Double Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu will miss the Japan Figure Skating Championships for a third straight year and the second straight time due to a right ankle injury.
“I was doing everything I could to make the national championships, so I’m very disappointed that I cannot participate,” Hanyu said in a statement, according to Japanese media. “I will make an effort to return to competition as soon as the pain and limitations are gone.”
Hanyu was still named to Olympic and world championships teams the last two years despite missing nationals, which are held the week leading up to Christmas.