Yuzuru Hanyu: “I’m still trying to process the fact that I’m now referred to as the ace of the team. It seems so surreal. I’m just happy that everybody can work hard together.”
Q: Please tell us your thoughts on claiming the gold here at the World Championships.
A: At first, I didn’t really think of anything in particular really. It was the same during the Olympics, too. I wasn’t especially excited that I would be competing in the World Championships. Rather, I calmly competed like it was any other competition.
Q: Regarding the reactions from the audience, would you say that it’s a new experience for you?
A: Definitely. The shouts of encouragement are different from before. I think that all of the support used to be given to the skaters who have completely redefined figure skating as a sport in Japan, such as Daisuke Takahashi or Takeshi Honda. Now that I receive support and encouragement, I find it really hard to believe. The fact that I can feel the motivation given by the fans during open practice makes me really happy. I want to be able to drive myself to create a new chapter in Japan’s figure skating history from today on.
Q: Your determination in the free skate the other day was stronger than before, wasn’t it?
A: It’s probably because at the time, the only thing that went through my mind was winning. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the position to be this desperate that allowed for me to draw out all of my adrenaline from within. To be able to draw out that adrenaline can sure make one happy. I was very pleased that I was able to compete in this way.
Q: For the duration of this season, you’ve been able to control your emotions very well. However, during this competition, we were able to witness your competitive and aggressive spirit.
A: If my short program was skated cleanly, perhaps my free skate would have been like the one during Sochi. If that were to happened, then I wouldn’t be able to improve, now would I? However, this time, the short program was not skated cleanly, and I ended up seven points behind the leader. Although I did say I was happy at the time, in reality, I knew that I had a lot of ground to make up. The difference was about the same as one quad, making it futile to rely on theory and strategy alone to console my emotions. Therefore, I put that theory into my mind, and used it to understand my own emotions to some extent. I think that this mindset was my perception of this competition.
Q: Would you say that you have developed your own style and attitude through these experiences?
A: I wouldn’t say that I’ve developed a new attitude towards things. Instead, I think that from this competition, I was able to see the flaws in my previous mindset, and completely re-evaluate both my battle strategy and my way of thinking.
Q: Is it because that if you skate a clean short program that you overthink the free skate and let your guard down?
A: I don’t think I let my guard down. However, I do overthink it, and sometimes I’m detached from the free all together, that’s for sure. To put all your emotions into a performance is both mentally and physically exhausting, so it’s definitely something that can only be done during the end of the season. However, it was probably due to my desperateness that I was able to leave everything behind and just let my emotions consume me. It feels as if it’s been a while since I was able to complete a performance to this degree.
Q: Looking back at these four years, what are you thoughts on it?
A: The junior category is simply the junior category. The past four years have definitely been important, but I think that prior to going to the Olympics, all of my cumulative experiences from way back before four years ago were important, too. At first, I had thought that the Olympic Games were my sole reason to have skated for more than a decade. However, after the World Championships, I’ve come to realized that it’s not just the Olympics that’s reliant on previous experience. The accumulated experiences plays a major role in every competition. Although the last big competition, the World Championships, just ended three weeks ago, there are still many, many experiences that I have accumulated from before as well. This is something that I will definitely remember forever.
Q: You’re now referred to as the ace of team Japan in the men’s event. As the wild card of the team, what are your future plans?
A: I’m still trying to process that I’m now referred to as the ace of the team. It seems so surreal. I’m not too attached with the title, and I’m not really interested, either. In other words, it’s similar to how Takahashi was the ace before when I was just a normal Japanese representative. It doesn’t really matter on whether or not I have the title of “ace” or not. In this time, it’s not surprising if someone else wins even while I have this so-called title. In all honesty, Machida skated an exceptionally beautiful program, and I have to commend him for that. Therefore, it doesn’t matter who has the title of “ace”. I’m the happiest when everybody can all work hard together. I think that with this kind of thinking, Japan’s men’s representatives will be able to succeed in the future as well.
(although I think his 4S will be better this season)but it's also in the wikipedia article if you wanna check)
He also made a huge leap in his junior years as well, jumped from 12th in worlds to 1st in every competition in a single season. FS is a very fickle sport. Your life as a competitive athlete is relatively short and there are no guarantees. (Although he doesn't have to look that far to seek competition, he could very well lose to any one of them top 3 if he has an off day and they have a good day.)
face at his LP scores at nationals. But to be fair to those judges, its not nationals unless there's inflation 
and say no....
