Joannie Rochette retiring?

[kylet3]

Oops, I jumped the gun on that one but:

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/01/25...-to-hang-em-up

Sounds to me like she won't be around for Sochi.

[Really]

While I'm sad we won't get to see her compete again, I'm glad she'll continue to skate in SOI and be a wonderful role model for young people. Good luck, Joannie!

[victoriajh]

maybe now that katelyn is skating well she feels like she CAN retire? or that skate canada will "let" her
i still miss her- the last few years of her career were so exciting! and her programs were different and fun to watch- but as pp said- glad she is still around skating so we can enjoy her without competition!

[Rock2]

So many factors in her decision, which include desire, coaching, career opportunities, Skate Canada's needs and competition.
I would expect there is some desire since she does like to compete to a degree and she'd love to have a more fun Olympics experience, but I think everything else works against her. There's a big issue in that if Kaetlyn qualifies only one for Sochi, Joannie may come back to competition and not even make it out of Canada.

I think following nationals, Skate Canada has finally breathed a deep sigh over the ladies program although we're not out of the woods quite yet. The complexion of skating here has changed a lot....and quickly.

I have a sneaking feeling she plans to retire but will wait and see what happens in London to formalize.

[AragornElessar]

maybe now that katelyn is skating well she feels like she CAN retire? or that skate canada will "let" her
i still miss her- the last few years of her career were so exciting! and her programs were different and fun to watch- but as pp said- glad she is still around skating so we can enjoy her without competition!

Not just Kaitlyn, but the other girls too. For the first time in a very, very, very long time I finally have hope in our Ladies from what I saw from Cdns. I said to Mom after the Ladies FS a week ago tonight that if Joannie was able to see it, it would help make it easier to decide to come back next Season or not.

I mean...We've got more than one female skater w/a Triple/Triple? And one w/a Triple Lutz/Triple Toe?



I had a feeling something like this was coming last night after a Tweet Joannie sent out last night that was in French, but I was able to puzzle out it was about some sort of an announcement of what she was going to do regarding a comeback. Good luck Joannie in all you do and see you in the Spring out there on the ice at the ACC!!

[BBI*CEO]

Shae-Lynn interviewed her just around Christmas time...check out the interview on her new website www.shaelynnbourne.com

[Alvyne]

She was interviewed this morning on the news and she said she would announce her decision about coming back at the end of this season.

http://fr.canoe.ca/sports/nouvelles/...27-120017.html

[Habs]

I might be alone in this, but I've never thought Rochette would come back.
For awhile I wanted her to, but Canadian ladies skating is looking up and I'm excited about the future (finally!).

[midori]

I have been wondering why Joannie tweeted these, but thanks to this thread now I know why.

https://twitter.com/JoannieRochette/...26374228459520
https://twitter.com/JoannieRochette/...26388111613953

Pour que ce soit clair, je ne prends pas ma retraite du patinage. Je prendrai une décision pour Sochi à la fin de la saison,

mais quoi qu'il en soit, je continue le patinage et certaines compétitions pour plusieurs années encore!

By Google Translation:
"To be clear, I do not take my retirement from skating. I make a decision to Sochi at the end of the season
but anyway, I still skating and some competitions for several more years"

[Really]

Thanks, midori...I guess we'll just have to wait and see what she says at the end of the season...

[shine]

Man, imagine if we could have both Rochette and Osmond battling it out at Canadian Nationals...how exciting would that be?! I guess that dream is not likely to come true anymore.

[Ziggy]

She's already retired.

[briancoogaert]

From the interview, I have the feeling that she's enjoying her life with shows and Pro competitions. So, I don't think she'll be in Socchi. We'll see.

[euterpe]

Joannie could get two GP events as a returning World/Olympic medalwinner, but I can't see Joannie doing the GP with only 6-7 months preparation. At 28, it would be hard to return to heavy training after years of easier exhibition programs. At 25, Sasha Cohen tried to do that in 2009-2010, and she injured herself.

So Joannie would be going to Sochi after having been away from regular ISU competition for four years (Japan Open is ISU-sanctioned, but it is invitational and doesn't award ISU points). I don't think she can expect the judges to give her a PCS advantage over the other top ladies.

That being said, I don't think Joannie will return.

[miffy]

I think she might decide to if Osmond gets 2 spots for Canada but not otherwise.

[Ziggy]

Honestly, Rochette is as likely to return to competition as Michelle Kwan at this point.

[flowerpower]

I might be alone in this, but I've never thought Rochette would come back.
For awhile I wanted her to, but Canadian ladies skating is looking up and I'm excited about the future (finally!).

You are not alone in this. I've never expected her to compete again either! While she avoided shutting the door, it seemed that she had moved on and was enjoying her show performances, as well as off-ice activities related to promoting healthy living. Good for her! She had no obligation to stay on, if she felt the time was right for new goals.

Canadian ladies skating is definitely looking up recently with a group of talented young skaters. It will be very interesting to follow them over the next few years.

[shine]

I might be alone in this, but I've never thought Rochette would come back.
For awhile I wanted her to, but Canadian ladies skating is looking up and I'm excited about the future (finally!).

Really? I wanted her to come back because I actually loved her skating...

[briancoogaert]

Honestly, Rochette is as likely to return to competition as Michelle Kwan at this point.

Oh ! And Michelle will say if she'll be back for Socchi at the end of this season ?

[TheIronLady]

That this forum still exists suggests that middle aged women are on duty in case Kwan begins her Sochi come back.

http://mkforum.net/forum/forum.php