It's February 14 in my part of the world so Happy Hearts Day to all fans of Yuzuru and figure skating.
Ideally, now is the time for Yuzuru to reap the fruits of all the "seeds" he painstakingly sowed these past four years (and even longer). Because of the injury at NHK '17, the jumps may not be all there for him yet, but what I believe will carry him through is his character and his heart. He showed it by being mature and patient, not allowing himself to give up and be discouraged during the three weeks which were all he had to train for what is probably his toughest competition ever. And what is crystal clear to me since he arrived in Korea is that he is in PyeongChang to win: the mentality of a champion, It reminds me of how he spoke firmly of aiming for the gold medal at Helsinki Worlds when many thought it was beyond him after he placed in the short program. I posted before that I prayed that he at least be given a fighting chance to defend his Olympic title, and I believe with God's grace and Yuzuru's own determination and guided by his team, he has that chance now. In the biggest stage of all, I am confident that Yuzuru's skating quality, like truth, will out.
Today is also Ash Wednesday in my faith, so prayers and sacrifice (fasting and abstinence) are in order not just for the good of my soul but also for Yuzuru's hopes and dreams in PyeongChang. Go Yuzuru! Fighting!
