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Japanese star Yuzuru Hanyu retires from competitive figure skating

Tokyo, Jul 19 (EFE).- Japanese ice skater Yuzuru Hanyu on Tuesday announced his retirement from competitive figure skating after a highly decorated career.

“I have decided to continue my skating as a professional skater,” he told a Tokyo press conference.

“As a professional athlete I will not be compared with other skaters who compete,” the two-time Olympic and world champion added.

Hanyu, 27, who said he was “nervous” to make the announcement, thanked those who have supported him during his career.

Asked whether participating in the Winter Olympics had been a highlight of his career, he said he was satisfied with his two gold medals but that he fell short of his goals in the Beijing Game in February, where he ended up in fourth place.

He added that his decision to retire came after the competition in Beijing, during which he suffered an injury that prevented him from training.

The Sendai native, a four-time Grand Prix champion, has been forced to deal with a series of injuries at the end of his competitive career. The injury he sustained at the Beijing Olympics, where he attempted to land a historic quad axel, forced him to pull out of the world championships in March this year.

He won gold at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 and again at the PyeongChang Games four years later.

Hanyu told Tuesday’s press conference that he would continue to land that elusive quad axel.EFE

ahg-yk/jt/mp

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