Official retirement announcements by figure skaters in 2025-2026

[Vagabond]

But Tomoki keeps training through Worlds as Alt 2?

In the Kiss and Cry after his Free Skate in Beijing, he looked at the camera and told the viewers that it was his last competition.

 

[Rob]

In the Kiss and Cry after his Free Skate in Beijing, he looked at the camera and told the viewers that it was his last competition.

Wow, maybe he just thinks he’ll never get the call as Alt 2, but it is an Olympic year and who knows what’s up with Jason Brown.

 

[Vagabond]

Wow, maybe he just thinks he’ll never get the call as Alt 2, but it is an Olympic year and who knows what’s up with Jason Brown.

I believe that if you check other threads here, you can find a link to a social media post confirming his announcement.

 

[Karen-W]

I believe that if you check other threads here, you can find a link to a social media post confirming his announcement.

Yes, but I think the surprise is that Tomoki seems quite definitive that 4CCs was his last competition seeing as we wound up going to the 2nd Alternate for the Men in 2022 - Jason was the 1st Alternate and declined the assignment when Nathan withdrew, so Camden, as 2nd Alternate, wound up being called up instead. It seems plausible that we'll have a similar scenario again this year if Ilia wins and withdraws due to media commitments and then Jason also decides to withdraw.

 

[Evgeniafan]

Yes, but I think the surprise is that Tomoki seems quite definitive that 4CCs was his last competition seeing as we wound up going to the 2nd Alternate for the Men in 2022 - Jason was the 1st Alternate and declined the assignment when Nathan withdrew, so Camden, as 2nd Alternate, wound up being called up instead. It seems plausible that we'll have a similar scenario again this year if Ilia wins and withdraws due to media commitments and then Jason also decides to withdraw.

Well, I hope Jacob will be ready as third alternative. Wasn't Max Aaron 3rd alternative in 2018?

 

[Rukia]

Well, I hope Jacob will be ready as third alternative. Wasn't Max Aaron 3rd alternative in 2018?

I mean Jacob has to keep training for junior worlds anyway so it's not like he's going to be ending his season yet

 

[Sylvia]

Wasn't Max Aaron 3rd alternative in 2018?

Yes - he saved USFS as the 3rd alternate (not sure how much he was training at the time?) by placing high enough (11th + Nathan's 1st place) to retain the 3 spots for 2019 Worlds.
BTW, this was Max's April 20, 2018 official retirement post:

Max Aaron on Instagram: "It feels like yesterday I was just lacing up my first pair of figure skates, dreaming to be one of the best. I have certainly experienced so many amazing moments throughout my career that will last a lifetime. To end a career

4,337 likes, 171 comments - maxtaaron on April 20, 2018: "It feels like yesterday I was just lacing up my first pair of figure skates, dreaming to be one of the best. I have certainly experienced so many amazing moments throughout my career that will last a lifetime. To end a career saying that...

www.instagram.com

Good news about who isn't retiring after this season! https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eason-news-updates.112906/page-4#post-6878806

 

[kwanette]

Well, I hope Jacob will be ready as third alternative. Wasn't Max Aaron 3rd alternative in 2018?

Yes, he was and did his job

 

[jlai]

Yes - he saved USFS as the 3rd alternate (not sure how much he was training at the time?) by placing high enough (11th + Nathan's 1st place) to retain the 3 spots for 2019 Worlds.
BTW, this was Max's April 20, 2018 official retirement post:

Max Aaron on Instagram: "It feels like yesterday I was just lacing up my first pair of figure skates, dreaming to be one of the best. I have certainly experienced so many amazing moments throughout my career that will last a lifetime. To end a career

4,337 likes, 171 comments - maxtaaron on April 20, 2018: "It feels like yesterday I was just lacing up my first pair of figure skates, dreaming to be one of the best. I have certainly experienced so many amazing moments throughout my career that will last a lifetime. To end a career saying that...

www.instagram.com

Good news about who isn't retiring after this season! https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eason-news-updates.112906/page-4#post-6878806

I like him and am glad he isn't retiring

 

[ice coverage]

I would imagine that USFS preemptively will be having a private conversation with Tomoki in order for both parties to be super-clear in advance on what would happen if/if/if the second alternate were to be needed for Worlds.
I for one would not rule out the possibility that Tomoki maybe would want to "unretire" and compete at his first Worlds. Stranger things have happened.
For me, what we have heard so far from Tomoki is not 100.00% "proof" that he absolutely would not be interested in Worlds.
(If he explicitly lets USFS know that he absolutely would not be interested, all good.)

Every situation is unique, but some fans of U.S. dance will recall that TJ Carey announced his retirement on Nov 22, 2022, after he and his partner did not advance to 2023 Nats from U.S. Dance Final.

tj carey🌨 on Instagram: "i guess the end is here 🥲 • after having the time of my life doing what i love most for the last 20(‼️😳) years, it’s time for me to move on from competitive ice dancing. as bittersweet as this decision is, having my best comp

545 likes, 122 comments - tjcarey124 on November 22, 2022: "i guess the end is here 🥲 • after having the time of my life doing what i love most for the last 20(‼️😳) years, it’s time for me to move on from competitive ice dancing. as bittersweet as this decision is, having my best competition...

www.instagram.com

But then ... Hawayek/Baker withdrew from Nats on Jan 17, 2023. TJ quickly unretired, and he and his partner did compete at Nats just days later.

 

[Amy L]

Hell, I am old enough to remember when Angela Nikodinov was in Bulgaria and couldn't be contacted about participating at 1998 Worlds.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Hell, I am old enough to remember when Angela Nikodinov was in Bulgaria and couldn't be contacted about participating at 1998 Worlds.

The queen.

 

[barbk]

Hell, I am old enough to remember when Angela Nikodinov was in Bulgaria and couldn't be contacted about participating at 1998 Worlds.

That was a wild and wooly worlds. Tonia Kwiatkowski replaced Nikodinov and finished a very respectable 6th. Anna Rechnio had a fantastic SP. Loved, loved, loved it. Shizuka Arakawa finished in 22nd in her first trip to Worlds, just above Lucinda Ruh who went from 10th in the short to 24th in the long. Kwan, Slutskaya, and Butyrskaya took the medals. Kyoko Ina managed to clunk her partner Jason Dungjen in the head coming down from a twist right in front of where I was sitting. They had to withdraw before the long. Meno & Sand won the short and then came in second in the long...and how I miss their unison. Yagudin came in second in qualifying (behind Pluschenko), but first in the short and second in the free to take the gold. Eldredge finished fourth in the SP, but won the free to take the silver, and Pluschenko wound up with the bronze.

That was the era of full qualifying rounds beginning early in the morning. Between those, practices, and competitions...I was exhausted.

 

[A.H.Black]

Kyoko Ina managed to clunk her partner Jason Dungjen in the head coming down from a twist right in front of where I was sitting.

You must have been sitting very near to me. That was when I learned the dangers of twist lifts.

 

[Private Citizen]

Tonia Kwiatkowski replaced Nikodinov and finished a very respectable 6th.

IIRC Tonia Kwiatkowski was first alternate and replaced either Lipinski or Bobek; can't remember which one withdrew first (probably Lipinski?). Nikodinov was second alternate and couldn't be replaced because the US didn't name a third alternate. It was only Kwan and Kwiatkowski at that Worlds despite three spots.

Kyoko Ina managed to clunk her partner Jason Dungjen in the head coming down from a twist right in front of where I was sitting. They had to withdraw before the long.

This happened on an official practice just before the short program draw. Lyons and Wells got a last-minute call to compete in their place. IIRC L&W may have also "unretired" for the opportunity. It's one of the few times I recall one skater being on an official practice, withdrawing, and still being replaced.

 

[Alilou]

Kyoko Ina managed to clunk her partner Jason Dungjen in the head coming down from a twist right in front of where I was sitting. They had to withdraw before the long.

Megan Duhamel smashed Eric Radford with her elbow coming down from a twist so hard that she broke his nose. It was in competition. Blood everywhere, and they just kept on skating.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Megan Duhamel smashed Eric Radford with her elbow coming down from a twist so hard that she broke his nose. It was in competition. Blood everywhere, and they just kept on skating.

I remember that well.

One time I ran out of Reese‘s peanut butter cups during the women’s free skate at worlds and like a trooper I just kept on watching.

 

[MsZem]

Megan Duhamel smashed Eric Radford with her elbow coming down from a twist so hard that she broke his nose. It was in competition. Blood everywhere, and they just kept on skating.

2011 Worlds. Unfortunately, it wasn't a vampire-themed program.

 

[MacMadame]

One time I ran out of Reese‘s peanut butter cups during the women’s free skate at worlds and like a trooper I just kept on watching.

You are such a badass!

 

[Aussie Willy]

That was a wild and wooly worlds. Tonia Kwiatkowski replaced Nikodinov and finished a very respectable 6th. Anna Rechnio had a fantastic SP. Loved, loved, loved it. Shizuka Arakawa finished in 22nd in her first trip to Worlds, just above Lucinda Ruh who went from 10th in the short to 24th in the long. Kwan, Slutskaya, and Butyrskaya took the medals. Kyoko Ina managed to clunk her partner Jason Dungjen in the head coming down from a twist right in front of where I was sitting. They had to withdraw before the long. Meno & Sand won the short and then came in second in the long...and how I miss their unison. Yagudin came in second in qualifying (behind Pluschenko), but first in the short and second in the free to take the gold. Eldredge finished fourth in the SP, but won the free to take the silver, and Pluschenko wound up with the bronze.

That was the era of full qualifying rounds beginning early in the morning. Between those, practices, and competitions...I was exhausted.

I was at those worlds (my only time I have gone to one). Such a fantastic experience. Rechnio and Hubert really stood out in the SP. Kwan was stunning. Plushenko screwed up by trying to go for the quad 4 times and bombed it. And in the dance Anassina had a lime green Silver Samba dress with eyes over the tatas which someone commented to me that she should have been disqualified for.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Megan Duhamel smashed Eric Radford with her elbow coming down from a twist so hard that she broke his nose. It was in competition. Blood everywhere, and they just kept on skating.

Mandy Wotzel also did that to Ingo Steuer at a Grand Prix event in the 90s. Not sure if his nose was broken.

 

[tony]

Mandy Wotzel also did that to Ingo Steuer at a Grand Prix event in the 90s. Not sure if his nose was broken.

It wasn’t the Grand Prix. It was the Ultimate Four in 1996. I still remember the blood running down his face as they showed him at the end of the program.

 

[Sylvia]

Emmanuel Savary, now 28, hasn't posted himself but his coach Viktor Pfeifer did after 2026 U.S. Nationals:

Viktor Pfeifer on Instagram: "Congratulations to Emmanuel! What a career! It was a pleasure to be there with him for his last Nationals in St. Louis! You’ll do more great things! @eman_savary #teamusa #figureskating"

192 likes, 3 comments - viktor_pfeifer on January 16, 2026: "Congratulations to Emmanuel! What a career! It was a pleasure to be there with him for his last Nationals in St. Louis! You’ll do more great things! @eman_savary #teamusa #figureskating".

www.instagram.com

"Congratulations to Emmanuel! What a career! It was a pleasure to be there with him for his last Nationals in St. Louis! You’ll do more great things! @eman_savary #teamusa #figureskating"

Clip of Savary's EX to The Lion King: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQNLvEGETWc/

“Remember who you are..” 2x U.S. National medalist and Team USA competitor @emmanuelsavary skates to “This Land” at the Philadelphia Skating Club’s 2025 Ice Show.
Filmed on October 4th, 2025 by Jordan Cowan of On Ice Perspectives

Full version of his EX program is on OIP's YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wg0ZVJP35k

His ISU bio: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00013331.htm

 

[barbk]

I was at those worlds (my only time I have gone to one). Such a fantastic experience. Rechnio and Hubert really stood out in the SP. Kwan was stunning. Plushenko screwed up by trying to go for the quad 4 times and bombed it. And in the dance Anassina had a lime green Silver Samba dress with eyes over the tatas which someone commented to me that she should have been disqualified for.

Gwendal Peizerat was walking right ahead of me leaving the hotel, and geez was he ever tiny despite skating very big. I ended up sharing an elevator for a few floors with Kwan, her dad, and two security folks. She was just as tiffed off the ice as on. I just wished her good luck. I forgot about Hubert, but she was good in the SP...but not as good as Rechnio or Kwan.

 

[MacMadame]

I was at those worlds (my only time I have gone to one). Such a fantastic experience. Rechnio and Hubert really stood out in the SP. Kwan was stunning. Plushenko screwed up by trying to go for the quad 4 times and bombed it. And in the dance Anassina had a lime green Silver Samba dress with eyes over the tatas which someone commented to me that she should have been disqualified for.

That was my first Worlds in person! And I remember the quad incident.

 

[Skaterbob]

IIRC Tonia Kwiatkowski was first alternate and replaced either Lipinski or Bobek; can't remember which one withdrew first (probably Lipinski?). Nikodinov was second alternate and couldn't be replaced because the US didn't name a third alternate. It was only Kwan and Kwiatkowski at that Worlds despite three spots.



This happened on an official practice just before the short program draw. Lyons and Wells got a last-minute call to compete in their place. IIRC L&W may have also "unretired" for the opportunity. It's one of the few times I recall one skater being on an official practice, withdrawing, and still being replaced.

It is just bizarre and too bad for Amber Corwin to miss her only real chance at a Worlds and home one at that!

 

[tony]

The story goes that the US didn’t want any other women in the event because at the time (and not changed until the following summer, prior to the 1999 season), all 3 entries’ results contributed towards placements for the next season. The US using just Kwan & Kwiatkowski ended up with 3 with both the 1998 system and the 1999 (and current) system.

 

[Private Citizen]

The story goes that the US didn’t want any other women in the event because at the time (and not changed until the following summer, prior to the 1999 season), all 3 entries’ results contributed towards placements for the next season. The US using just Kwan & Kwiatkowski ended up with 3 with both the 1998 system and the 1999 (and current) system.

Wasn't it common practice, though, to only name two alternates in those days? Even before the rule change? I don't recall third alternates becoming a "thing" until much more recently, as more elite skaters have decided to forgo Worlds (and also 4CC).

There was also the 1984 fiasco where Elaine Zayak was the only women's competitor at Worlds (and Kathryn Adams missed out at her only Worlds opportunity) when Claire Ferguson forgot to include alternates on the paperwork . In those days, the "named skater" Rosalynn Sumners wouldn't have been replaced, but Tiffany Chin could and would have.

According to this video, Jill Frost (sick) and Kathryn Adams were named as alternates, but not submitted on the paperwork. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkDcMYe_D68 That tracks with my recollection of two alternates being standard.

 

[Lizziebeth]

That was a wild and wooly worlds. Tonia Kwiatkowski replaced Nikodinov and finished a very respectable 6th. Anna Rechnio had a fantastic SP. Loved, loved, loved it. Shizuka Arakawa finished in 22nd in her first trip to Worlds, just above Lucinda Ruh who went from 10th in the short to 24th in the long. Kwan, Slutskaya, and Butyrskaya took the medals. Kyoko Ina managed to clunk her partner Jason Dungjen in the head coming down from a twist right in front of where I was sitting. They had to withdraw before the long. Meno & Sand won the short and then came in second in the long...and how I miss their unison. Yagudin came in second in qualifying (behind Pluschenko), but first in the short and second in the free to take the gold. Eldredge finished fourth in the SP, but won the free to take the silver, and Pluschenko wound up with the bronze.

That was the era of full qualifying rounds beginning early in the morning. Between those, practices, and competitions...I was exhausted.

I was at every event at 1998 worlds, even many of the practices. I remember all that stuff! Really remember Ina and Dungjen because it happened right in front of me too.

 

[Aussie Willy]

One of the best things about 1998 Worlds was Laurent Tobel. He was hilarious, in competition and practice.