Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu practices at the Capital Indoor Stadium on February 7, 2022. Photo: Beijing Daily.
 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu, the world-renowned Japanese figure skater, started his training at the Capital Indoor Stadium on Monday afternoon.

Hanyu began with some jump practices including the sport's most difficult jump, a quadruple axel (4A), Beijing Daily reported.

"Both the stadium and the ice are brilliant. I like it here," said Yuzuru according to Xinhua News Agency. When asked about his practice for the 4A jump, Yuzuru said that he hadn't made it despite lots of practice, but he still felt good and will keep practicing.

"Although it is challenging, I'll do my utmost to complete it because this is what I want to achieve at Beijing 2022," Yuzuru added.

Since figure skating training began at the Capital Indoor Stadium, "searching for Hanyu" has become an everyday job for media reporters. Hanyu finally showed himself at the stadium just one day before the Men's Single Figure Skating event begins, at which he is hoping to defend his crown.

Hanyu touched down in Beijing on Sunday. According to Japan's media, he is used to arriving at a competition just two days before it starts. 

From guessing when Hanyu would arrive in Beijing to searching for his previous competition videos or enjoying his 4A practice at the training hall, topics related to the figure skater have already gained millions of views and comments on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo.

Having won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in Sochi and Pyeongchang, Yuzuru said that he will attempt the 4A in the competition to win a third gold at the Winter Games, according to a video released by the Japan Skating Federation on Thursday.