Original title: Yuzuru Hanyu announced his retirement: He will no longer participate in competitive competitions, and will continue to challenge the quadruple jump
Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu announced his retirement at a press conference in Tokyo on the 19th. He said that in the future, he will no longer participate in competitive competitions, and will switch to professional figure skating. He also said that he will continue to challenge the quadruple jump.
On July 19, Yuzuru Hanyu at the press conference. On the same day, Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu held a press conference in Tokyo, Japan.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Hua Yi
The launch was held at the Prince Hotel in Akasaka, Tokyo. At 5 o’clock, Yuzuru Hanyu took the stage. He bowed deeply and said, “Thank you for your support so far. It is because of everyone’s support that Yuzuru Hanyu can become a figure skating player. In the future, I will no longer compete with other players. But he will continue to work hard as a professional figure skating player.” In a few minutes of speech, he had tears in his eyes, thanked all the coaches who had trained him, and told his love for figure skating – “I will continue to use this as my career in the future.” Will continue to challenge the four-quarter half jump”…
When asked by reporters whether he still participates in competitive competitions and how he views the Winter Olympics, Hanyu said that he will no longer participate in competitive competitions in the future, and will instead focus on professional figure skating. “I had already thought about retiring during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, but the sense of accomplishment and the idea of wanting to be seen by more people in the arena prevailed.”
Data map: On February 17, 2018, Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan won the championship in the men’s single skating free skating competition at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Haofei
Regarding the timing and reason for the final decision to retire, Hanyu said that it was after the end of the Beijing Winter Olympics. “Actually, after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, every time I competed, I wondered if it was time to turn to professional skating, but the final decision was after the Beijing Winter Olympics. When my right foot hurt so much that I couldn’t skate, I thought about it a lot. It’s probably not necessary to be in the arena all the time. But I’m still determined to skate better and get stronger.”
Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan competes in the men’s single skating free skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on February 10, 2022.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Lei
He said: “Although I don’t like the word ‘retirement’, I don’t want to say it. But I don’t feel lonely or unwilling to make this decision this time. I feel full of hope.” At this time, Hanyu’s expression became brighter: “In the future I will I will not be limited by the venue, and I will show my figure skating performances in more places.” He also emphasized that he will continue to challenge the quadruple jump.
Earlier this month, Yuzuru Hanyu also hinted that he would not retire. At the time, he said in a short message on the Japan Skating Association’s website: “This season I will still do my best to achieve higher goals.”
Yuzuru Hanyu, who won two consecutive men’s singles titles at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Olympics, finished fourth in Beijing. (Reporter Yang Ting)
[Editor in charge: Xu Ziming]