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MIÉ 05.04.2017
It was exactly 15:35 in Helsinki, or 14:35 CET, when the gesture that defined the World Championships occurred. It may be difficult to reduce a competition where four world champions are crowned down to a single moment, but Hanyu may have done just that. It is all the more surprising that it did not take place on the ice rink, but on the sidelines at a location with restricted access for the general public. It was in the mixed zone, 40 minutes after the men's competition came to an end.
Despite a brilliant short programme, Javier Fernandez dropped out of the podium positions during the free skate. Five years had gone by since the best Spanish skater of all time last passed through the mixed zone, given that his bronze medals in 2013 and 2014 and golds in 2015 and 2016 meant his contact with the media took place in the press conference room which is reserved for finalists. On this occasion, however, Fernandez finished fourth and had to head to the mixed zone which gradually filled with journalists, all of whom were desperate to find out what had happened to the two-time champion. The 25-year-old spoke to the Spanish press after various television commitments and went on to repeat himself in English for the French, American, Russian and Japanese reporters in attendance. The moment that nobody expected was about to happen.
.@javierfernandez @fedhielo @deportegob Precioso gesto de Yuzuru Hanyu con Javier Fernández en la zona mixta.
— LaLiga4Sports (@LaLiga4Sports) April 1, 2017
El campeón del Mundo se ha quitado su y se la ha puesto a Javi pic.twitter.com/fXL4uSNGD1
All the skaters still have to pass through the rather cramped mixed zone, regardless of their final position, which is where Fernandez was when a certain Hanyu needed to get past at the end of the medal ceremony. There was but one route available to him, which was obstructed by the Spaniard. Hanyu came up behind him and touched him on the arm. Fernandez turned around to see the world champion take off the gold medal that was hanging around his neck, and put it on the 2015 and 2016 champion. The gesture astonished all those present who quickly realised that they had just witnessed something historic. The world champion had given his gold medal to his longstanding rival, to the skater that denied him gold in 2015 and 2016, to his training partner.
The pair exchanged a heartfelt hug, before Fernandez took off the medal and gave it back to Hanyu, who went back in the same direction with another gold medal in his hand that a journalist had handed him. 40 minutes after being named world champion, Hanyu rounded off a perfect free skate with a gesture fitting of any champion.
© LALIGA - 2017