WITH many viewers new to the Winter Olympics and figure skating, people are confused why Winnie-The-Pooh has featured so prominently.
Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu made his Olympic debut on Thursday, scoring the second highest score in Olympic figure skating history.
How did he win gold?
THE Japanese ice skater made history on Saturday when he won the men’s figure skating title in PyeongChang.
He became the 1000th medal event winner in the history of the Winter Games and became the first man since 1952 to defend the title.
Hanyu won with 10.95 points clear of Shomu Uno in silver.
Why is do fans throw Winnie the Pooh toys at him?
When his routine ended the skater was showered with toys of the English bear.
When he skates, Hanyu places a Winnie-the-Pooh tissue box cover on the rink’s boards as a good-luck charm, the bear is positioned to have a good view of Hanyu’s performance near coach Brian Orser.
The thunderstorm of Pooh toys is so expected by his competitors that Nathan Chen told the Chicago Tribune that when you compete against Hanyu, you have to be prepared for the storm of Poohs that will follow.
The Japanese figure skater doesn’t keep all these fluffy toys however, instead he donates them to local charities of wherever he happens to be skating.
His success in Sochi 2014 meant he has become a superstar in Japan and has quickly become one of the best known sports stars in the country.
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