Tracking Yuzuru Hanyu’s Competition Performance Over Time

I wanted to explore how Yuzuru Hanyu’s performances changed throughout his career, especially during major international competitions. Figure skating is interesting because success is not just about one standout performance. Skaters need to stay consistent across different programs, competitions, and seasons. By looking at scoring data, I wanted to see how consistency, difficulty, and competition level all connect and influence long term results.

Competition Score Data I Looked At

I selected competitions from different years and event types so it would be easier to compare how performance changed throughout his career.

Competition Year Segment Segment Score Overall Score Placement Total Skaters
Olympic Winter Games2022Free Skate188.06283.21424
Olympic Winter Games2022Short Program95.15283.21829
World Championships2021Free Skate182.20289.18324
World Championships2021Short Program106.98289.18133
Four Continents Championships2020Free Skate187.60299.42124
Four Continents Championships2020Short Program111.82299.42125
Grand Prix Final2019Free Skate194.00291.4326
Grand Prix Final2019Short Program97.43291.4326
Skate Canada2019Free Skate212.99322.59112
Skate Canada2019Short Program109.60322.59112
Olympic Games2018Free Skate206.17317.85224
Olympic Games2018Short Program111.68317.85130
World Championships2017Free Skate223.20321.59124
World Championships2017Short Program98.39321.59536
Grand Prix Final2015Free Skate219.48330.4316
Grand Prix Final2015Short Program110.95330.4316
Competition results across different seasons showing how scoring and placement shifted throughout his career.

Performance Patterns I Noticed

Olympic Performance Differences

Looking at Olympic results was interesting because even when Hanyu scored really high, his placement still changed depending on the strength of the competition and where he was in his career. Earlier Olympic appearances show stronger placements, while later results show how competitive the field became over time.

Year Overall Score Placement
2014280.091
2018317.851
2022283.214

Short Program Compared to Free Skate

Another thing that stood out was how the two competition segments contribute differently to overall results. Short programs usually show technical consistency, while free skates have higher scoring potential because they include more difficult elements and longer performance time.

Segment Average Score
Short Program104.5
Free Skate201.2

Competition Performance Context

Watching performances helps give context to the numbers. Scoring in figure skating depends on both technical execution and artistic presentation, which makes the competition results more layered than just raw scores.

Yuzuru Hanyu performing during Olympic competition showing the mix of technical skill and choreography judges evaluate.

Important Figure Skating Terms

Short Program
The first performance section where skaters complete required technical elements within strict rules.
Free Skate
The longer program where skaters have more freedom to include difficult jumps and choreography.
Segment Score
The score earned from one program segment.
Overall Score
The total combined score from both competition segments.
Placement
The final ranking position in a competition.