Yuzuru Hanyu: “After Pyeongchang, I already wanted to step away. But truthfully, I couldn’t stop because I’d said in so many interviews that I’d land the 4A. It was my dream, and I was terrified of letting go of it – terrified of giving up.”

Yuzuru Hanyu reflects on the 2022 Beijing Olympics and the journey behind his career.

original source: Hochi News dd. July 18th 2025

In the fourth part of a special interview series commemorating his third anniversary as a professional skater, Yuzuru Hanyu (30) delves into the story of the 2022 Beijing Olympics – a pivotal moment not only in his career but also in his quest to achieve his ultimate dream jump, the quadruple axel. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Hochi News.

Beijing 2022: A Turning Point and a Lesson in Perseverance

The 2022 Beijing Olympics marked Hanyu’s final competitive appearance. Even now, as he pushes himself with training that surpasses his competitive era to perform in solo ice shows lasting over two hours, he continues to reflect on the significance of his third Olympic experience.

“I believe the practice I put into the quad axel (4A) leading up to Beijing was very worthwhile. At that time, my focus was entirely on achieving results. Without that clear goal, I wouldn’t have been able to push myself so far in training. Maybe there’s a parallel universe where I succeeded, but in this world, where I didn’t succeed then, I’ve actually gained much more. Not achieving the 4A at that point gave me even more motivation to continue researching and training my body now. Somehow, I’m still fighting along the path that began in Beijing, and I feel certain about the lessons I’ve learned and the progress I’ve made.”

Hanyu struggled with indecision about participating in Beijing, only confirming his intent after the Japanese Nationals in December 2021. At the heart of this decision was his dream of landing the 4A.

“Before Nationas, I couldn’t land the axel – not at all. I was thinking of retiring at that competition, honestly. Well, actually I wanted to retire even before that (laughs). I’ve mentioned it before, but after Pyeongchang, I already wanted to step away. I kept telling myself I wanted to quit. But truthfully, I couldn’t stop because I’d said in so many interviews that I’d land the quad axel. It was my dream, and I was terrified of letting go of it – terrified of giving up.”

The Quad Axel: A Dream and a Motivation

Having accomplished the incredible feat of winning back-to-back Olympic golds – a first for men’s singles in 66 years – Hanyu found his “ultimate motivation” post-Pyeongchang in the pursuit of the quad axel.

“One of the ideas that has come to define me recently is the belief that continually striving toward your dreams is proof of being alive. Surrendering that dream felt equivalent to losing my very essence. That’s why I couldn’t quit, even when things got tough, and why I found myself at the Beijing Olympics wondering how I’d reached that point.”

Despite the struggles and frustration, Hanyu’s pursuit of excellence never wavered. Reflecting on his preparation for the Japanese Nationals in 2021, he said:

“Heading into that competition, I was determined to land the axel. I held on to hope every step along the way, thinking I might somehow manage to pull it off, even if just once in the final six-minute practice session or during the performance itself. If I couldn’t land it there, I knew I couldn’t let myself retire.”

Hanyu described being closer to the quad axel than ever before during the peak of his journey:

“It was the closest I’d ever been, and also the moment I realized I couldn’t abandon it. If I gave up at that point, I knew it would all fall apart. I’d worked so hard and come so close – there was no way I could let it go.”

Supporting the Next Generation: Encouragement for Shun Sato and Mone Chiba

Hanyu also shared a message of encouragement for younger skaters from his hometown of Sendai, Shun Sato (21) and Mone Chiba (20), who are pursuing their paths toward the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics.

“Sato and Chiba are incredibly hardworking skaters. I hope their efforts are rewarded, and I wish them the best as they strive for their dreams.”

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