BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, a two-time Olympic champion, won the International Skating Union (ISU) Award for Most Valuable Skater of the season on Sunday.

The ISU Skating Awards, which were originally scheduled on the last day of the Montreal worlds in March, was held through a digital show on the ISU official website with the Montreal worlds cancelled.

In the "Most Valuable Skater" category for the 2019-20 season, Hanyu was up against two-time world champion Nathan Chen of United States and French ice dance duo of Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. The two-time Olympic champion is one of the most decorated skaters in the history of the sport and has now added another prize to his impressive collection.

"In almost every moment of daily life, I'm constantly thinking of Figure Skating and I'm always hoping to become better and stronger. I spend every day trying to become better at something that I couldn't do the day before," Hanyu said.

Russian figure skater Alena Kostornaia, the current European women's champion, won the Best Newcomer of the season. She also won the Grand Prix Final last season.

The other nominees for the award were Russia's Alexandra Trusova and South Korea's You Young.

Russia's Eteri Tutberidze, who coaches Kostornaia, was named the Best Coach of the season.

Papadakis/Cizeron won the Most Entertaining Program; American ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates won the Best Costume, while Shae-Lynn Bourne of Canada was crowned Best Choreographer. Four-time world champion and Canadian skating legend Kurt Browning received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The online ceremony was presented by Olympic ice dance champion Charlie White and Olympic ice dance silver medalist Tanith White.

The six former figure skating champions, including China's Chen Lu, composed the Jury that had the final say and voted for the winner. Enditem

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