BEIJING: Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu expressed a sense of satisfaction at a press conference in Beijing on Monday, although he finished fourth in the men’s figure skating event in the Beijing Olympics, failing to win a third straight gold in the event for the first time in 94 years.

In the event’s free program on Thursday, Hanyu unsuccessfully landed a quadruple axel, in the first attempt for the jump in the Olympic history.

However, the 27-year-old Japanese figure skating star said, “To me, it was the best axel.”

Since he won the second straight gold in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in South Korea, his biggest goal has been to become the first skater ever to successfully perform a quad axel.

After arriving in Beijing, Hanyu sprained his right ankle during practice. Nevertheless, he tried a quad axel in the event.

At the press conference, held in the Olympics’ main press center, Hanyu avoided a clear answer to a question whether he will try the unprecedented jump again. “I even think that I’ve accomplished (my quad),” he said.

Hanyu congratulated his US rival, Nathan Chen, on his winning of the men’s figure skating gold in the Beijing Olympics.

Asked whether the 2022 Beijing Games will be his last Olympics, Hanyu said, “I’m not really sure, but I like to skate again.”

“I hope that I can continue to strive to master (the sport) while finding value in figure skating, which I love,” he said.

JIJI Press