Original article
:::Yuzuru Hanyu 1st place:::
-Looking back at the SP and FS
I really think my short was great. On the other hand, I was a bit nervous during the 6 minute warm up, and I could not make facial expressions as I wanted. I think my jumps were fine. When I looked at my free skating scores, I got an edge error for the flip, and I made slight mistakes with my spins. Overall, I think I skated well. From now, more and more and more, I will train in Canada and improve my technique, stamina, and expression all together.
-Looking back at the difficulty of the competition
Although this is a competition where high scores are difficult to get, even more than that, there were many skaters who had great performances. I personally had parts of my performance where I am not very satisfied, but I still received a very high score. Again, everyone else received high scores during the competition. Seeing this, I saw that the Japanese men are very strong, and I still cannot believe that I am standing in the middle (of the podium). Therefore, I plan to work hard and become stronger so I can stand here proudly.
:::Yuzuru Hanyu 1st place:::
-Looking back at the SP and FS
I really think my short was great. On the other hand, I was a bit nervous during the 6 minute warm up, and I could not make facial expressions as I wanted. I think my jumps were fine. When I looked at my free skating scores, I got an edge error for the flip, and I made slight mistakes with my spins. Overall, I think I skated well. From now, more and more and more, I will train in Canada and improve my technique, stamina, and expression all together.
-Looking back at the difficulty of the competition
Although this is a competition where high scores are difficult to get, even more than that, there were many skaters who had great performances. I personally had parts of my performance where I am not very satisfied, but I still received a very high score. Again, everyone else received high scores during the competition. Seeing this, I saw that the Japanese men are very strong, and I still cannot believe that I am standing in the middle (of the podium). Therefore, I plan to work hard and become stronger so I can stand here proudly.
-What changed after being with Orser?
Things such as pacing changed. For example, he controls my 6 minute warm ups and official practices (the morning warm ups). Again, I was quite the hasty type, so he controls that too. He decides how many times I do something (ex. a jump) during practice, and that really helped my body. This also improved my training efficiency.
(What would you like to tell him now?)
Rather than words… the language barrier is still there, so there is some things left untold-he uses gestures or uses easy words like “Don’t do more than that” or “If you do more than that, it will just get worse, so move on”. Well, in other words, he really controls what I do; before I take action, he controls that action.
-Last year you were 3rd at the nationals. In what ways do you think you improved?
By changing my training location to Canada, many things changed greatly, but the big reason why I am standing here is that my stamina is holding longer. Also, the program is very difficult, but I was able to skate without any deductions at the end—that is what is different from last season. Also, in terms of my program components, I personally think I am far from completion. I am happy to get high marks, but I do not think I have the skating and expression skills that truly reflect those marks. I plan to work hard so my program component scores accurately show my true skills.
-Thoughts about the rest of the season
When I first talked to Brian, he told me that “Obviously you have to hear the fanfare” but “You definitely should make the fanfare at the Worlds”. I still do not have clean short AND free together, and I do not have a clean free by itself. I want to become the type of skater who can skate a clean short AND free.
:::Yuzuru Hanyu and Daisuke Takahashi:::
*The rivalry between you two*
Hanyu: In terms of the short, I feel as if I just happened to have a clean skate and Takahashi just happened to have misses in his program. I really did not think I would be able to receive such high marks. Also, despite the high marks, I still am not satisfied 100%. I think I was just lucky. Looking back at the free ranking, I still have parts where I am not very satisfied. I really want to watch Takahashi's performance soon. I cannot think like first the jumps then the expression in the free, so that is what I have to work on.
Takahashi: I was able to watch both of Hanyu’s skates. He had confidence in himself, and he was calm and appealed himself. He made almost no mistakes, unlike me, where I had many small mistakes. I think this is what led to the large point difference in the short. In terms of the free, I was able to have confidence in myself, and I appealed myself, and the audience helped me as well. I had small mistakes in both the short and free, and Hanyu had mistakes in his free-I think this is the only difference. Well when I skate, I always try to get the audience involved. Anyways, I think this is something we both need to work on.
*What would say about each other*
Hanyu: For me, Takahashi senpai is really my role model, and every since I was little, I watched Honda-san and Takahashi compete around the world and at the nationals. For me, being able to be next to Takahashi is still unbelievable. Takahashi is really my role model, and he helped me “grow”. I am still far from catching up never mind passing him. After all, he is a person who exists above the clouds for me.
Takahashi: Nonono, (both laugh). This competition, the NHK Trophy, the GPF, looking back who won or lost at the nationals, for me, he is really a rival, not just an older or younger athlete. We both are aiming for the top, competing at the same competitions. He really is good motivation for me. I cannot think that my level is good enough-he really helps me continue to work hard. Hanyu helps me like this, including other Japanese top skaters. Honestly, it is really difficult-after I got injured, got a medal at the Olympics, I thought about retiring. When I decided to “CONTINUE!” and “GOING TO SOCHI!”, I really am glad that I made that decision.
*Pride clashing*
Takahashi: (laughs) Nagamitsu hates losing more than I do (laughs). Hanyu has two types, Fernandez-athlete and others has 2 types but also includes 3. For me, landing 2 quads in the free became a big stepping tone to 2 types of quads. I don’t know if I will actually include two types, but I plan to practice to be able to.
Hanyu: Um, I have no idea yet, officially. I want to be able to decide soon, but “I would like to land 3 types by next season”.
Takahashi+Mura:
……….. woah (laughs)