Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu retired from competitive figure skating in 2022 at 27 years old, leaving an undeniable lasting impression on the sport with his artistic expression and high-level technical elements in each program.
Japanese Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu | @notte_2023/Twitter
In his time as a competitive skater, he set five world record scores and broke world records 19 times.
As memorable as his incredible skating is, he also earned praise and love for his humility and kind personality.
Yuzuru Hanyu (center) encouraging Javier Fernández (right) and Shoma Uno (left) to join him on the podium at the “2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics” | rurumiho/YouTube
As a legend himself, it’s only fitting that he’s also a fan of fellow record-breaking legends, and Yuzuru Hanyu has established himself as a certified ARMY for years.
In his 2021 documentary, Dream On Ice 2021, Hanyu expressed his love for BTS and hoped to incorporate their songs into his skating one day.
I am very into BTS now. If I put BTS into figure skating, how cool would it be?! I have been thinking a lot about that while watching.
— Yuzuru Hanyu, Dream On Ice 2021 interview
their dance. After being able to do that, i wondered if there were other cool songs & found DNA & started listening to ir. I still don’t know how to dance to it but i want to.”
— ikram⁷⟭⟬main acc bts07ddaeng (@zergdouniot7) June 27, 2021
Hanyu specifically mentioned that he found Jimin‘s dancing beautiful and studied it to emulate the BTS member’s graceful movements on the ice.
“Jimin is so flexible, slender and has delicate body lines that makes his technique even more fascinating. I’m learning cool moves [like jimin’s] not only from the skating field but also from outside of skating”
— legendary figure Yuzuru Hanyu about Jimin 🤍 pic.twitter.com/zOf2XpSotW
— SET ME FREE PT 2 OUT ON 17th MARCH (@dailyjimn) February 8, 2022
Although Yuzuru Hanyu completed his competitive skating career, he’s still mesmerizing audiences on the ice.
He’s stayed busy with solo shows and preparations to join Stars On Ice Japan 2023.
Before joining the star-studded line-up of skaters for the Stars On Ice tour, Hanyu appeared in a new skating show called Notte Stellata, which was created in memory of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
The show was held as a way to bring hope to the affected region 12 years after the horrible tragedy.
Yuzuru Hanyu (left) and fellow “Notte Stellata” skaters honoring a moment of silence for the nearly 20,000 lives lost during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. | @Channn94/Twitter
Yuzuru Hanyu, whose hometown is within the Tōhoku region of Japan and was personally affected by the tragedy, produced the show to commemorate the day and bring people together.
For this reason, he chose to perform to BTS’s “Dynamite” alongside fellow skaters, including Suzuki Akiko, because it was a song that “brought a smile to many people around the world.”
the pandemic. I’m a shining diamond and I’ll lighten up the night sky. Yes, just like dynamite.”
4 skaters including Suzuki Akiko skated to ‘Dynamite’ and from around the chorus, the screen and the link showed Hanyu Yuzuru dancing to ‘Dynamite’ too.https://t.co/wbLDzd8vgr
— Ayaka ⁷ (@061313purple) March 11, 2023
While he performed alongside three fellow skaters, Hanyu was seen on the monitor dancing to BTS’s hit song, showing that he not only made his dream of skating to BTS come true but also learned the dance.
Los patinadores, incluido Yuzuru Hanyu, patinaron/bailaron al ritmo de ‘Dynamite’ al comienzo de la 2da parte del show “notte stellata” de Yuzuru Hanyu el 10/3. Comenzó con su comentario en video diciendo:
“La primera canción es una canción que trajo una sonrisa brillante a pic.twitter.com/EuD1SrPRoW
— Dan ⁷
(@BTSMicasaOT7) March 11, 2023
Combining his interests, ARMY status, and passion for a heartwarming tribute, Yuzuru Hanyu continues to prove his genuine personality.
Check out more on Yuzuru Hanyu in the article below!
Olympic Skater Yuzuru Hanyu Is Collecting Fandoms Like Gold Medals
