Original article Part 1 published 27 December 2020.
Original article Part 2 published 27 December 2020.
Translation and Proofreading:ย @shinjistarxx, @axelsandwich and @tsukihoshi14
ใใฃใฎใฅใขในใฑใผใๅ จๆฅๆฌ้ธๆๆจฉใงๅชๅใใ14ๅนดใฝใใ18ๅนดๅนณๆใจไบ่ผช้ฃ่ฆใฎ็พฝ็็ตๅผฆ๏ผANA๏ผใ26ๆฅใ็ทๅญใกใใชในใไผ่ฆ็ตไบๅพใซๅ็คพใฎๅๅใคใณใฟใใฅใผใซๅฟใใ่ธใซ็งใใๆใใ่ชใๅฐฝใใใใ
Yuzuru Hanyu (ANA), the winner of the All-Japan Figure Skating Championships and the consecutive winner of the Olympic Games in Sochi ’14 and Pyeongchang ’18, gave a joint interview after the men’s medalist press conference on the 26th, and talked about his innermost thoughts.
ใโโไธ็้ธๆๆจฉใฎใใฎๅพใฎใใจใฏ่ใใฆใใใ๏ผ
ใใใพใใใพใไธ็้ธๆๆจฉใใใใใฉใใใ่ชๅใซใจใฃใฆใฏไธ็ชๅคงใใชใใจใงใใใญใใพใใใใผใใใพใใฏไฝใๅใใใใฃใฆใใใฎใไธ็ชใใใฃใฑใ4ๅ่ปขๅใ็ทด็ฟใใใใจใซใใฃใฆใฎ่กๆใฃใฆใใใฎใฏใใใฎๅใใใใพใใใใพใใใใใณใณในใฟใณใใซ็ทด็ฟใใฆใใใใใใชใใฎใงใฏใชใใฎใงใใใ็จๅบฆใใฃใใใใฌใผใใณใฐใใชใใไฝใใคใใฃใฆใใพใใใฎ่ฉฆๅใซๆธใใฆใฎใใใฎ่ฉฆๅใซๅใใฆใฎ็ทด็ฟใฏ4ๅ่ปขๅใใชใใจใใใฎใๆฑบใใฆใใใฎใงใใกใใฃใจไฝใฆ่จใใใงใใใญใ่ฉฆๅๅฏใใฎไฝใฅใใใซใชใฃใฆใใพใฃใใฎใงใไปใขใฏใปใซใฎๆ่ฆใฏใกใใฃใจใพใๅคใใฃใฆใใกใใฃใฆใใใจใฏๆใใใงใใใฉใใพใใใฎ่ฉฆๅใ็ตใใๆฌก็ฌฌใไฝๅใๅๅพฉใๆฌก็ฌฌใใใฃใใ4ๅ่ปขๅใฎใใใฎไฝใฅใใใใใฃใใใใฃใฆใใใใใ็ทด็ฟใใใฆใใใจใฏใขใฏใปใซใใฉใใใใใงใใใใใซใชใใใงใใใญใใพใ ใงใใฆใใชใใใงใใใฉใใใฎไปใฎใคใกใผใธใใฆใใ่ชๅใฎใขใฏใปใซใฎๅนปๆณใจใๆฉใ่ชๅใฎไฝใจใฎใฎใฃใใใๅใใฆใคใค.ใใงใใงใใใใใซใชใฃใฆใใใใฉใใ ใ่ทณในใใใซใใฃใฆใใชใจ่ใใฆใใพใใใพใไฝใใใใชใใงใใใฉใไฝใใใไธ็้ธๆๆจฉใ้ๅฌใใใใใฉใใใใพใ ๅใใใชใใงใใใๆฅใทใผใบใณใฎ่ฉฆๅใใฐใฉใณใใชๅซใใฆใฉใใชใฃใฆใใใๅใใใชใใฎใงใใจใซใใไธใฎไธญใฎ็ถๆณใ่ฆใชใใ่ชๅใใงใใๆๅคง้ใฎๅชๅใใใฆใใใใใฃใฆใใใฎใไปใฎๆฐๆใกใงใใใใฎๅ ใฏใพใ ๅใใใชใใงใใ
Q: Are you thinking of anything (career-wise) after the World Championships (next year)?
A: First of all, for me, the biggest thing is whether the World Championships will actually happen.
Well, first of all, being able to use my body is the most important. Because training on the quad Axel has a big impact (on my body) after all. Well, it’s not something that I can practice consistently, so to some extent, I have to train properly and build up my body. Well, I had decided not to do a quad Axel in my training for this competition. How can I put it, I’ve building up my body to prepare for the competition, so I think now my sense of the Axel has been changing once again, but as soon as this competition is over, after my body recovers, I will make sure to build my body to suit the quad Axel, and then train for it, then see how much I can do with the quad Axel. I haven’t been able to do it yet. I’m trying to quickly bridge the gap between my current image of the Axel and my body as soon as possible. I think it depends on how well I can execute it after Iโve become able to do it. Well, more than anything else, I don’t know if the World Championships will be held yet. I don’t know how next season’s competitions, including the Grand Prix, will go. Anyway, my current feeling is that I want to put out the best effort I can while keeping an eye on the situation of the world. Beyond that, I don’t know yet.
ใโโใณใผใใจไธ็ทใซ็ทด็ฟใงใใชใ้ฃใใใๅคงๅใใๆใใใใฎใใใใฐใ
ใใใฏใใใใฃใฑใ่ชๅใ ใใงใฏๅฎข่ฆณ่ฆใใใใฆใใชใ้จๅใฃใฆใใใฎใฏ็ตถๅฏพใใใจๆใใฎใงใใพใใใใผใใใใใใฃใฆๅใฃใฆใใๆใ ใฃใใใจใใใใใๆฐ่ใ ใจใใใฅใผในใจใใใใใช่จไบใซใชใฃใใใใใฌใใจใใๅชไฝใใ่ชๅใฎ่จ่ใ่ฆใใใจใใใพใใใฉใใใฎๆใใใฃใฑใใใใฎๆใใฃใจใใ่จใฃใฆใใใฐ่ฏใใฃใใชใใใ่จใฃใฆใใใฐ่ฏใใฃใใชใฃใฆๆใใใใซใใใใจๅใใใใซในใฑใผใใ ใฃใฆใใฃใฑใ่ชๅ1ไบบใงใฉใใใฃใใฃใฆๅฎข่ฆณ่ฆใงใใชใใจใใใใใใฎใงใใใใใใจใใใๆฐใใ่ฆ็นใ่ชๅไปฅๅคใใใฎ่ฆ็นใฃใฆใใๆๅณใงใฏใใฃใฑใใณใผใใฃใฆๅใๅคงไบใ ใชใฃใฆๆใฃใใฎใจใ้ใซ่จใใจใชใใงใใฉใใใใฏ่ชๅใ็ต้จๅคใ่ฑๅฏใซใใใใใใใไปใฎ้ธๆใใกใใใ็ต้จๅคใ่ฑๅฏใซใใใใใใใๅฎข่ฆณ่ฆใใใใใใฃใฆใใ้ขจใซๆใฃใฆใใใใงใใญใ่ชๅ่ช่บซใใฉใใใ้ขจใซๅดฉใใฆใใใฎใใใฉใใใ็ถๆ ใฎๆใซ่ฏใๆผๆใใงใใฆใใใฎใใๆชใๆผๆใซใชใฃใฆใใใฎใใใใใใใใใ่ใใชใใใฆใใณใผใใใใชใใชใใใใใฎ็ต้จใ็ใใๅใใใฎใใไปๅใฎๅ จๆฅๆฌ้ธๆๆจฉใฃใฆใใๆฌ็ชใฎๆผๆใจใใใพใงๅใใฃใฆใใใซใใใฃใฆใฎใใฌใผใใณใฐใซใคใชใใฃใใใชใฃใฆใใ้ขจใซๆใใพใใ
Q: Is there anything you felt was important or difficult while practicing without a coach?
A: Yes, I think there are absolutely aspects where I canโt be completely objective about when Iโm by myself. Like when weโre talking like this, or when this becomes various articles in newspapers or the news (on TV), and I watch myself speaking through television. Similar to when I do that and am like โah, it would have been good if I had said in this wayโ, or โI shouldโve said thisโ, itโs the same in skating where there are parts you cannot be objective about when alone. So I think having a coach is an incredibly important thing, insofar as being able to provide new points of view and ones outside of your own. On the flipside though, I think precisely because I have an abundant amount of experiences, because I have more experiences compared to other athletes, itโs easier for me to have a more objective point of view about things like how I break down [under pressure], how I can produce good performance, how it becomes a bad performance, that sort of thing. So while reflecting on various things, even while being without a coach, I think I was able to leverage those experiences and connect my actual performance at Japanese Nationals this time with the training I was aiming for up until this point.
ใโโไบๅฎๆงๆใซใคใใฆใใใใพใงใฏๅพๅใซใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใ้ใญใฆใใใไปๅใฏ่ฅๅนฒๅๅใใใใฎ็ใใฏใใใ4ๅ่ปขๅใๅ ฅใใๅ ดๅใฎๆงๆใฏใ
ใใใพใ4Aๅ ฅใใใชใ1็บ็ฎใใชใจๆใฃใฆใใใใงใใใฉใใพใใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใๅๅใซไปๅๅ ฅใใ็็ฑใฏใใฃใกใฎๆนใ็ขบ็ใ่ฏใใใใงใใใญใ็ฐกๅใซ่จใฃใฆใใพใใฐใใใฎใใใฎๆงๆใๆฑบใใๅใฏใใใใใซใผใ่ทณในใชใใฃใใฎใงใไธๆๆใใตใซใณใผใใ่ทณในใฆใใชใใฃใใใใใผใซใผใใฎใชใฟใใใช็ถๆณใงใใใฃใใฎใงใใพใๅพๅใซ4ๅ่ปขใ็ชใฃ่พผใใงใใๅ ดๅใใใชใใ ใใใใฃใฆใใใใใใฎๆๆใ็ตใฆใใใใใใใใใฎ1ๅใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใๅใซๅใใฆใใใฃใฆใใใฎใใพใ็ต็ทฏใจใใฆใใใพใใใใฎๆตใใง็ทด็ฟใใฆใใฆๆฎตใ ใซใผใ่ทณในใใใใซใชใฃใใใใตใซใณใผใฏใใกใใๅฎๅฎใใฆใใฆใซใผใใใกใใฃใจใใคๅฎๅฎใใฆใใๆใซใใใใใใชใผใฎๆงๆใซใซใผใๅ ฅใใฆใตใซใณใผๅ ฅใใฆใๅพๅใใผใซใผใ2ๆฌใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใซใฏใใฆใใฆใๆๅพใฎใขใฏใปใซใใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใฃใฆใใใฎใ่ใใฆใฏใใใใฉใไปใฃใฆใใใใใใฎ้ ใใฃใจใใชใผใฃใฆใใใใญใฐใฉใ ่ชไฝใฎๅ จไฝใ่ฆใฆใใๆใซใๆๅพใซใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใๅ ฅใใใใใๅๅใฎใขใฏใปใซใซใณใณใใใผใทใงใณใๅ ฅใใๆนใ่ฆใ็ฎใ่ฏใใชใฃใฆใใใฎใใใพใไธ็ชๅคงใใช่ชๅใฎไธญใฎ่ฆๅ ใงใใใใฃใฑใใใใใฎ็ดใฎ้ณใใๅงใพใฃใฆใใฃใฆใกใใฃใจ็ใไธใใฃใฆใใขใฏใปใซ่ทณใใงใใใฎใใจใซใผใใซใใใใงใใใฉใใใใใๆๅใใใใฏใขใฏใปใซๅ็บใใซใผใๅ็บใใใใใฏใซใใๅ็บใใใชใใซใซใใๅ็บใฃใฆ่ใใฆใใใใงใใใฉใไฝใใใฃใจ้ขจใ่ใไธใใใใใชๆใใฎ้ณใไฝใจใชใๆ่ฆใจใใฆใใฃใใฎใงใใใใ ใฃใใใใใซใใชใใซใขใฏใปใซใจไธกๆใๆใใใใใซใใผใซใผใใใใใฎใพใพใฎๅขใใงใใชใใซใซใผใใซใใใฎใไธ็ช่กจ็พใจใใฆใฎใธใฃใณใใซใชใฃใฆใใใใชใฃใฆใใ้ขจใซๆใฃใใฎใไปๅๅๅใซๆใฃใฆใใ็็ฑใงใใ
Q: About your planned layout. Up until now, youโve put your combinations in the second half of the program. This time it was slightly front-loaded. What is the point of this? And what about your layout if you add the quad Axel?
A: Well if I did add the 4A I think itโd be my first jump. To put it simply, the reason for putting a combination in the first half is because the rate of success is higher there. Before deciding on this layout, there was originally a period where I couldnโt jump the loop. I couldn’t even jump the Salchow, and the toe-loop was in a dicey condition, so there was a period where I was in no position to put quads in the second half. Precisely because of that, I was in the process of putting a combination in the first half. So I went with that flow and then slowly while practising, I became able to jump the loop again – the Salchow was of course stabilised and then I stabilised my loop little by little, so I thought okay, I can put the loop and Salchow in my FS program layout. I did think about doing 2 toe-loop combinations in the second half and doing an Axel combination as the last jumping pass, too. Right now, if I look at the Free Program as a whole, instead of making the last jumping pass a combination, the Axel combination in the first half looks better – I think thatโs the primary reason. Starting from the sound of the koto at that point [in the program], the mood picks up, I jump the Axel and then the loop, but originally I thought about making it a solo Axel jump, then solo loop, otherwise a 3Lz solo jump. Somehow I felt that the music creates a feeling of a bigger wind soaring through, so the jump that would express it best would be a 3A with a rippon 2T and then leading into the 3Lo with that momentum, which is the reason for putting it in the first half this time.
ใโโๅไบฌไบ่ผชใ่ฟใฅใใฆใใใ็พๆ็นใงใฎไฝ็ฝฎใฅใใฏใ
ใใ็็ดใซ่จใฃใกใใใจใชใใงใใใฉใๆฑไบฌไบ่ผชใงใใฆใใชใไปใฎ็ถๆณใฎไธญใงใๅใใใใจใใใๅๅไบบใฎๆใใจใใฆใฏใๅฌใฎไบ่ผชใฎใใจใ่ใใฆใใๅ ดๅใใใชใใจใใใฎใๅๅไบบใฎๆ่ฆใใใกใใใในใใณใตใผใใใจใใใฎใใใใใใณใใผใทใฃใซใจใใใใณใใซๅฝใๆใใฆใใใคใใณใใชใฎใงใใใใซใใใใชใ้ใใใใฃใฆใใใจใใใใใใๅใใซ็ฅใใชใไธ็ใใใใซใฏใใใจๆใใใงใใใใ ใใฉใใใใซ้ขไธใใฆใใชใใฎใงใใใฃใฎใฅใขในใฑใผใ็ซถๆใฎในใฑใผใฟใผใฎ1ไบบใจใใฆใใชใชใณใใใฏใ่จใใฐใใใใฏในใใผใใฎ็ฅญๅ ธใใใชใใฆใๅใซใจใฃใฆใฏ็ซถๆใฎๆ็ต็ฎๆจใงใใใชใชใณใใใฏใฃใฆใใใใ ใใ่ใใใฎใงใใใฐไบ่ผชใ้ๅฌใใฆใใใใใใจใใใฎใฏใใใพใใใใใใซๅบใฆๅชๅใใใใฃใฆใใๆฐๆใกใใใกใใใใใพใใใใ ใใใฎ่ๆฏใซๆฑไบฌไบ่ผชใใ้ๅฌใใใชใ็พๅฎใไปใใฃใฆใๅปถๆใใฆใใใใใใใณใใซใฉใใชใใๅใใใชใใใใใจใใฐใใฏใฏใใณใๅผทๅถ็ใซๆใใชใใฆใฏใใใชใ็ถๆณใ ใฃใใใจใใใใใใ่ฆณๅฎขๅ ฅใใฆใงใใใฎใใใจใใใพใใใใฎๅๆฏใฎๅ ผใญๅใใๅซใใฆใใใณใใซไบ่ผชใจใใใใฎใ้ๅฌใใใในใใชใฎใใๆฌๅฝใซใใใใชๆนใ ใใใใใชใใจใ่ใใฆใใใใใชๆ่ฆใใใใฆใใจๆใใใงใใญใใ ใใใใใใใไธญใงๅๅไบบใจใใฆใฏๆ็ต็ฎๆจใงใใไบ่ผชใจใใใใจใ่ใใฆใฏใใใชใใฃใฆใใใชใใใฟใผใใใใฃใฆใใพใใใ ใใใๅใๅบใๅบใชใใจใใใใใพใง็พๅฝน็ถใใใฎใ็ถใใชใใฎใใจใใใใใๆใใใใชใใฆใใใใใใใใใซๅใใฆใฏใกใใฃใจใทใฃใใใใฆใณใใฆใใใคใกใผใธใๅผทใใงใใ
๏ผ็ถใ๏ผ
Q: The Beijing 2022 Olympics are getting closer. Whatโs your position on it at the moment?
A: This is speaking frankly but in the current situation where the Tokyo Olympics cannot go ahead, in my personal opinion, weโre not in a position to be thinking about the Winter Olympics. Of course, there are sponsors, commercials, and because this is an event where so many countries compete, of course there is a lot of money involved in that. Because of that I think there is a whole world that we donโt know. However, I’m not involved in that. As a single competitive figure skater, the Olympics is not a sport festival or event but, as an athlete, my ultimate goal. If we only think from that perspective, Iโd like the Olympics to go ahead and of course Iโd like to participate and win. However, against the backdrop of that, the current reality is that even the Tokyo Olympics cannot be held. Even if postponed, we still donโt know how it will turn out. For example, if weโre in a situation where taking the vaccine is compulsory or whether the audience will be able to attendโฆ And also, balancing the cost, whether the Olympics is something that should be held. Truly, I think there are many people thinking about various factors, with a lot of different opinions. Therefore, within all of that, Iโve personally stopped myself from thinking about the Olympics, my ultimate goal. Therefore, rather than thinking whether or not Iโll participate, whether or not Iโll continue to compete until then, it’s more like I’m shutting down my thoughts about that a little right now.
Part 2
ใโโในใฑใผใไบบ็ใฎๆ็ต็ฎๆจใฏใ
ใใใจใซใใ4ๅ่ปขๅใ่ฉฆๅใง้ใใใใงใใ่ฉฆๅใงใใใใฏไฝๅบฆใ่จใฃใฆใใใใใซๆ็ต็ฎๆจใงใใใใ ใไปๅใ้ทใๆ้ใ1ไบบใง็ทด็ฟใใใซใใใฃใฆใ4ๅ่ปขๅใฎ้ฃใใใฃใฆใใใใใใใใใใใใพใงใใฉใ็ใใใฎใใฟใใใชใๅคข็ฉ่ชใใใชใใใฟใใใชๆ่ฆใจใใพใงใใฃใใใจใ่ใใใจใๆฌๅฝใซใใใๆ็ต็ฎๆจใซใใฆใใใฎใใชใฃใฆใใๆใใใชใใฏใชใใงใใใใ ใ่ชๅใฎๅฟใซๅใคใใชใใฎใงใใใฐใใใใใใฏใใใใใพใงใใฉใ็ใใชใใฎใงใใใฐใๆญฃ็ด่จใฃใฆไปในใฑใผใใ้ ๅผตใ็็ฑใฃใฆใใใฎใใใใฎ็คพไผใฎไธญใงใใใฎไธใฎไธญใงใ่ชๅใในใฑใผใใใใใใ็็ฑใๆผใ้ใใฆใพใงใใใฌใผใใณใฐใใใฆใใใ็็ฑใใชใใชใฃใกใใใชใจๆใฃใฆใใ ใใใ่ชๅใฎ4ๅ่ปขๅใฃใฆใใใจใฆใ้บใใๅฃใซๅใใฃใฆใไป็ชใ้ฒใใงใใฆใใใใธใฎใใผใใซใฏใใใ้ซใใใงใใใฉใใใใซไฝใๆใใใไฝใใชใใใใใชใใใชใจๆใใใใ้ซใๅฃใใใฃใฆใใ ใใฉใใใใๅนปๆณใฎใพใพใซใใใใชใใ็ตถๅฏพใซใ่ชๅใฎๆใงใคใใฟๅใฃใฆใใใฎๅ ใฎๅฃใใชใๅฃใฎๅ ใ่ฆใใใใใใ ใใใไปใใฎไธใฎไธญใง่ชๅใในใฑใผใใใใใ็็ฑใใชใจๆใฃใฆใใพใใ
Q: What is the ultimate goal of your skating career?
A: In any case, Iโd like to land the 4A in competition. That’s the ultimate goal Iโve said countless times. However, this time, with such a long period of training alone, the difficulty of the 4Aโฆ Firstly, I wonder if I will be able to get there. When I think about how there were times when I felt like it was almost a wild fantasy, I wonโt say there werenโt times where I wondered if it was okay to make this my ultimate goal. However, if I were not to lie to my own heart then, if I did not try to get there, truthfully speaking, my reason for skating… In this society, in this current situation, it feels like my reason for training, the reason for wanting to keep skating would vanish. So thatโs why Iโm still pushing ahead against the impregnable wall known as my 4A, though the hurdle is very high. Itโs a wall so tall to the extent that it feels like there are no handholds or anything. Even so, I donโt want to leave it as just a dream. I will absolutely grasp it in my hands, and I want to look beyond that wall where there are no other walls. I think that may be the only reason I am able to skate in this current situation.
ใโโ็พๅจใฎใขใฏใปใซใฎ็ถๆณใฏใ
ใใ่ทณในใฆใชใใงใใ๏ผ1ๅบฆใ๏ผ๏ผใฏใใ
Q: What about the current status of the (quad) axel?
A: I havenโt (successfully) jumped it.
Q: Not even once?
A: Yes.
ใโโใณใญใใฎ็ถๆณใไธๅใใฐใใพใๆ ็นใฎๆตทๅคใธ่กใใใใใ
ใใใพใใไธใฎไธญใฉใใชใใๅใใใชใใฎใๆญฃ็ดใชใจใใใงใใใญใใใ ใ็ขบไฟกใจใใฆใไปๅ่ชๅใใใฃใฆใใใใฌใผใใณใฐใฏ้้ใฃใฆใชใใฃใใจใใใใใใฎใใใฃใฑ่ชๅใ็ต้จใใฆใใใใจใใใใใ็ใใใฆใใใฃใจใใใฉใณใใใใใใใใชใใฌใผใใณใฐใ็ฉใใใใใซใชใฃใฆใใใฎใฏใ้้ใใชใใใฎ่ฉฆๅใง็ตๆใจใใฆ่กจใใใฎใงใใใฃใจ้ ๅผตใฃใใจ่จใใใจๆใใใ ใใใไปๅใฏ4ๅ่ปขใซใผใ่พผใฟใฎ4ๅ่ปข4ๆฌใฎใใชใผใฎใใใซไฝใฃใฆใใใใฌใผใใณใฐใใฉใณใ ใฃใใฎใไปๅบฆ4ๅ่ปขๅใฎใใใฎใใฌใผใใณใฐใใใใฃใฆ่ใใใจใใฎ็ตถๅฏพๅๅฐใซใชใใจใใใใใใใใพใใคใใฃใฆใใใใจใ ใใไป่ใใในใใใจใใชใจๆใใพใใใใใใใญใณใใซๅธฐใฃใฆใใใจใใๆฅๆฌใงใใใจใ้ขไฟใชใใใจใซใใ็ตถๅฏพใ่ชๅใฎไฝใจใใ่ชๅใฎๆ่ฆใจใใ่ชๅใฎๆ่ก้ขใไฝๅ้ขใฎๅไธใฃใฆใใใฎใฏไธ็ช่ชๅใใใถใใใใฃใฆใใใจๆใใใจใใใใใใฎ1ๅนด้ใง่ฉฆ่ก้ฏ่ชคใใไธใงใใ ใใใใใใใใพใไฝฟใฃใฆใๆฅๆฌใ ใใใใซใใใ ใใใใใพใ4ๅ่ปขๅๅใๅใฃใฆ้ใใใฃใฆใใๆ่ก็ใชๅไธใใใใใใใฎใใฌใผใใณใฐใ็ฉใใงใใใใใชใฃใฆๆใฃใฆใใพใใใใใงๅคงไธๅคซใงใใ๏ผ็ญใใซใชใฃใฆใพใใ๏ผใ
Q: Once the COVID19 situation improves, will you go back to your training base overseas?
A: Well, to be honest, I donโt know how the world will be. However, to confirm, I donโt think the training Iโve done thus far has been wrong. Um, in the end since I was able to apply the various things I have experienced thus far, and finally like a โveteranโ, I was able to accumulate the [efforts of] various training, and without doubt as this was reflected in the results of this competition, I think I can finally say I did my best. And so, the training plan of a four-quad free program including a quad loop from this time will become a strong foundation for the sake of the quad Axel later. I think for now, making that go well should be the only thing I think about. Regardless of whether that will happen upon returning to Toronto or in Japan, and improving my body, my senses, and my technical and physical fitness is definitely something I think I know best. In any case, in the last one year I have gone through a lot of trial and error. Thatโs why, to utilize [what I learned from] that, whether itโs in Japan or in Canada, first I want to put in the work in training to improve the technical aspects needed to rotate and land a quad Axel. Is this okay? Did that answer the question?
ใโโๅคงๅญฆใๅๆฅญใใใ็ทด็ฟไปฅๅคใงใฎใณใญใ็ฆใงใฉใใชใใจใใใฆใใใใ
ใใใพใใใงใใๅฎถๆใจ้ใใๆ้ใใใใๅขใใพใใใญใใใฃใฑใใญใณใใซ่กใฃใฆใๅฎถๆๅ จๅกใใใใใใจใใชใใชใใชใใฃใใฎใงใๅฎถๆใจไธ็ทใซ้ใใใฆใๅฅใซๅฃใใใใใใจใๆฅฝใใใฃใใจใใใใใ่จณใงใชใใไธ็ทใซในใฑใผใใฎใใจใ่ใใฆใไฝใใใๅฎถๆๅ จๅกใซใตใใผใใใฆใใใฃใใฎใฏใ่ชๅใในใฑใผใใใฆใใไธญใงใ่ฒก็ฃใซใชใใชใจใใ้ขจใซๆใใพใใใๅพใฏใใใใงใใญใๅคๅบใฏๆฌๅฝใซใใฆใใชใใใงใใใในใฑใผใไปฅๅคใซไฝใใใฆใใชใใฎใงใในใฑใผใไปฅๅคใซไฝใใใฆใใชใใฎใฏใกใใฃใจๅคงใใใใใใใชใใงใใใฉใในใฑใผใไปฅๅคใซๅคๅบใฏไธๅใใฆใใชใใฎใงใใใผใใใใใงใใญใใใญใณใใซใใใจใใใใในใฑใผใใซ้ไธญใงใใฆใใใฎใใชใจใใๆใใใใฆใใพใใใใจไฝใงใใใฃใ๏ผใใฃใๅคงๅญฆใใใใใใพใงๅคงๅญฆๅๆฅญใงใใพใใใ่ซๆใซใคใใฆใใใใใงใใญใใใใ็บ่กจใใใใใใใชใใงใใใใใชใใใใใใชใใงใใใใใฏใกใใฃใจๅใใใชใใงใใใฉใใจใใใใ่ชๅใ่ใใใ้ใใง็ ็ฉถใใใ่ชๅ่ช่บซใฎไปใฎๅ ใปใฉ่จใฃใใใฌใผใใณใฐใซ้ขใใฆใใคใชใใฃใฆใใใจใใใฏใใกใใใใใพใใใไฝใใใซใผใซใๅใใใใใใชใใใชใฃใฆใใใชใใฏใชใใฎใงใใใ่ชๅใไปๅพใใจใใใใๆบ่ถณใงใใใใใใฎๆผๆใใใฆใ็พๅฝนใ้ใใฆใใใญใซใชใฃใฆใๆๅฐ่ ใซใชใฃใฆใใฃใฆใใฉใใฉใ้ฒใใงใใฃใๆใซใใใใใฎๆ่กใๅฟ ่ฆใ ใจใใใใจใงใใใฐใใใฃใกใฎ้ใใใใฃใฑใใใใใฎ็ซถๆ่ ใจใใฆใๅใ้ใๆๆใซใชใใฐใชใจใใ้ขจใซใฏๆใใพใใ
Q: (This year) You graduated from university. Aside from training, what other kinds of things did you do during the pandemic?
A: Well, the time I spent with my family greatly increased. Usually Iโm in Toronto and itโs not often that my whole family is able to get together and spend time. And by this itโs not that it was fun to be together like this, but rather we were able to think together about skating. Above all else, I thought that being supported by my whole family while I was skating is a great fortune. And, yes, I didnโt really go out, since I wasnโt doing anything but skating. Although (saying I was) doing nothing except skating might be a bit of an exaggeration. I did not go out at all, aside for skating. Um, thatโs right. I felt maybe I was able to focus more on skating than when I was in Toronto. Andโฆ what else was there? Ah, university. Fortunately I was able to graduate from university. Regarding my thesis, yes, I might present it someday, I might not. Iโm not really sure about that. I did as much research as I could think of, and of course there were connections to the training that I myself have done up until now. Above all, I thought that maybe [with my research*] the rules [of skating] would become easier to understand, it would have to. Perhaps in the future, [after] performing to where Iโm satisfied, Iโll retire from competition, become a professional [skater], become a coach/mentor, etc. So, in that progression, if that kind of technology is needed, thereโs that option too. After all, I think that as a top athlete, [it would be good] to become a means of opening up something new.
*T/N: Yuzuru is referring to his graduation thesis in which he explored the topic of 3D motion capture technology being applied to figure skating, and he stated his hope that in the future there could be AI-based scoring incorporating new technology. He talked about his thesis and thoughts on his university career in his recent article featured in Waseda Universityโs Campus Now magazine; translation can be found here.
Axel with Wings 