66 Japanese Olympic and Paralympic medalists were honored by their country’s leader on Friday.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe thanked the athletes for giving the nation courage.

Sochi Olympic figure skating gold-medalist Yuzuru Hanyu said he would aim for an even better record.

Figure skater Mao Asada, who failed to win a medal at the Olympics, also attended the ceremony.

Asada recently thrilled Japan by claiming a world record score for the ladies’ short program.

The medalists all received a silver photo frame from Prime Minister Abe.
[caption id="attachment_2162" align="aligncenter" width="691"] Olympic medalists meet Abe[/caption]