Yuzuru Hanyu of Team Japan kisses the ice during the Figure Skating Gala Exhibition of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 20 in Beijing. The 27-year-old skating icon announced his retirement Tuesday at a press conference in Toyko. Photo: Cui Nan/VCG

Hanyu performs at the Figure Skating Gala Exhibition of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Photo: VCG

Hanyu competes in the men’s free skating of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, in Kelowna, Canada, in October 2019. He took first place at the event. Photo: Derek Leung/VCG

In Moscow, Hanyu received his second Grand Prix win in one season in November 2018. Photo: Joosep Martinson/VCG

Before Moscow, Hanyu won his first 2018 Grand Prix event in Helsinki, Finland. Photo: Yutaka/VCG

In the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Hanyu claimed gold in the men’s single figure skating event with a total score of 206.17 points, making him a two-time Olympic champion. Photo: VCG

Hanyu performs a one-handed hydroblade move during the men’s single skating event at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in February 2018. Photo: VCG

Hanyu performs during the NHK Special Figure Skating Exhibition at Japan’s Morioka Ice Arena in January 2016. Photo: Atsushi Tomura/VCG

Hanyu performs a doughnut camel spin in the men’s short program competition of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in February 2014. The then-19-year-old received his first Olympics gold medal at the event. Photo: Matthew Stockman/VCG

Hanyu prepares for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing on Feb. 15. He placed fourth at the event after failing to land a quadruple axel, considered the most difficult jump in figure skating. Photo: Yutaka/VCG

Hanyu dances at the Figure Skating Gala Exhibition of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 20. The skating star decided to go into professional figure skating after retiring from competition. Photo: Mao Jianjun/China News Service, VCG