Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu pushed back his season debut, pulling out of the Finlandia Trophy in two weeks due to a reported back injury.
Hanyu, 19, became the first Japanese men’s figure skater to win Olympic gold in Sochi. He won his first World Championship one month later, in Saitama, Japan.
“I was competing this event every year, and I always take this opportunity very important as the first official event of the season,” Hanyu said in a statement posted on the event’s Facebook page. “However, consider the long season, I regretfully decided not to take risks and decline my participation.”
Hanyu is still scheduled to compete in two Grand Prix season events -- Cup of China an NHK Trophy -- both in November.