Repeated thanks and apologies… Yuzuru Hanyu’s full text of his “real voice after his performance”.

It was a little after 4:00 p.m. Japan time on February 10 when Yuzuru Hanyu (27) appeared in front of the press after the men’s figure skating. The mixed zone, where the athletes were being interviewed, was packed with reporters, and even those who were not selected in the lottery were crowded around the entrance of the mixed zone, hoping to hear Hanyu’s voice.

Hanyu, who had been in the green room earlier watching the other competitors’ performances with a smile on his face, looked tired and a little relieved to have finished the Olympics.

As the Chinese reporters lined up in the front row, a Japanese reporter asked, “How do you feel after your third Olympics? Hanyu looked diagonally up and down. Hanyu looked diagonally upward and began to speak.

Well, ……, I think the Axel was the closest I’ve ever done, and ……. I think that was the best Axel that Yuzuru Hanyu can do right now. Of course, the fall of Sarcoe was a big one. Of course, the fall of Sarcoe was a big one, but I was thinking that it was all part of the story of “Heaven and Earth”.

When a reporter asked Hanyu what he was thinking during the 6 seconds of the finishing pose, Hanyu said that 6 seconds was a long time, and lost his composure a little. Nodding a few times, he looked back at his free skate.

Yes, that pose actually means ‘heaven’ in ‘heaven and earth’, and in my mind, it’s like sending your soul to the heavens. It’s the same as the pose at the end of the program “From Russia with Love”, which I skated when I was 9 years old. I’ve been thinking about it with myself at that time. …… It’s a little difficult to put it in a few words, but I had a lot of feelings swirling around me. …… Well, but somehow, in a way, ……, I don’t know what to say, it’s difficult. I think that up to that point, after that pose, until I put my sword away, until I left the rink, that was the story of my program.

Hanyu said with his hands folded behind his back throughout the program. As he spoke, he seemed to be sorting out his performance and how he would take this Olympics.

A reporter asked him, “Why did you put ice on your face when you left the rink? Hanyu was asked by a reporter, “Why did you put ice on your face when you left the rink?

I really wanted to thank you. To be honest, I was really disappointed with my performance in the short program. Of course I was frustrated. ……”

As he said this, Hanyu looked as if he was trying to hold back tears. The memory of the unfortunate “mistake” in the short program must have crossed his mind.

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I’ve done everything I can think of, and I’m sure I’ve made the right effort. I think I’ve done everything I could think of, so I’ve been thinking, ‘Oh, it’s not going to pay off,’ until today. …… But in the end, I really wanted to say, “Thank you. But really, in the end, I was thinking, ‘Thank you, thank you for letting me fly this far,’ and I was feeling …… (such gratitude).”

When a reporter asked Hanyu, “You seemed to be enjoying yourself in the green room (after your performance), did you enjoy this Olympics?

I didn’t enjoy it at all.

Did you enjoy the Olympics?” Hanyu answered immediately, without pause. Without a pause, Hanyu answered immediately, “I didn’t enjoy it at all. After saying that, Hanyu went on to say

After saying that, Hanyu said, “I was already full. Yes.”

He joked a little. He seemed to be trying to drown out the pressure he was feeling, surprised that it had come out so directly.

A reporter said, “I’ve experienced two consecutive victories, and I’ve also experienced something like this. （After thinking about it for about two seconds, Hanyu said, “Haha,” with a slightly annoyed laugh.

It’s hard to put it into one word, I guess. Sochi Olympics was the place where I won, even though I was disappointed with the Sochi Olympics. …… In a sense, it was the place where I grew up. In Pyeongchang, I think we were able to show all of our growth. I’m not sure about …… this time. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll be able to see some things after a while. I think it was an Olympics where I challenged myself and put my pride into it.

The conversation turned to the condition of his right foot, which was said to have been injured during the practice on the 9th. Hanyu spoke carefully, choosing his words carefully.

To be honest, I’m not sure if I’m going to talk about it in detail or not. I was thinking that if I won, I could tell you ……. To be honest, I don’t know how to say this, but I’ve had a lot of changes made to my work. Well, ……, yeah. I’m not sure how to describe it, but I’ve made a lot of changes.

He smiled a little. He was asked how it felt to go into the free practice under such circumstances. Hanyu answered with a boyish expression.

I was thinking, ‘I’ll definitely fall on the Axel! I was thinking, ‘I’m going to get off the gas! I was thinking, ‘I’m going to go through the Axel! (Is that what you came here to do?) Yes. Yes, I did. (Did you come here to do that?) Yes, I thought, “I’ll give it my all. (How did you feel about the quadruple Axel?) I felt good about it. It felt good, very good. It felt good, like “Oh, this is the speed of a quadruple and a half. It might be a little too risky to make a landing from here, though. …… I don’t know if humans can do it. …… But in a way, I think I was able to do a quarter turn in my own way. (How did you feel in the air?) I don’t know what to say. (How did you feel in the air?) Well, I don’t know what to say. …… I think it’s something only I’ve ever felt.

A reporter asked him, “Will you continue to challenge for the quadruple and a half? Depending on how you look at it, it could be taken as a question about his career.

Hahahaha. Please give me some more time. I want to think about it. That’s how much …… I’ve done this time.

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When the official said, “Last question, please,” a foreign reporter asked, “If you were to participate in an exhibition, how would you feel and what would your performance be like?

I would like to thank you all. I don’t know if my performance this time, this time, met your expectations or not. I don’t know if I was able to receive and connect all the support from everyone who supported me. …… To be honest, I have a lot of feelings of “I’m sorry. That’s why I hope my performance will be able to convey even a little bit of ‘thank you’ to everyone.

With these words, Hanyu’s post-event interview was over.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much, and I look forward to working with you again.

Hanyu bowed his head five times to the press and officials. At the end, he left the venue with his head bowed.

Hanyu’s voice conveyed the immense pressure he had been under for the Olympics, as well as the immense gratitude he felt for the people who had cheered him on. He missed his third consecutive victory, he fell in the quadruple and a half. More than his “record”, Hanyu’s performance at the Beijing Olympics must have left a deep impression on many people.