He raised the bar for the Beijing Games, challenging himself to complete the quad axel in a bid to claim a third straight singles crown. But it wasn't to be.

"It was a hard time for me on the ice. If I wasn't doing the quad axel, I could have done a better combo. But that was my target. It felt more complete to attempt it. That's why I did it," Hanyu said.

"As for whether I will continue to attempt the quad axel, I think I need more time to consider. This time I have tried my best."

Hanyu's bravery earned the respect of his younger rivals.

"Only Hanyu could complete the quad axel and he's always been at the top for years," said bronze medalist Uno. "He pushed the limits of himself, which I cannot imitate. I don't think I can do what he does. He carries everyone's hopes and pressure on his shoulders."

China's Jin Boyang, who finished ninth, also expressed admiration.

"It's incredible that he took on the challenge of the quad axel at the age of 27 at his third Olympics. It shows his hunger to keep striving for better performances, which is what the spirit of sports and the Olympics is all about. We can all learn from it," Jin said.

Chen, who atoned for his fifth-place finish in Pyeongchang, simply said: "In my opinion, he's the greatest skater ever."