Yuzuru Hanyu reflects on Olympic glory, aims for quad Axel (and possibly a quintuple jump?)

[Meoima]

Maybe you should read up on the articles about the near impossibility of rotating in the air five times and landing on one blade properly. The physics of it all means you'd have to be built like a pencil.

Maybe you should watch the video in which they say that quint is nearly impossible but with a pair of proper handsets, they might help skaters to improve their rotation speed and make it possible though it sounds like cheating to skaters. So it depends on what do you consider as possible. With the help of technology maybe it's possible per their words but none of them claimed quint will happen in competition.

 

[DreamSkates]

Someone built like a pencil from outer space maybe?

.

Yuzu is built like a pencil.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Yuzu is built like a pencil.

Not really. He has, for example, as large hips and thighs as Javier and certainly larger than Boyang and Nathan. His body type does help, but it's mostly because he has almost impossibly pure jumping technique...

 

[whiteskates]

I'm glad we get to see more of him but it is nevertheless worrying to know that he risks severe injuries to ankles, spine etc for being obsessed with the quad Axel.

 

[Meoima]

I'm glad we get to see more of him but it is nevertheless worrying to know that he risks severe injuries to ankles, spine etc for being obsessed with the quad Axel.

Knowing that he is hurt from taking off the 4Lo and 4Lz... I am thinking maybe at this point 4A is safer for him lol...

 

[whiteskates]

Very safe indeed, lol...

 

[Sylvia]

Gov't considering national award for star figure skater Hanyu: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180302/p2g/00m/0dm/033000c

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese government is considering conferring the People's Honor Award on two-time figure skating Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu, its top spokesman said Friday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has instructed preparations to start the award process, including hearing opinions from experts, before making a formal decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference.
Hanyu will likely become the first figure skater to receive the national award. At the Pyeongchang Winter Games in South Korea last month, he became the first male figure skater in more than six decades to win consecutive gold medals, despite a "serious" injury preventing him from being able to execute his full arsenal of quads.
Suga said Hanyu's accomplishment this time "gave thrills and courage to the Japanese people" and brought hope to society, as well as being a strong message about recovery from the powerful earthquake of March 2011 in northeastern Japan.

Established in 1977, the People's Honor Award has been given to 25 individuals and one group for their achievements in sports, entertainment and culture.
Noriko Shirota, coach of the ANA skating team Hanyu currently belongs to, said, "He has followed such a hard path. I am all the more moved as (his efforts) have been recognized by the government."

 

[DreamSkates]

Not really. He has, for example, as large hips and thighs as Javier and certainly larger than Boyang and Nathan. His body type does help, but it's mostly because he has almost impossibly pure jumping technique...

I don't see anything "large" on Yuzu compared to some of the other men. But we all have our viewpoint.

 

[aftershocks]

Yuzu is built like a pencil.

Hmmm, but is he from outer space?

Quints are not really even 'pie-in-the-sky' at this point. And I personally think the sport has it's hands full with quads and so much else at this point. TPTB should be more concerned about skaters working on developing blade skills, and TPTB should be sponsoring research & development for improving boot technology, understanding the dynamics of jumping, and continuing to revolutionize training, therapy and recovery techniques for the athletes. Not to mention figuring out a better competitive structure, and perhaps ways to make the ice surface more beneficial for the high tech feats skaters are trying to attempt. Also, the Zamboni has been around for a long time, and I think someone needs to find new ways to speed up the process of smoothing the ice between groups of skaters at events (instead of shortening skaters' programs).

@Meoima, I'd be more interested in skaters working on hand, arm and body positioning, and improved posture, and understanding the music, and blade skills, rather than employing handsets. Allow more skaters to advance to mastering quads, and allow those with mastery of quads to find a way to balance quads with artistry because figure skating is not just about jumping.

 

[Madhatter]

C'mon guys, I really don't think he was particularly serious about quints. 4A yes, it seems he did train it and he believes it's within his capabilities, but it sounded to me like his reflection on quints question was more theoretical than anything else. "Well, some research shows it's possible, so maybe I'll give it a shot if if my foot isn't f****** up beyond repair and I don't die trying to do 4A. But hey I already have my precioussss Pyeongchang gold medal so whatever, my life's complete, maybe I'll leave it to Boyang." That's about what it sounded like to me.

 

[Meoima]

C'mon guys, I really don't think he was particularly serious about quints. 4A yes, it seems he did train it and he believes it's within his capabilities, but it sounded to me like his reflection on quints question was more theoretical than anything else. "Well, some research shows it's possible, so maybe I'll give it a shot if if my foot isn't f****** up beyond repair and I don't die trying to do 4A. But hey I already have my precioussss Pyeongchang gold medal so whatever, my life's complete, maybe I'll leave it to Boyang." That's about what it sounded like to me.

Yeah I have same feeling. He is more like thinking of 4A as the final goal before retiring and skating as a pro. Boyang might be his main hope for a quint lol. Poor kid, he might feel something weird next time he meets Yuzuru. Like suddenly Yuzuru’s turns around and: “I love your jumps, how about a quint?”

 

[Sylvia]

"Enjoy Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan's incredible Men's Free Skating gold medal performance from the Winter Olympics 2018 at PyeongChang." (uploaded on the Olympic YT channel on March 9, 2018 & should be viewable worldwide): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23EfsN7vEOA

"7 years ago on March 11, Yuzuru Hanyu survived the huge earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan in 2011. Now in 2018, he is a figure skating double Olympic champion. Here is his story.": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFaiJDtzPRk

 

[Sylvia]

Just came across this video titled YUZURU HANYU HAPPY TO SAY NOTHING AT ALL!
"Double gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu tells the Olympic Channel why he does not feel the need to connect with his fans through social media." https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/playback/yuzuru-hanyu-happy-to-say-nothing-at-all/
(BTW, he speaks very respectfully of his fans - the title is misleading. )

...And two more uploaded by the Olympic Channel:

What Makes Yuzuru Hanyu Great? - Coach Brian Orser's Exclusive Insights (March 29) - 7 minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8grfK5EFxWE

Brian Orser on Yuzuru Hanyu's "Remarkable" Success (March 22) - it's less than a minute long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUZYAu-NGdo

ETA:

According to Kyodo News two weeks ago, Hanyu "will not perform on the ice but will take part in a talk session with guest skaters during the April 13-15 show in Musashino Forest Sports Plaza" [in Tokyo].

He'll also will appear in a parade in his honor in his hometown of Sendai on April 22: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180327/p2a/00m/0sp/003000c

According to the Miyagi Prefectural and Sendai Municipal governments, the festivities will kick off at 1:15 p.m. with a ceremony to present Hanyu with a prefectural citizen's honor decoration and other awards. The parade will then proceed along about 1.1 kilometers of Higashi-Nibancho-dori Avenue in Sendai's Aoba Ward, lasting around 40 minutes.
Hanyu had a parade in Sendai after his Sochi Olympic gold medal win in 2014, which drew some 92,000 spectators. More people are expected for the 2018 version, so the parade route was extended by around 220 meters.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

The first ratified triple - triple combinations from a man and a woman were by Poland's Gzegorz Filopowski and Japan's Midori Ito.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Has the ISU actually assigned point values to a quadruple axel and a quintuple toe loop?

If Yuzuru is serious about attempting either, I hope his health insurance is funded by the Japanese association. Some of the tumbles he (and Shoma Uno) took in practice at the 2017 World Championships attempting quads, were pretty darn spectacular.

 

[danibellerika]

Has the ISU actually assigned point values to a quadruple axel and a quintuple toe loop?

If Yuzuru is serious about attempting either, I hope his health insurance is funded by the Japanese association. Some of the tumbles he (and Shoma Uno) took in practice at the 2017 World Championships attempting quads, were pretty darn spectacular.

A Quad axel is currently 15 points, but I think with the rule change it is going to lose that base value being bumped down to 12.5 or something. Quints don't have a value right now.

 

[WildRose]

Has the ISU actually assigned point values to a quadruple axel and a quintuple toe loop?

If Yuzuru is serious about attempting either, I hope his health insurance is funded by the Japanese association. Some of the tumbles he (and Shoma Uno) took in practice at the 2017 World Championships attempting quads, were pretty darn spectacular.

I doubt that health insurance for skaters is much of a problem except in the US. The majority of developed countries, including Japan, have Universal Healthcare.

 

[Meoima]

Has the ISU actually assigned point values to a quadruple axel and a quintuple toe loop?

If Yuzuru is serious about attempting either, I hope his health insurance is funded by the Japanese association. Some of the tumbles he (and Shoma Uno) took in practice at the 2017 World Championships attempting quads, were pretty darn spectacular.

Italian ESPN commentator Max Ambesi and some Japanese coach who knows Yuzuru since young stated that Yuzuru might have fully rotated the 4A. I think 4A is possible and even Brian Orser said so.
Quint is another story. Yuzuru hopes Boyang will do quint. (Sometimes it’s like Yuzuru would love to become a coach lol).

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I doubt that health insurance for skaters is much of a problem except in the US. The majority of developed countries, including Japan, have Universal Healthcare.

You do know I was only being ironic here.

I think it is nuts that a skater with a history of serious quad jumping related injuries, would even consider such a feat. The risk of permanent damage is enormous.

 

[Sylvia]

Article/Photos from Hanyu's "Continue with Wings" show in Tokyo: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...-to-ice-plans-to-be-ready-for-new-season.html

Hanyu was not originally scheduled to lace up his skates for the start of the three-day show "Continues with Wings" on Friday, but to the delight of the crowd at Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, the 23-year-old took the stage -- though he avoided jumping.
Hanyu was wheezing through three brief programs, but said his ankle felt much better than it did at the Olympics.
"I have not skated at all," said Hanyu, who performed with his childhood idol Evgeni Plushenko and friends like Johnny Weir and Takahito Mura on the night.

"Counting the time I was at the Olympics, I completely shut it down for almost four weeks. My condition is better than it was before the Olympics and I can spin, step without problem or pain. I'm putting in work on the ice as part of the rehab now."
"When I was skating before Pyeongchang, I felt pain with each movement. After the period of complete rest, I went through the motions step by step and there was no pain."
"And once I knew there was no pain, I wanted to perform at this show which I produced."
While Hanyu said he does not know how his ankle will hold up when he jumps, he expects to be ready in time for the next Grand Prix season, which starts in October.

From Hanyu's show website: http://www.continueswithwings.com/#skaters
"The performers offered based on "connection" of Yuzuru Hanyu himself." They are: Evgeni Plushenko, Jeffrey Buttle, Shae-Lynn Bourne, Johnny Weir, Yuko Kavaguti & Alexander Smirnov, Takahito Mura, and Minoru Sano.

 

[Sylvia]

What Makes Yuzuru Hanyu Great? - Coach Brian Orser's Exclusive Insights (March 29) - 7 minutes long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8grfK5EFxWE

Jack Gallagher wrote this article after watching the Orser interview linked above: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports.../orser-says-hanyu-greatest-ever/#.WtYTtujwbrc
At the end of Gallagher's column:

ESPN The Magazine has sent Associate Editor Elaine Teng to Japan for a profile story it is planning on Hanyu. Teng, who covered the Pyeongchang Olympics, is in the country now and attended the first day of Hanyu’s show last week in Tokyo.

Teng is also planning to travel to Sendai this weekend for the parade Hanyu’s hometown is throwing in his honor.

Link to the thread with videos/clips from Hanyu's show in Tokyo, "Continues with Wings": https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ru-jeffrey-shae-lynn-plushenko-johnny.103839/

He'll also will appear in a parade in his honor in his hometown of Sendai on April 22: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180327/p2a/00m/0sp/003000c

"#YuzuruHanyu's parade 4 years ago was only televised by the local TV station (in Sendai), but this time it will be broadcast nationally." https://twitter.com/Iron_Klaus/status/983672878032924674

 

[danibellerika]

Jack Gallagher wrote this article after watching the Orser interview linked above: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports.../orser-says-hanyu-greatest-ever/#.WtYTtujwbrc
At the end of Gallagher's column:


Link to the thread with videos/clips from Hanyu's show in Tokyo, "Continues with Wings": https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ru-jeffrey-shae-lynn-plushenko-johnny.103839/

"#YuzuruHanyu's parade 4 years ago was only televised by the local TV station (in Sendai), but this time it will be broadcast nationally." https://twitter.com/Iron_Klaus/status/983672878032924674

I heard that NHKWorld will be airing it worldwide but my tv guide only showed it on TV Japan which I don't have a subscription fore. For NHK world it wasn't on the schedule.