Takahashi & Tran split

[Mevrouw]

http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/all/he...do_sp-spo.html

Takahashi, world bronze figure set pair resolution Tran18, Japan Skating Federation announced the pair (22) = Canada = was solved a combination network Kinoshita (20) = Narumi Takahashi, Marvin Tran of last season's World Championships bronze medal in pairs figure skating. Intends to continue the competition Both players, look for a new partner.
　towards the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics organization is adopted for the first time, Tran was seeking to acquire Japanese citizenship, had been living in Japan difficulty without a proven track record. According to officials, nationality problem is that it is not the only reason.
　We have issued a statement through the federation "in recent years, from an aggressive feeling so I passed from the discrepancy of thoughts on the competition, continue to love skating, decided to eliminate the pair" Takahashi said.
　Tran and formed a duo in 2007, Takahashi born in Chiba Prefecture, won the first medal of the Olympics as a representative of Japan, including the pair at the World Championships in March this year. Such as left shoulder surgery in October Takahashi, this season has been away from the game. [17:04 December 18, 2012 Kyodo News]

ETA: the translation seems to mix up some lines and is very unclear. Seems from Takahashi's tweets that it was her idea.

[BittyBug]

What a shame.

That translation is very hard to figure out, but this seems like the underlying statement is wrong:

.....Takahashi born in Chiba Prefecture, won the first medal of the Olympics as a representative of Japan.....

Seems like the author confused her with Daisuke.

[Rochelle]

So, if both are looking for a new partner... than we assume that Takahashi will look for a partner who is either Japanese, or one that has a shot at Japanese citizenship (though, the latter doesn't sound hopeful to me if Tran didn't get citizenship in this case). And Mervin Tran would be most likely to look for a partner in Canada.

I enjoyed them together especially when they were *on*. Best wishes to them both!

[shutterbug]

That’s unfortunate. They were lovely to watch. But, on the positive side, Mervin can now find a nice Canadian girl to skate with. Let the partner speculating begin!

[Rochelle]

This also could have interesting (perhaps even detrimental) implications for Japan in the team event at Sochi... if Takahashi doesn't have a partner in a timely manner.

[rayhaneh]

What a shame.

That translation is very hard to figure out, but this seems like the underlying statement is wrong:

Seems like the author confused her with Daisuke.

I posted a quick translation of a similar, albeit slightly differently worded newsbit here:

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/show...updates/page27

I went through it quickly but my understanding is that they imply that it was Japan's first medal in a major competiton (worlds + olympics)

I let someone completely fluent correct me if I'm wrong though

So, if both are looking for a new partner... than we assume that Takahashi will look for a partner who is either Japanese, or one that has a shot at Japanese citizenship (though, the latter doesn't sound hopeful to me if Tran didn't get citizenship in this case). And Mervin Tran would be most likely to look for a partner in Canada.

I enjoyed them together especially when they were *on*. Best wishes to them both!

The reason why they declined giving him the citizenship is because he had no record of living in Japan (if I remember correctly, you need to have lived at least 5 years there to even enter into consideration for citizenship). So that means she could skate with a foreigner....as long as they've lived in Japan for 5+ years and they are ready to renounce their original citizenship (you cannot have dual citizenship as Japanese from the moment you're an adult - although I think children can until 18 or 20.....)

[Lara]

This also could have interesting (perhaps even detrimental) implications for Japan in the team event at Sochi... if Takahashi doesn't have a partner in a timely manner.

No detriment there since there was so little realistic chance of Tran getting the Japanese citizenship needed in time to be eligible for Sochi in the first place.

[quartz]

NOOOOOOOOO!!! This is not a good day.....confirmation of Kaitlyn's injury(I had been hoping it was just a rumor or that it my turn out to be a sprain rather than a broken bone), and now this news??? I loved these two

[Rochelle]

No detriment there since there was so little realistic chance of Tran getting the Japanese citizenship needed in time to be eligible for Sochi in the first place.

Ah -- good correction. I've had it stuck in my brain since their Worlds medal that there'd be someway for Tran to get citizenship and thus they'd be there at the Olympics regardless.

[rfisher]

I'm not the least bit surprised as those who understand Japanese citizenship have repeatedly said it would be virtually impossible for him to get citizenship. I am a bit surprised that it was her idea. The odds of her finding a quality male pair skater in Japan are much less than him finding a Canadian woman, albeit he is on the short side. He's an excellent skater and I'm certain there is a partner out there for him.

[babayaga]

I'm not the least bit surprised as those who understand Japanese citizenship have repeatedly said it would be virtually impossible for him to get citizenship. I am a bit surprised that it was her idea. The odds of her finding a quality male pair skater in Japan are much less than him finding a Canadian woman, albeit he is on the short side. He's an excellent skater and I'm certain there is a partner out there for him.

It could be possible JSF already has someone in mind for her, hopefully.

[Catherine M]

Is Julianne Seguin still looking to skate pairs or since she's doing well in singles has given that up? She could be a possibility for Tran.

Hopefully they'll be someone new for both Takahashi & Tran to skate with in the coming months.

[rfisher]

It could be possible JSF already has someone in mind for her, hopefully.

They may have someone, but I sincerely doubt they are the quality of skater as Mervin Tran. Pairs skating isn't all that popular in Japan. Moreover, she's the weaker partner in the pairing anyway. The odds of any new partner and Takahashi making the top 10 at Worlds or the Olympics are very small. He would have much better odds in Canada, even with the quality of pairs skating in Canada at present. And by that I mean, Canada has some very good pairs teams going into Worlds and the Olympics.

[kirkbiggestfan]

Tran is such a strong pair skater. He will attract a lot of interest...even from American skaters. What's the status of Andrea Poapst for example?

[Sylvia]

Andrea Poapst has Canadian citizenship. I believe she is still looking for a partner.

Mervin Tran tweeted today:

Now that the cat is out of the bag. I want to say that I hate cats and this is not what I was shopping for. But Narumi has decided, its over

Thank you to all/Minasan, arigato gozaimashita. I will miss competing with Narumi for Japan. It was a great experience.

Photo he tweeted: https://twitter.com/skate_moivo/stat...135361/photo/1

[Rochelle]

Aren't Mervin Tran and Rockne Brubaker about the same height -- the ball park of 5'9" or 1.75 M?

(I haven't seen them side-by-side, and the reliability of the ISU bios / etc. is always questionable for heights).

If so, Mervin's selection may somewhat be limited by his height.

[babayaga]

They may have someone, but I sincerely doubt they are the quality of skater as Mervin Tran. Pairs skating isn't all that popular in Japan. Moreover, she's the weaker partner in the pairing anyway. The odds of any new partner and Takahashi making the top 10 at Worlds or the Olympics are very small. He would have much better odds in Canada, even with the quality of pairs skating in Canada at present. And by that I mean, Canada has some very good pairs teams going into Worlds and the Olympics.

No question about that - she won't find anyone on the same level as Mervin. Unfortunately I think JSF wants to have at least some team at Olympics as opposed to none at all to have a chance to even enter the team competition. Even if the pair will be weak, their singles are strong. I don't think they care about the results in pairs discipline.

[Sylvia]

Aren't Mervin Tran and Rockne Brubaker about the same height -- the ball park of 5'9" or 1.75 M?

(I haven't seen them side-by-side, and the reliability of the ISU bios / etc. is always questionable for heights).

If so, Mervin's selection may somewhat be limited by his height.

Yes and yes. It's easy to assume Mervin is taller than Rockne because Narumi is so tiny.

[julieann]

If the federation said "nationality problem is that it is not the only reason" I wonder what their other reasoning is?

[MysticHaze]

Is Katherine Bobak still skating?