Alena Leonova’s short program costume at the 2018 NHK Trophy, 2019 Cup of Russia Final and 2019 Russian Championships.

(Sources: 1, 2 and 3)

Yuzuru Hanyu's K&C reactions to breaking World Records (Through the Years)

Historical world records (during the +/-3 GOE ISU scoring system)

1) October 19th, 2012 (Skate America) - Parisienne Walkways 95.07

2) November 23rd, 2012 (NHK Trophy) - Parisienne Walkways 95.32

3) December 5th, 2013 (GPF) - Parisienne Walkways 99.84

4) February 13th, 2014 (Sochi Olympics) - Parisienne Walkways 101.45 (Yuzu was the first men's single skater in history to score above 100 points)

5) November 27th, 2015 (NHK Trophy) - Ballade No. 1 106.33

6) November 28th, 2015 (NHK Trophy) - SEIMEI 216.07 (Yuzu became the first men's single skater in history to score above 200 points)

7) November 28th, 2015 (NHK Trophy) - Total 322.40 (Yuzu became the first men's single skater in history to score above 300 points)

8) December 10th, 2015 (GPF) - Ballade No. 1 110.95 (Yuzu was the first and remains the only skater to score above 110 points before the 2018-19 season*)

9) December 12th, 2015 (GPF) - SEIMEI 219.48

10) December 12th, 2015 (GPF) - Total 330.43 (Yuzu remains the only skater in history to score above 330 points prior to the 2018-19 season)

11) April 1st, 2017 (World Championships) - Hope & Legacy 223.20 (Yuzu became the first and remained the only skater in history to score above 220 points in the free skate prior to the 2018-19 season)

12) September 22nd, 2017 (Autumn Classic) - Ballade No. 1 112.72

Modern World Records (*during the +/-5 GOE ISU scoring system introduced in the 2018-19 season)

13) November 3rd, 2018 (GP Helsinki) - Otoñal 106.60

14) November 4th, 2018 (GP Helsinki) - Origin 190.43

15) November 4th, 2018 (GP Helsinki) - Total 297.12

16) November 16th, 2018 (Rostelecom Cup) - Otonal 110.53 (Yuzu became the first skater in the new system to score above 110 points)

17) March 23rd, 2019 (World Championships) - Origin 206.10 (Yuzu became the first skater to score above 200 points in the new system)

18) March 23rd, 2019 (World Championships) - Total 300.97 (Yuzu became the first skater to score above 300 points in the new system)

19) February 7th, 2020 (Four Continents) - Ballade No. 1 111.82

I just hope Shoma has also big fanbase as Yuzuru has, so that even in moments of being underscored or facing challenges, he feels the support and never experiences loneliness. And I want this support to continue even after retirement. Shoma has made significant contributions to this sport and always delivered breathtaking performances. I hope he always feels loved, now and in the future. Of course he does not need anyone's support to feel okay, but I want him to get the appreciation he deserves. I just do not want anyone to forget him and his contributions to figure skating. Today's score made me think about such things.

Shoma has a huge fan base, obviously not as big as Yuzu's (which is basically a once in life occurence and tbh I am not sure that level is desired), and I think and hope that Shoma has long realized that we as his fans love and support him not only for the victories but for who he is. I think already back at IdF he learned that we appreciate him if he's in 1st or last place and NHK's scoring doesn't change that.

Also Shoma survived the disappointments of Worlds 2019, the disaster of IdF19, the disaster that was WTT 2021, he did have his share of unfair judgment over the years even ofc antis would never admit that and he never gave up and he would come back stronger and proof everyone wrong who ever called an end upon him. Shoma may be at a different stage of his career and obviously sooner or later he will quit competing but until then I don't see him going down without a fight. Yes first his NHK comments sounded awful but a day after it sounded like Yuma was actually a motivator to try his best. He also said he wouldn't suddenly quit, so this is all hopeful. Now I just hope judges treat him fairly. Again I am not mad if Shoma's not winning with mistakes or if someone else was clearly better that day but NHK was none of this as he was clearly the best skater at NHK and that's what made me mad and sad.

Shoma also not only has fan support but also the support of his family, his girlfriend Marin, his coach Stephane, his pyhsiotherapist Demi, his friends as Koshiro, Satoko and Keiji and I am damn sure they all tell him how supported he is.

I also think for the future things look bright. He is already the frontliner of The Ice and One Piece on Ice was also very successful, he is invited to many ice shows. I don't think we have to worry for him.

Only time will tell if Shoma's contribution to figure skating will be recognized in the future but it is already while he competes. Yuma just once again confirmed Shoma as the skater he looks up to at NHK. Plenty of junior skaters and younger senior skaters call Shoma among their favorites, some even have copy like costumes of his programs.

Shoma has written his name in the history books of figure skating as 2 time world champion and first to land the quadruple Flip. No one will take away those achievements and NHK scoring also won't take away any of his glory. Yes Shoma may not always come in first place, but that takes nothing away from how special he is to skating.

Inside Skating published some very nice articles on Shoma over the years and each reads not only like praise but also if you track back old articles skaters have admired Shoma from way back when he was just a little junior. This article from today is a recommendation.

He already left his mark in the sport. He's not where he is because of favors and fed politicking as some envious haters say but because his skating is magical - spell binding and ppl inside and outside the skating world appreciate Shoma. I am sure.

This is an all-time favourite moment of mine: Benoit Lavoie delicately adjusting Hanyu's laurel crown and bangs at the NHK Trophy 2019 medal ceremony.

good morning gymternet i'm tumblr user urara-ashikawa here to explain why urara was left off the team and why i think that's point blank the stupidest thing JGA has done since leaving mai at home for stuttgart 2019

japan’s worlds selection procedures

the team must be composed of

the top 3 AA finishers at the NHK trophy, which combines its scores with that of the two-day total of the all-japan AA championships in order to get the final standings

a gymnast A chosen for contribution to the team total points (and must have finished within the top 10 AA at NHK)

a gymnast B chosen for contribution to the team total points (no AA requirement)

japan’s WAG team is as follows:

miyata shoko (NHK trophy winner)

kasahara arisa (NHK trophy second place)

yamada chiharu (NHK trophy third place)

sakaguchi ayaka (NHK trophy fifth place, national beam silver, floor and vault bronze medalist)

fukasawa kokoro (national uneven bars champion)

how gymnasts A and B are selected

“when combined with the three gymnasts selected through criteria 1 for a team total (the three best scores [per apparatus] among the five gymnasts), the two gymnasts (gymnasts A and B combined) who can contribute to the highest total are to be selected.”

I. the “scores” of the three gymnasts selected through criteria 1 on each apparatus are calculated by getting the average of the top 2 scores among three competitions (all-japan AA championships qualifications, finals, and the NHK trophy)

II. the “scores” of the two gymnasts selected through criterias 2 and 3 (that is, gymnasts A and B) on each apparatus are calculated by getting the average of the top 2 scores among five competitions (all-japan AA championships qualifications, finals, the NHK trophy, all-japan event championships qualifications, and finals)

here are my calculations:

as you can see here, shoko, who won NHK and as such was automatically named to the team, only hit UB on 1/3 of the days, which is why her average above (which would be one of the counted UB scores under the japanese algorithm should urara be on the team) is so low, and why kokoro, a UB specialist, got the advantage over urara.

why it is so stupid of jga to leave urara at home

she is the reigning beam world champion. no matter what kind of form she’s in at domestic championships that take place four to six months before worlds (urara only hit the two 14.1+ scores she needed to put her in contention, ended up falling at NHK, event championship QFs, and the EFs), she is still japan WAG's best chance at an individual medal

(half jokingly) anyone who can do a save like she did in kitakyushu quals deserves the benefit of the doubt tbh

shoko is clearly capable of UB scores that are above 13. had her average been 13.3 or higher (not an exact number) urara would have definitely made the team (not to mention that just a month before all-japan AA shoko’s arm was in a cast, which makes it impressive that she even won silver)

i also posted a shortened version of this explanation in a thread on twitter @ryuseisrudi but this is the more detailed version. anyway justice for urara!!! she will most definitely be an alternate for worlds so we’ll see what happens by then. feel free to ask me things!

Uno Shoma returns to his origin with a “chanson” as he faces new season as the World Champion.

  TEAMING UP WITH FORMER COACH HIGUCHI MIHOKO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS 24 years old Uno Shoma (Toyota Corp.) who won his first World Championship last season in Men’s Figure Skating, took a step towards the next stage without losing his “natural” charm. On August 25, at Kose Shin Yokohama Skate Center in Yokohama, he performed his exhibition number ‘Padam, padam’ for the first time at the public rehearsal of Friends on Ice which marks the end of summer ice show season.  Riding on the relaxing masterpiece of "Chanson" which has a vague melancholy and a gorgeous melody, the performance by the figure skater who became the world champion after growing from the bottom through ups and downs, highlighted Uno Shoma’s personality. These past few years had also been a turbulent period with big changes as an athlete. He regarded even ice shows as a place where he wants to improve himself at, and seemed to re-challenge his return to origins by teaming up for the first time in 3 years. DETERMINED TO ENHANCE HIS POWER OF EXPRESSION, “A PATH I’VE CHOSEN MYSELF” Shoma Uno, who won the silver medal at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, made the big decision in June 2019 to leave the coaches of Machiko Yamada and Mihoko Higuchi, who had been coaching him since he was five years old. The scene of him teaming up with his former coach Higuchi Mihoko after a long time was also uploaded on Uno Shoma’s official YouTube.  Having known each other since his childhood, the smile as she gives advice about his stance right before the song begins or on the detailed choreography of his finish, reveals their trusting relationship, slightly different to the one he has with ex-World Champion Stephane Lambiel.  Uno Shoma commented, “I want to move forward on the path I’ve chosen myself without rushing anything. Things like choreography as well, since I chose this sport called Figure Skating, even though jumps get the most points, I think expression is one of the charms of figure skating, so I think it will continue to demonstrate it’s true value at ice shows.” And he pledged a new challenge to improve his expressive power on ice.  “I hope to skate to various programs so I can show everyone even a little different side of me, so that they can be surprised and have fun.”   THIS SEASON’S GP SERIES ARE SKATE CANADA AND NHK TROPHY. This season Shoma Uno, set goals to his “progress” of acquiring the highly difficult quadruple lutz, and shows interest in the blues-guitar song “Gravity”, his new SP. Officially announcing Bach’s Air as his new Free Program, he’s scheduled for this season’s Grand Prix Series’ second round in Skate Canada (October 28-30, Missisauga)  and fifth round in NHK Trophy (November 18-20, Sapporo). There’s no comparing the relationship of trust he has with Coach Lambiel, who had been a savior from the period he was without a coach, with the time he spent returning to his origins with Coach Higuchi Mihoko.   On his own YouTube he spoke of a unique relationship of trust, “With Stephane, Stephane does it (new programs) by himself. I feel like I have to imitate that, but I’ve known (Higuchi) Mihoko Sensei since a long time ago, so I think I have a relationship I can only have with Mihoko Sensei where I can say things like ‘Is it like this? Is it like that?’”  When asked about his vision of an ideal athlete, Shoma Uno mentioned Nathan Chen (USA) who recently won Beijing Winter Olympics 2022. Towards a new stage as a skater. Shoma Uno doesn’t intend to stop his “growth” even after becoming the world champion.  30 August 2022, Source || spaia.jp

Roman Sadovsky

Country: Canada Age: 23 Career highlight: Bronze at the 2019 NHK Trophy SP music: Cold by Chris Stapleton

Comments: Roman Sadovsky is here to break our hearts. He’s got the goods (I especially love his spins, but I guess it’s also important to point out he has a quad salchow) and he’s got the artistry. But he is prone to having bad skates, so hasn’t reached the results that he’s capable of – yet! His season started with an amazing short program at the Nebelhorn Trophy, but he couldn’t capitalize on that, dropping from 1st after the SP to 3rd overall. He then came 5th at Skate America which, considering who placed ahead of him, was fine, but he could do so much better! He could medal in Sheffield, I believe!!

If you want to get to know him better, he vlogs! https://www.youtube.com/c/Romsky

Yuzuru with the sp Õtonal at NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix in Sapporo 2019

紀平 梨花・🇯🇵

写真：坂本清

Sofia Samodurova skating to El Tango de Roxanne for her free program at the 2019 NHK Trophy and 2019 Lombardia Trophy. On her sleeve it says "She will drive you crazy"!

(Sources: 1, 2 and 3)

Do you think we'll ever know why Yuzu was consistently underscored in the last few years of competing? Like, I can't fathom why they would do that - he's so well loved, so surely scoring him accurately would just draw more people toward the sport to see him? Honestly I believe that if he hadn't attempted the 4A at the Olympics that he could have won if he was scored fairly. Having a 3x Olympic Gold medalist would have made such a buzz in the news which would be good publicity, no? So... idk. I'm confused by the whole thing and my heart goes out to Yuzu for putting up with so much for so long.

Hi, anon! Oh, this is such a long story. I'll try to keep it as short as possible and make it comprehensible.

Officially, there most likely will never be an explanation given, it's just not how the sports' world works. There is no accountability since the "behind the scenes" is mostly a power play between several figure skating federations (USA, Russia, JSF - but that's a whole other story), lots of politicking going on.

However, the fans and those who know figure skating have become aware of Yuzu being underscored over the years. There were a hell lot of discussions about that too, but they literally led nowhere - there were a lot of fights and Fanyus accused of being irrational and delusional.

The narrative goes something like this:

Yuzu came into the senior competitions as a very successful junior and he actively improved his technical as well as his presentation components - he was constantly on the rise winning a world medal in his 2nd year as senior, winning everything there was to win in the 2013-2014 season - GPF, Worlds, OLYMPIC GOLD, except 4CC (I don't think he participated in 2014), achieving incredible scores at 2015 NHK Trophy and 2015 Barcelona, winning a second world title in 2017, winning a second OLYMPIC GOLD in 2018... and finally winning 4CC in 2020.

There is a huge discrepancy in scores that occurred after 2015 GPF. Yuzu was constantly improving, yet his scores don't reflect that at all - they look like he remained through his entire amateur career at the same level as he was in 2015 or that he became worse - which is a blatant lie.

Frankly, when he broke consecutive records in 2015, ISU and the feds became aware that he was untouchable. There were skaters younger than Yuzu who were bringing quads to the game, skaters like Jin Boyang, Shoma Uno and Nathan Chen. But their skating skills could NEVER get close to Yuzu's, and Yuzu was also bringing new jumps into his arsenal - 4Lo, 4Lz. USA having lots of power, started pushing Chen as the quad king and Chen was supposed to be Yuzu's rival, narrative woven like this until Yuzu turned pro.

Anyway, Chen's scores were rising although there was barely any visible improving seen in his skating, while Yuzu, obviously constantly improving, if he had the smallest mistake he was penalized. The penalizations became greater when the scoring system changed from +/-3 GOE to +/-5 GOE because there could be greater manipulation of scores.

If Yuzu was getting +3 GOE for a 3A prior to 2018/2019, he was supposed to get +5 GOE for the same jump starting with 2018/2019, but that barely happened. The average GOE for Yuzu's 3A on the international stage stayed around +3. So, on paper, Yuzu seemed to be getting worse. Not to mention the PCS... which Yuzu openly talked about after turning pro, he was no longer awarded almost perfect PCS although he kept improving.

About Beijing 2022, Yuzu was never meant to win the gold as set by the ISU. Had he went clean, his Rondo probably would've been around the same as his last WR (lower than 112 points) because of literal judging corruption, and Chen would've still had impossible inflation and set a WR.

I won't go deeper into Beijing, it was Yuzu's choice to continue skating while remaining true to himself, it was his choice to challenge the 4A, it was his choice to do everything as it went. And I respect that because there's nothing more worthy of admiration than a person who remains true to himself while undergoing abuse (because, in the end, that's what it was). He came out on the other side stronger and better than any other skater and his pro career already shows it.

ISU seems to not care that figure skating is dying, they are not doing anything to improve the circumstances in which this sport is "developing". They lowered the PC components from 5 to 3, they want to let Russia back in the game, they push quads in juniors, they continue white-washing the whole sport (look at the countries of the skaters who were given the ISU awards).

In a nutshell, Yuzu's competitive career was hell, he had numerous injuries that threated his skating life, he continued, he was getting underscored, he continued. He did try to play ISU's "jumping competition" game for a while - Aoi Honoo III reveals that - with Origin. He didn't like that and his scores didn't improve even while playing by ISU's rules. He went back to the programs that won him 2015 NHK, 2015 GPF and 2018 Olympics gold... he was awarded just a tiny bit more than his previous SP world record. So, he continued skating in the hopes of landing that 4A. He challenged it until the end of his amateur career. He showed the best he could at Beijing... but it's over and done with now. Now he continues challenging that jump, but for himself, because it's his DREAM.

Now, we focus on Yuzu's pro career - he continues changing what figure skating means. If Prologue wasn't enough to show that he is so much BETTER than when he competed, GIFT and NS will definitely cement that in. Yuzu continues pursuing his ideal figure skating, hard tech content, beautiful skating skills, all possible because of hard work and training.

FORGOT TO SAY:

ISU did use Yuzu, they used him until July 19th 2022. While we were anxiously waiting for the 2022-2023 GP assignments, ISU put the tickets on sale for all the GP stages minus GPF. There were people who went in blindly to buy tickets because Yuzu's photo was on several ticket sites (for example, the Finland GP had Yuzu on their site). People were going to buy GPF tickets, too without any concrete assignments.

Yuzu announced him turning pro in July, the Yuzu fans who had bought tickets to see Yuzu found a way to sell them or ended up not going to the GPs. ISU knew Yuzu brought in the crowds, they knew he was the favourite. They did not promote his skating, they promoted him PARTICIPATING in competitions.

yuzuru's smile >>>>>>>>> everything else in this 🌏

Iconic

Yuzuru Hanyu, Otonal ➪ NHK Throphy