. If it weren’t for Arakawa’s gold medal, I might not have been able to continue skating. When I received my own medal on the podium in Sochi, I finally felt like I had reached the same place.

Thinking of Miyagi, the Disaster-Stricken Region

— Did you have the chance to interact with the people of your hometown after the Olympics?
Hanyu: What made the biggest impression on me was right after the Sochi Olympics. During the press conference immediately after the competition, I found myself wondering, "In the end, what was I really able to do?" Maybe it was because I was a victim of the disaster myself, but I felt that even though I had won a gold medal at the Olympics, I couldn't have done anything for the victims, and I really felt powerless.

 

However, when I appeared on a live television broadcast, I was able to interact with people from my hometown through a video message. The people living in temporary housing told me things like, "I was really moved," and "It made me want to try harder." Those words stayed with me. It was a moment that I truly felt glad that I had pursued figure skating.

 

— The victory parade in Sendai was also a huge success, wasn’t it?
Hanyu: Yes. I heard that more than 90,000 people attended, which made me realize just how much things had changed. It made me really happy, but honestly I didn’t know where to look during the parade, so it was quite overwhelming (laughs).

 

— You are often seen as a symbol of the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Hanyu: As someone who experienced the disaster firsthand, I feel that I have a duty to pass on the memory of this once-in-500-years earthquake to future generations. Three years have already passed, and people may have started to forget certain things. However, there are still many people involved in volunteer work, fundraising, and other recovery efforts.

 

What I say may be insignificant, but I hope the presence of "Yuzuru Hanyu" in the media will help many people remember and think about the Great East Japan Earthquake, even if only a little.

 

I am the only Japanese gold medalist at the Sochi Olympics, and the only 19-year-old gold medalist. Although I feel the same as I always have, I understand that I now hold a unique and special position. Because of that, I feel a responsibility to share my message with as many people as possible.

What I Want to Convey

— Is there anything else you would like to convey?

Hanyu: One day, before a competition, I was standing at the rink side, quietly watching the ice. I noticed that the staff were constantly touching the ice, checking its condition, and using resurfacing machines to adjust it. It was an opportunity for me to realize just how many other people work to set up the rink.

 

When an ice show is held, we, the guest skaters, go to the venue on a designated bus, prepare, and perform on the rink. I have done this repeatedly as part of the process, but there are many people involved behind the scenes. 

 

Even if I wanted to convey the efforts of these people, it’s difficult to get media coverage unless I become someone who attracts attention. Now that I am an Olympic gold medalist, I feel that, as 'Yuzuru Hanyu,' I want to talk about and acknowledge the people who support us.

 

— Was this something you thought about before the Sochi Olympics?
Hanyu: We must not forget that many people support us. Since I was young, my parents often told me, "Always be grateful to the people around you."

 

Figure skating is an individual sport, but no skater succeeds alone. We need our families, coaches, staff, and the people who maintain the rinks. It’s only through their efforts that we can even stand on the ice. I have always cherished the feeling of gratitude for being able to skate like this, and thinking about the meaning behind each and every performance.

The Future of Yuzuru Hanyu

— Even after winning Olympic gold, you said that "I'm not satisfied with my performance." What does a perfect performance mean to you?
Hanyu: I think 'there is no such thing as perfection' (laughs). People often ask me, "What is your ideal image of an athlete?" but I don't have one either. There are just so many challenges for me to overcome, and I'm doing my best to deal with them. Just because I've caught up with the ideal image of an athlete I have in mind at that point in time doesn't mean that it's perfect for me.

 

For example, I might have an ideal image of myself at this moment. But by the time I get there, my ideals will likely have evolved even higher. When I think of it that way, I believe it's almost impossible for me to ever be fully satisfied with my performance.

 

— So you are always chasing an ideal that keeps moving forward?
Hanyu: Yes. But what excites me about figure skating is that there’s always room to improve. The sport has so much variety—there are spins, steps, and jumps. You can start with any element, and even if you master one, there are still so many other things to refine. I feel really fortunate to be able to do a sport that has so much to offer.

 

— What do you think about the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics?
Hanyu: I am not sure that I will still be competing four years from now. However, I feel that I would like to see more athletes of my generation and younger athletes emerge. After the Olympics, many athletes have retired. Now, more than ever, I feel that I have to somehow keep that connection going. I want to carry on the popularity and strength that Takeshi Honda, Daisuke Takahashi, and Mao Asada built over the years, and help maintain the popularity of figure skating. I also believe that leading the way myself until new skaters emerge will benefit future Olympic skaters.

 

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Yuzuru Hanyu
Born December 7, 1994. Born in Miyagi Prefecture. Started skating at the age of 4. Won his first All Japan Junior Championship in 2008. In the 2009-10 season, he became the youngest (14 years old) to win the overall championship at the Junior Grand Prix Final, won the All Japan Junior Championship for two consecutive years, and won the World Junior Championship. Won the bronze medal at the World Championship in 2012. Won his first All Japan Championship the following season in 2012. In 2013, he won his first Grand Prix Final and won the All Japan Championship for two consecutive years. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, he placed 1st in the men's short program in the new team event and contributed to the team's 5th place overall finish. In the men's singles, he recorded the highest official world score in the short program and became the first Japanese man to win a gold medal. In the same year, he won his first World Championship victory.

 

 

JP text:

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金メダリストが見据える道

ロシア・ソチのセンターポールに日の丸が掲げられた。 19歳のエースが魅せた美しい演技がもたらした待望の金メダルだった。 会場の、 そして世界 中のファンを魅了した若き金メダリストが今後目 指すものとは。 Text / 岩本 勝暁



巻頭インタビュー
金メダリストの役割

--あらためまして、ソチオリンピックの金メダル、おめでとうございます。その後、心境に変化はありますか。
羽生 いえ、僕自身の考え方は何も変 わりません。もちろんオリンピックの 金メダルという結果はしっかり受け止めなければいけないと思っています。 でも、スケートに対する僕の気持ちは絶対に変わらないですし、これまで同 様、今も精いっぱい打ち込んでいます。

-- 表彰台の上で君が代が流れた時は、どのような気持ちでしたか。
羽生 昨シーズン中、ずっと君が代を 聞きたいと思っていました。 ですが、 前半戦はパトリック・チャン選手(カナダ)と直接当たって2位が続いたことで、まったくかないませんでした。 だからこそ、ソチで聞いた君が代は本当に心待ちにしていたものでした。
僕の中でオリンピックの金メダルというと、2006年トリノ大会の荒川 静香さんが強く印象に残っています。 当時、僕が練習拠点にしていた仙台市 内のスケート場が閉鎖してしまったのですが、荒川さんの金メダル獲得をきっかけに運営再開を求める声が高まりました。荒川さんが寄付をしてくださったり、多くの皆さんの署名が集まったり、県や市の方々のご尽力の結果、 再開された。 ですから、皆さんに対して感謝の気持ちでいっぱいでした。 荒川 さんの金メダルがなかったら、僕はこ こまでスケートを続けてこられなかったかもしれません。 ソチの表彰台でメダルを首にかけていただいた時に、僕 もようやく同じラインに立てたという実感が湧いてきました。

被災地・宮城を思う

--オリンピック後に地元の方々とふれあう機会はありましたか。
羽生 印象に残っているのは、 ソチオリンピックが終わった直後のことです。 
実は試合直後の記者会見の時、「結局、自分に何ができたんだろう」と思っていました。自分自身、被災した人間だからということもあるのですが、 オリンピックで金メダルを取ったからといっても被災者の皆さんに対して何もできなかったんじゃないかと思い、 本当に自分は無力だと感じていました。
でも、テレビの生放送に出演した際に、地元の方々とVTRを通してふれあう機会があって、その中で、仮設住宅に住んでいる方々から、「本当に感動した」「頑張ろうと思えた」という言葉をいただいたんです。 それが、とても心に残りました。 本当にフィギュアス ケートをやってきてよかったと思えた瞬間でした。

--仙台での凱旋パレードも大盛況でしたね。
羽生はい。9万人以上の方が来てくださったそうで、あらためて環境が変 化したことを実感しました。 すごくう れしかったんですが、 パレード中はど こを向いていいか分からなかったこともあり、実はけっこう大変でした(笑)。

--東日本大震災の復興のシンボルとして求められることも多いと思います。 
羽生 僕は一人の被災者として、500年に一度と言われるこの大地震を後世に伝えなければいけないと思っています。 もう3年も経ってしまった ので、いろいろと忘れかけていることもあると思います。 でも、ボランティア活動をされている方、 募金をしてくださる方、さまざまな活動をしてくださっている方がたくさんいらっしゃい ます。
僕自身が話すことはちっぽけなことかもしれませんが、 「羽生結弦」という存在がメディアを通して話すことで、 多くの人たちが少しでも東日本大震災のことを思い出し、考えるきっかけになればと思います。
ソチオリンピックの日本人金メダリストは僕一人ですし、 19歳の金メダリストというのも僕一人です。 自分の中ではこれまでと変わりないのですが、誰とも同じではない唯一の存在、特別な立場の人間になったことで、たくさんの人に伝えなければいけないことが あると感じています。

僕が伝えたいこと

--そのほかに、伝えていきたいことはありますか。
羽生 ある日、試合前のリンクサイドでじっと氷を見ていたんです。そうすると、会場のスタッフの方がこれでも かというくらい氷を触ったり、 製氷す機械を使ったりして、 氷の状態を調 整してくださっていました。 リンク設 営のために、そのほかにもたくさんの 方々が動いてくださっていることを、 僕なりに実感する機会でした。
アイスショーが開催される時には、ゲストである僕たちは用意されたバスで会場に行き、準備をして、リンクの上で演技をします。 僕は当然のようにそれを繰り返してきたわけですが、 裏ではたくさんの方々が関わってくだ さっている。このような方たちの努力を伝えたくても、注目される存在にならなければなかなかメディアに取り上 げていただけません。 金メダリストになれた今だからこそ、僕は「羽生結弦」として、僕らを支えてくださっている方々のことを話していきたいと思うようになったのです。

―そのようなことはソチオリンピックの前から考えていたことですか。 
羽生 忘れてはいけないのは、たくさんの方々が自分たちを支えてくださっ ているということです。 幼い頃から両 親に言われてきたのは、「周りの人たちに対して感謝の気持ちを常に持ちなさい」ということでした。
フィギュアスケートは個人競技ですが、一人でやっているわけではありません。家族はもちろん、コーチやスタッ フ、リンクを整備してくださる方などたくさんの力が必要です。 そうした方々の努力があり、細かい作業があってはじめて僕たちは氷の上に立っている。こうしてスケートができている感謝の気持ちを忘れず、演技一つ一つの意味を考えることをずっと大切にしてきました。

羽生結弦のこれから

--オリンピックで金メダルを取っても、「演技には満足していない」とおっしゃっていました。 羽生選手にとって、パーフェクトな演技というのはどういうものなのでしょうか。
羽生「完ぺきはない」と思います(笑)。よく「理想の選手像は?」と聞かれるんですけど、それもありません。自分自身に課題が多すぎて、 それをこなすので精いっぱいです。 その時点で考える理想の選手像に追いついたからといって、それが自分にとってのパーフェクトかと言われると違うんですよね.
例えば、現時点での理想像があったとします。でも、そこに行き着くまでに、自分が求める理想はさらに高まっているはず。そう考えると、自分の演技に納得できるというのは、ほぼあり得な いと思っています。

--逃げていく理想像を、 ずっと追いかけていくという感覚でしょうか。 
羽生 そうですね。 ただ、僕が喜びを感じるのは、フィギュアスケートはやろうと思えばいくらでも上に行ける競 技だということです。しかも幅が広い。 スピンもあるし、ステップもあるし、ジャンプもある。何から手を付けてもいいですし、何かを極めても、ほかにまだ極めるべきものがある。 それくらいやることが多い競技をさせてもらっているわけですから、とても恵まれていると感じています。

--2018年の平昌オリンピックについてはいかがでしょうか。
羽生 4年後も選手を続けているという確証は、僕の中にまだありません。ただ、同世代や後輩選手たちには、もっ と出てきてほしいと感じています。
オリンピックが終わり、 たくさんの選手が引退しました。そういう今こそ、僕がなんとかそこをつながなきゃという気持ちがあります。
本田武史さんや休養することになった髙橋大輔さん、浅田真央さんたちがこれまで作り上げてきた人気や実力をしっかりと引き継ぎ、 フィギュアスケート界の人気を保っていけるようにしたいと思っています。 そして、新しい選手たちが出てくるまで、自分自身がトップに立ってリードしていくことが、未来のオリンピック選手のためになると信じています。



 

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羽生結弦(はにゅう・ゆづる)
1994年12月7日生まれ。 宮城県出身。 4歳でスケー
トを始める。 2008年全日本ジュニア選手権初優勝。 09-10 シーズンのジュニアグランプリファイナルでは 史上最年少 (14歳) で総合優勝、 全日本ジュニア選手 権2連覇、 世界ジュニア選手権優勝。 12年世界選手権 銅メダル獲得。 翌シーズンの12年全日本選手権で初優 勝。13年にはグランプリファイナル初優勝、 全日本選 手権2連覇を達成。 14年ソチオリンピックでは、新種 目団体で男子ショートプログラム1位となり総合5位 入賞に貢献。 男子シングルでは、ショートプログラム 公式大会世界最高得点を記録するなど日本人男子初と なる金メダルを獲得。 同年世界選手権初優勝を果たす。