China’s Love of Japanese Skater Hanyu Transcends Politics
Yuzuru Hanyu competes in the men's single skating at the figure skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games in China, on Feb. 8.
Photographer: Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images
In a sign of just how deep China’s affection for Japanese star figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu runs, even its normally acerbic diplomats are taking a break from sniping at geopolitical rivals to fete the Olympics legend.
The 27-year-old, two-time Olympic gold medalist has achieved idol-like status in China in recent years, despite fraying relations between Asia’s two biggest economies and historical foes. Days before Hanyu’s arrival in Beijing, for example, an airport worker was pictured with his name and a heart scrawled across her hazmat suit, while volunteers at the Olympics enthusiastically snapped photos of him during competition. On social media, Chinese fans lovingly refer to Hanyu as “Youzi,” which refers to the citrus fruit pomelo.