- Joined
- Sep 15, 2017
Interview with Orser, thanks to the translator
https://t.co/oyQ5S4GSwp
“Happiness and excitement, I’ve yet to fully digest these emotions.”
Coach Brian Orser said these words at an exclusive interview he granted on 19 February, two days after Yuzuru Hanyu won his second consecutive Olympics.
Hanyu’s victory this time was the third consecutive Olympic gold medal for Orser as a coach, after Yuna Kim’s in Vancouver and Hanyu’s in Sochi.
“But Yuzu’s gold medal this time is something special”, Orser said with emotion in his voice.
When Hanyu sustained the injury during official practice at the NHK Trophy on 9 November 2017, Orser who was recovering from a gall bladder surgery was not accompanying him.
“I watched many times the video of how he fell and could see that it was a rather severe injury. Although I feared that he had also injured his knee, luckily his knee was ok.”
In order to rehabilitate, Hanyu returned to Toronto in the later half of November.
“I sat facing him and we had a thorough discussion face to face. When I asked him about his thoughts, he replied clearly “I want to win (the Olympics).” I told him, then, we need to come up with a plan.”
According to Orser, they had detailed discussions on changes to the content of his programmes, the setting of numerous small goals, and that he should definitely not push himself too much.
“He was calm. He did not get discouraged and listened carefully to what his body was telling him, and with tremendous patience and endurance followed the plan loyally.”
Off-ice rehabilitation was left entirely to Hanyu himself and a specialised trainer. In early January, when Hanyu was finally back on ice, Orser was away for Canadian Nationals and other competitions.
“I heard from Tracy that they spent a lot of time on stroking, and then single jumps and waltz jumps. But the day after, as the pain returned slightly, he had to rest for a few days.”
When asked if there was any occasion when he had felt that Hanyu might not make it in time for the Olympics, after just an instant of silence, Orser answered “There was. When Yuzu had just gotten back on ice and could only do no more than single jumps. While watching him practice, Tracy and my eyes met, and I wondered if it would be ok given the condition he was at.”
From that point on it was a race against time.
“Each day, everyday was time he needed. But Yuzu already had foundations he had trained and built up. The sense of balance, the flow in his skating, how to control his body and so on were things he had mastered in the six years since he came to Canada.”
Orser explained that image training also contributed greatly. “During mental training, to ensure he did not forget the feeling of taking off and landing jumps, he always did image training, including by watching videos and so on.”
“Make winning the highest priority” was something he hashed out and confirmed through many discussions with Hanyu who until the injury had continued to challenge more difficult jumps, the 4Lo and then the 4Lz.
“I think through that Yuzu was able to find a level that was comfortable to him. That helped him to face the competition with confidence.”
Entrusting Hanyu and Javier Fernandez to his colleagues Tracy Wilson and Ghislain Briand, Orser left for Korea on an earlier schedule, arriving on 5 February. Before he set off, he had a training session with only Hanyu and himself at the Cricket Club rink. “By that time he could perform all his jumps in his run-through to music, and I was confident that he is in time, it will be ok.”
Hanyu himself made the final decisions on his jump layouts at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Among the quad jumps he decided to include only the 4T and 4S, with two quads in the SP and four in the FS. With the exception of minor mistakes in the FS, he successfully defended his title with performances of an astounding degree of perfection.
“ “I’m proud of you” was the first thing I said to him. This was not because he won the gold medal, but because he overcame such a serious injury and gave us such wonderful performances.” Orser said this in a somewhat confiding tone.
“From this point on for a long time, he will continue to be an inspiration not just to people in Japan but in the entire world. Not just in the world of sports, but to anyone facing difficult situations, in seeking to overcome such situations I think they will think of him and be able to feel encouraged.”
Another of Orser’s students, Javier Fernandez also skated two high level performances in the SP and FS and won the bronze medal.
“Javi was aiming for a medal. Yuzu was aiming to win. Both of them achieved their goals splendidly.” With these words, the interview drew to a close.
“My experiences here will probably be something unforgettable in my coaching life.”
Original article by Akiko Tamura, published in Sports Graphic Number vol. 947
https://t.co/oyQ5S4GSwp
“Happiness and excitement, I’ve yet to fully digest these emotions.”
Coach Brian Orser said these words at an exclusive interview he granted on 19 February, two days after Yuzuru Hanyu won his second consecutive Olympics.
Hanyu’s victory this time was the third consecutive Olympic gold medal for Orser as a coach, after Yuna Kim’s in Vancouver and Hanyu’s in Sochi.
“But Yuzu’s gold medal this time is something special”, Orser said with emotion in his voice.
When Hanyu sustained the injury during official practice at the NHK Trophy on 9 November 2017, Orser who was recovering from a gall bladder surgery was not accompanying him.
“I watched many times the video of how he fell and could see that it was a rather severe injury. Although I feared that he had also injured his knee, luckily his knee was ok.”
In order to rehabilitate, Hanyu returned to Toronto in the later half of November.
“I sat facing him and we had a thorough discussion face to face. When I asked him about his thoughts, he replied clearly “I want to win (the Olympics).” I told him, then, we need to come up with a plan.”
According to Orser, they had detailed discussions on changes to the content of his programmes, the setting of numerous small goals, and that he should definitely not push himself too much.
“He was calm. He did not get discouraged and listened carefully to what his body was telling him, and with tremendous patience and endurance followed the plan loyally.”
Off-ice rehabilitation was left entirely to Hanyu himself and a specialised trainer. In early January, when Hanyu was finally back on ice, Orser was away for Canadian Nationals and other competitions.
“I heard from Tracy that they spent a lot of time on stroking, and then single jumps and waltz jumps. But the day after, as the pain returned slightly, he had to rest for a few days.”
When asked if there was any occasion when he had felt that Hanyu might not make it in time for the Olympics, after just an instant of silence, Orser answered “There was. When Yuzu had just gotten back on ice and could only do no more than single jumps. While watching him practice, Tracy and my eyes met, and I wondered if it would be ok given the condition he was at.”
From that point on it was a race against time.
“Each day, everyday was time he needed. But Yuzu already had foundations he had trained and built up. The sense of balance, the flow in his skating, how to control his body and so on were things he had mastered in the six years since he came to Canada.”
Orser explained that image training also contributed greatly. “During mental training, to ensure he did not forget the feeling of taking off and landing jumps, he always did image training, including by watching videos and so on.”
“Make winning the highest priority” was something he hashed out and confirmed through many discussions with Hanyu who until the injury had continued to challenge more difficult jumps, the 4Lo and then the 4Lz.
“I think through that Yuzu was able to find a level that was comfortable to him. That helped him to face the competition with confidence.”
Entrusting Hanyu and Javier Fernandez to his colleagues Tracy Wilson and Ghislain Briand, Orser left for Korea on an earlier schedule, arriving on 5 February. Before he set off, he had a training session with only Hanyu and himself at the Cricket Club rink. “By that time he could perform all his jumps in his run-through to music, and I was confident that he is in time, it will be ok.”
Hanyu himself made the final decisions on his jump layouts at the Pyeongchang Olympics. Among the quad jumps he decided to include only the 4T and 4S, with two quads in the SP and four in the FS. With the exception of minor mistakes in the FS, he successfully defended his title with performances of an astounding degree of perfection.
“ “I’m proud of you” was the first thing I said to him. This was not because he won the gold medal, but because he overcame such a serious injury and gave us such wonderful performances.” Orser said this in a somewhat confiding tone.
“From this point on for a long time, he will continue to be an inspiration not just to people in Japan but in the entire world. Not just in the world of sports, but to anyone facing difficult situations, in seeking to overcome such situations I think they will think of him and be able to feel encouraged.”
Another of Orser’s students, Javier Fernandez also skated two high level performances in the SP and FS and won the bronze medal.
“Javi was aiming for a medal. Yuzu was aiming to win. Both of them achieved their goals splendidly.” With these words, the interview drew to a close.
“My experiences here will probably be something unforgettable in my coaching life.”
Original article by Akiko Tamura, published in Sports Graphic Number vol. 947
, but if I have to guess something, I think he would skip the GP season, heal, and debut two new programs at Japan Nationals. No 4A yet in programs but we would see footage of him practicing it. Then the year after that, 4A in actual competition, then retirement. 
I think Yuzu would be an excellent good-will diplomat if he wants to do that after he's finished competing he has remarkable presence of mind.
I guess the safe thing to do would be to buy tickets anyway and hope for the best!
