Javier Fernandez talks legacy, skating's future and quintuples

There is something of a hole in men's figure skating at present with double Olympic champion Hanyu Yuzuru retiring and Beijing 2022 gold medallist Nathan Chen opting to take the year out to concentrate on his studies.

Two-time Olympic singles medallist Uno Shoma has been the one to take advantage, winning his first world title last March and then adding a maiden Grand Prix Final success in December.

But Ilia Malinin has attracted plenty of headlines this season, becoming the first and only man to land a quadruple Axel (four and a half turns) in competition.

Spain's two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Javier Fernandez was one of the sport's biggest stars up to his retirement in January 2019 after winning a seventh consecutive European title.

A training partner of Hanyu under Brian Orser, 'Super Javi' sparked something of a figure skating revolution in his homeland and continues to be a popular draw in galas around the world.

At December's Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) gala, Fernandez spoke to Olympics.com about a variety of subjects including his legacy in the sport, the future of figure skating, whether anyone can land a quintuple jump, and the prospects of Malinin and Mexican favourite Donovan Carrillo.

Javier Fernandez on the present and future figure skating

Fernandez and Hanyu, as well as the likes of Patrick Chan and the late Denis Ten, competed against each other at the highest level for years.

And the Spaniard knows how hard it is for today's skaters to follow suit.

He said, "I think that right now it's very complicated to leave a legacy like Yuzuru [Hanyu], Nathan [Chen], or myself did, because we were competing for many years and we were very constant.

"It’s true that Shoma is still there, but the new generation has to do the same. People and fans are getting to know them and follow them. I think it’s very important for them to be constant, and to maintain on the top level competition after competition. I think it’s complicated but not impossible."

So who does he think will be challenging for top honours at March's World Championships in Saitama?

"Of course, the Japanese are always very strong: Uno, Kagiyama Yuma… then we also have the American skater, the quadruple Axel kid [Ilia Malinin].

"I know he will complicate things for Shoma who is one of the favourites. So we’ll have to wait and see. It’s going to be a very interesting competition, because after all the big ones left, who knows what will happen and who will make the podium."

Javier Fernandez on Ilia Malinin and quintuple jumps

Fernandez is full of admiration for Malinin, but believes there is plenty of room for progress.

He beamed, "Ilia's quadruple Axel is just awesome. I see it and think it’s wonderful. Also, he as an athlete is wonderful as well.

"He still needs to grow up and keep improving, especially his skating level. Of course, he already dominates the jumps. The most important thing he has to do now, is to settle his mind to be on the top for a long time."

With Malinin achieving four-and-a-half rotations, the first quintuple jump almost seems within reach.

And Fernandez believes it is something figure skating will see within the next decade.

"I’m sure that it will be possible that a skater does a quintuple jump in a few years. Even Ilia Malinin or any other. But of course, I think it will happen," he said.

"Years ago, the quadruple didn’t exist. The sport is in a constant evolution, techniques keep evolving, the materials we use in competitions and training are getting better. So, I definitely think it will be possible."

Javier Fernandez on Donovan Carrillo: "It's like a litte revolution"

Like Fernandez, Mexico's Donovan Carrillo is a skater trying to make it big in a country without a figure skating heritage.

The 23-year-old made his Olympic Winter Games debut at Beijing 2022 and qualified for the free skate, eventually finishing in 22nd place.

Carrillo has spoken of being inspired by Fernandez, and the PyeongChang 2018 bronze medallist sees elements of his journey in the younger man.

"I see Donovan Carrillo as a guy, a skater with a lot of charm. People will love him as an athlete because of how charismatic he is. It’s very difficult to say how his skating career will turn out. He is in the middle of a lot of learning, he needs to keep improving and learning every day. But the most important thing he has is his charm and the way he skates and fights for Mexico.

"He wants to have a spot in the international competition, he is opening that space in his country and making figure skating more popular. More people are getting to know the sport. It’s kind of similar to what happened here in Spain: people know the sport and now we have more ice skating rinks. It’s a little revolution."

What is Javier Fernandez doing now?

Fernandez is very much in demand on the skating exhibition circuit, and shared the ice with Hanyu for the first time in over three years at the Fantasy on Ice tour in Japan last May.

He said, "I honestly have a lot of projects. I’m doing different things every year. I’m doing more and more skating classes in seminars, summer camps… I travel a lot with my academy, even though I don’t have a physical one in Spain, but I still travel.

"They call me from many places: lately I’ve been working a lot in Mexico, in Italy… I keep doing my exhibitions and galas. In the end, there are many things connected with figure skating. As a freelance now, it’s all part of my daily life and I want to continue like this."

While his biggest career accolades were his two world titles, in 2015 and 2016, it was only when he won Olympic bronze at PyeongChang 2018 that he felt he had achieved his goals in figure skating.

Fernandez recalled, "What I remember most is the feeling I had after knowing that I won the medal. I knew it was my last chance.

"At the last Olympics, in Sochi, I finished fourth. I almost got it. So, after winning it in PyeongChang, I had a feeling of relief, like, 'Finally I made it.' I was very very happy to finally get this Olympic medal I always wanted.