Japan’s Hanyu Yuzuru to miss World Figure Skating Championships due to injury

Japan’s Hanyu Yuzuru to miss World Figure Skating Championships due to injury

Hanyu Yuzuru

Hanyu Yuzuru has withdrawn from the upcoming 2022 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in France. The two-time Olympic champion, who won gold at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 has not yet recovered from an ankle injury sustained in the Beijing Winter Olympics practice.

The Japan Skating Federation on Wednesday confirmed in a statement that “(Hanyu’s) sprain of the right ankle joint injured at the Beijing Olympics has not been completely healed,” adding that Miura Kao would replace Hanyu in Montpellier.

Notably, the 2022 World Figure Skating Championships will take place from March 21 to March 27.

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The veteran figure skater, who finished fourth at the Beijing 2022, had previously told the media the injury would sideline him.

“I’ve been told to rest (the ankle). First I will rest and then take it from there,” he had stated after the Beijing Games exhibition gala – at which he had a memorable moment with Games mascot Bing Dwen Dwen.

Hanyu sustained ankle injury trying the historic quadruple Axel

Yuzuru Hanyu
Yuzuru Hanyu

For those who don’t know, the Miyagi native Hanyu sustained the ankle injury in an attempt to try the historic quadruple Axel – which he fell on in the free program in Beijing. His right ankle had already been the source of constant injury concerns even in the months leading up to the recently-concluded Olympics.

“The sprain was worse than I initially thought. Any other competition and I would have definitely pulled out,” he explained during a press conference called a few days after his free skate.

“The doctor told me I need to rest for 10 days. It’s that bad. It hurt so badly during morning practice the day of competition that I even thought about pulling out,” he admitted.

However, Hanyu, 27, went on with his free routine, in which he under-rotated the quad Axel and fell, though it was the closest he’d come to completion in either competition or practice.

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