Retirements in 2012

[olympic]

Who is retiring at the end of this season?

KVDP

Anyone else?

Joubert? Suzuki? Any of the top Chinese Pairs?

[judgejudy27]

Joubert has already announced he is staying in. I was surprised but it seems set.

Suzuki has talked about Sochi so I dont think she is leaving either.

I would imagine if the Zhangs retire it is due to health problems, and being inability to lift and support her bigger body now after some injuries.

[IceIceBaby]

There is no point of retiring if you come from a country that has a shot for Olympic Team Event medal (Joubert, Suzuki, the Chinese).

[Zemgirl]

There is no point of retiring if you come from a country that has a shot for Olympic Team Event medal (Joubert, Suzuki, the Chinese).

France is an outside shot, so I doubt that's Joubert's rationale for staying. And unless Mervin Tran becomes a Japanese citizen, Japan probably has no chance.

I don't think we'll be seeing too many retirements in the middle of an Olympic cycle. Splits seem more likely. Is Lubov Iliushechkina retiring? The announcement re the end of that partnership made it seem like she wouldn't continue.

[love_skate2011]

> the aging 30+ year olds Pang/Tong
>the injury stricken Zhangs
>Ksenia Makarova ???

[Finnice]

Laura Lepistö

[skatak]

Yuko Kawaguti said in Nice they will stay until Sotchi.

[PashaFan]

I hope Makarova gives it another season. She needs to get stronger.
I still enjoy watching the Zhang's. So I hope they stay.
Sad for Lepisto. I thought she might come back.
Brian Joubert still has some really bad memories of Vancouver two years ago.
I think he just wants a good Olympics before he retires

[shah]

so far only Laura L. () and KVDP. phew!

but it makes me really fear the immediate post-olympic period. the list of retirements will be extremely long ...

[Fashionista]

Is Lubov Iliushechkina retiring? The announcement re the end of that partnership made it seem like she wouldn't continue.

She is skating with Yannick Cocon (sp?) in France now.

[Proustable]

I hope Makarova gives it another season. She needs to get stronger.
I still enjoy watching the Zhang's. So I hope they stay.
Sad for Lepisto. I thought she might come back.
Brian Joubert still has some really bad memories of Vancouver two years ago.
I think he just wants a good Olympics before he retires

re: Joubert. Pretty much

[Sylvia]

She is skating with Yannick Cocon (sp?) in France now.

Yannick Kocon (who used to skate with Nicole Della Monica for Italy)? Do you know if they are hoping to compete or perform in shows?

Who is retiring at the end of this season?
...
Any of the top Chinese Pairs?

Pang/Tong were quoted after their FS at Worlds that they are planning to continue competing.

[sequins]

but it makes me really fear the immediate post-olympic period. the list of retirements will be extremely long ...

Agreed, it makes me weep just to think about it. I think it's gonna be a long list and a big blow. We got off easy after Vancouver, not so much after Sochi I'm afraid.

[judgejudy27]

Agreed, it makes me weep just to think about it. I think it's gonna be a long list and a big blow. We got off easy after Vancouver, not so much after Sochi I'm afraid.

Post Sochi retirements (if not a few before) probably:

Men- Chan, Takahashi, Oda, Abbott, Lysacek (if he comes back), Joubert, possibly Kozuka, Reynolds, Verner, Plushenko

Ladies- Asada, Ando and Kim (if they havent already), Suzuki, Kostner, Flatt and Nagasu (if they havent already), possibly Zhang and/or Wagner, Phaneuf, Rochette (if she comes back), Czisny (if she hasnt already), Leonova, Korpi

Pairs- Zhangs and Pang & Tong (if one or both havent already), Savchenko & Szolkowy, maybe Volosozhar & Trankov (only possible if they win Sochi gold probably), Kavaguti & Smirnov, Evora & Ladwig, some of the Canadian pairs

Dance- Virtue & Moir, Davis & White, Pechalat & Bourzat, maybe Bobrova & Soloviev if they find themselves dropping, Capellini & Lanotte.

The dance should actually be in the best shape post 2014. Overall it will be an army of retirements though.

[Moka-Ananas]

She is skating with Yannick Cocon (sp?) in France now.

Really? How do you know? Sources?

[blue_idealist]

I had no idea Iliuschechkina and Maisuradze had even broken up! A few weeks ago I was thinking about how it would be almost impossible for them to make the Sochi team for Russia, what with V/T, K/S, and B/L, not to mention Stolbova/Klimov, Gerboldt/Enbert, and that other good pair.. I forget their name lol.. who could potentially be ahead of them at Russian Nats in the coming years.

[aka_gerbil]

Agreed, it makes me weep just to think about it. I think it's gonna be a long list and a big blow. We got off easy after Vancouver, not so much after Sochi I'm afraid.

Of my personal favs, I only lost Belbin/Agosto and Castile/Okolski after Vancouver. 2014 is going to kill me though--V/M, P/B, S/S, Joubert, Kostner... *weeps*

[Fashionista]

Yannick Kocon (who used to skate with Nicole Della Monica for Italy)? Do you know if they are hoping to compete or perform in shows?

Yes, that Kocon.
I guess to compete. For shows she could easily find a partner in Russia.

[snoopysnake]

Has Patrick Chan suggested that he might retire after Sochi? It would seem that he could have a good chance of getting 2 OGs if he wins Sochi, and if he doesn't win, the goal of an OG would still exist anyway.

[judgejudy27]

Chan had said he even thought of quitting after the 2010 season until he didnt do well at the Vancouver Olympics and saw how much he enjoyed the Olympic experience and then decided to continue. If he had won the 2009 Worlds and 2010 Olympics he probably would have stopped right then. He has also complained about having a hard time making enough money in the sport as an amateur. He has also talked about wanting to continue his education, not even neccessarily having a long career as a show skater. It would be shocking if he continued in eligible competition past 2014, especialy if he wins in Sochi as expected.