BEIJING (Reuters) – Having stored followers https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/figureskating-hanyu-1-panda-0-ice-prince-tops-games-mascot-popularity-2022-02-06, media and even workforce mates guessing for days over his whereabouts, Japanese determine skater Yuzuru Hanyu finally touched down in Beijing on Sunday, two days earlier than he begins his quest for a 3rd gold on the Winter Games.
The 27-year-old’s conspicuous absence had followers in an internet frenzy https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/figure-skating-wheres-hanyu-no-sign-defending-champion-games-near-2022-02-03, with the suspense constructing to such an extent {that a} hitherto cagey Japanese delegation broke their very own rule and confirmed that he had arrived within the Chinese capital.
Ahead of that official phrase, members of the media had gathered in bigger-than-usual numbers on the rink the place Hanyu was on the each day record of observe periods on Sunday night. He didn’t seem, probably awaiting the results of his obligatory COVID-19 take a look at.
The defending Olympic champion begins his competitors within the males’s singles on Tuesday.
Hanyu, who has hundreds of thousands of followers around the globe, has made it his mission https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/figure-skating-japans-hanyu-out-complete-himself-with-quad-axel-jump-2022-02-06 to change into the primary skater to land the quadruple Axel – thought to be essentially the most tough https://www.reuters.com/life-style/sports activities/figure-skating-king-jumps-why-quad-axel-is-so-difficult-2022-02-02 of the six figure-skating jumps – and embody it in his Beijing programme to win the title. He has hardly competed this season as a consequence of harm.
If he succeeds, Hanyu would obtain one other milestone of turning into the primary Olympian in almost a century to win a 3rd straight gold for determine skating. Triple world champion Nathan Chen of the United States is seen as his closest rival for the trophy.
(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Clare Fallon)
