In a surprising turn of events, Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan’s beloved figure skating sensation and two-time Olympic champion, has publicly declared his divorce just three months after revealing his marriage. Making the announcement on social media, specifically X (formerly Twitter), the 28-year-old athlete cited relentless slander, stalking, and intrusive media reporting as the primary reasons for the dissolution.
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Hanyu, who had previously captured the hearts of fans globally, initially shared news of his marriage on August 4 but kept his partner’s identity confidential, emphasizing that the spouse was not a public figure. However, the recent statement shed light on the distressing challenges faced by the couple, including stalking incidents, slander, and unauthorized media coverage attempts targeting them and their families.
Expressing his desire for his partner’s unrestricted happiness, Hanyu explained, “When I thought about the future, I decided to divorce because I wanted my partner to be happy, to be happy without any restrictions.” He acknowledged the difficulty of safeguarding their well-being, especially given his limited life experience, and deemed the situation unbearable.
In a plea for privacy and understanding, Hanyu’s management company issued a separate statement, urging the press to refrain from following the couple. This request underlines the severity of the media intrusion that has contributed to the challenging circumstances surrounding Hanyu’s personal life.
Yuzuru Hanyu, who retired from competitive figure skating last year and transitioned to professional status, missed securing a third consecutive Olympic gold at the Beijing Winter Games. His illustrious career includes notable victories at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, where he made history by successfully defending his gold medal. In 2018, Hanyu also became the youngest recipient of the Japanese government’s People’s Honour Award at the age of 23, marking his indelible impact on the sport.