Japanese figure skating great Yuzuru Hanyu retires from competition

Japan’s two-time Olympic men's figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu announced his sudden retirement from competition on Tuesday.

The Japanese figure skating icon said he had decided to continue his career as a professional athlete except for competitions.

"I'm not sad at all. There's no sadness. And I want to keep working," Hanyu told a news conference in Tokyo. "But I'm no longer confined to the realm of competitions anymore."

The 27-year-old athlete said his decision came during the treatment of his recent right ankle sprain injury.

Hanyu, one of the most famous Japanese athletes in history, bagged two gold medals in men's single figure skating at 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

He also won world titles at 2014 Saitama and 2017 Helsinki World Figure Skating Championships.