Photo/Illutration Yuzuru Hanyu shouts “Thank you” to cheering spectators in the stands during the figure skating Exhibition Gala at the Beijing Olympics on Feb. 20. (Nobuhiro Shirai)

BEIJING--Yuzuru Hanyu took the ice one last time here on Feb. 20 with no medal on the line this time in the Exhibition Gala, which allows skaters to put on a show for their fans. 

Afterward, it was an upbeat Hanyu, 27, who gave no indication if this would be his final Olympics or competition. His fourth-place finish on Feb. 10 left him off the podium at the Beijing Olympics. 

“For this Games, I did my best for both the short and free programs, including the quadruple axel,” he told reporters.

“Today, I think I could express all the feelings, all the happiness and the various things about my skating life,” he said with a smile.

Hanyu said about his future, “It doesn’t matter what field it will be. It could be an ice show or a competition. I will think about many things and continue to show a performance that makes people like the skating of Yuzuru Hanyu.”

Asked if he will compete in the world championships in Montpellier, France, in March, he said he “will make a comprehensive decision after thinking about many things.”

One of those things will certainly be Hanyu's physical condition. 

He sprained his right ankle during a practice session the day before the free program.

Hanyu has taken medicine for the pain and made an adjustment since then.

“I want to rest my ankle and let it heal properly,” he said. “I have certainly made moves to protect (the injured area) and that has led to a body imbalance, and I feel pain in many parts.”

Hanyu, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was aiming for a record-tying third gold medal in the men's figure skating competition.

But he failed to keep pace with gold medalist Nathan Chen of the United States.

All the hype leading up to the Olympics was whether Hanyu would be the first to land the elusive quadruple axel. He attempted the jump in his long program and fell.

Later, however, he was recognized to have jumped a quadruple axel for the first time in a competition accredited by the International Skating Union.

Hanyu's fall and a mistake on his opening jump in the short program left the door open for other Japanese skaters to shine.  

Yuma Kagiyama and Shoma Uno outskated him and won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Both told reporters that they won't rest on their laurels.

“I need to grow more," said Kagiyama, 18. "I will compete without forgetting that I am a challenger.”

Uno, 24, said, “I think this is the start for me.”

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