Yuzuru Hanyu: Off Season Summary

Usually after an Olympic year, the following off season news is all about retirements.  While we did get confirmations about a number of expected retirements, this off season started with a bang, the crazy announcement of Medvedeva leaving Eteri’s camp and moving to train under Brian’s wing.  Back in May, I wrote a blog post about it, thinking it was going to be the only crazy news we would hear in the summer months.  Boy, was I wrong.

https://sportymags.wordpress.com/2018/05/07/fs-season-x-the-medvedeva-files/

Who would have thought that the Medvedeva news would only be the start of a series of unbelievable events/announcements that would provide more drama than reality tv?  The coaching change announcements continued to be released and there were more than a few surprises in store for us fans.

The news that Boyang Jin was expected to move to the Toronto Cricket Club to also train under Brian Orser was an exciting moment for me.  It started out as a rumor, seemed to get confirmed, then did not materialize.  But, it did rile up a lot of fans and create a lot of discussion about the topic.  Too bad, I think Boyang really would have benefitted from some time at TCC.

The next unexpected movement news was the announcement that Jason Brown had also decided to move his training base to the Toronto Cricket Club.  I guess I might be one of the few that doesn’t find this news exciting.  I don’t have anything against Jason, I simply don’t want Yuzu to become cheesy.  “Keep it 100 Yuzu”  (100 = real).

The biggest announcement that threw me off my chair was Daisuke Takahashi coming out of retirement.  This came way out of left field, it was one of those “Wait, What??” moments!!  I am happy for Daisuke and understand his goals of wanting to compete again and this time, be able to leave the sport on his own terms.  Coming back after a four year “retirement”, to a sport that has been transformed, and where young jumping beans have emerged, is a pretty daunting task.  The latest rule changes should help Daisuke out though.  If he happens to get on the podium somewhere along the way, all the more power to him.  Good luck Daisuke!

In the opposite vein, we heard about Kaitlyn Osmond’s plan to take this season off.  After having spoken to her in person on the way home from Milan, this one surprised me.  But, she indicated that she was thinking about continuing to at least 2020 Worlds in Montreal, so I guess if she was going to take any time off, now would be the right time.  Hope to see Kaitlin back next season!!  Canada needs you!!

Out of nowhere, we then learned that Julian Seguin and Charlie Bilodeau have split up.  As a Canadian, I was thinking that this was the pair that was set up to take the reins of the Canadian pairs team rebuild.  I guess I wasn’t the only one surprised with this announcement, as Julian said it caught her off guard too.

In the middle of all of these skater announcements came the ISU Rule changes.  Not much more to say than what I said before.

https://sportymags.wordpress.com/2018/06/07/fs-2018-2019-isu-congress-rule-changes/

Already this was quite a lot of news in the figure skating off season.  Then, the next bit of news truly rocked the skating world.  I woke up one morning to get an email from a friend that told me that Denis Ten had been killed.  It was shocking and hard to believe.  Such a senseless act of violence.  It makes you put things into perspective.  Life is short and sometimes bad things happen to good people, it’s really shitty.  Take the time to spend time with family and loved ones!!

The Chinese pair Zhang/Yu out of the Grand Prix series before it has even begun.  Yu has a foot injury that has not healed up properly.  Hoping she gets better quickly!!  On the good news front, Sui (Sui/Han) is back on the ice now and taking her training very cautiously and carefully.  The next 4 years are a long cycle!!

Pogo got married!!  Congrats to her and her new husband!!

All of this and I haven’t even mentioned Yuzu yet!!  Yuzu’s off season has been pretty normal by all accounts for a 2-time, REPEAT Olympic Champion; recuperating and rehabbing an injury and skating in ice shows.

While the new season has technically started, we still have August to get through.  Never a dull moment.

 

Go Yuzu Go!!!  Doki Doki!!