Yuzuru Hanyu achieved a place for Beijing 2022 this Sunday by winning for the second consecutive year in the men’s category of the Japan Figure Skating Championship, although the Japanese skater did not manage to successfully complete the quadruple axel that he included in his free routine. Hanyu, who already prevailed in the short program on Saturday with a score of 111.31 points, today achieved 211.5 in the free routine to finish adding 322.36, well ahead of Shoma Uno (second, with 295.82 ) and Yuma Kagiyama (third, with 292.41).
The 27-year-old two-time Olympic champion had proposed to execute a quadruple axel in his free program at the Japan Championships held these days in Saitama (north of Tokyo) and thus make history by becoming the first skater to have done so successfully in competition. However, Hanyu, who skated to the tune of “Heaven in Earth”, fell short in the rotation and failed to complete the 4.5 turns of the maneuver. The skater from Sendai (northeast of the country) made three more quad jumps in a routine that was otherwise flawless and earned him the championship.
The axel is considered the most difficult jump, since it is launched by skating forward, so it must include an additional half turn to land with the opposite foot (Thus, the quadruple axel makes 4.5 turns). This competition has marked Hanyu’s return to the front row after an ankle injury. During the last 18 months he has trained mainly in Japan, away from his coach, Canadian Brian Orser, who was also the Spanish coach Javier Fernández. In Beijing 2022, where he is now the favorite again to win a medal, the Japanese could become the first male skater in history to chain three consecutive Olympic golds.
Discussion about this post