Yuzuru Hanyu | A FIGHTER

The World Champion. The Olympic Champion.

Yuzuru Hanyu; a name that is familiar to all in the realm of figure skating. He is the epitome of discipline and grace, strength and humility. He claims world record titles and endorses chocolate advertisements. He is highly intelligent and...full of silly mischief. He is a monster on ice...but is a warm human being like you and I.

This powerful athlete is not always sitting highly on a grand pedestal. Sure, he grabs medals wherever he goes but there are definite days where he is insecure and weak.

Three months ago, he is heavily injured and disappears from the face of media and even...from the ice.

Three months...before the 2018 Winter Olympics.


We knew he will come back; that is for sure.

But how will he be then? Is his injury completely healed? Has he been practising enough? Won't he feel pressured? And...is he able to defend his medal?

I had these questions fluttering around my head all those days waiting for his return. As a fan, I believed he could win...but doubts clouded my eyes.

But he is back. And he has caught many attention from those around him.

Not because he is just as skilled and powerful on the ice as he was before the injury. Not because he is avoiding the Quad Lutz that had injured him in the first place.

Because he is smiling.

The day of the competition is tomorrow. Tension rises for the male skaters and that is perfectly expected. Everyone is gunning for a medal. Everyone including Yuzuru Hanyu.

But he is smiling and laughing as he glides across the practice ice. He trolls the media by doing a single Triple Axel and leaving after 15 minutes. He crawls behind Shoma Uno during his interview to not bother his fellow teammate. He is showing off his proud strawberry shortcake tissue cover which is replacing his coveted Winnie the Pooh cover.

Maybe he is just trying to lift his own spirits? Maybe he is trying to fight against the insane pressure?

No...in my eyes...he is happy. Genuinely happy to be back on the ice.

As his hands softly touches the ice, I know that this is an athlete who is truly happy to return and do the sports he loves dearly.

I know he can win. His strength and motivation is stronger than ever. But most importantly...

He is an athlete who is devoted to stand on the ice and smiles every moment his blades touches the ice.


"絶対に勝ってやる！(I will definitely win!)"

- Yuzuru Hanyu, 2012/10/26




Assalamualaikum!

- Anis Diana