Figure skater & team retirement announcements in 2021-22

Rukia

A Southern, hot-blooded temperamental individual
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21,724
Ugh, I'm so sad about this, but I'm sure the emotional toll of trying to compete on top of everything else was massive for them. I'm glad they want to continue in skating at least, and I hope they have loads of success in whatever they do. Their RD from 2022 Worlds remains one of the most raw, emotional, incredible things I've ever seen in all my years of watching skating, and I'm not ashamed to say I ugly cried for a while after that.

Best of luck to them in whatever they do next.
 

HeatherC

Searching for Sanity
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11,845
Alexandra Nazarova announces just now that she and Max Nikitin (UKR) have decided to retire (why their names were crossed out from their 2 Grand Prix assignments yesterday): https://www.instagram.com/p/ChMpDaLo9xr/
In English:

ETA that Nikitin has posted the same message on his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/ChMpJ0rIzrm/

Their ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00012757.htm

I'm sad about this news because I always enjoyed their programs and they both seem like genuinely wonderful people. They will be missed so much but I'm glad we have their inspiring RD from Worlds as a lasting memory of their skating career. 💖
 

Sylvia

TBD
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79,981
@Ananas Astra the Russian article has since been updated "UPD : later, the skaters denied that they were ending their careers."

ETA:

I've seen so many lovely tributes to Nazarova/Nikitin on social media since their announcement and now regret that I didn't create a separate thread for them yesterday - is it too late?

Link to the separate thread:
 
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once_upon

Better off now than 4 years ago? Have TP now
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30,043
@Ananas Astra the Russian article has since been updated "UPD : later, the skaters denied that they were ending their careers."

ETA:

I've seen so many lovely tributes to Nazarova/Nikitin on social media since their announcement and now regret that I didn't create a separate thread for them yesterday - is it too late?
No
 

barbarafan

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,303
So now this is just a thread for making s~%t comments about skaters? I'm not a fan of this pair, but seriously, I know we all enjoy getting off on our righteous indignation, but sometimes it gets a bit tedious...
Feel free to skip any comment too tedious for you. Any Putin Bot that turns their back on friends who have trained with them for years and have had lots of contact with the world outside of Russia needs a reset.
 

Sylvia

TBD
Messages
79,981
Re-posting here:
Yanovskaya/Lukacs are done, he retired, she is looking for a partner

Gurgen Vardanian: Anna Yanovskaya / Adam Lukacs had split. The main reason was not making it to the Olympics - they were named as substitute and Adam lost his motivation. He had been telling me for a while he felt they would not participate. In the end he lost the will to keep practicing and setting the new goals. At the same time he met his love -a Russian girl. They got married and decide to stay in Moscow.
Anna wants to keep skating and we are looking for a partner for her. Of course it's tough. She is coaching but she dreams to go back to sports'
According to MatchTv Yanovskaya and Sergey Mozgov became coaches in `A Blue Bird' school and are coaching together.
Link to their ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00102719.htm
 

Sylvia

TBD
Messages
79,981
"Four-time #EuroFigure competitor Conor Stakelum 🇮🇪 ⛸ has announced his retirement." - tweeted by the Ice Skating Association of Ireland today: https://twitter.com/IceSkateIRL/status/1549061869729619969
Here's the link to Stakelum's post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgKMhQrq_i8/
His ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054307.htm
ISAI published a Q&A with Conor on August 22, 2022:
 
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tony

Throwing the (rule)book at them
Messages
17,677
Ekaterina Ryabova announced her retirement just now on Instagram. Really surprising as she moved into the top 10 at Worlds.

 

airgelaal

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,495
Ekaterina Ryabova announced her retirement just now on Instagram. Really surprising as she moved into the top 10 at Worlds.

She had said before that she did not want to skate for a long time. And I think it is financially harder to continue a career now.
 

Frau Muller

From Puerto Rico…With Love! Not LatinX!
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22,096
Maybe a big wedding, in France, is in the works for Ryabova & Brissaud (sp)?
 
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Sylvia

TBD
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79,981
From the Canadian Press' Lori Ewing - Many retired athletes struggle with 'unravelling of identity' after career ends (Sept. 16, 2022): https://www.cbc.ca/sports/athlete-post-retirement-life-identity-1.6585516

Kaetlyn Osmond ("There was a loss of validation. For a long time, you're the centre of conversation, you're trending on social media. And then the next thing you know you are completely forgotten.") talks about her tough journey since her retirement in 2018 (which she has talked about before) - thanks to @nlloyd for the heads up re. the more recently retired Nam Nguyen's quotes, copied out below:

Nam Nyugen called it a career after the Canadian figure skating championships in January. The 24-year-old, who won the world junior title in 2014, now coaches hockey players in power skating. Jack McBain of the Arizona Coyotes and Paul Ludwinski, the Kingston Frontenacs forward and Chicago's second-round draft pick, are among his clients.

What does he miss from figure skating?

"Nothing
," Nguyen said, then added, "I miss performing for the audience. But in actuality, there really isn't much that I miss from figure skating. The last two years as an athlete really messed me up mentally [due to the COVID-19 pandemic]."

Nguyen, who purchased hockey skates and a stick for his new gig — he delightedly said his shoulders are sore from learning how to shoot a puck — watched a sectional figure skating competition recently. It failed to rekindle any love for the sport.

"It just pushed me away further because I remembered how awful I felt during my warm-up and how nervous I felt, and sitting there in front of the TV, I'm like, 'I'm so glad I'm not doing this anymore.'

"I still refuse to teach figure skating. I'm just in love with this new stuff that I'm pursuing right now."
 
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screech

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,409
From the Canadian Press' Lori Ewing - Many retired athletes struggle with 'unravelling of identity' after career ends (Sept. 16, 2022): https://www.cbc.ca/sports/athlete-post-retirement-life-identity-1.6585516

Kaetlyn Osmond ("There was a loss of validation. For a long time, you're the centre of conversation, you're trending on social media. And then the next thing you know you are completely forgotten.") talks about her tough journey since her retirement in 2018 (which she has talked about before) - thanks to @nlloyd for the heads up re. the more recently retired Nam Nguyen's quotes, copied out below:

Nam Nyugen called it a career after the Canadian figure skating championships in January. The 24-year-old, who won the world junior title in 2014, now coaches hockey players in power skating. Jack McBain of the Arizona Coyotes and Paul Ludwinski, the Kingston Frontenacs forward and Chicago's second-round draft pick, are among his clients.

What does he miss from figure skating?

"Nothing
," Nguyen said, then added, "I miss performing for the audience. But in actuality, there really isn't much that I miss from figure skating. The last two years as an athlete really messed me up mentally [due to the COVID-19 pandemic]."

Nguyen, who purchased hockey skates and a stick for his new gig — he delightedly said his shoulders are sore from learning how to shoot a puck — watched a sectional figure skating competition recently. It failed to rekindle any love for the sport.

"It just pushed me away further because I remembered how awful I felt during my warm-up and how nervous I felt, and sitting there in front of the TV, I'm like, 'I'm so glad I'm not doing this anymore.'

"I still refuse to teach figure skating. I'm just in love with this new stuff that I'm pursuing right now."
Wow. Kind of heartbreaking to hear that Nam does not miss skating. But I'm happy to hear that he's absolutely loving what he's doing now.
 

Sylvia

TBD
Messages
79,981
Mariah Bell officially announced her retirement today (includes 7 photos): https://www.instagram.com/p/CjoOwf6v_0J/

For those without Instagram, here's the full text of her message:
My heart is so full, I am so grateful for the highs and lows, struggles and success. This journey was hard and I didn’t always like it but I did always love it. All of these experiences made me the person I am, a person ready to hang up my competitive skating and take on the next part of my life with knowledge I could only gain through gliding across a cold sheet of ice everyday. My dreams became reality! I learned through perseverance and determination there are no limits. I’ve always strived to be true to myself and not make excuses when things did not go my way and be thankful when they did. I hope others may find inspiration in my career. All good things must come to an end and I am so lucky I am ending with my love of skating at an all time high.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that supported me, you made my journey so much sweeter.

See you on the ice again but now just for the fun of shows ❤️
ETA that Mariah will tour with SOI in Canada during the December holiday season: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/2022-canadian-stars-on-ice-tour.109381/page-5#post-6305551

Mariah has since moved to the Dallas area - thanks to @cheremary who posted this link in Mariah's fan thread last month:
Reigning US National Figure Skating Champion and team USA member, Mariah Bell, performed during the first intermission of the game. Shortly after the Winter Olympics, Mariah officially moved to North Richland Hills where she will call the NYTEX Sports Centre her skating home. She will be working alongside her sister Morgan Bell as they train the next generation of Olympic skaters.
ETA #2 - NBC Sports OlympicTalk's article:
From the end:
Bell is the first U.S. woman to leave competitive skating rather than defend a national title since Sasha Cohen in 2007 and the first to outright end her competitive career as national champion in three decades.
 
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Stefanie

Well-Known Member
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3,283
Good luck to her! Although I really wish I could have seen her compete again, I totally respect her decision to retire.
 
D

Deleted member 221

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Good for Mariah Bell to go out on a high note, even if wasn't with a world medal. She did well to collect a national title, an Olympic berth, and come close to the world podium, but it's clear that the level of the sport has passed her by. She wouldn't be a lock for the 2023 World team, and I suspect by 2026 she'd be going down a Rachael Flatt / Emily Hughes / 12th to 20th at Nationals path. Kudos to her for making a good decision, and best wishes in what comes next.
 

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