Anastasia Cannuscio & Colin McManus announce their retirement from competition

[Sylvia]

Re-posting in a new thread for higher visibility - read their full announcement by clicking on the link (thanks to @RFOS for posting originally in the 2016-17 U.S. Dance news thread):

http://www.ice-dance.com/site/cannuscio-mcmanus-move-on/

... Starting out as a bottom tier Junior team in 2008, it was hard for anyone to imagine that Colin and I would some day stand on the Championship Dance podium.
...
We will still be involved in the sport through coaching, choreographing, and by serving on various committees. We still have so much more to give to this sport!

---

and best wishes to both Colin & Anastasia, wonderful ambassadors for the sport!

 

[Garden Kitty]

I always enjoyed them, and will miss them in competition. But I wish them the best as they start this next stage of their lives.

 

[shan]

I love Cannuscio and McManus. I especially enjoyed last season's SD and FD.

Best wishes to their future. They will definitely be missed.

 

[clairecloutier]

I am sorry to hear this. I became a fan of Anastasia/Colin the last few years ... enjoyed their skating a lot, and also met them personally. Such nice people! I'll miss them, but wish them well in the future.

 

[Josh78]

Just posted this in the U.S. Ice Dance thread, might as well post it here, too --

I'll really miss Anastasia and Colin out there -- they really started to hit their stride their last couple of seasons as a team -- that Beethoven FD was special (and not given enough credit by the judges, either domestically or internationally, if you ask me)

 

[CassAgain]

They seem like such lovely people, and their '15-'16 season was so exciting with great programs and performances. I will miss them.

 

[Dobre]

Eight years together. This is a team I feel really had a full career. Most of all, I've enjoyed their personalities on the ice. I first saw Anastasia in novices in 2007. And C&M's performance at the 2014 Nationals always stayed with me. They had a tremendous season last year and even participated in the opening ceremonies at Worlds. I'm sorry to see them go before the Olympic season, but still we had the joy of watching them eight years. Well done.

 

[Firedancer]

I am sorry to see C/M go. I feel like they have really improved over the last few seasons and I especially enjoyed their 2014-15 and 2015-16 FDs. Good luck to them in the future!

 

[Debbie S]

I will miss them. I remember seeing them for the first time at 09 Nats - they've come so far and had many career highlights. I'm glad I was in the audience for some of their great performances, including their 2015 FD, and wish them the best in the future. I know they will excel in whatever they set out to do.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I loved them: they were among my very favorite US Dance Teams.

Just today I was thinking about them, as a young guy who was a dead ringer for McManus got on the bus.

Best of luck to both of them for whatever comes next in their lives

 

[semogal]

I am sorry to hear that they are retiring but it is not totally surprising. I know that this past season did not meet their expectations. I am glad we have their Cinderella & Beethoven performances from 2016 Nationals (and that wonderful K&C reaction) to enjoy. I wonder if this means wedding bells for Colin?

 

[Jeschke]

Aaaah, such a shame
I always had a soft spot for them and enjoyed their skating very much.

Colins message on instagram!

 

[paskatefan]

Always enjoyed this team, will miss them , but wish them all the best in their future!

 

[jkl]

While I respect their decision I am sorry we won't see their beautiful performances anymore.

 

[breathesgelatin]

Too bad. I wondered if they would stay through the coming season for the potential of slots opening up at 4CC or Worlds with the Olympic-assigned skaters sitting out.

On the other hand, I guess there is some serious competition moving up from juniors this coming year as well...

 

[Dobre]

No slots opening up in U.S. ice dance. Only more competition.

 

[Sylvia]

Colins message on instagram!

Nice to read several ice dancers' comments there -- by Charlotte Maxwell, Tiffany Zahorski, Collin Brubaker, Gabriella Papadakis.

Anastasia also posted a message on Instagram 2 days ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/BTuUoTtg3Mi/?taken-by=stasiarose
She now is part of the IceLiners Synchronized Skating coaching staff: https://www.instagram.com/p/BSRucHzgt2a/

ETA: Lots of love for them posted on Twitter, too!

 

[icie]

I'm sorry to to hear this. I wish them the best in the next phase of their lives. I enjoyed their skating.

 

[skatesindreams]

I will miss them very much.
They are "quality" performers; and even nicer people.
I had the great pleasure of meeting them in Boston.

Whatever their future holds; I know that they will be successful,
I look forward to cheering them on!

 

[leigh466]

I'll miss them too. Best Wishes to both. It's always a mite sad when truly top-notch teams who just can't quite make it into the top echelon leave the scene. I always hope these teams, especially, know how much joy they bring to us fans.

 

[Sylvia]

Sarah Brannen's May 11th "Inside Edge" blog on IceNetwork includes quotes from Colin McManus:

"It's really hard to say goodbye to something you've been doing so long," he said in a phone interview. "It's hard to imagine our lives without competing and not to hear your name called to represent your country at a competition. It's kind of hard to let go, but we felt that it was time."

"It's such an incredible time to be a dancer in the U.S. -- it's an embarrassment of riches," he said. "Not only at the senior level but at the junior level, too. The U.S. could send out any team and have a respectable showing. We had to decide if we were willing to go back into the fray, and at this point in our lives, it was best for us to say no."

McManus is engaged to Isabella Cannuscio (older sister of Anastasia) and their wedding is scheduled to take place in May 2018.

ETA:

They were engaged on Sept. 4, 2015 - scroll down to "An engagement" for the details on Colin's elaborately planned surprise party for Isabella the day after he proposed: http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2015/09/22/150959852/the-inside-edge-chen-under-the-radar----for-now

 

[skatesindreams]

McManus is engaged to Isabella Cannuscio (older sister of Anastasia) and their wedding scheduled to take place in May 2018.

Wonderful news!
A lifetime of happiness to them.

 

[Sylvia]

A Look Back with Colin McManus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQc-Oa0XPjg

Published on Jun 8, 2017
Colin McManus and Anastasia Cannuscio retired following the 2016-17 season. The 2016 U.S. ice dance pewter medalist looks back and ahead with U.S. Figure Skating.

ETA - Also available to view on Twitter: https://twitter.com/USFigureSkating/status/872845938791927808

 

[Vash01]

I am very surprised. I thought they had a bright future, after the current top teams retired.