At the Toronto Cricket Club on August 30, Yuzuru Hanyu participated in an annual event for the Japanese media, where he showcased his practice session and discussed his health, upcoming programs, and goals for the season.
This year, Hanyu’s short program, created by Jeffrey Buttle, features “Otonal” by Raúl di Blasio, a piece previously used by Johnny Weir in the 2004-2005 season for his long program.
The free skate program, designed by Shae-Lynn Bourne, is inspired by Evgeni Plushenko’s iconic “Tribute to Nijinsky” program, which Hanyu refers to as “Origin.” Hanyu, who considers Plushenko and Weir as his idols, received Plushenko’s blessing to use the music after approaching him during a summer event.
Hanyu expressed that his Olympic achievements have alleviated the pressure of meeting others’ expectations and achieving top results. He shared that he now feels liberated to skate for himself, aiming to return to his roots and skate with personal satisfaction and authenticity.
Recovery and Ambitions
Yuzuru Hanyu is on the mend from a foot injury he sustained in November 2017, and he reports that his recovery is progressing well. He has ambitious plans to incorporate the quad Axel into his long program, a jump he admits he has yet to successfully land in practice.
Hanyu aims to execute this challenging jump as the opening element of his free skate, striving for a jump that not only lands but also earns a high grade of execution. He is determined to perfect the quad Axel, setting his sights on achieving the best possible execution of the jump.
Progress in Jumps and Approach to Competition
Hanyu has successfully integrated the quad loop, quad toe, and quad Salchow into his routines, noting an improvement in these jumps compared to his performance before the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
However, his cautious approach to the quad Lutz and flip jumps stems from a desire to ensure his technique is flawless and injury-free.
Admiration for Daisuke Takahashi
When asked about Daisuke Takahashi’s return to competitive figure skating, Hanyu expressed his unwavering admiration for Takahashi. Hanyu looks forward to Takahashi’s performances and the opportunity to compete alongside him at national competitions, emphasizing his respect and anticipation rather than focusing on the outcomes of their competitions.
Reflections on the New Scoring System
Hanyu shared his insights on the adjustments to the figure skating scoring system, particularly the reduction in program length to four minutes. Contrary to what some might expect, Hanyu finds the shorter program more challenging due to the condensed nature of the elements, including jumps.
The reduction in program length requires skaters to execute their elements more efficiently, which Hanyu describes as a demanding and busy experience. He has dedicated time to studying and researching to adapt his programs to this new format effectively.
Looking Forward to the Next Generation
Hanyu also commented on the emergence of younger skaters, some of whom are only a few years his junior. He is eager to see how these up-and-coming athletes adapt to and compete under the new scoring system, indicating his interest in the evolving landscape of figure skating and the potential of these young talents.
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