International Skating Union

vmfan89 · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 409 Location: Canada

I thought we could start a thread about retirements since many skaters will be making official annoucements in the coming weeks.

Here are the first, Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski have retired.

http://www.iceskatingintnl.com/archive/results_2010Worlds/2010Worlds.htm

lambielfan26 · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 3492

I am not surprised to hear that. Sorry to hear about his health problems and how they have affected his family too. Still they were going to be passed over by I/K and B/S next year I am pretty sure so smart to exit now.

Skater boy · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 2245 Location: Heaven

Wow, another Russian team struck down to the knees. However, it was my understanding Domina and Shalabin had left the door open to return after a year. Somehow I think Domina would be best to look for a new partner.

I wonder what is going through Kostner, Sebestyn, McCorkell, Van der Perrin, Joubert, Ando, Rochette, Kim, Asada. Lycacek, Weir and Takahashi`s minds. These are all skaters who for different reasons could be thinking about retirement. It`s a long four years till Sochi and anything can happen. It is kind of sad to see Domshabs, K and N and some of those `bronze medal`types left whimpering out. I fear that could happen to Lepisto - unless she really gets some bigger jumps she could easily be out of the top 10 or even fighting to qualify. WE have seen that with some of the former bronze medallist men, dance remember the Israel team or the Ukranians.

lambielfan26 · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 3492

The judges love Lepisto. She isnt suddenly going to be fighting to qualify or even out of the top 10 anytime soon. In a poorly skated event she apparently doesnt even need triples to medal, so if she does the triples she has planned in her limited arsenal she will post extremely high scores.

Anyway these are the skaters I think will retire and stay:

Pairs:

Savchenko & Szowkoly- they will stay to 2014 as they plan I predict. They really want that Oly Gold.

Pang & Tong- I think the Chinese fed. will force them to stay until Wenjing
& Cong are ready to be a #1 Chinese team. Even if that happens before 2014 by then they will have stayed in that long they will want to go for Sochi and try for the Oly Gold as well so I see them staying.

Kavaguti & Smirnov- they will stay for now. If the new pair of Volosozhar & Trankov take over as the #1 Russian team they might not stay that long though. It depends what their goals are and her health.

Zhangs- I see them stubbornly staying in for a bit but still never getting on another big podium. They will get the hint and retire sometime before 2014.

Dube & Davison- I see them staying in for now but not making it to 2014 either.

Volosozhar & Trankov- I think they will take over as the new Russian #1 team and will be one of the favorites to win in 2014.

Langlois & Hay- I think they will stay in for now but wont make it to 2014.

Denney & Barret- they will be there in 2014 I think. They have a chance to become a top pair just due to their consistency and I figure their presentation will improve eventually.

Evora & Ladwig- I see them staying for now but not making it to 2014.

McLaughlin & Brubaker- I have always liked them but worry about them some now. I think they will push it out longer, whether they make it to 2014 depends if things improve for them.

Men:

Staying-

Takahashi- I see him staying for now. Might or might not make it to 2014.

Chan- I see him staying in for 2014.

Abbott- I see him staying another couple years but not for 2014.

Rippon- Staying in for 2014 for sure.

Brezina- another for sure.

Oda- I see him staying for now, but not sure I see him making it to 2014.
Will probably drop down in the pecking order in Japan. I have a feeling he will never get a world medal at this point.

Kozuka- I see him staying in for 2014. Will pass Oda in Japan IMO.

Verner- staying for now but dont see him lasting to 2014 at all. The Czech federation have probably already demoted him to #2 so his chances of the elusive world medal are bleak now.

Joubert- I see him staying for now but I think his best days are behind him. Will stay another year or two, his PCS will finally plumet much to fans rejoice and he will take the hint and move on.

Leaving-

Lysacek- I dont think we will see him back.

Weir- I would be even more surprised if we ever see him back.

Plushenko- he is done IMO.

Lambiel- done as an amateur, back to show skating life.

Dance:

Virtue & Moir- I think they will stay for now, not sure if they will stay in for 2014 or not. Actually not sure what they will do even now.

Davis & White- I think they will stay for 2014.

Faiella & Scali- will stay in for now. Wont make it to 2014 though.

Pechalat & Bourzat- will stay for a couple years to experience being the French #1 but if they dont get a world medal will be gone after 2012.

Crone & Poirier- of course staying for 2014.

Kerr & Kerr- staying for now. Probably wont stay for 2014 unless they get a world medal soon though.

Samuelson & Bates- staying for 2014 I think.

Bobrova & Soloviev- defintiely staying for 2014.

Zaretskis- dont really know or care.

Oh yeah all the teams who werent at Worlds or WD are done IMO.

Ladies:

Kim- will stay for now. Will probably decide on 2010 around 2012.

Asada- will stay for 2014. She seems an ultra hungry competitor.

Nagasu- staying for 2014 for sure.

Rochette- might stay 1 or 2 more years, definitely wont stay for 2014.

Phaneuf- I have a feeling she will end up staying for 2014.

Lepisto- will stay for 2014.

Leonova- will stay for now, and if she slides down the pecking order in Russia with all these junior phenoms becoming age eligible will retire/turn pro before 2014.

Makarova- same as Leonova I think.

Flatt- I predict she goes to college full time before too long, maybe even before next season. Wont make it to 2014.

Wagner- will stay in to try for 2014.

Zhang- will retire after next season when she makes no ground back up.

Kostner- will stay for a couple more years then make decision on 2014.

Ando- will stay for now, wont make it to 2014 though.

Suzuki- will stay for now, probably wont make it to 2014 either.

Suguri- will be forced to retire before the next season even starts due to lack of finances.

netartemisa · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 144 Location: Albacete (SPAIN)

I don't know too much about other skaters but Joubert is staying for sure; at least that's what he said at the press conference after SP and the interview after LP with Fusar-Poli (that woman is scary, by the way Confused

)

Apparently K/N have been left aside by the Russian Federation, since her coach didn't get an acreditation for Vancouver which went instead to Plushenko's wife, right?
_________________
Puedo pensar sin que sepan que pienso y mucho menos qué pienso // I can think while nobody knows I'm thinking or what I'm thinking.

tennisfan · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 807

I'm not sure about the Kerrs - they changed their original dance to one from a couple seasons ago that reflected their Scottish heritage and Tracy Wilson said something to the effect that made me think this would be it for them - could be overinterpreting things though.

let`s talk · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 65

netartemisa · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 144 Location: Albacete (SPAIN)

let`s talk · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 65

netartemisa · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 144 Location: Albacete (SPAIN)

They have two coaches, he was there, she wasn't, and she was supposed to be there too, that's what I meant.

One thing is to have enough money to be in Vancouver at a beautiful hotel or whatever, and another to have an accreditation, which I think gives you access to more places. Still, of course, I have no proof whatsoever of this, but this men who explained it is a very reliable person, talking about FS.
_________________
Puedo pensar sin que sepan que pienso y mucho menos qué pienso // I can think while nobody knows I'm thinking or what I'm thinking.

wonderskates · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 571

It will be interesting to see who stays in dance because it's obvious that the gap between V/M and D/W and the rest is soooooooooooo huge. Some of the couples have already hit their 30ies.

Winnipeg · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 1247

Back to retirements..........

In an interview, Chan said he would be staying for next year but would take each year to 2014 as it comes.

SAme with V and M and D and D.

I wonder about Flatt. She is a very consistent skater which I admire but she looked so bored and lethargic during her SP and LP programs I wonder if she is enjoying it. I've heard she is quite intelligent and is going to Stanford in the fall - she may want to concentrate on school?

I wonder if Leung and Samson will keep going.

Skater boy · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 2245 Location: Heaven

Must be Canadian if one is asking about Samson and Leung because they don't come up on the radar really.

I assume Samson will try again thanking back in her mind that Phaneuf placed in the top ten earning two spots or else the focus might have been Samson cost Canada two spots.

I think Leung would need an epihpany or two to continue on. She must be dejected; so promising at one point.

I think she needs to find out who she is. She supposedly is very musical and feels the music when playing the piano with good work ethic (Imagine top level skating, school and I think she has her ARCT but certainly top level piano playing).

sackie · Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 733

Wonder why Leung has never skated to a piece of her own playing. She might be able to really get into it if it was her own music.
But unless she comes back re-invented next year she will not be going anywhere outside Canada.

Skater boy · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 2245 Location: Heaven

I thought the same sackie. If she can put the same emotion into her skating - she really should be able to feel the music so to speak.

Eladola · Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 612

Culturegeek · Joined: 11 Mar 2009 Posts: 486 Location: Canada

I think he might just be referring to the SP. He's skated to the same music two years in a row now, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's ready to tackle something new.

tennisfan · Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 807

akiodafan · Joined: 17 Feb 2010 Posts: 8

[quote="lambielfan26"]Suguri- will be forced to retire before the next season even starts due to lack of finances.[/quote]

She found a sponser. She said that she wants to continue till 2014.

Skater boy · Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 2245 Location: Heaven

Great news about Suguri but not to rain on her parade - people say a lot of things. I am not sure if we will see Suguri in 2014. Unless the Japanese ladies collapse she might find herself constructively retired. She was 7th I believe this year in Japan but she must love competing or has no thing else in her life. Skating competitively is hard on the body and her int`l ranking is falling so opportunities might be fewer though it helps Nakano has retired.