Yan Han (figure skater)

Yan Han (Chinese: 闫涵; pinyin: Yán Hán; Mandarin pronunciation: [jɛ̌n xǎn]; born March 6, 1996) is a Chinese competitive figure skater. He is a three-time Four Continents bronze medalist (2013, 2015, 2016), the 2013 Cup of China champion and a four-time Chinese national champion (2010-2011, 2018, 2020).

Yan Han
Full nameYan Han
Native name闫涵
Born (1996-03-06) March 6, 1996 (age 28)
Harbin, China
HometownHarbin
Height1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Figure skating career
Country China
CoachJia Shuguang
Skating clubHarbin Training Centre
Began skating2001
Medal record
Representing  China
Figure skating: Men's singles
Four Continents Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Osaka Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Seoul Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Taipei Men's singles
Asian Winter Games
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Sapporo Men's singles
Winter Youth Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2012 Innsbruck Men's singles
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Minsk Men's singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
Silver medal – second place 2010–11 Beijing Men's singles
Silver medal – second place 2011–12 Quebec Men's singles
Yan Han
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese

On the junior level, he is the 2012 Youth Olympic champion, the 2012 Junior World champion, the winner of four ISU Junior Grand Prix titles, and a two-time Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist (2010, 2011). He remains the only skater to win Junior Worlds and the Youth Olympic Games throughout the same season.

Career edit

The only athlete in his family, Yan started skating at the age of 5. He trained in Harbin until he relocated to Beijing in early 2012.[1]

2009–2010 season: Junior Grand Prix debut edit

Yan made his ISU Junior Grand Prix debut in the 2009–2010 season. He won gold at the event in Turkey, his only assignment that season. He did not compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships due to a fracture injury.[citation needed]

2010–2011 season edit

Yan was assigned to the 2010–11 ISU Junior Grand Prix events in Austria and Czech Republic. After winning his two JGP events, he qualified to the Junior Grand Prix Final, which was held in Beijing, China. Yan took the silver medal in his home country. He ended the season by placing 6th in his debut at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Korea.

2011–2012 season: Youth Olympic and World Junior titles edit

In the 2011–2012 season, Yan began attempting a triple Axel and a quad toe loop in competition. After winning gold at his JGP events in Austria and Italy, Yan qualified for the 2011–12 Junior Grand Prix Final. At the event, held in Quebec City, Canada, he won the silver medal despite having a fever.[citation needed] He became the 2012 Youth Olympics champion in Innsbruck, Austria.

At the 2012 World Junior Championships, Yan became the first skater representing China to win the men's junior world title.

2012–2013 season: First medal at Four Continents edit

Yan started his season at the 2012 JGP Slovenia, where he finished fifth after a shattering fall on the quadruple toe loop in the free program. He then won silver, behind Maxim Kovtun at the 2012 JGP Croatia. He did not advance to the JGP Final.

Yan took silver at the 2013 Chinese Championships. He made his senior international debut at the 2013 Four Continents Championships, where he took the bronze medal. Yan ended the season placing ninth in the men's discipline and fifth with Team China at the 2013 World Team Trophy. He then flew to Toronto to work with Lori Nichol for two new programs for the upcoming season.

2013–2014 season: Grand Prix debut edit

 
Yan at 2013 Cup of China

Yan's senior Grand Prix debut came at the 2013 Cup of China. He placed first in the short setting a personal best score of 90.14 points and placed second in the free winning the gold medal overall, ahead of Maxim Kovtun. Yan set a personal best overall score of 245.62 points. Yan finished fourth at the 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard, competing with a fever that he developed the day before his short program.[citation needed] His results qualified him for the Grand Prix Final, in which he placed sixth overall. He was selected to compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he finished seventh.[2] He then finished seventh at the 2014 World Figure Skating Championships in Saitama, Japan.

2014–2015 season: Second bronze at Four Continents edit

Yan's first assignment of the 2014 Grand Prix season was Cup of China. On November 8, during the free skate warm-up, he collided with Japan's Yuzuru Hanyu. Yan was visibly injured, but decided to compete. He placed seventh in the free program and sixth overall.[3][4][5] Later in the same month, he placed eighth at another Grand Prix event, the 2014 Trophee Eric Bompard.

At the 2015 Four Continents Championships, Yan took the bronze medal with a combined score of 259.47, a personal best. He placed tenth at the 2015 World Championships.

2015–2016 season: Third bronze at Four Continents edit

Competing in the 2015 Grand Prix season, Yan placed fourth at Skate America and took bronze at Cup of China.[6] He went on to win his third bronze medal at the 2016 Four Continents Championships, setting personal bests in the free program (181.98) and combined score (271.55). Yan placed twenty-sixth at the 2016 World Championships.

2016–2017 season edit

During the 2016 Grand Prix season, Yan placed tenth at Skate Canada and fifth at Cup of China. He ranked 10th at the 2017 Four Continents Championships. He won a bronze medal at the 2017 Asian Winter Games.

Yan's shoulder dislocated repeatedly after he sustained a fracture.[7] As a result, he withdrew from the 2017 World Championships.

2017–2018 season edit

Yan's first international competition during this season was the International Cup of Nice, where he won the gold medal. For his Grand Prix assignments, Yan competed at Skate America and the Cup of China, placing fifth at both competitions. He then became the Chinese national champion and went on to place tenth at the 2018 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. During this season, he competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics, making it his second time at the Olympics. He ranked 23rd overall.[8]

2018–2019 season edit

Yan did not compete internationally during the season, subsequently attributing this to both injury recovery and disappointment with his performances in recent seasons. Initially intending to travel and study, he ultimately opted to plan a return to competition.[8]

2019–2020 season edit

Yan won his fourth national title at the 2020 Chinese Championships in September.[8] Despite rumors of his retirement, he was initially assigned to 2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, but withdrew before the event. Yan was assigned to the 2019 Cup of China, where, despite performing only triple jumps, he placed first in the short program, narrowly ahead of Jin Boyang.[9] After placing second in the free skate behind Jin, he won the silver medal. Speaking afterward, he thanked the Chinese Skating Association for giving him the chance to return to competition, and said that he was somewhat surprised to be competitive for a medal without quads.[10] Yan did not receive a second Grand Prix assignment, and thus could not contend for a 2019–20 Grand Prix Final berth.

Making his return to the Four Continents Championships in February 2020, Yan placed tenth.[11] Yan was required to self-quarantine for two weeks after returning to China, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, he was not named to the team for the 2020 World Championships, despite China having two men's spots.[8]

2020–2021 season edit

With the 2020–21 figure skating season having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, senior skaters were invited to a maximum of one Grand Prix event, based largely on geographic location. Yan was invited to the 2020 Cup of China, where he won the silver medal for the second consecutive year.[12]

Yan competed at the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm, placing thirteenth, while Jin Boyang placed twenty-second.[13] As a result, China qualified only one men's berth at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.[14]

2021–2022 season edit

For the 2021-22 Grand Prix Season, Yan was assigned to the 2021 Cup of China, which was later cancelled and replaced by the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia. Yan's name was initially in this entry list as well, but he later withdrew.


Age controversy edit

In February 2011, a group of Chinese skaters' ages became the subject of controversy as their birth dates published on the Chinese Skating Association's website did not match the ones listed on their bio pages in the ISU website.[15] The controversy prompted a search for more discrepancies among Chinese figure skaters' dates of births. According to news articles published in February 2011, although Yan's birthday was listed as March 6, 1996 on ISU's website, the Chinese website suggested that he was born on that day in 1994. Officials from the State General Administration of Sports held a press conference where they attributed the discrepancies to erroneous information provided by the Chinese website.[16][17][18][19]

Programs edit

 
Han at the 2013 Cup of China podium.
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2020–2021
[20]
2019–2020
[21]
2017–2018
[22]
2016–2017
[23]
2015–2016
[24][25]
  • Romeo + Juliet
    by Craig Armstrong, Des'ree
    choreo. by Lori Nichol
2014–2015
[26]

2013–2014
[27]
2012–2013
[28]
2011–2012
[29]
  • La Vie en rose
    by Louis Armstrong
    choreo. by Jiang Hailan
2010–2011
[30]
  • Zigeunerweisen
    by Pablo de Sarasate
    choreo. by Jiang Hailan
2009–2010
  • The Cotton Club
    by John Barry
    choreo. by Jiang Hailan

Competitive highlights edit

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[31]
Event 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 19–20 20–21 21–22
Olympics 7th 23rd
Worlds 7th 10th 26th WD 13th
Four Continents 3rd 3rd 3rd 10th 10th 10th
GP Final 6th
GP Cup of China 1st 6th 3rd 5th 5th 2nd 2nd C
GP Italy WD
GP France 4th 8th
GP Skate America 4th 5th
GP Skate Canada 10th
CS Nebelhorn WD
Asian Games 3rd
Asian Trophy 1st
Cup of Nice 1st
International: Junior[31]
Junior Worlds 6th 1st
Youth Olympics 1st
JGP Final 2nd 2nd
JGP Austria 1st 1st
JGP Croatia 2nd
JGP Czech Rep. 1st
JGP Italy 1st
JGP Slovenia 5th
JGP Turkey 1st
National[31]
Chinese NG 2nd 2nd
Chinese Champ. 1st 1st 3rd 2nd 4th 2nd 1st 1st
Team events
Olympics 7th T
4th P
6th T
7th P
World Team Trophy 5th T
9th P
5th T
3rd P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results edit

Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships. Personal bests highlighted in bold.

2013–14 to present edit

2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 22–28, 2021 2021 World Championships 12
81.52
14
153.79
13
235.31
November 6–8, 2020 2020 Cup of China 2
92.56
2
172.25
2
264.81
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 4–9, 2020
2020 Four Continents Championships 11
82.32
8
157.09
10
239.41
November 8–10, 2019 2019 Cup of China 1
86.46
2
162.99
2
249.45
September 14–16, 2019 2020 Chinese Championships 2
83.03
1
148.47
1
231.50
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 15–23, 2018 2018 Winter Olympics 19
80.63
23
132.38
23
213.01
February 9–12, 2018 2018 Winter Olympics (team event) 7
77.10
6T
January 22–28, 2018 2018 Four Continents Championships 5
84.74
12
143.19
10
227.93
December 23–24, 2017 2018 Chinese Championships 1
72.32
1
174.85
1
247.17
November 24–26, 2017 2017 Skate America 4
85.97
7
142.36
5
228.33
November 3–5, 2017 2017 Cup of China 6
82.22
4
172.39
5
254.61
October 24–28, 2017 2017 Cup of Nice 1
94.29
1
165.38
1
259.67
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 23–26, 2017 2017 Asian Winter Games 3
91.56
3
180.30
3
271.86
February 15–19, 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 6
84.08
10
151.37
10
235.45
November 18–20, 2016 2016 Cup of China 8
75.04
5
155.15
5
230.19
October 28–30, 2016 2016 Skate Canada International 6
72.86
11
136.25
10
209.11
2015–16 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 28 – April 3, 2016 2016 World Championship 26
62.56
DNQ 26
62.56
February 16–21, 2016 2016 Four Continents Championships 3
89.57
3
181.98
3
271.55
November 6–8, 2015 2015 Cup of China 6
73.97
3
156.36
3
230.33
October 23–25, 2015 2015 Skate America 2
86.53
5
149.50
4
236.03
2014–15 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 16–19, 2015 2015 ISU World Team Trophy 2
87.13
4
163.14
3
250.27
March 23–29, 2015 2015 World Championships 5
84.45
13
144.70
10
229.15
February 10–15, 2015 2015 Four Continents Championships 3
87.34
4
172.13
3
259.47
December 27–28, 2014 2015 Chinese Championships 2
75.14
2
153.05
2
228.19
November 21–23, 2014 2014 Trophée Éric Bompard 10
73.18
6
143.67
8
216.85
November 7–9, 2014 2014 Cup of China 3
79.21
7
127.44
6
206.65
2013–14 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 24–30, 2014 2014 World Championships 5
86.70
11
145.21
7
231.91
February 13–14, 2014 2014 Winter Olympics 8
85.66
7
160.54
7
246.20
December 28–29, 2013 2014 Chinese Championships 2
78.02
4
129.59
4
207.61
December 5–8, 2013 2013–14 Grand Prix Final 4
77.75
6
154.80
6
232.55
November 15–17, 2013 2013 Trophée Éric Bompard 4
84.34
6
129.89
4
214.23
November 1–3, 2013 2013 Cup of China 1
90.14
2
155.48
1
245.62

2009–10 to 2012–13 edit

 
Yan at the 2012 World Junior Championships
 
Yan at the 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final
2012–13 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
April 11–14, 2013 2013 ISU World Team Trophy Senior 10
64.54
9
143.27
9
207.81
February 8–11, 2012 2013 Four Continents Championships Senior 2
85.08
5
150.14
3
235.22
December 20–21, 2012 2013 Chinese Championships Senior 2
68.77
2
143.03
2
211.80
October 4–7, 2012 2012 Junior Grand Prix Croatia Junior 1
70.47
2
141.63
2
212.10
September 26–29, 2012 2012 Junior Grand Prix Slovenia Junior 2
65.66
5
115.03
5
180.69
2011–12 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
Feb. 27 – March 4, 2012 2012 World Junior Championships Junior 2
74.88
1
147.57
1
222.45
January 14–22, 2012 2012 Winter Youth Olympics Junior 1
59.65
1
132.80
1
192.45
January 4–6, 2012 12th Chinese National Winter Games Senior 2
77.15
1
154.30
2
231.45
December 7–12, 2011 2011 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 3
64.23
1
141.70
2
205.93
October 5–8, 2011 2011 Junior Grand Prix Italy Junior 1
72.07
1
147.30
1
219.37
Sept. 28 – October 1, 2011 2011 Junior Grand Prix Austria Junior 1
68.78
1
137.08
1
205.86
September 20–23, 2011 2012 Chinese Championships Senior 5
62.60
4
134.84
3
197.44
August 22–26, 2011 2011 Asian Trophy Senior 2
63.19
1
131.12
1
194.31
2010–11 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
Feb. 27 – March 6, 2011 2011 World Junior Championships Junior 8
60.89
5
126.60
6
187.49
December 23–24, 2010 2011 Chinese Championships Senior 1
71.27
1
134.74
1
206.01
December 8–12, 2010 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 3
67.29
3
118.76
2
186.05
October 13–16, 2010 2010 Junior Grand Prix Czech Republic Junior 1
66.19
1
127.43
1
193.62
September 15–18, 2010 2010 Junior Grand Prix Austria Junior 5
53.79
1
116.69
1
170.48
2009–10 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
October 14–17, 2009 2009 Junior Grand Prix Turkey Junior 3
61.21
1
121.33
1
182.54
September 3–5, 2009 2010 Chinese Championships Senior 1
64.78
1
129.90
1
194.68

References edit

  1. ^ Flade, Tatjana (July 31, 2011). "Han Yan looking to become China's next skating star". Golden Skate. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  2. ^ "Han YAN". Sochi2014.com. Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  3. ^ "Hanyu places second in Cup of China despite bloody collision during warm-ups". The Japan Times. Kyodo News, Associated Press. November 8, 2014.
  4. ^ "Yuzuru Hanyu suffers nasty collision, still wins silver at Cup of China". CBC Sports. Associated Press. November 8, 2014.
  5. ^ Zaccardi, Nick (November 8, 2014). "Yuzuru Hanyu finishes second at Cup of China after bloody warm-up collision". NBC Sports.
  6. ^ "ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2015/16- Men" (PDF). International Skating Union. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 11, 2015.
  7. ^ "Injury". sina.com.cn. March 22, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d Flade, Tatjana (February 13, 2020). "Han Yan Finds a Silver Lining". International Figure Skating.
  9. ^ Slater, Paula (November 8, 2019). "Han Yan leads men at Cup of China after two-year hiatus". Golden Skate.
  10. ^ Slater, Paula (November 9, 2019). "Boyang Jin wins first Grand Prix gold on home ice". Golden Skate.
  11. ^ Slater, Paula (February 9, 2020). "Hanyu bags first Four Continents gold". Golden Skate.
  12. ^ Slater, Paula (November 7, 2020). "Boyang Jin defends Cup of China title". Golden Skate.
  13. ^ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 Results – Men". International Skating Union.
  14. ^ "Communication No. 2388". International Skating Union. April 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "China faces more age issues on figure skaters". ESPN.com. 2011-02-14. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  16. ^ "曝花滑再有三人涉嫌年龄作假 冰协资料07年已错-搜狐体育". sports.sohu.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  17. ^ "闫涵等花滑小将也陷"年龄门" 黑名单再添三人-搜狐体育". sports.sohu.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  18. ^ "花滑年龄造假事件再添3名队员 被指是政府行为". news.qq.com. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  19. ^ "花滑年龄门祸起外国冰迷论坛 网友争论发现疑点". sports.163.com. 18 February 2011. Retrieved 2018-08-03.
  20. ^ "Han YAN: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ "Han YAN: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ^ "Han YAN: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  23. ^ "Han YAN: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  24. ^ Xiong, Wei (July 24, 2015). "Han Yan aims to make history for China". Golden Skate.
  25. ^ "Han YAN: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ "Han YAN: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ "Han YAN: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 3, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  28. ^ "Han YAN: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 23, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  29. ^ "Han YAN: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  30. ^ "Han YAN: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  31. ^ a b c "Competition Results: Han YAN". International Skating Union.

External links edit

  Media related to Yan Han at Wikimedia Commons