Post by Admin on Jul 19, 2022 23:32:26 GMT
Olympics is "proof that I lived"
The Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, native goes out widely recognised as the greatest male figure skater of all-time.
The 27-year-old put an end to a career that began when he was 4 years old, and ended with a fourth-place finish in Beijing after a historic attempt at the quadruple Axel.
Hanyu had not addressed his future since Beijing. Last month, he completed a four-stop, month-long ice show tour through Japan during which he did not do media.
But with the new season approaching, a decision either way had to be announced soon - and that day was Tuesday.
Over his career, Hanyu won just about everything there is to win on the ice.
On top of his gold medals, he leaves with two world championships, four Grand Prix Final wins and six national championships including last year's, which he won to punch his ticket to Beijing.
His highest score came at Skate Canada in 2019, when he produced 322.59 points. His best in the short program is a 111.82, a 212.99 in the free skate.
In 2018 following his second Olympic triumph in PyeongChang - he became the first man in 66 years to repeat as singles champion - Hanyu received the People's Honor Award - the highest honour awarded to a civilian in Japan.
Yet of all his achievements, the Games hold a special place in his heart.
"It goes without saying that the Olympics to me, after winning back-to-back, has put me where I am now", he said. "It is a place where I was able to prove that I dreamed, that I put in the effort.
"It gave me proof that I lived".
The Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, native goes out widely recognised as the greatest male figure skater of all-time.
The 27-year-old put an end to a career that began when he was 4 years old, and ended with a fourth-place finish in Beijing after a historic attempt at the quadruple Axel.
Hanyu had not addressed his future since Beijing. Last month, he completed a four-stop, month-long ice show tour through Japan during which he did not do media.
But with the new season approaching, a decision either way had to be announced soon - and that day was Tuesday.
Over his career, Hanyu won just about everything there is to win on the ice.
On top of his gold medals, he leaves with two world championships, four Grand Prix Final wins and six national championships including last year's, which he won to punch his ticket to Beijing.
His highest score came at Skate Canada in 2019, when he produced 322.59 points. His best in the short program is a 111.82, a 212.99 in the free skate.
In 2018 following his second Olympic triumph in PyeongChang - he became the first man in 66 years to repeat as singles champion - Hanyu received the People's Honor Award - the highest honour awarded to a civilian in Japan.
Yet of all his achievements, the Games hold a special place in his heart.
"It goes without saying that the Olympics to me, after winning back-to-back, has put me where I am now", he said. "It is a place where I was able to prove that I dreamed, that I put in the effort.
"It gave me proof that I lived".
