Olympic gold medalist Hanyu to receive prestigious award

FILE – In this Feb. 17, 2018, file photo, Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu celebrates after winning the gold medal in the men’s free figure skating final in the Gangneung Ice Arena at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea. Two-time figure skating gold medalist Hanyu will receive the People’s Honor Award, the Japanese government announced on Friday, June 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

TOKYO — Two-time figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu will receive the People’s Honor Award, the Japanese government announced on Friday.

Established in 1977, the national award has been given to 25 individuals and one group for their achievements in sports, entertainment and culture.

Other Olympic gold medalists to have received the prestigious award are judoka Yasuhiro Yamashita, wrestlers Saori Yoshida and Kaori Icho and marathon runner Naoko Takahashi.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the presentation ceremony will be held on July 2 in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s office.

The 23-year-old Hanyu will be the youngest individual to receive the award.

Hanyu became the first male figure skater in more than six decades to win consecutive Olympic gold medals when he took gold at the Pyeongchang Olympics in February.