Blue Flame - Yuzuru Hanyu

For anyone who has paid attention to figure skating, “Yuzuru Hanyu” is a name you could not have missed. The two-time Winter Olympics champion in Men’s Single has been famous for incomparable skills and remarkable delivery that made his skating breathtaking masterpieces.?

However, apart from the glorious gold medal moments filled with applause, flowers and winnie-the-pooh that he surely deserved, equally unforgettable are the pains, tears and blood he lived through in solitude. Like in this Winter Olympics, he popped a quad Salchow jump (4S) due to a hole on ice in short program; then in free skating, he fell for the first-ever quad Axle (4A) executed in Olympics, which probably resulted in his other fall for the following 4S. He finally ranked fourth. What is more heartbreaking is that as a 27-year-old skater, he is counting down on the time left to further push the boundaries of himself and mankind.?

Accompanied with regret, sorrow and nostalgia, I feel blessed to have known him during the brief career of an athlete. Last summer, I had the great honor to participate in Fidelity’s equity research analyst internship. I truly enjoyed, learnt and benefited so much, but at times I was overwhelmed by pressure and self-denial both mentally and physically. Luckily I watched Hanyu’s skating and immersed myself into the delicate artistic world he created. Since then, I would always go to his programs and experiences for comfort, inspiration and bravery.

I could not have imagined such a seemingly fragile young man claiming that he would mark the highest level for his whole generation of figure skaters at the age of 19. Yet Hanyu fully lived up to that statement despite athema, ankle and abdominal surgeries, earthquakes and malicious comments he endured through. Though life can still be cruel to such a top talent who also has unbeatable self-esteem and unbreakable stamina, he remains a fighter who fearlessly dedicated everything to figure skating!?

I hope a perfect 4A can be landed soon by Hanyu, even if that means a period of his competitive skating. I am sure his legend has been remembered and will continue.