Smart Running Revolution: Personalized Plans for Experienced Runners [50f3]

At this Winter Olympics, besides the Chinese athletes, many people were probably also captivated by a young Japanese skater, right? Some have described him as 'a jade-like figure on ice, unparalleled in the world.' Yes, today we are talking about Yuzuru Hanyu.

After ranking first in the short program with a perfect performance, Yuzuru Hanyu stunned the audience in the free skate with a routine to 'Onmyoji.' Ultimately, he scored a total of 317.85 points, winning the championship again after his gold medal at the Sochi Olympics, becoming the first person in nearly 66 years to defend the title in this event.

————

Who is Yuzuru Hanyu?

He is an athlete with the face of a manga protagonist, living like a passionate anime character, and adored by people worldwide. Born in 1994, this young man is known for his graceful and flexible body and astonishing precocity. His exceptional jumping ability, excellent flexibility, and diverse performances have redefined the difficulty of figure skating. Some say that if you are unfortunate enough to compete against him, you can only hope he makes a mistake.

Four years ago, 19-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu won the men's singles figure skating gold medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics. He then went on to win two consecutive World Figure Skating Championships and four consecutive Grand Prix Finals. He is the first figure skater in history to score over 100 points in the short program and has been certified by the Guinness World Records. His scores in the short program, free skate, and overall have set new world records.

Before this year's Winter Olympics, Yuzuru Hanyu injured the ligaments in his right ankle and was still using crutches four months ago. After his injury, he 'disappeared' for a while, during which he self-studied anatomy to create a suitable training regimen for himself. He trained for a month and then competed in the Winter Olympics with his injury, ultimately winning the championship.

When he completed his final move, the entire audience stood up to cheer for him. As the commentator said, 'After his injury, he participated in the Olympics with zero warm-up, and he is still the king. He has turned his life into a passionate anime.'

CCTV commentator Chen Ying described him this way: 'His face is like jade, his posture like a pine; he moves like a startled swan, graceful like a dragon in flight; on ice, he is like jade, unparalleled in the world.'

————

Connecting with figure skating due to asthma

As a child, Yuzuru Hanyu had asthma. To treat his condition, his parents had him learn to skate. So, from the age of four, Yuzuru Hanyu started learning to skate with his sister. At 11, during an interview, he sported the same hairstyle as his idol, Evgeni Plushenko (a legendary Russian skater known as the 'Ice Emperor'), and shyly but confidently stated his goal: to win an Olympic gold medal.

Despite his delicate and gentle appearance, he harbors a strong soul. For his dreams, Yuzuru overcame numerous challenges, becoming Japan's youngest men's singles champion at the World Junior Championships at the age of fifteen.

Many people say that Yuzuru was born for figure skating. He can perfectly execute the Biellmann spin, a move that many female skaters find difficult due to its required flexibility.

Regarding his training attitude, some have described it as 'suicidal training methods.'

On the cover of his notebook, he wrote his life motto, 'I must win,' and inside are summaries of his performances in various competitions.

Yuzuru Hanyu once said something particularly inspiring: 'I have not lost any motivation; I still want to become stronger. My new enemy is myself.'

Soon, the hardworking Yuzuru began to shine in international competitions. At the Sochi Winter Olympics, he competed alongside his idol. After Yuzuru defended his title, Plushenko, who also won two Olympic gold medals but did not defend his title, immediately sent his congratulations: 'I am proud of Yuzuru! He is incredible.'

Of course, like many athletes, Yuzuru Hanyu's career has not been smooth sailing. At the 2014 Cup of China Grand Prix, Yuzuru Hanyu collided with Chinese skater Yan Han during warm-up, resulting in a bloody scene. His chin was cut, and his temple was hit, reportedly requiring seven stitches afterward.

After the collision, Yuzuru Hanyu was helped up by staff and received simple bandaging. After confirming that Yan Han was okay, he took to the ice with his injuries.

He said, 'It's okay, no problem. I will skate until I die.' Then, he skated with a bandage on his head and a band-aid on his chin, falling five times.

First fall, he quickly got up.

Second fall, he pushed himself up with one hand.

Third fall, he quickly got up again.

Fourth fall, he got up noticeably slower.

Fifth fall, he was finally exhausted, relying on sheer willpower to finish, his face showing fatigue but determination.

He didn't cry when he fell, but he couldn't hold back his tears when the competition ended. The entire audience stood up to applaud him.

At this point, he could no longer walk, and his coach helped him off the ice. In the end, Yuzuru Hanyu won a precious silver medal, and upon learning his score, he broke down in tears.

————

Humble and polite, with a likable personality

At this Winter Olympics, Yuzuru Hanyu's free skate music was from 'Onmyoji Seimei.' In the original work, Abe no Seimei is an onmyoji from Japan's Heian period, described as a tall, fair-skinned, and ethereal handsome man. Seimei is almost infallible in his dealings due to his intelligence. Yuzuru Hanyu chose to bring this challenging character to the ice because he felt a connection with Seimei: 'delicate, meticulous, and full of fighting spirit.'

Besides his outstanding achievements, Yuzuru Hanyu has many endearing qualities, such as his consistent 90-degree bows.

During this Winter Olympics, a photo of Yuzuru Hanyu quickly went viral. When he saw his Japanese teammate Shoma Uno being interviewed after training, Yuzuru Hanyu, to avoid disturbing him, quietly crawled behind him. This action was widely praised for his good manners.

This photo was wildly shared online, making Yuzuru Hanyu, who had already gone viral four years ago, gain even more fans. As one netizen commented, 'Yuzuru Hanyu is so wonderful that I want to give him the stars, the moon, strawberries, egg tarts, fried chicken, cream, and the best part of the watermelon.'

He also has a good relationship with Chinese skater Jin Boyang, who considers Yuzuru Hanyu his idol.

In one competition, Yuzuru Hanyu thoughtfully helped Jin Boyang adjust the direction of the Chinese flag.

Winners are often envied, but Yuzuru Hanyu is different. His victories make everyone forget about nationalities and genuinely wish him well, even his competitors. When taking group photos, foreign skaters would even lift him up if he was blocked in the back row.

In daily life, Yuzuru Hanyu is a big boy full of childlike innocence. His favorite cartoon character is Winnie the Pooh, and he says that seeing Pooh's face makes him feel at ease.

So, after every competition, Yuzuru Hanyu's fans throw Winnie the Pooh plush toys onto the ice to express their love and support. This has become a 'tradition' at his competitions. During the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, fans twice showered him with 'Pooh rain.'

It is worth mentioning that Yuzuru Hanyu is also a top student in science. While rigorously training in figure skating, he also studied hard and got into Waseda University. Moreover, he was admitted through regular admissions, not as a sports-specialty student.

As the saying goes, liking someone starts with their looks, stays for their talent, and falls for their character. Beautiful, genuine, not overly sentimental, and not falsely moving, Yuzuru Hanyu and his performances were undoubtedly one of the most genuine presences at this 'special' Winter Olympics.

————