Yankowskas and Coughlin Announce End of Partnership

[reese]

The US's strongest pair at this point is E&L, and they're not exactly consistent.

And there have been some pretty consistent rumors that E&L will both be retiring in this off-season...

[Skittl1321]

^ I'm unclear. Is John retiring or is he switching partners???


ETA - so I assume that many here believe that Caitlin is a superior lady pairs skater to Jessica Dube??

I think everyone is unclear. But "considering his options" seems like code for "I have another partner, but don't want to sound ungracious to Caitlin". If he knows he's retiring, retire. She is said to be "looking" for another partner. It seems like if he was looking, he would say so too- but if he has already found one and doesn't want to be engulfed in phone calls from pairs skaters and their coaches, he won't say that he is "looking".


As for Dube, I don't know what other people think, but I don't think the comparison is relevant. She dumped Bryce, so he's free (assuming he is well to skate). No one is suggesting taking Bryce from Jessica to have him skate with Caitlin.

And there have been some pretty consistent rumors that E&L will both be retiring in this off-season...

That would make me sad, but it would not be surprising. It seems they are both in the stages of their life where they can move onto other things.

[manleywoman]

Well, IMO, Caitlin is a stronger partner. She's a pretty strong partner period. Still young, great lines, graceful, consistent, etc.

[Sylvia]

From the USFS press release:

Yankowskas will search for a new partner, while Coughlin will evaluate his options before making future plans. He plans to stay involved in skating.

For what it's worth, I recall reading or hearing that Coughlin had not committed to competing past this season, and so I am not going to assume that the split is directly tied into the possibility of Coughlin skating with anyone else, including Denney.

I respect both Caitlin and John for the wonderful success and improvements in their skating that they were able to achieve together this season and wish them both the very best in the future.

ETA: Coughlin's most recent tweet was on 4/27 before Y/C's Worlds FS:

Preparing to say farewell to the free skate that helped me thru so much. <3 to Marina [Zueva], Dalilah, Kathy [Johnson], and Caits for making it possible.

[olympic]

Where did you get that impression from?

Has Dube even been mentioned in this thread?

I dunno. Thought I read that somewhere here

[Cheylana]

And there have been some pretty consistent rumors that E&L will both be retiring in this off-season...

That would be a shame, especially since, with all the retirements/breakups, they have a reasonably clear path to the 2012 US title. Maybe stay in one more year and go out with a bang...?

[BittyBug]

This is insane, but it explains his quote in this IN article on Worlds:

"The long today was everything we were hoping it would be, kind of a farewell to this very emotional piece and a farewell to this chapter for us," Coughlin said.

I hope Caitlin finds a new partner soon.

[blue_idealist]

I can't remember.. did Dobbs' old partner Jakobssen officially retire?

[Allskate]

Ugh!

I'm glad she intends to look for a partner, though. She's too talented to end her career now.

[Taso]

Well I hope she finds a new partner successfully, she's easily the best lady American pairs skater I can think of in...thinking....thinking...

It's been a while

[Lanie]

I'm assuming he's retiring. A shame because it seems US pairs just don't stick together, even after success. Y&C were lovely.

[flowerpower]

I assume this would be a US pair, but Canucks would probably throw their yarn at him when they skate internationally...

Now, now, don't go jumping to any conclusions about Canadians!

If Bryce can regain his health, and find a good partner (which Caitlin certainly would be), then more power to him, regardless of which country he ends up skating for. It would certainly make more sense for them to skate for the US. Pairs is a tough discipline, finding a good match is even harder, and I wish them all the best if they can make it work.

We don't even all knit.

[Smiley0884]

Well I hope she finds a new partner successfully, she's easily the best lady American pairs skater I can think of in...thinking....thinking...

It's been a while

I'm gonna go with 3-axel landing rockstar Rena Inoue

I love Caitlin though, and I think her skating is gorgeous. I really hope she can find someone suitable to skate with.

[LilJen]

Has Drew Meekins retired officially? Is he too slight in build for Caitlin? They'd bring the pretty, that's for sure. (although he'd have to up his jump dependability.)

[icestar1123]

longtime stalker, first time poster

so sad to hear that they broke up...hopefully she can find a partner that can match her amazing skills...she is hands down one of the best pairs ladies that i've seen come out of the US in such a long time.

best of luck to both of them

[Yukari Lepisto]

I think caitlin's gonna pair up with drew meekin...

[olympic]

I can't remember.. did Dobbs' old partner Jakobssen officially retire?

Oh yeah. Forgot about him. Is he still in the game??

[stjeaskategym]

And there have been some pretty consistent rumors that E&L will both be retiring in this off-season...

Yeah, they might want to rethink that considering if you are alive and breathing, you may be in contention for the National title next season. I know they are quite a bit older than the others and probably want to retire sooner than later, but age is just a number. Then again, if a team like Denney/Coughlin really does get off the ground, the US pairs field would be slightly less barren.

I think caitlin's gonna pair up with drew meekin...

That would be surprising.

[maureenfarone]

Oh crap! That is all.

[Debbie S]

Yeah, they might want to rethink that considering if you are alive and breathing, you may be in contention for the National title next season. I know they are quite a bit older than the others and probably want to retire sooner than later, but age is just a number. Then again, if a team like Denney/Coughlin really does get off the ground, the US pairs field would be slightly less barren.

E/L will be the favorites on paper, and I'd love to see them win, but I suspect either Marley/Brubaker or Castelli/Shnapir will win - assuming they all land their SBS jumps, M/B and C/S seem to have the momentum and I imagine TPTB see them as the teams of the future (assuming they don't split over the summer ).