[2020.02.12] Skate Forward! Vol. 7 Figure Skating Men's Singles Yuzuru Hanyu

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine-translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2020.02.12

 

Source: https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/column/column7.php (https://x.com/skatingjapan/status/1227444745275944961) 

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20241003014240/https://www.skatingjapan.or.jp/column/column7.php

 

 

Skate Forward! Vol. 7 Figure Skating Men's Singles Yuzuru Hanyu

 

Figure skating encompasses the hearts and values of the audience

 

Yuzuru Hanyu is a figure skater who has won gold medals at two Olympic Games, Sochi and Pyeongchang, becoming the first man to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in 66 years. We spoke to Hanyu, who remains at the forefront of figure skating, about the appeal of the sport and his current thoughts on it.

 

Spoiler

What is figure skating?

Interviewer: What does figure skating as a sport mean to you?
Hanyu: I think one of the great aspects of figure skating is that it can be explored in many different directions. There are skaters who excel in expression, and there are fans who enjoy watching that. On the other hand, there are athletes who want to master jumps, and there are fans who enjoy that aspect as well. Because figure skating encompasses both of these elements, it offers enjoyment for the audience. When viewed as a skating discipline, there are also speed skating and short track. Speed skating is a technique focused on competing for time, while short track is a sport where you enjoy watching the tactics of the race. I believe each of these is a wonderful competition in its own right. Even within the same skating discipline, I think what makes figure skating special is the unique expression it offers and the difficulty of the jumps, along with the thrill that comes with it.

 

Interviewer: I think there are many children who want to try figure skating. What would you like to tell them?
Hanyu: It may look glamorous, but this sport is quite challenging! (laughs) I personally went through very strict training from a young age, and there were times when I found practice boring and hated it as a child. Still, I would try my best to do things I was told to do, and ever since I was little, I had the feeling of "I'll do more" when I was told to do something. I think that kind of mindset is very important in figure skating. While it’s certainly useful in the sport, it will also benefit you in your future life, so I hope you can learn that through figure skating.

 

Interviewer: It’s also important to meet a good teacher.
Hanyu: Absolutely. I was truly blessed.

 

 

Figure skating that is unique to each region

 

Interviewer: I think the history of figure skating and the atmosphere of the audience vary by country. From your experience participating in competitions in many countries, how do you see these differences?
Hanyu: Recently, even at overseas competitions, many people not only from the local area but also from Japan, Asia, and other regions come to watch. While there are those who look forward to my performance, there are also many people excited about the skating competition itself, and I feel a great energy wherever I go. For example, at the Helsinki World Championships in 2017, I skated to "Hope & Legacy," and I believe I was able to express it well because of the rich natural environment unique to Finland. If I performed "Hope & Legacy" in Las Vegas, it might come across differently. Likewise, if I did "SEIMEI" there, it could come across as cool, almost like Kabuki. I think that’s what makes figure skating unique, and I believe the audience unconsciously senses this as well. I wonder if we skaters feel it too. Ultimately, I think figure skating is shaped by the entire venue, the country, and, above all, the hearts and values of the audience, allowing each location to create its own unique experience.

 

Interviewer: You really put a lot of thought into which program you perform in the exhibition after the competition, don’t you?
Hanyu: Keeping that background in mind, yes. I skated to "Haru yo, Koi" at the NHK Trophy, and there were people who came from overseas to watch. The cherry blossoms aren't in bloom at the moment, but when I returned to Japan and saw the mountains and the rows of trees, I thought, "Ah, this is Japan." I think it will be interesting to see how people respond to 'Haru yo, Koi' and how they feel about Japan after experiencing that.

 

 

I have made efforts to win

Interviewer: The Japan Skating Federation celebrated its 90th anniversary this year. We are heading towards the 100th year, and even in that history, Hanyu has made a great achievement. How do you view your presence in the history of figure skating?
Hanyu: First of all, I think that winning an Olympic gold medal as a Japanese man has broken a significant barrier. When someone breaks through, it serves as an inspiration for others to think, "I can do it too", so instead of just running blindly in the dark, I believe it allows others to strive forward with a clearer vision. I hope that I can be a light that helps break through the darkness.

 

Interviewer: Looking back on your two consecutive Olympic victories, are you surprised again?
Hanyu: Hahaha (laughs). At Pyeongchang, I was coming back from an injury, and there were accidents along the way. As for Sochi, if you ask me whether it was a good performance, I still feel very frustrated about the free skate. All of these experiences contribute to what I've achieved, and I think they only have meaning if you win. I believe I’ve put in the necessary effort to win, and because the results came through, I can confidently say that I worked hard, so I feel glad that I have worked so hard.

 

 

With the determination of an individual sport

 

Interviewer: What do you think is necessary for Japan to become an even greater skating powerhouse?
Hanyu: This may sound harsh, but rather than everyone being friendly and working together, I think that as athletes, we have no choice but to think of everyone as rivals and push forward.

 

Interviewer: It is an individual sport, after all.
Hanyu: Yes. No matter how friendly we are off the ice, when each skater steps onto the ice, there should be more skaters who can confidently say, "I've practiced more than this person," or "I'm better than this person in this way," and ultimately, I hope there will be more skaters who can continue to hone their own weapons.

 

Interviewer: For that to happen, Hanyu, who is at the top, must continue to push forward, right?
Hanyu: That's right. I wonder if I've ever truly done figure skating for myself in the true sense of the word. The reason I've loved figure skating since I was little is that everyone is focused on me and watching me, and when I perform well, they're happy and praise me. When I land a jump, it brings me joy knowing that someone who supports me is happy. That was what skating meant to me.
Of course, now I feel the joy of expressing myself, and it's a very fulfilling time to be able to convey everything on the ice that I can't express in words. But getting to that point is not easy. Even when practicing the piano, wanting to express something doesn’t mean your fingers will move easily, right? It’s only because I’ve come this far that I can finally enjoy it, but I didn't think that way back then.
In reaching this point, my motivation has been to make everyone happy and receive their recognition—that's what has driven me. So, I want to go beyond the "Yuzuru Hanyu" that everyone expects. I think I'm skating with that in mind.

 

Interviewer: The expectations are getting bigger and bigger.
Hanyu: That's true. I’ve even mentioned the quadruple axel. (laughs) But I want to surpass those high expectations!

 

 

 

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Men's Singles Figure Skating
Yuzuru Hanyu

Born December 7, 1994
Born in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture

2020 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships (Seoul) Winner
2018 PyeongChang Olympics Gold Medal
2017 ISU World Figure Skating Championships (Helsinki) Winner
2016 ISU Grand Prix Final (Marseille) Winner
2014 ISU World Figure Skating Championships (Saitama) Winner
2014 Sochi Olympics Gold Medal