WATCH: Yuzuru Hanyu Shares a Light Hearted Moment With Mascot Bing Dwen Dwen at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022
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via Reuters
2022 Beijing Olympics – Figure Skating – Exhibition Gala – Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China – February 20, 2022. Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan and Bing Dwen Dwen, the mascot of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, during the finale. REUTERS/Susana Vera REFILE – CORRECTING ID
Legendary Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu bid adieu to the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 in style. At the final exhibition gala, Hanyu put on a breathtaking performance, clad in beautiful threads.
Not only did Yuzuru put on a remarkable performance, but he also melted everyone’s hearts with a certain gesture. During a hydro blade movement where he leaned almost an inch off the ground, Hanyu kissed the ice.
The moment stood testament to how much the figure skater loves his sport and the ice on which he performs. Now, another cute moment is taking the fans by storm, as Yuzuru excitedly embraced the 2022 Winter Olympics mascot, Bing Dwen Dwen.
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Yuzuru Hanyu hugs Bing Dwen Dwen
Yuzuru Hanyu was not the only one grabbing eyeballs at the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 exhibition gala. In addition to the Japanese legend, the official mascot of the 2022 Games, Bing Dwen Dwen, was present in all his glory too.
After all, he is kind of hard to miss. Moreover, with a name that rolls off the tongue, Bing Dwen Dwen is, quite bluntly put, adorable. Apparently, Yuzuru Hanyu shares the sentiment, as he hugged the big panda by wrapping his arms around him.
Yuzu‘s big big big hug with bindundun.
🥰 pic.twitter.com/Mnmk1nUugS— 木言(ムー) ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ yuzu power (@bokuken_) February 20, 2022
Well, it would be impossible for 5’6″ Hanyu to put his arms all around Bing Dwen Dwen with the perimeter the panda commands. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop the two-time gold medalist from wrapping his arms around the mascot, smiling throughout.
VIDEO: Yuzuru Hanyu Kisses Ice in Emotional Final Tribute at Beijing Winter Olympics 2022
In fact, Hanyu wasn’t done with just the hug, there were head pats involved, too. Patting Bing Dwen Dwen on the head, Hanyu went back to socializing, but we’re willing to bet that the panda would be gushing the (arguably) greatest figure skater ever having been so excited to meet him.
Hanyu’s emotional goodbye to the Beijing ice
In his performance at the exhibition gala of the Beijing Winter Olympics, Yuzuru Hanyu put on an amazing performance.
via Reuters
2022 Beijing Olympics – Figure Skating – Exhibition Gala – Capital Indoor Stadium, Beijing, China – February 20, 2022. Yuzuru Hanyu of Japan in action. REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Hanyu took everyone’s breath away as he leaned in low to the ice, performing a beautiful ‘hydroblade’ move. In fact, his face was so close to the ice that he could’ve kissed it, which is exactly what the Japanese legend did.
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The greatest love story ever told. pic.twitter.com/CcRHFauLRi
— san 🌺✨ (@hopeIegacy) July 2, 2018
This was a beautiful and moving adieu to the Beijing Winter Olympics for Hanyu, where he could not defend his championship. Had Yuzuru won the gold medal this year, he would have made history by being the champion at the figure skating event for three Olympics in a row.
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Nevertheless, he has decided not to hang up his skates just yet, and there is every possibility that the world would see Yuzuru Hanyu at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
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