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how i became a fanyu: a thread https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤍" title="Weißes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes Herz">" title="https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤍" title="Weißes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes Herz"> how i became a fanyu: a thread https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤍" title="Weißes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Weißes Herz">" class="img-responsive" style="max-width:100%;"/>
since it’s been ~1 year since i became a fanyu, i thought it appropriate for me to 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken">reminiscehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> on how i learned about yuzu. it was around the time the world was starting to see an increase in lockdowns and closures, somewhere in the middle/end of march.
i was a senior in high school, so i was absolutely devastated. senior year is something you look forward to your whole academic career, and having the best part of it taken away was horrible. in an instant, i lost my school days, my athletic senior season (for track and field),
prom, graduation, and so many other experiences i’ll never get back. the world seemed to be falling into despair and uncertainty, so i resorted to something that has been there for me since i was a child; skating. although the rinks shut down, i could still watch skating,
and even if just for a moment, i could forget the outside world. so one day, as i was browsing through skating videos on youtube, i once again stumbled upon yuzuru hanyu’s olympic performance to seimei. yes, i have in fact seen seimei before this moment.
i’ve also seen both origins, both otoñals, and phantom of the opera, so i was already familiar with yuzu’s skating. i already knew that it was special; there wasn’t anything as powerful as the otoñal stsq, as smooth as seimei’s choreography, or as majestic as origin’s emotion.
so knowing the beauty and power of yuzu’s skating, i chose to rewatch seimei; but before i had the chance, i noticed a link for yuzu’s 2018 olys sp. interestingly enough, i’ve never seen it. so i decided, since i have so much time in quarantine, i should watch something new.
so i watched olys chopin. and i was blown away. the moment yuzu started the stsq, i was enthralled. i’ve never seen anything like it. so much control, but also freedom and emotion in his movements, and not a single note or nuance in the music was forgotten.
in my 10 years of skating, i’ve never felt as amazed as i did when i watched olys chopin for the first time. maybe it was because i was feeling great sadness. maybe it was because i needed a distraction. but after seeing that performance, there was no going back.
i proceeded to watch more of yuzu’s performances. i learned about his struggles, victories, mentality, and purpose. and that’s when i realized that i was inspired not only by yuzu’s skating, but also by his character. because against all odds, yuzu remained a kind, intelligent,
grateful, and determined person. in a time of my life when everything seemed to be falling out of place, yuzu brought me hope, inspiration, and strength. and even though the times following march 2020 where incredibly difficult, yuzu and his skating brought me great joy.
and he still continues to bring me joy to this day. i’ve never felt about a skater the way i feel about yuzu. he isn’t one in a generation; he is one in a lifetime. a true genius and master at what he does. i am so so grateful to have discovered him in his competitive era.
this past year was undoubtedly the hardest of my life. there were many changes, uncertainties, and losses. but yuzu’s skating helped me through it all.
so happy (late https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😓" title="Gesicht mit kaltem Schweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Gesicht mit kaltem Schweiß">) 1 year anniversary to me being a fanyu. it’s been incredible to have the privilege to follow one of yuzu’s most interesting journeys yet. so here’s to the future, one that hopefully has yuzu jumping perfect 4As while we fanyus watch :’)
if you read to the end of this thread, god bless you lmao i am truly going thru it right now besties https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤧" title="Niesendes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Niesendes Gesicht">
