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Yuzuru Hanyu @ REALIVE 2026

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Figure Skating Profile #6: Yuzuru Hanyu

Universally regarded as one of the greatest and most popular figure skaters of all time, Yuzuru Hanyu is the 2014 and 2018 Olympic champion, the first male single skater to win back-to-back Olympic titles in 66 years. Additionally, he is the first and only male skater to achieve a Super Slam, having won all the major senior and junior international titles, including two World titles, four consecutive Grand Prix Final (GPF) titles, a Four Continents title, a Junior Worlds title, and a Junior GPF title. He has been credited for his technical revolution of the sport, having broken 19 world records, with scores that allowed him to become the first skater to surpass the 100, 200, and 300-point barriers in the short program, free skate, and overall total, respectively. He is also the first skater to ratify a quadruple loop in international competition.

Hanyu has often been praised for being a "complete" skater for his balanced blend of technical prowess and versatile artistry. After retiring from his competitive career, he has since staged several ice shows and tours with unprecedented demand, including solo productions such as Prologue, the Repray tour, and Gift at Tokyo Dome, the last of which set a new audience record for ice shows at 35,000 spectators.

Yuzuru Hanyu for The New York Times 's T Magazine Japan 💙

Above and beyond

Photos by Miss Bean

Kenshi Yonezu & Yuzuru Hanyu: Bow and Arrow | Medalist OP