Yuzuru Hanyu has retired from competitive skating.
The 27-year-old global superstar held a press conference in a Tokyo hotel on July 19, to make the announcement. More than 150 people from media outlets were in attendance.
Hanyu’s influence over the sport the past eight years is undeniable, but it is extremely rare for a figure skater to make an announcement of any kind that makes headlines around the world. It is a testament to his global stature that his retirement was reported in all four corners of the globe, including China. Such is the quiet, unassuming power he wielded on and off the ice.
Hanyu is a man who always marched to the beat of his own drum. He set a standard everyone wanted to follow, pushing the envelope with quad jumps, including a variety of them in his programs when few others were even attempting them. That combined with his relentless pursuit to always improve the artistic side of his performances made him a role model for young skaters around the globe.
Despite his unparalleled success — and having won everything there was to win — the two-time Olympic champion approached every competition as a challenger — one with a strong desire to win — but, win or lose, he was equally gracious in every instance to each and every one of his rivals.
Hanyu is now moving into a new phase of his life as a professional skater. He will perform in shows and is planning on producing his own global ice show in the near future.
“I have decided to go into professional figure skating. As a professional athlete I will not be able to continue to compete with other athletes. However, going forward, I would like to continue skating and take it to an even higher stage,” he said.
“I’m no longer confined to the realm of competitions anymore. I think I can take figure skating to different places in different ways now. I hope to work as hard as ever so people will want to keep supporting Hanyu as they know him.”
Following his return home from the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, Hanyu said he was unable to skate due to the pain in his ankle. That gave him time to reflect on everything he has accomplished, and he realized he did not need to continue to compete forever.
“I was thinking about various things and about various activities in the future. I definitely want to do something that makes me feel nervous (such) as a competition or something like that,” the Sendai City native explained.
He leaves the sport as one of the most decorated figure skaters in history with two Olympic crowns, two World, four Grand Prix Final and six national titles. In his 12 years on the senior international circuit, Hanyu claimed 24 gold medals, 15 silver and two bronze.
His retirement also marks the end of the Pooh Bear era. While some will not miss the hundreds of iconic bears raining down from the stands at competitions — I will.
Ed Note: A special feature story recapping all the highlights of Hanyu′s incredible career will be included in the October 2022 issue of IFS.
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