NYTimes Article on Yuzuru Hanyu

[evangeline]

I was reading the NYTimes this morning and noticed a long article on Hanyu on the Times' front page: The Greatest Figure Skater Ever is Michael Jackson on Ice, Surrounded by Winnie the Poohs

Quotes from the article:

“He’s the most complete athlete in figure skating, probably ever,” said Stephane Lambiel of Switzerland, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist who is now a coach.

Hanyu can appear delicate, a boyish Christopher Robin with his Pooh. He also blurs rigid gender lines with his performances, possessing a grace and elegance that fans and journalists say are prized in Japan over a hypermasculine style of skating.
It is his aim, he says, “to stir something in people’s hearts.”

“It reminds me of when Michael Jackson was in his heyday, or meeting the Pope,” said Jackie Wong, a prominent skating blogger and former skater who lives in New York. “People see Hanyu for the first time and they become hysterical or they’re moved to tears. It’s like their lives are complete. It’s crazy.”

Frank Carroll, a renowned American coach who guided Evan Lysacek to a 2010 Olympic gold medal, attended the Rostelecom Cup. In his view, Hanyu seemed diminished. “I don’t see what he had a few years ago,” Carroll said. “I’m sorry. I know he does some beautiful things, but I don’t see the inspiration.”

 

[shiroKJ]

I was reading the NYTimes this morning and noticed a long article on Hanyu on the Times' front page: The Greatest Figure Skater Ever is Michael Jackson on Ice, Surrounded by Winnie the Poohs

Quotes from the article:

Oh wow! He really is on the front page, that's a surprise :eeking:. Thank you for linking

 

[brightphoton]

Of course it's Frank Carroll who doesn't some his praises.

Whoever wrote the article tracked down a lot of people to interview. They even found a .... hmmnm .... dedicated fan of Hanyu's.


At Osaka’s Municipal Central Gymnasium, where the NHK Trophy went on without Hanyu, his fans were left dejected. Zeng Yuemeng, 28, an Osaka airport worker, said she had moved to Japan from China in July because of her favorite skater. She carried a Pooh keychain on her purse.

“Because this is his country,” Zeng said of Hanyu, “maybe I can see why he has become such a perfect human.”

 

[Mathman]

Excellent and complete article. Pretty cool that the New York Times would put it on the front page (or publish it at all.)

I kind of wish that they would refer to Winnie the Pooh as an A. A. Milne character, rather than a Disney character, but oh well -- money talks. I wonder if the flower girls in the picture were ever tempted to keep one of Yuzuru's Poohs for herself.

 

[GGFan]

This is like night and day from this author's other figure skating piece with just quotes fromAshley and Tara. I actually learned a couple things. I love how seriously the author took the fans. As someone who tends to be snarky it is quite easy for me to make fun of overeager fans, but people derive many levels of meaning from athletics and performers.

The Frank quote was strange in that it included no analysis. What exactly is missing? Perhaps that required some follow up questions or other quotes to support that point of view.

Overall, this is very strong in that it gives us a sketch of Hanyu but also tells us something about Japan and the sport of figure skating today. Again, this is in a different league from the other article.

 

[cell]

Not trolling, but Hanyu's skating does absolutely nothing for me and doesn't leave me hysterical or in tears. It leaves me completely cold. Too bad, Takahashi was missing the quads and consistency to warrant articles or accolades like that...since his skating actually moves me. Oh well. I never got Yagudin either.

 

[GGFan]

Oh well. I never got Yagudin either.

Imma let you finish but :eeking: Why are you trying to kill me today? It's too cold for this.

ETA: No words necessary

 

[Yatagarasu]

Goodness, now this is unexpected. But very welcome. Especially as it's NYT. I'm always happy to see a serious article about skating and overall, excellent job. I think they tried as much as they could to bring closer the impact he has to those who do not watch or may watch once every four years and that's a good angle to take while also being informative about both skating and his life.

My thanks to the author!

 

[cell]

Imma let you finish but :eeking: Why are you trying to kill me today? It's too cold for this.

ETA: No words necessary

Haha. I knew you were going to link to Winter. Yes, I have watched it and still don't like it or see anything special there. *slinking away*

I'd rather watch this masterpiece 10,000 times - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H65HyGqV2E&t=225s OK, sorry for thread derailment.

 

[GGFan]

Haha. I knew you were going to link to Winter. Yes, I have watched it and still don't like it. *slinking away*

I'd rather watch this masterpiece 10,000 times - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H65HyGqV2E&t=225s

Not fair! I love him too!

 

[Procrastinator]

Of course it's Frank Carroll who doesn't some his praises.

Whoever wrote the article tracked down a lot of people to interview. They even found a .... hmmnm .... dedicated fan of Hanyu's.


At Osaka’s Municipal Central Gymnasium, where the NHK Trophy went on without Hanyu, his fans were left dejected. Zeng Yuemeng, 28, an Osaka airport worker, said she had moved to Japan from China in July because of her favorite skater. She carried a Pooh keychain on her purse.

“Because this is his country,” Zeng said of Hanyu, “maybe I can see why he has become such a perfect human.”

YIKES. And I doubt she's the only one.

 

[cell]

YIKES. And I doubt she's the only one.

A bit scary. LOL

 

[yoloaxel]

Oh wow! Congrats Yuzu I can't wait to have him back on the ice, he just brings something special to the competitions imo.

Frank Carroll, a renowned American coach who guided Evan Lysacek to a 2010 Olympic gold medal, attended the Rostelecom Cup. In his view, Hanyu seemed diminished.

“I don’t see what he had a few years ago,” Carroll said. “I’m sorry. I know he does some beautiful things, but I don’t see the inspiration.”

LOL @ Frank Carrol, who doesn't see the inspiration in Yuzuru palmf but coached the single most boring OGM ever. Bitter much?

 

[Marin]

This is very well researched and nicely written article.He got quotes from famous skaters Lambiel, plushy, Ito, orser, salty caroll
He really shows what's good about Yuzuru, The most complete skater ever in figure skating history. I have noticed some mistakes in article but overall compared to the junky articles we are getting for years this one shines as bright diamond.:thumbsup: Big thumbs up to author .

 

[PomeloPooh]

Regarding people moving to Japan "for Yuzu" - I know someone who applied for (and got accepted into) a graduate school in Sendai because she loves skating and Yuzu. She's also thriving academically and planning for PhD there. My point is, other people's life decisions and commitments might be hard to understand for you, but could still be good ones.

 

[Mathman]

Imma let you finish but :eeking: Why are you trying to kill me today? It's too cold for this.

ETA: No words necessary

This program shows how figure skating has changed in the last 15 years. Yagudin's step sequence, one of the landmark moments in figure skating history, nowadays would be a level one. (Quads still rule, though -- in 2017 just as in 2002.)

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

This program shows how figure skating has changed in the last 15 years. Yagudin's step sequence, one of the landmark moments in figure skating history, nowadays would be a level one. (Quads still rule, though -- in 2017 just as in 2002.)

So true. Not one counter or rocker or loop or spread eagle either, and relatively basic transitions. And not a lot of edge work shown (although the toe pick work and the step sequence are amazing). It's still one of the greatest Olympic SPs performance-wise and the gold standard at the time, but it's so interesting how different the standards are now especially when you look at the difficult turns/transitions Yuzuru and the other guys pack into their programs now to meet IJS requirements.

 

[cell]

So true. Not one counter or rocker or loop or spread eagle either, and relatively basic transitions. And not a lot of edge work shown (although the toe pick work and the step sequence are amazing). It's still one of the greatest Olympic SPs performance-wise and the gold standard at the time, but it's so interesting how different the standards are now especially when you look at the difficult turns/transitions Yuzuru and the other guys pack into their programs now to meet IJS requirements.

I never got why. The choreography is so banal and literal ("look, I'm picking up snow"), and I never got any depth of expression from this program or performance (I think the music is crap though).

 

[Mathman]

I never got why. The choreography is so banal ...

You had to be there (OK, maybe you were there and still didn't like it. )

You know what really grabs an audience? Banal. Broadway musicals know this, operas know this, movie producers know this, why don't figure skaters?

That Morosov toe-tappy step sequence -- we hadn't seen the likes of that since it was invented by Sonie Henie in the 1930s. For a couple of years there everyone including Michelle Kwan was rushing to Morosov to beg, give me a sequence like that. Iconic. Ah, 2002 -- the end of an era.

 

[berry8]

Cool article... Though I don't think the statement that FS is fading sport is necessarily true... It may be in the US but not world-wide.