ProfileSolo

Yuzuru Hanyu Profile: The Greatest Skater in History (Updated)

Advertisement

Biography

Yuzuru Hanyu is a celebrated figure skater renowned for his exceptional talent and influence in the sport. He made history by becoming the first Japanese male skater to win Olympic gold, achieving this feat at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and repeating his success at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.

Throughout his career, Hanyu amassed numerous accolades, including two World Championship titles and four Grand Prix Final victories. He is also credited with setting multiple world records, notably being the first skater to surpass the 100-point mark in the short program, 200 points in the free skate, and 300 points in total score.

Yuzuru Hanyu 2018 PyeongChang Olympics

Beyond his competitive achievements, Hanyu’s artistry and innovative performances have captivated audiences worldwide, solidifying his status as one of the greatest figure skaters in history. After retiring from competitive skating in 2022, he continues to engage fans through his ice shows and other creative endeavors.

Profile

  • Name: Yuzuru Hanyu  
  • Birth Name: Yuzuru Hanyu  
  • Birthday: December 7, 1994  
  • Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius  
  • Height: 172 cm  
  • Instagram: yuzuruofficial_  
  • Twitter: @YUZURUofficial_

Career

Legendary Skating Career

Yuzuru Hanyu is a retired Japanese figure skater widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport. Born on December 7, 1994, in Sendai, Japan, Hanyu’s passion for figure skating began at the age of four, when he first stepped onto the ice, encouraged by his parents who were seeking a way to improve his health and mobility. His natural talent was evident early on, and by the age of 10, he began competing in national competitions. He quickly rose through the ranks, joining the senior level by 2010. Hanyu’s breakthrough moment came in 2010 when he won the Junior Grand Prix Final and later earned a spot in the senior Grand Prix circuit. 

Yuzuru Hanyu predebut

Hanyu’s career exploded when he entered the international spotlight, particularly after his victory at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he won the gold medal in men’s figure skating. This achievement made him Japan’s first male Olympic figure skating champion. His victory in Sochi was not just about winning a gold medal; it was a historic moment for the sport. Hanyu’s unique combination of technical brilliance and artistic grace on the ice made him a global phenomenon. He became the first male figure skater in 66 years to win back-to-back Olympic golds when he repeated his triumph at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, solidifying his legacy in the sport.

Advertisement
2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Yuzuru Hanyu

Throughout his career, Hanyu amassed a wealth of titles and set numerous records. He is a two-time World Champion (2014, 2017), and he won the Japanese national championships six times. His ability to land highly difficult jumps, such as the quadruple jumps, made him a groundbreaking figure in the sport. He was also the first male skater to land a quadruple loop in competition. Hanyu is recognized for his technical excellence and his ability to blend athleticism with artistry, revolutionizing how figure skating is perceived and performed. He also achieved the “Super Slam,” the rare accomplishment of winning every major international junior and senior title, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Grand Prix Finals.

Yuzuru Hanyu World Champion 2014
Yuzuru Hanyu World Champion 2017

In addition to his competitive successes, Hanyu’s dedication to his sport is reflected in his continual pursuit of excellence despite enduring physical hardships. He suffered injuries throughout his career, including a significant ankle injury that required multiple surgeries, but he remained committed to pushing boundaries. His determination to recover and perform at the highest level inspired fans worldwide. Hanyu was also known for his ability to evoke deep emotion through his performances, elevating figure skating beyond just a technical sport to a form of art. His programs, such as his “Seimei” and “Hope and Legacy” routines, became iconic, showcasing his intricate choreography and deeply expressive skating.

Hanyu’s significance extends beyond his athletic achievements. He has also been a prominent advocate for his community. Hailing from Sendai, which was severely affected by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Hanyu has dedicated himself to charity and disaster relief efforts. He has made substantial donations, totaling over $3 million USD, toward reconstruction and prevention, including a special donation to the region’s reconstruction fund following the 2011 disaster. Hanyu’s connection to his hometown and his generosity toward the victims of the disaster have earned him widespread admiration.

Advertisement

After retiring from competitive skating in 2022, Hanyu transitioned to professional skating and ice shows, marking a new chapter in his career. His first post-competition project was the ice show “Prologue” in 2022, which combined his athleticism with a new form of storytelling, showcasing his artistic vision. The show was well-received, and Hanyu continued to push boundaries by creating new performances that reflected his evolving artistic journey. In 2023 and 2024, he embarked on the “Repray Tour,” which brought his performances to fans across Japan and the world, including his historic “Gift” show in 2023, held at the Tokyo Dome. The “Gift” show broke attendance records, attracting over 35,000 people and highlighting his enduring popularity and influence.

Yuzuru Hanyu profile

Yuzuru Hanyu’s legacy is not only shaped by his accomplishments on the ice but also by his profound impact on the figure skating community and his global fanbase. He has become a symbol of resilience, dedication, and grace, not only in sports but also in his charitable endeavors and humanitarian efforts. His influence extends far beyond figure skating, with numerous accolades acknowledging his contributions to culture, sport, and society. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded Japan’s Medal of Honor with a purple ribbon in both 2014 and 2018 and the People’s Honor Award in 2018, cementing his place as one of Japan’s most beloved and respected public figures.

Hanyu’s legacy is also reflected in his role as a role model for future generations of athletes. Through his struggles, triumphs, and unwavering passion for his craft, he has inspired countless young skaters worldwide to push their limits and pursue their dreams. His impact on the sport of figure skating is immeasurable, as he has raised the bar for technical achievement while also bringing an emotional depth to the sport. As a figure skater, a philanthropist, and a cultural icon, Yuzuru Hanyu’s legacy will continue to resonate for generations to come.

Endorsements and Ambassadorships

Yuzuru Hanyu has had numerous endorsement deals throughout his career. In 2013, he became a global ambassador for P&G’s “Proud Sponsor of Moms” campaign, alongside Daisuke Takahashi. He also signed a contract with All Nippon Airways (ANA) that lasted until 2022, continuing his sponsorship until September 2023. Hanyu has endorsed several brands, including Capcom’s Monster Hunter 4G, Lotte’s Ghana chocolate and Xylitol gums, and Ajinomoto’s Amino Vital. He became a global ambassador for Kosé’s Sekkisei series in 2019 and was appointed as the “muse” for their Miyabi brand in 2020. Hanyu also supported Towa Pharmaceutical in 2021 and ANA’s “avatarin” teleportation services.

Yuzuru Hanyu All Nippon Airways

Furthermore, he has worked with Sendai’s tourism as an ambassador and starred in traffic safety campaigns for Miyagi Prefecture Police. In 2024, Hanyu became a brand ambassador for Gucci and Haier in Japan.

Film, Television, and Publications

Yuzuru Hanyu made his on-screen debut in 2016 as Date Shigemura in “The Magnificent Nine” and has since appeared in various TV shows and documentaries, including “Kōhaku Uta Gassen” and the 2022 Winter Olympics documentary Beijing 2022. In 2025, he collaborated with singer Kenshi Yonezu for a figure skating program in the music video for “Bow and Arrow.” Hanyu’s video albums, Time of Awakening (2014) and Time of Evolution (2019), topped Oricon’s charts, highlighting his performances from the Olympics. He also participated in live broadcasts and ice shows like “Fantasy on Ice” and “Continues with Wings.”

Yuzuru Hanyu Continues with Wings

In addition to his media appearances, Hanyu has released several books, including his autobiography series Blue Flames (2012-2023), and photobooks such as Yuzuru (2014) and Soul Program (2018). He has graced the covers of numerous sports and lifestyle magazines, including Elle Japan, GQ Japan, and AERA, where his special issue topped Oricon’s chart in 2022. Hanyu’s impact extends beyond figure skating, reaching into the realms of literature and visual media, further solidifying his cultural influence.

Personal Life

Early Life

Yuzuru Hanyu was born in Sendai, Japan, to Hidetoshi, a junior high school teacher, and Yumi, a former department store clerk. His name, chosen by his father, symbolizes strength and confidence, wishing for him to live a dignified life. Although his father recommended baseball, Hanyu chose figure skating, and his mother supported him by making his early costumes, including one designed by Johnny Weir for the 2010-11 season. In 2012, Hanyu moved to Toronto with his mother for training, while his father and sister stayed in Japan.

Yuzuru Hanyu 2012

Diagnosed with asthma at age two, Hanyu’s stamina was affected, especially during his junior years. He began skating at four, after his coach, Mami Yamada, suggested he try the sport. Yamada praised his sincerity despite his impatience. After she moved, Hanyu trained under Shōichirō Tsuzuki, who emphasized the importance of fundamentals and building skills, particularly the Axel jump, which Hanyu later excelled in.

Philanthropy

Since the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, Yuzuru Hanyu has actively supported disaster relief efforts, raising over $3 million for reconstruction and prevention. He participated in charity ice shows, raising funds, and donating his Olympic prize money to aid affected areas. Hanyu also helped his home rink, Ice Rink Sendai, with royalties from his autobiography.

Yuzuru Hanyu profile 1

In 2014, he became the Tsunami Disaster Prevention Ambassador and supported the Japanese Red Cross Society. His philanthropic efforts continued with contributions to disaster reconstruction, including auctions, charity events, and exhibitions. Hanyu’s involvement in the “Together, Forward” exhibition and donations from sales has further aided disaster relief, including support for the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake and the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake.

Impact

Yuzuru Hanyu is often regarded as the greatest figure skater in history, celebrated for his well-rounded skills, longevity, and exceptional ability to perform under pressure, particularly after his second Olympic victory. His decision to attempt the quadruple Axel at the 2022 Winter Olympics further solidified his status as a groundbreaking athlete. Hanyu played a pivotal role in the quad revolution in men’s figure skating, being the first to successfully land a quadruple loop in competition. He also achieved other historic feats, including the quadruple toe loop-triple Axel sequence and the quadruple toe loop-Euler-triple flip combination.

Hanyu’s influence extends well beyond the ice rink. In Japan, he is regarded as a national hero, often referred to as the “Prince of Ice” and the “Prince of Figure Skating.” His accomplishments and his inspiring story of overcoming personal challenges, including asthma and the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake, have been celebrated in textbooks and widely recognized as an example for younger generations. His popularity and influence are immense, with him ranking highly in various polls and global athlete searches. He was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2018, placed sixth in Google’s most-searched athletes in 2022, and in 2024, ranked 10th in ESPN’s list of the greatest Olympic athletes of the 21st century and 6th in the AIPS list of the most impactful male athletes of the last century.

yuzuru hanyu olympics

Recognized for his remarkable achievements, Hanyu has received numerous accolades, including the People’s Honor Award in 2018, making him the first figure skater and the youngest recipient of the award, as well as the Medal of Honour with Purple Ribbon in 2014 and 2018. He was also the first figure skater nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award in 2019 and was awarded the Most Valuable Skater of the 2019–20 season at the inaugural ISU Skating Awards. His consistent appearances in high-profile events, including as a main skater in the “Fantasy on Ice” show, further cement his status as one of the most influential and respected athletes in the world.

Incidents

After winning the silver medal at the 2017 Four Continents Championships in Gangneung, Yuzuru Hanyu’s comment in an interview became controversial when a Japanese reporter asked, “How do you feel about not finishing first?” Hanyu responded, “I’m disappointed I couldn’t make the national anthem (Kimigayo) play. I’ll work on correcting my mistakes.”

This statement sparked debate among Korean netizens. Some argued that, considering the history of Kimigayo, any mention of it, regardless of intent, was an ignorant comment. Others believed that for Hanyu, as a Japanese citizen, Kimigayo was simply the national anthem, not a symbol of imperialism, and that his disappointment about not winning should not be overly criticized. Hanyu, who has maintained good relations with Korean athletes and expressed interest in Korean culture, including K-pop and Korean cuisine, should not be judged as harboring anti-Korean sentiments based on this single statement.

Yuzuru Hanyu World Figure Skating Championships

In 2016, during the World Figure Skating Championships, Hanyu sparked controversy by claiming that Denis Ten deliberately disrupted his practice. While Ten did accidentally interrupt Hanyu’s practice, Hanyu’s sharp reaction, including yelling “Omae!” (a harsh expression in Japanese), escalated the situation. Later, Hanyu’s team apologized, and Ten posted a photo with Hanyu on social media, which seemed to resolve the issue. However, some of Hanyu’s fans engaged in cyberbullying against Denis Ten, which further fueled the controversy. 

As a result of these incidents, some people in Korea hold negative views about Hanyu, and posts about his character continue to circulate in local communities. However, there are also many instances of malicious editing, and Hanyu’s fans have been distributing corrections and engaging in online disputes. Ultimately, unless one is personally acquainted with someone, it’s inappropriate to make judgments about their character.

Marriage

Yuzuru Hanyu announced his marriage on August 4, 2023, stating: “I, Yuzuru Hanyu, have decided to get married.” He did not disclose the identity of his spouse, a non-celebrity, to respect their privacy.

Yuzuru Hanyu married

To everyone who has supported me,

Thank you so much for your warm words and encouragement as always. It is a personal matter, but there is something I want to tell you guys. I previously married a non-celebrity. We married each other after undertaking that we both sincerely respect and treasure each other. We have both taken a few things into consideration in order to protect each other and have overcome things together. As we lived like that, the situation where my wife was not able to take a single step outside the house continued to happen. She acted so as to protect me, and has been supportive of me.

Currently, a variety of media outlets have been acting in an untoward way, verbally harassing, stalking, investigating and publishing without permission, involving my non-celebrity wife, her family, or those related to her, as well as my family, and those related to me. Even in our own homes, there were times where suspicious people would come by, even screaming at us.

But as I was unskilled in dealing with it, currently, it is very difficult for us to bear this, and it is hard to continue to protect ourselves if the situation continues. Considering the chances that the situation will continue, even if it temporarily gets better, thinking of the future and her happiness, in order for her happiness to not be limited, we have decided to get divorced.

Moving forward, I sincerely beseech of you, to stop all the harassment, stalking, and untoward behavior towards my non-celebrity [former] partner, her family and those related to her, as well as towards those of mine.

Please continue to support me in the future.

— Yuzuru Hanyu

However, on November 17, 2023, just over three months later, Hanyu announced their divorce. He cited intense media scrutiny, including verbal harassment and stalking, as the primary reasons for this decision. Hanyu expressed that these circumstances made it challenging to protect their privacy and well-being, leading to the mutual decision to part ways.

The violinist Mayuko Suenobu is rumored to be the mysterious wife of Yuzuru Hanyu
The violinist Mayuko Suenobu is rumored to be the mysterious wife of Yuzuru Hanyu

Throughout this period, Hanyu has maintained a focus on his career, engaging in performances and expressing appreciation for his fans’ continued support. He has requested respect for his and his former spouse’s privacy, urging an end to intrusive behaviors.

Net Worth

​Yuzuru Hanyu, widely regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters in history, has amassed significant earnings throughout his illustrious career. His net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. ​

Facts

  • Yuzuru Hanyu developed a strong bond with his former coach, Nanami Abe, who had been guiding him since his childhood and choreographed most of his programs. 
  • In the past, Hanyu donated the plush dolls he received after competitions to the affected regions of disasters. However, during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, he took the doll given to him after his short program and donated the one he received after the free program to the volunteers and staff at the event. He also gave flower soaps as a token of gratitude.
  • In 2021, Hanyu caused a stir by performing the choreography for BTS’s “Dynamite” during an ice show. He revealed in an interview that he had recently become very fond of BTS and often referred to their dance moves when creating his own choreography.
  • Leading up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, rumors circulated that Hanyu had been detained by Chinese authorities for political screening, as Winnie the Pooh is a censored figure in China. Prior to competitions, Hanyu would often draw the character for “scholar” (士), which, according to Japanese reports quoting interviews, is a personal ritual for balancing his jumps and maintaining focus.
  • He has also been mistakenly referred to as “Hanyu Yasunori” and “Hanyu Yurlu” by commentators from Eurosport and NBC.
  • When asked in a 2023 ANA interview about the happiest moment of his life, he cited the free program’s choreography sequence during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Leave a Reply

Advertisement
Back to top button
Close

Adblock Detected

Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker!