Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates have ended their partnership

[Sylvia]

There are no direct quotes, but Jo-Ann Barnas mentions the news in this Detroit Free Press article:

There's also the news of another acclaimed team that has split: Emily Samuelson and Evan Bates.

Samuelson and Bates, two-time U.S. medalists and 2010 Olympians who have competed together since 2001, ended their partnership several weeks ago, their coaches said. They didn't compete last season because of Bates' severe Achilles' tendon injury; each is looking for new partners.

I expect the official USFS press release will be published soon.

[Spiralgraph]

Oh I thought this one was a rumor...

What the heck is happening with dance and pairs in the USA?

[Mevrouw]

And Canada and France

[sk9tingfan]

Heard this one was coming down the pike and was really sad about it. Spoke to Evan's Mom at Nationals in January, who at that time was psyched for their return this coming season. Oh well....

[beepbeep]

This off season is mental... and it's not even July yet.

[lmarie086]

WHAT.

I won't lie and say that S/B were my favorites, but I was really looking forward to having them grow on me. They were an amazing team and I thought An American in Paris would've been pefect for them. This is so sad.

I'd like this off season to be over now. I can't take much more of it.

[ProgramerUSFS]

Wow, I really loved them. Thats to bad. Good luck to both.

[BigB08822]

So basically I could pick up ice dancing or pairs this year and probably make at least alternate for the World team?

[reese]

Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Emily Samuelson, Vanessa Crone, Paul Poirier, Keiffer Hubbell... mix and match!

[Coco]

I don't understand why they are breaking up if they are looking for other partners. I figured their breakup could be attributed to not wanting to slide down below the Shibs. But with new partners, they'll be below the Shibs...forever. What's going on?

[MikiAndoFan#1]

[just wondering]

I don't understand why they are breaking up if they are looking for other partners. I figured their breakup could be attributed to not wanting to slide down below the Shibs. But with new partners, they'll be below the Shibs...forever. What's going on?

I suspect Evan has already located his partner in his own backyard - Madison Chock. My heart goes out to Emily, who sat out last season preparing for their comeback. If only she had known to look for a partner then . . .

[sk9tingfan]

http://www.universalsports.com/news-...id=537619.html


Just a reiteration of Jo-Ann Barnas' article. Guess we'll have to wait until around 11 AM EST to get the official rendition from USFSA

[genevieve]

[reese]

With all the major splits this off-season-- Dube/Davison, Yankowskas/Coughlin, Crone/Poirier, Samuelson/Bates-- it seems that personal reasons (e.g. I can't stand you anymore!) are the driving force. Otherwise, it's hard to understand trading in Yankowskas for Denney or Samuelson for Chock. If one partner is retiring that's a different situation, but that doesn't seem to be the case with any of these 4 teams.

[LilJen]

whatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhatwhat??????

This is officially the weirdest off-season ever.

I wonder if he was all, "I'm NEVER skating again with an Achilles tendon slicer!!!"

[Vash01]

Another shocking end of a successful partnership.

[Fergus]

Ya know, this off-season is turning into a major bummer.

[Skittl1321]

I'm sad to hear this rumor is true.

Wonder if we will find out the details of the split...I do feel bad for Emily waiting out a season, but if splitting was her or an equal idea, then not as much.

[SamuraiK]

Its really a shame that despite the Shibs all the up and comer teams with bright futures have split.