TOKYO - Japanese figure skating icon and two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu on Friday announced his marriage on social media, without revealing his partner.
"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," the 28-year-old professional exhibition skater said in his post on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
Hanyu, who has drawn avid fans from around the world, also expressed appreciation in the message for all the backing he has received in his 24-year skating career.
Last year, Hanyu retired from competitive figure skating and turned pro after a fourth-place finish at the Beijing Winter Games, missing out on capturing a third straight Olympic gold.
Hanyu narrowly missed becoming the first athlete to land the quad axel in competition during his free skate in the games, falling on his attempt at the four-and-a-half-rotation jump.
A native of Sendai in Japan's northeastern region, Hanyu began the sport at age 4. Following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the area, he was an inspiration to survivors with his victory at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
Hanyu was the first figure skater not from Europe or the United States to win gold in the men's singles competition at the Olympics.
In 2018, he achieved a historic repeat at the Pyeongchang Games, becoming the first skater to successfully defend his gold medal in the event since American Dick Button, 66 years earlier. Hanyu became the youngest recipient of the Japanese government's People's Honor Award at age 23 that year.
He also won four straight Grand Prix Finals beginning in 2013, and he is a six-time national champion.
Among the countries where he has a passionate fan base, China has been particularly fond of him, with the country's media quickly reporting online the marriage announcement although it was made late Friday.
News of the announcement immediately became the top trending topic on Weibo, China's equivalent of the X platform.
IN PHOTOS: Yuzuru Hanyu ice show (Nov 4, 2022)
IN PHOTOS: Figure skating exhibition gala at Beijing Olympics (Feb 20, 2022)
IN PHOTOS: Gala exhibition of Japan Figure Skating Championships (Dec 27, 2021)
IN PHOTOS: Four Continents Figure Skating Gala Exhibition (Feb 10, 2020)
Related coverage:
Yuzuru Hanyu opens ice show commemorating earthquake-tsunami disaster
Figure skating: Yuzuru Hanyu performs solo ice show at Tokyo Dome
Figure skating: Retired duo Muramoto, Takahashi to promote ice dance
