ADVERTISEMENT

Fans threw hundreds of Pooh Bear dolls onto the ice after Yuzuru Hanyu's monster performance in men's figure skating

  • Yuzuru Hanyu may have already sealed a gold medal in the men's single skate with the second-highest score ever.
  • After the program finished, fans littered the ice with hundred of Pooh Bear dolls, a celebration that has become a tradition during Hanyu's performances.
  • Pooh is Hanyu's personal mascot and good luck charm.

Yuzuru Hanyu may have already sealed a gold medal in the men's single skate with the second-highest score ever during the opening short program, a 111.68.

ADVERTISEMENT

As soon as Hanyu's performance was over, fans littered the ice with hundred of stuffed Pooh Bear dolls.

The ice was covered in yellow, and that was just for the bears that actually reached the ice. Many did not.

Yuzuru Hanyu makes it RAIN ... @ NBC Olympics

ADVERTISEMENT

The monsoon of Pooh Bears has become a staple of Hanyu performances. Japanese fans travel in large numbers to see him perform and this was his biggest performance on the world's biggest stage.

The ice crew had to work even harder this time around collecting the bears. There were at least two mountains of the bears piled up at each end of the ice.

As Jeré Longman of the New York Times recently chronicled, Hanyu has adopted Pooh as a personal mascot and good luck charm.

Hanyu will often squeeze his Pooh Bear prior to going on the ice for a performance. Other times he will bow to Pooh, pat it on the head, or even shake his paw.

During Hanyu's monster performance on Friday morning, Pooh was in his usual spot, sitting rink-side.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hanyu probably doesn't need a good luck charm, but if he did, it must be working.

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

Offshore sportsbooks and best sports betting sites

Offshore sportsbooks and best sports betting sites

Top 5 African cities with the most unaffordable real estate in 2024

Top 5 African cities with the most unaffordable real estate in 2024

US says it is still engaged with West African juntas

US says it is still engaged with West African juntas

Opinion Piece: Accelerating sustainable development goals through better agricultural risk management

Opinion Piece: Accelerating sustainable development goals through better agricultural risk management

Zimbabwe is set to honor Russian victory with a monument

Zimbabwe is set to honor Russian victory with a monument

Top cross-border payment companies in Africa on recent global ranking

Top cross-border payment companies in Africa on recent global ranking

Studio Monkey in collaboration with Worldwide FM and Gilles Peterson launches initiative to support grassroot music communities

Studio Monkey in collaboration with Worldwide FM and Gilles Peterson launches initiative to support grassroot music communities

NexaScale marks one-year milestone with visionary initiatives empowering Africa's youth for the future of work

NexaScale marks one-year milestone with visionary initiatives empowering Africa's youth for the future of work

How Patrice Motsepe-backed GoSolr wants to solve South Africa's power crises

How Patrice Motsepe-backed GoSolr wants to solve South Africa's power crises

ADVERTISEMENT