“No Longer Feel A Desire”- Figure Skating GOAT, Yuzuru Hanyu Makes An Upsetting Announcement On His Career

It is a sad day for the sport of figure skating as the greatest athlete to step on the ice has announced his retirement. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu announced today at 5 pm JST that he is bidding farewell to the sport.

27-year-old Hanyu held a news conference in Tokyo where he confirmed the rumors of his retirement. The illustrious career of the figure skating GOAT has finally come to an end.

Yuzuru Hanyu retires from competitive figure skating

Months after the Beijing Olympics, Yuzuru Hanyu finally addressed his plans for the future in figure skating through a press conference held on Tuesday in Tokyo. He put a rest to the speculations and confirmed that he is retiring from the competitions but would continue as a professional skater.

According to rough translations, Hanyu explained, “I think I was able to get all the results I strived for. And I no longer feel a desire to strive for that kind of evaluation.” He claimed, “Right now, I don’t need to participate in competitions. In order to chase my ideal shape of figure skating, I realized I don’t need to be in competitions. And I might only be able to do certain things outside of competition.”

He participated in a four-stop ice show tour through Japan last month but did not address the media in any capacity. Moreover, the Japan Skating Federation listed Hanyu for the upcoming Grand Prix Series assignments this season. So the news of his press conference came as a surprise for fans.

“I want to create opportunities for people to watch my skating on stages other than competitions.” He stated, “I will keep doing my best, including for those people who haven’t been able to see me live, and those who thought they were glad to have watched my skating live. I will continue challenging the quadruple Axel. As a pro athlete from now on, I will continue chasing my ideal.”

Hanyu cemented himself in figure skating history as a legend

Since his first Olympics in Sochi, Yuzuru Hanyu has made a lasting impact on the sport. Breaking records and becoming the first man to breach the 100-point barrier in the short program, the 19-year-old took home his first Olympic title.

READ MORE: Yuzuru Hanyu Has a Massive Fan Base That Changed the Face of Figure Skating Appreciation

He set 19 world records, pushing past his limits, and ultimately competing with himself. More often than not, the top three highest scores in any category would all belong to the same man. Hanyu also became the first man to break the 200-point barrier in the free skate and the 300-point barrier in combined total scores.

In 2018, the four-time Grand Prix champion defended his Olympic title in Pyeongchang. Hanyu became the first man to go back-to-back for Olympic gold in 66 years. He also bagged two world titles and established himself as one of, if not the greatest figure skaters ever.

At the Beijing 2022 Olympics, he lost the bid for a third title, placing fourth. But he still managed to certify a quadruple Axel in major international competition, an unprecedented feat. Competing in the senior division since 2010, Hanyu has maintained his status as a top athlete for over a decade in a sport where skaters tend to retire after winning an Olympic medal.

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It is truly a loss for the sport to see the magnificent skater hang up his skates. But the fans wish him well for his future endeavors.