Waseda University alumni Yuzuru Hanyu (affiliated with ANA, graduated from the e-school online degree program, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University in 2020) participated in the Japan Figure Skating Championships, held from December 23 to 26, 2021, claiming first place for the second consecutive year, sixth time overall, with 211.05 in the free style for a total of 322.36 points.
The championships were also the final selection event for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, taking place in February 2022, and by winning, Hanyu has been informally selected to take part in the Games.
The Japan Figure Skating Championships was the first tournament Hanyu participated in this season since he injured his right ankle, and it was the first time performing a quadruple accel (4A) in a tournament, hoping to be the first skater in the world to successfully perform the maneuver. He failed by landing on both feet, but he is confident of successfully performing a 4A at Beijing 2022.
This will be Hanyu’s third consecutive Olympic Winter Games, following from Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.
Yuzuru Hanyu winning the Japan Figure Skating Championships and being chosen to represent Japan at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games(Kyodo News)
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Yuzuru Hanyu
Born in Miyagi Prefecture in 1994. Graduated from the e-school online degree program, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University in 2020. Started figure skating at age four, and won the World Junior Championships in 2010. Consecutively won a gold medal at the Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
