From Ice to Aisle: Yuzuru Hanyu's Marriage Announcement

World-famous figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu announced his recent marriage on Friday (4/8) through a heartfelt message shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Though the announcement elicited undying support from his devoted fanbase, the news saddened some admirers as the handsome 28-year-old would no longer be romantically available.

In the same post, Yuzuru Hanyu took a moment to express his humble gratitude to the fans who have supported him through the highs and lows of Hanyu's incomparable 24-year ice skating career. His inspiring perseverance has gotten him through numerous challenges, such as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the global COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Hanyu's supporters have only grown in number due to his courage to leave his hometown of Sendai at the tender age of 16 after devastating natural catastrophes.

Despite his significant personal milestone, Hanyu - affectionately nicknamed ‘Ice Prince’ - promised to persist in his ice skating endeavours; in his own words, "I, Yuzuru Hanyu, have decided to get married. ... For the rest of my life, I will do my best to move forward with skating, along with everyone who supports me."

With two Olympic gold medals from the 2014 and 2018 Winter Games, four consecutive victories in the Grand Prix Final since 2013, and six national skater titles, Yuzuru Hanyu is widely considered as one of the world's leading figure skaters. Remarkably, he stands as the first non-American and non-European athlete to attain Olympic gold in the sport.

Nevertheless, his retirement from competitive skating following a fourth-place finish at the Beijing Winter Olympics last year has not diminished his impact as he became the first skater to perform in the Tokyo Dome last February.

Although Hanyu chose not to disclose the identity of his spouse, many fans have begun to speculate about her identity. Fans even outside of Japan have expressed their sadness through the hashtag "Hanyu Loss", with some even taking a day off to express their sadness.

Yuzuru Hanyu's marriage is a milestone not merely celebrated by his devoted fans but also a milestone celebrated by the media and the entire figure skating community. It signifies the beginning of a new journey for the 'Ice Prince' who has won the hearts of people all over the world.