VIDEO: Yuzuru Hanyu Kisses Ice in Emotional Final Tribute at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Legendary figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu bid adieu to the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 at the exhibition gala. Sadly, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was unable to secure a medal this year.

Nevertheless, he mesmerized the world with his performance at the figure skating exhibition gala. Even though Yuzuru Hanyu failed to achieve his dream of hitting a quadruple axel jump, he still won hearts all over the world.

The 27-year-old amazed everyone with his resilience, as he performed on a numb, injured foot at the Olympics. Even at the gala, Yuzuru Hanyu performed while still recovering. However, there was one single moment of magic that took everyone’s breath away.

Yuzuru Hanyu kissed the ice in an emotional goodbye

The world sat with bated breath as Yuzuru Hanyu took to the ice at the Beijing Winter Olympics exhibition gala. Hanyu had failed to medal in his own competitive event, but everyone looked forward to his performance.

Everyone knew he was injured as he competed, and even as he performed at the exhibition. Hanyu’s injury to his leg and foot came at the cost of attempting a quadruple axel, an unprecedented jump in Olympic history.

Even though he did not successfully hand his 4A jump at the Olympics, he did take everyone’s breath away with a beautiful move. Hanyu performed a hydro blade move, as he swung around in circles getting lower and lower to the ice.

In fact, Yuzuru Hanyu was so close to the ground that he could very simply have kissed the ice with a slight twitch. As it so happened, that is exactly what Hanyu did, as he leaned forward to slightly the ice.

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Certainly, it was an emotional moment to watch, what with his third Olympic outing having ended without a medal. Recently, there have been doubts about whether or not he would continue being an Olympian, too.

Be that as it may, Yuzuru Hanyu kissing the ice mid-performance in what could possibly be his last Olympics is a moment that will go down in history.

Hanyu talked about his future and the 2026 Winter Olympics

Many have wondered if Yuzuru Hanyu will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. In fact, the Japanese legend has not ruled that out himself.

On February 14, Hanyu had stated that he doesn’t know if the 2022 Winter Olympics were his last. However, he does hold the Olympics in reverence.

He called the Olympics “a special place, one of a kind”. In fact, he explained his own mindset at the 2022 Winter Olympics as well, calling them “a challenge that you want to take on even if you’re hurt”.

“There’s no place like that (the Olympics) for a figure skater,” Hanyu said. “There is a part of me that does want to skate here again,” he said, raising all his fans’ hopes of seeing him again.

Thus, there is definitely a chance that Hanyu will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics. After all, he still has to land the perfect quadruple axel, too.

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