[MUSIC PLAYING AND CAMERA SHUTTERS]
COY WIRE: After becoming the first male figure skater
since 1952 to win back-to-back Olympic figure skating golds,
the legend of Yuzuru Hanyu continues to grow.
His performances are the perfect combination of grace and fury,
jaw-dropping athleticism.
But at the same time, he's an artist
more than just an athlete.
Some say watching Yuzuru is like watching
Michael Jackson on ice.
I played nine years in the NFL, covered sports
all over the world now as a journalist,
and I have never seen an athlete receive
the passionate reaction from fans
that Yuzuru Hanyu receives.
And as you can see, the media loves him too.
At Yuzuru's performances at the Pyeongchang Olympics,
I saw fans young and old absolutely enamored
by his presence.
Some of them were praying before and during his performance.
Others were crying.
And when his winning score was announced, nearly all
of those fans celebrated this historic win
by storming to the edge of the rink
to throw stuffed Winnie the Pooh bears onto the ice.
That's the good luck charm that has been Hanyu's
favorite since he was a kid.
YUZURU HANYU: My dream came true already.
[LAUGHS] So I'm really satisfied for now.
COY WIRE: Some are calling this 23-year-old the greatest
figure skater of all time.
But Yuzuru's story is about so much more than just sport.
YASUO SAITO: The people are fascinated by his personality,
by his performance, and by his charm.
COY WIRE: What does he represent for Japan off the ice?
What does he mean?
YASUO SAITO: I'm speechless.
I can't find the right words to describe what he has done.
- We're already happy for him, and we're so proud of him.
COY WIRE: You teach me ice skating in Toronto?
YUZURU HANYU: Uh--
COY WIRE: [LAUGHS]
YUZURU HANYU: I don't know.
COY WIRE: It has been incredible to watch Yuzuru make history
and even more fans as he continues his rise
towards becoming a global star.