Challengers on Ice (2)

Challenger spirit is inherited from great achievers to younger skaters. Their challenges will continue until they completely retire from both games and ice shows.

We saw many dramas on figure skating rink in Iceberg Skating Palace, Sochi. Hanyu’s gold medal with e historical highest score in short skating, Sotonikowa’s gold medal, Asada’s achievement, etc.  And I believe one of the biggest event was Plushenko’s comeback and retire.

Evgeni Plushenko, a gold/silver medalist of four Olympics, decided to retire from competition after the withdrawal of short skating.  But his challenge is still going on.  He is planning to skate in ice shows after cure.  Throughout his long career, he had been challenging himself both emotionally and physically.  His challenging was so brave, but too severe, and almost cruel or even violent for himself, because he had his own body broken.  His challenging had already reached surgery level.  He had taken 12 surgery operations to heal severe problems in knee joint, hip joint, back, etc.  He had overcome his physical limitation, but got tremendous pains and wounds almost all over his body.

I admire his brave athlete spirit and adore his come back to skating link.  I hope his spirit inspire younger skaters.  But still I don’t hope Yuzuru Hanyu, my beautiful idol, hurt himself with too severe challenge. I hope his challenge will never include surgery one.  I am also concerned with Daisuke Takahashi’s condition.  Have you completely recovered from the injury before All Japan Figure Skating Competition? Be careful, don’t hurt yourself any more.  If you feel danger, please make the best decision, like Plushenko had decided to withdraw the game and could avoid the fatal corruption.

However, I know they don’t hear one fan’s advice. They will go their way even if their challenges are too risky.  All we can do for such challengers is continuing to watch and encourage them.  I expect them to be content with their own presentation and get a real medal from theirselves.