Yuzuru Hanyu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yuzuru Hanyu
羽生 結弦
Hanyu at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang
Born	(1994-12-07) December 7, 1994 (age 30) Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Alma mater	Waseda University (2020)
Occupation	Figure skater Ice show producer and director author
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Awards	People's Honor Award (2018) Medal of Honor (2014, 2018) Kikuchi Kan Prize (2022)
Yuzuru Hanyu Personal information Country represented  Japan Began skating 1998
YouTube information
Years active	2022–present
Genre	Figure skating
Subscribers	789 thousand
Total views	35 million
Subscriber and view counts updated as of January 21, 2025.
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Yuzuru Hanyu (羽生 結弦, Hanyū Yuzuru, Hiragana: はにゅう ゆづる; born December 7, 1994) is a famous Japanese figure skater and ice show producer. Many people think he is one of the greatest figure skaters ever. He started skating when he was four years old. He competed in men's singles from 2004 to 2022.

Yuzuru Hanyu is the first male skater in 66 years to win two Olympic gold medals in a row (in 2014 and 2018). He was also the youngest and first Asian Olympic champion in men's singles. He has won the World Championships twice (2014, 2017). He also won the Japanese national championships six times. He was the first skater to win four Grand Prix Finals in a row (2014–2017).

In 2020, Hanyu became the first male skater to achieve the Super Slam. This means he won all major international junior and senior titles in his career. He also broke world records 19 times. This is the most in singles since 2003. He was the first skater to land a quadruple loop jump in a competition.

In 2022, Hanyu became a professional skater. This was a big moment in competitive figure skating. His first major professional work is the Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story series. His show Gift (2023) was the first ice skating event at Tokyo Dome. It set a record for the largest ice show audience with 35,000 people.

When he was 16, Hanyu experienced the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in his hometown of Sendai. This event greatly influenced his life. He has helped with many charity events and performances for disaster victims. He is also the chairperson of the annual ice show Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata. This show remembers the 2011 earthquake. Hanyu has donated over $3 million USD for recovery efforts. This includes his Olympic prize money and money from his autobiography series Blue Flames I–IV.

Hanyu has received many awards for his achievements. He was the youngest person to get the People's Honour Award (2018) from the Prime Minister of Japan. He also received Japan's Medal of Honor twice (2014, 2018). He was the first figure skater nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award (2019). In 2020, he was named the Most Valuable Skater at the first ISU Skating Awards. In 2022, he was the sixth most-searched athlete on Google Search worldwide.

Early Life and Skating Start

Yuzuru Hanyu was born on December 7, 1994, in Sendai, Japan. His father, Hidetoshi Hanyu, was a junior high school teacher. His mother, Yumi Hanyu, used to make his costumes when he was young. His name, Yuzuru, means "tie the bowstring." His father chose it, hoping he would live a strong and dignified life.

Yuzuru was diagnosed with asthma at age two. This made it harder for him to have good stamina, especially when he was a junior skater. He started skating at age four at Ice Rink Sendai. His coach, Mami Yamada, suggested he try skating. She noticed he was impatient but also very sincere. Later, Shōichirō Tsuzuki became his coach. Tsuzuki's training was strict, but it helped Hanyu build strong basic skills.

Competitive Skating Journey

Junior Career Highlights (2004–2010)

Hanyu first competed in the 2004–05 season. He won gold at the Japan Championships in the Novice B category. His home rink closed for a while, so he trained at another club. He also traveled to Yokohama for extra lessons. In 2006, at age 11, he had a spin challenge with Olympic medalist Stéphane Lambiel. Hanyu lost, but it taught him to improve his spins.

In 2008–09, Hanyu moved to junior level. He made his international debut in Italy. He won gold at the Japan Junior Championships, becoming the youngest male skater to do so at 13. This led him to compete at the Japan Senior Championships for the first time. He also competed at the World Junior Championships.

The 2009–10 season was very successful. He won the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final and the World Junior Championships. He won both of his Grand Prix events in Poland and Croatia. He became the fourth and youngest Japanese man to win the junior world title. He also greatly improved his triple Axel jump.

First Olympic Cycle (2010–2014)

Senior Debut and First World Medal

In the 2010–11 season, Hanyu became a senior skater at 15. He faced tough competition from other Japanese skaters. He performed his short program to "White Legend" and his free skate to Zigeunerweisen. At the 2010 NHK Trophy, he landed his first successful quadruple jump in a competition. He won his first medal at a major international senior event, a silver at the 2011 Four Continents Championships. He was the youngest medalist there at 16.

On March 11, 2011, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami hit his hometown of Sendai. His house was damaged, and he stayed in an evacuation center. His rink was also damaged. He trained in other cities and participated in 60 ice shows across Japan. These shows helped him practice and raise money for disaster relief.

In the 2011–12 season, Hanyu won his first gold medal at an international senior competition at the Nebelhorn Trophy. He said his goals were to land all quad jumps, learn the quad Axel, and win Olympic medals. He won the Rostelecom Cup by a tiny margin. At his first World Championships, he won the bronze medal. He became the youngest Japanese world medalist.

After this season, Hanyu changed coaches. He started training with Brian Orser and Tracy Wilson in Canada. He wanted to improve his quadruple jumps. He increased his on-ice training to 3–4 hours a day.

National Title and First Olympic Gold

In the 2012–13 season, Hanyu worked with new choreographers. He landed his first quadruple Salchow in competition. He also set two world records in the short program. He won his first national senior title at the Japan Championships. He finished second at the 2013 Four Continents Championships. He competed at the World Championships with a knee and ankle injury, finishing fourth.

Hanyu skating his program "Parisienne Walkways" at the 2014 Winter Olympics

For the 2013–14 Olympic season, Hanyu used his "Parisienne Walkways" short program and "Romeo and Juliet" free skate. He won his first major international senior title at the Grand Prix Final. He set a new world record in the short program with 99.84 points. He then won his second national title.

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Hanyu broke his world record again. He scored 101.45 points in the short program, becoming the first skater to score over 100 points. Even with two falls in the free skate, he won the gold medal. He became the youngest male Olympic gold medalist since 1948. He was also the first Asian skater to win gold in men's singles. Hanyu ended the season by winning the World Championships. He was the first skater to win the Olympics, Worlds, and Grand Prix Final in the same season since 2002.

Second Olympic Cycle (2014–2018)

More Grand Prix Wins and World Records

After the Sochi Olympics, jump expert Ghislain Briand joined Hanyu's coaching team. In the 2014–15 season, Hanyu used Frédéric Chopin's "Ballade No. 1" for his short program and "The Phantom of the Opera" for his free skate. This season had many injuries for Hanyu. He hurt his back and later collided with another skater at the Cup of China. Despite injuries, he defended his title at the Grand Prix Final. He also won his third national title. He had surgery on his bladder and later sprained his ankle. He still managed to finish second at the 2015 World Championships.

Hanyu skating his short program Ballade No. 1 at the 2015–16 Grand Prix Final

For the 2015–16 season, Hanyu returned to "Ballade No. 1" and used music from the Japanese films Onmyōji for his free skate. He set new world records at the 2015 NHK Trophy in all three segments. He became the first skater to score over 200 points in the free skate and 300 points overall. He broke his own records again at the 2015–16 Grand Prix Final. He won his third Grand Prix Final in a row. He also won his fourth national title. He later had a foot injury, which affected his performance at the 2016 World Championships, where he finished second.

Hanyu at the victory ceremony of the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki

In the 2016–17 season, Hanyu skated to "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince and "Hope and Legacy." He became the first skater to successfully land a quadruple loop jump in competition. He won his fourth consecutive Grand Prix Final. He missed the Japan Championships due to the flu. At the 2017 Four Continents Championships, he won silver. At the World Championships, he moved from fifth to first place with a strong free skate. He set a new world record in the free skate and won his second world title.

Second Olympic Gold Medal

Hanyu with Shoma Uno (left) and Javier Fernández (right) at the 2018 Winter Olympics podium

For the 2017–18 Olympic season, Hanyu returned to his "Ballade No. 1" and Seimei programs. He set a new world record in the short program. He also landed his first quadruple Lutz jump in competition. In November, he injured his right ankle and had to withdraw from competitions.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Hanyu placed first in the short program with a new Olympic record. In the free skate, he had some mistakes but still won the gold medal. He became the first male skater in 66 years to win two Olympic titles in a row. After the Olympics, Hanyu said his next goal was to land the quadruple Axel. He withdrew from the World Championships to recover from his ankle injury.

Third Olympic Cycle (2018–2022)

New Judging System and Super Slam

For the 2018–19 season, Hanyu chose programs that honored his childhood idols, Johnny Weir and Evgeni Plushenko. He won the Grand Prix of Helsinki and set new highest scores under the new judging system. He also landed the first quad toe loop-triple Axel jump sequence in competition. At the Rostelecom Cup, he re-injured his right ankle but still competed and won. He had to withdraw from the Grand Prix Final and Japan Championships to recover. At the 2019 World Championships, he finished second.

Hanyu (center) at the 2020 Four Continents podium, completing the Super Slam

In the 2019–20 season, Hanyu won gold at Skate Canada, setting new personal bests. He won another gold at the NHK Trophy. At the Grand Prix Final, he finished second. He also won silver at the Japan Championships.

At the Four Continents Championships in Seoul, Hanyu returned to his "Ballade No. 1" and Seimei programs. He broke his own world record in the short program with 111.82 points. He won the gold medal, becoming the first and only male singles skater to win all major ISU junior and senior championship events. This is known as the Super Slam. The World Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hanyu won the Most Valuable Skater award at the ISU Skating Awards in 2020.

Training Alone and Final Olympics

In 2021, Hanyu trained alone in Sendai due to travel restrictions. He found it helped him control and analyze his own skating. He skipped the Grand Prix series to avoid COVID-19 risks. He competed at the Japanese championships and won his fifth national title.

At the 2021 World Championships, Hanyu placed first in the short program. In the free skate, he had some errors and finished third overall. He became the first male skater since 1946 to win seven World medals. He later confirmed he had an asthma attack during the free skate.

For the 2021–22 Olympic season, Hanyu planned to compete in the Grand Prix series. However, he injured his right ankle and had to withdraw from events. He made his season debut at the 2021–22 Japan Figure Skating Championships, winning his sixth national title. He also attempted a quadruple Axel for the first time in competition.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Hanyu missed his opening jump in the short program due to a hole in the ice. He placed eighth. In the free skate, he fell on his quad Axel attempt and a quad Salchow. His quad Axel attempt was the first that was not fully downgraded to a triple. He finished fourth overall. Hanyu later said he had re-injured his right ankle before the free skate but chose to compete with painkillers. He withdrew from the 2022 World Championships to heal.

Professional Skating Career

On July 19, 2022, Hanyu announced he was leaving competitive skating to become a professional. He said he had achieved everything he could in competition. He still wanted to pursue his dream of completing the quadruple Axel as a professional. Many people called his move the "end of an era" in figure skating.

Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story Shows

In 2022, Hanyu started his first solo ice show series, Prologue. It was the first solo ice show in figure skating. Each show was 90 minutes long and featured difficult jumps and moves. Prologue was the start of the Yuzuru Hanyu Ice Story series, which he produces and directs.

The next show was Gift in 2023. It was the first ice skating event held at Tokyo Dome, a very large venue. It set a new audience record for ice shows with 35,000 people. The show told a philosophical story about Hanyu's life. It featured 12 skating programs. The Olympics' news site called his performances "for the ages." Gift later became the first ice show available on Disney+ worldwide.

Crowd on the first day of Hanyu's Repray Tour at Saitama Super Arena in 2023 before the start of the show

The Repray Tour was a sequel to Gift and the first solo ice show tour in figure skating. It had four stops across Japan. Each show was 120 minutes long with 12 programs. The story was gaming-themed, exploring virtual and real worlds. Hanyu's performances to video game music attracted many new fans. A new show, the Echoes of Life Tour, is planned for 2024–25.

Hanyu's Ice Story series has created a new type of performing art. It combines live skating with deep stories and on-screen narration. Over 100,000 people have attended his solo shows, all of which sold out. Other skaters have praised his amazing athleticism and stamina.

Charity Shows and Support

In March 2023, the annual ice show Yuzuru Hanyu Notte Stellata began. It remembers the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Hanyu is the chairperson of this show. It features international skaters and guest artists from other fields.

On September 15, 2024, Hanyu led a charity performance called "Challenge" in Ishikawa Prefecture. Money from this event will help areas affected by the 2024 Noto earthquake.

Skating Technique and Style

• Hanyu's signature moves
• 

  Layback Biellmann spin

• 

  Doughnut camel spin

• 

  One-handed hydroblading

• 

  Layback Ina Bauer

• 

  Side lunge (pistol pose)

Hanyu is known for his amazing technical skills and beautiful artistry. His skating is often described as a perfect mix of strength and elegance. Many experts say he is very complete as a skater. He excels at spins, skating skills, and connecting his moves to the music.

Hanyu can create speed "out of nowhere" and cover long distances with few strokes. He can do jumps from difficult entries like the backward counter turn and spread eagle into his triple Axel jump. His jumps are known for their impressive height and length. He has successfully landed four different types of quadruple jumps in competition: toe loop, Salchow, loop, and Lutz.

Hanyu can perform difficult spins like the layback Biellmann and doughnut camel spin. These require great flexibility. Other signature moves include the layback Ina Bauer, hydroblading, and the side lunge. His technical elements are known for their high quality. He has received many perfect scores for his jumps, spins, and footwork.

Hanyu uses many different music styles in his programs. He has played historical Japanese figures like Abe no Seimei. He is involved in all parts of his programs, from choosing music to designing costumes and choreography. His choreographer, Shae-Lynn Bourne, said he knows exactly what he wants for his programs.

Public Life and Impact

Endorsements and Charity Work

Hanyu pictured with his endorsing brand Kosé at the 2019–20 Grand Prix Final

Hanyu has appeared in many commercials and ads. He was an ambassador for P&G's "Proud Sponsor of Moms" campaign for the 2014 Sochi Olympics. He also had a contract with All Nippon Airways and has endorsed brands like Lotte (chocolate), Ajinomoto (nutrition), and Phiten (sports products). In 2019, he became a global ambassador for Kosé's Sekkisei series. In 2024, he became a brand ambassador for Gucci.

Hanyu has used his fame for good causes. Since the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, he has supported victims. He was directly affected by the disaster. He participated in ice shows to raise money, collecting over US$150,000. He also sold personal items to raise more funds. He has lent his image to organizations supporting disaster recovery.

Hanyu donated his Olympic prize money from 2014 and 2018 to Sendai and Miyagi Prefecture for reconstruction. He also donates royalties from his autobiography series to his home rink, Ice Rink Sendai, which was damaged in the disaster. In 2024, it was revealed that over $700,000 had been donated to the rink.

He was a Tsunami Disaster Prevention Ambassador in 2014. He also became a spokesman for the Japanese Red Cross Society. He helped promote blood donation campaigns. He donated skates for charity auctions and created a special stamp with all revenues going to disaster reconstruction. He organized an exhibition called "Together, Forward" to remember the earthquake and promote disaster prevention.

Hanyu has also held photo exhibitions. Money from these exhibitions' official goods has been donated to support earthquake victims and medical welfare funds. In 2023 and 2024, funds were donated to help victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Japan. He has participated in Nippon TV's annual charity program 24-Hour Television, holding ice shows and visiting disaster areas. He has donated over $3 million for humanitarian efforts since 2011.

Media Appearances and Books

TV Asahi advertisement pillars at Tokyo Station, picturing Hanyu in 2022

Hanyu has been a judge on Japan's New Year's Eve music show Kōhaku Uta Gassen twice. He acted in the 2016 movie The Magnificent Nine. In 2023, he was featured in the 2022 Winter Olympics documentary film Beijing 2022.

He has released two video albums of his competitive performances. The first, Time of Awakening (2014), was the first album by an athlete to top Oricon's DVD weekly chart. The second, Time of Evolution (2019), was the first sports-related work to top Oricon's Blu-ray chart.

Print media with Hanyu on the cover at the Junkudo bookshop in Ikebukuro, Tokyo

Hanyu has written an autobiography series called Blue Flames, with four parts released between 2012 and 2023. Over 400,000 copies have been sold. He has also released several photo books and books of his sayings and interviews. He has been on the cover of many sports, fashion, and lifestyle magazines.

Awards and Influence

Hanyu receiving the People's Honor Award from then Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2018

Many experts believe Hanyu is the greatest skater ever. They praise his skills, long career, and ability to perform well under pressure. His decision to try the quadruple Axel at the 2022 Olympics, even with an injury, showed his determination.

Hanyu was a leader in the "quad revolution" in men's figure skating. He was one of the few skaters doing quadruple Salchows at the 2014 Olympics. He was the first to land a quadruple loop in competition in 2016. He also landed the first quad toe loop-triple Axel sequence and the first quad toe loop-Euler-triple flip combination. At the 2022 Olympics, his quadruple Axel attempt was the closest to being fully landed in competition.

Hanyu has received many awards. He was the first figure skater and youngest person to receive the People's Honor Award in 2018. He also received Japan's Medal of Honour twice. Two monuments showing his famous poses from the 2014 and 2018 Olympics are in his hometown of Sendai. He was nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award and won Most Valuable Skater at the ISU Skating Awards. In 2022, he received the Kikuchi Kan Prize for his achievements and his spirit of "continuing to take on challenges."

In 2022, Hanyu was the sixth most-searched athlete on Google Search worldwide. He has been featured in prestigious lists like Forbes' 30 Under 30 Asia. In 2024, ESPN ranked him 10th on their list of the greatest Olympic athletes of the 21st century. He was also ranked 6th on the International Sports Press Association's list of most impactful male athletes of the last 100 years.

Personal Life and Education

Since 2010, Hanyu has carried a Winnie-the-Pooh tissue box to competitions. Because of this, his fans often throw Pooh bears onto the ice after his performances. Hanyu donates these bears to children in local hospitals and charities.

Hanyu studied at Nanakita Elementary and Junior High School. He graduated from Tohoku High School in 2013. He then joined an online program at Waseda University to study Human Information Science. He studied from his training base in Canada. His graduation thesis looked at how 3D motion capture technology could be used in figure skating, especially for judging. He officially graduated in 2020.

On August 4, 2023, Hanyu announced he was married. On November 17, 2023, he announced his divorce, saying media harassment caused the separation.

World Records and Achievements

Hanyu at the 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki, where he reset the world record scores in all competition segments

Yuzuru Hanyu has broken world records 19 times in his career. He holds the historical world records in the short program, free skating, and total score.

• The table below lists Hanyu's world records under the current +5/-5 GOE (Grade of Execution) System.

Programs and Ice Show Productions

Hanyu performing his free skate program Seimei at the 2018 Winter Olympics

• Programs performed at the Winter Olympics are shown in bold and blue.

Shortlist of senior competition programs by season 

Season	Short program	Free skate program
2010–11	"White Legend"	Zigeunerweisen
2011–12	Étude in D-sharp minor	Romeo + Juliet
2012–13	"Parisienne Walkways"	Notre-Dame de Paris
2013–14	"Parisienne Walkways" (Background and making)	Romeo and Juliet (Background and making)
2014–15	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	The Phantom of the Opera
2015–16	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	Seimei
2016–17	"Let's Go Crazy"	Hope and Legacy
2017–18	Ballade No. 1 in G minor (Background and making)	Seimei (Background and making)
2018–19	"Otoñal"	Origin
2019–20	"Otoñal"	Origin
	Ballade No. 1 in G minor	Seimei
2020–21	"Let Me Entertain You"	Heaven and Earth (天と地と)
2021–22	Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (Background and making)	Heaven and Earth (天と地と) (Background and making)

Competitive Highlights

• GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
• CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series
• C – Cancelled event, WD – Withdrawal
• Medals at team events are awarded for the team result only. The individual placement at the ISU World Team Trophy is listed in parentheses.

• JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series

Hanyu with Song Nan (left) and Artur Gachinski (right) at the 2010 World Junior Championships podium

See Also

In Spanish: Yuzuru Hanyū para niños

• List of Olympic medalists in figure skating
• List of highest historical scores in figure skating
• Grand Slam (figure skating)