Kavaguti / Smirnov have completed their careers and retired

[love_skate2011]

just got the news.
I guess no happy ending for them, such a long partnership but plagued by bad luck and injuries



http://tass.com/sport/967103

 

[nimi]

Oh...
Not unexpected but... now it's real...

We'll probably see them doing ice shows in the future...?

(off to read the actual article)

ETA

"They were unlikely to be included in the Olympic team to participate in the 2018 PyeongChang Games so they decided not to tempt fate," Moskvina added.

Yeah, I already got this impression from an earlier interview with Smirnov (about them not participating in the test skates).

 

[clairecloutier]

Well I will miss seeing Kavaguti/Smirnov, but they accomplished a great deal in their careers. Although they never made it quite to the top, they achieved more than most pairs ever will:

2 European championships
2 World bronze medals
2 Grand Prix Final bronze medals
15 Grand Prix medals! (wow)

Plus, they helped push the sport forward technically with their throw quad jumps.

Thank you Yuko/Sasha for all the hard work and great performances! I will always remember Manfred Symphony, Clair de Lune, and February.

 

[casken]

We'll always have Skate America 2014.

 

[nimi]

We'll also always have the great kiss'n'cry moment from when they won their 2nd Euro title...

 

[rfisher]

I always had mixed feelings about them as I was never a fan of Yuko's skating, but a huge fan of her as an athlete. She exemplified the sheer determination and courage a pair woman has to have. She even gave up her national citizenship in order to compete which is no small thing. I'm so sorry they missed the Olympics in their home country due to injury after so many years of hard work. I was so proud of them for coming back and winning that 2nd European title. I know Smirnov has begun coaching and I hope both of them find happiness and success in whatever they do moving forward.

 

[skatesindreams]

I admired their dedication and persistence.
They will be missed.

 

[Ka3sha]

We'll always have Skate America 2014.

And CoC in 2015, when they landed both quad throws for the first time ever
And their February, which I liked A LOT

 

[lala]

 

[nimi]

(...) She exemplified the sheer determination and courage a pair woman has to have. (...)

Yeah, there was the time she dislocated her shoulder mid-program, popped it back into place and carried on as if nothing had happened... And they won their 1st Euro title with that skate! My mind always boggles watching that

 

[Vash01]

Sad.

I was hoping that they would somehow make the Olympic team, with the depleted Russian pairs field. I am going to miss them.

 

[clairecloutier]

Gorshkov regrets the decision of Kavaguti/Smirnov to end career:

http://tass.ru/sport/4585391

 

[Jeschke]

 

[Kateri]

Yuko was hardcore as hell, and I have so much respect for her. I wish them both every success in whatever they do next!

 

[beepbeep]

Their Clair de Lune program is one of my all time favorites.

Now, how soon can we get Tarasova/Morozov to Moskvina?

 

[Tinami Amori]

I hope Yuko applies for reinstatement of her Japanese citizenship.

 

[Carolla5501]

She was a competitor and worked so hard for what she wanted. While I didn't love their skating her story was so touching that I always pulled for them. To make the changes she did to pursue her dreams took a lot of courage!

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Damn.. I have to say they are my favorite current Russian pair (and S&K were just a hair behind for me)

Does this mean the end of Moskvina as well?? Does she have any teams or is this now a legacy complete???

 

[Tinami Amori]

Does this mean the end of Moskvina as well?? Does she have any teams or is this now a legacy complete???

Mrs. Moskvina will be 80 years old in 3 years ...... ..... She and her husband have 2 daughters both economists with occasional jobs overseas, bunch of grand-children, few datchas, places to see..... She deserves some peace...

 

[Ka3sha]

Tarasova:

Their career was successful at least because the girl, the Japanese, wanted to go to Russia and represent Russia and she achieved it. They are two-time European champions, world medalists and three-time Russian champions. They were at the forefront of world pair skating and one of the first pairs who landed a quad throw.
I believe that they had the best program in pairs skating in recent years, which Petya Chernyshev choreographed for them ( "Manfred" by Tchaikovsky). It was a stunning program, and I'll remember it while I'm alive.
They had a lot of injuries but they always healed them and moved on, I wish them success on their creative path and selfless service to the cause that they themselves chose
]

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

^^^ For sure, but AngieNikodinovLove needs to see more of her programs. I can only do so many Marcotte programs. LOL

 

[kwanfan1818]

I hope Yuko applies for reinstatement of her Japanese citizenship.

I remember reading somewhere -- maybe here? -- that she needs to wait 10 years before she can apply to have Japanese citizenship reinstated.

 

[Winnipeg]

Maybe some of the ten years has already gone by. Maybe she can live there without having full citizenship yet?

 

[julieann]

Sad but certainly not unexpected. They had more setbacks and comebacks that I care to count but they always had such an amazing outlook to their skating and relationship to each other. They accomplished so much most skaters can only dream of. 17 Grand Prix medals out of 19 competitions and only one of a few teams who won gold in all 6 competitions. Medaling at the Grand Prix Finals. 3X Russian National Champions, 2X World bronze medalist. 4th at the Olympics.

It's so sad they missed out at the Olympics at home, I'm sure they would have a medal it just wasn't meant to be. But they sure had a great comeback in 2015, two quads and beating S/K to win another European Championship.

Smirnov seems to be in his element with coaching, I sure wish them the best!

 

[Tinami Amori]

I remember reading somewhere -- maybe here? -- that she needs to wait 10 years before she can apply to have Japanese citizenship reinstated.

I don't remember the details, but i read it here too. It's very complicated (comparing to other countries) to get a Japanese citizenship OR! to reinstate it.

 

[Vash01]

I hope Yuko applies for reinstatement of her Japanese citizenship.

Why do you hope so? It's really Yuko's choice. May be she loves Russia enough to continue living there, making a career off the ice. Many people change countries during their life times.

 

[SmallFairy]

Not unexpected, but....

They were in a strange way not my favorites, but still I was rooting so hard for them all the time. Lots of great memories. Love the creativity they and Moskvina always showed, and some beautiful programs. Off to watch some YT!

 

[Tinami Amori]

Why do you hope so? It's really Yuko's choice. May be she loves Russia enough to continue living there, making a career off the ice. Many people change countries during their life times.

I know it would be a tall order for you to use logic and apply principles of causation to “me hopping” and “Yuko acting”, but do try.

 

[Spun Silver]

I will miss Yuko and Sasha a lot. They've been my favorite pair since Shen and Zhao retired. They had so many odds against them, and they stumbled a lot, but they were capable of superhuman effort and magic when it counted. Plus, such a wonderful yin-yang thing between the two of them. They couldnt be more different but eventually they became a true couple on the ice. Yuko's warrior sprite and Sasha's power and emotion made them my heart team. They were underestimated overachievers because of all the injuries and lost time, and that made their victories all the sweeter.

And then there was the delight of the Moskvina sightings. They did her proud.

I wish them both (all) many happy challenges and every joy possible in their next lives.

 

[Ka3sha]

Both Yuko and Sasha will work as coaches at Moskvina's school in St Petersburg and will continue skating together in shows
https://rsport.ria.ru/figure_skating/20170922/1126113455.html