On March 11, 2011, 16-year-old Yuzuru Hanyu was skating at a local rink when the ice beneath him began cracking. He was experiencing 2011's deadly Great East Japan Earthquake, which had a magnitude of 9.0 and killed at least 18,500 people. The event left him with a greater determination to make every day count.
He was introduced to the world of figure skating at the age of 4. As he watched his sister skate, her coach suggested that the energetic little boy give skating a try. He loved the sport and entered his first competition at age 10. By the time he was 19, Hanyu had won two Olympic gold medals. This achievement made him the first Asian skater in the men's singles category to be an Olympic champion.
What sets Hanyu apart from other competitive figure skaters? At 53 kilograms, he's thin. But Hanyu is very strong and able to perfectly perform jumps and moves on the ice that others can only attempt. Hanyu's performances feature long, smooth and high leg kicks. As he glides effortlessly across the ice, he sometimes looks more like a ballet dancer than a figure skater. When people watch Hanyu perform, it's clear how much he enjoys himself, and the audiences love him in return. After many performances, people in the crowd shower Hanyu with his loved Pooh Bears.
There's no denying Hanyu's star power on the ice, but he's admired off the ice as well. Since the deadly earthquake, Hanyu has helped raise funds for victims. Over the past 10 years, he has also personally given about US$300,000 to help rebuild the local ice rink in Sendai, Hanyu's hometown. The little boy who started out at his neighborhood rink is now adored by people from around the globe.
