Skater Retirements 2020

[barbarafan]

Oh man!!! And I am officially and totally bummed.

I know....I guess there were not any partners that could skate for Canada that she could skate with. I am so sad. I was hoping she would skate with Mark Bardai but it seems like that was not an option. I believe the cost of his skating would have to be paid etc. or maybe there is no way for him to get citizenship in time for Olympics. Or maybe they don't like each other...who knows. That was her big dream to go to the Olympics but I guess she has given it up. She had coached for a while in Russia before Dylan approached her to team up...(and she was attending university at the same time) She will be a fabulous coach but still.....

 

[Sylvia]

Valentina Marchei posted her official retirement announcement today on her FB:
https://www.facebook.com/108864845816490/posts/3204702192899391/

In Italian: https://www.instagram.com/p/CEmjBHMFFXc/

 

[MsZem]

What a career - getting to her first Olympics after a decade at the senior level (second-generation Olympian, too), and then the successful switch to pairs in her late twenties. That's real commitment and love for the sport. I just wish she'd gotten a GP or Euros medal, that would have been nice

Wishing Vale all the best, whatever she decides to do next.

 

[Amy L]

Daria Panenkova announced her retirement. She is planning to become a coach.

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[miffy]

Sad for Valentina if she wanted to come back. Her pairs career was fantastic to see, just too short.
She was close to a Euros or GP medal several times in singles and pairs, I also felt bad she didn’t make the Olympics in 2006 and 2010.
Her reaction when she fell on the ending pose of her SP at Worlds 2007 never fails to make me smile

Valentina MARCHEI - 2007 Worlds - SP

youtu.be

 

[Sylvia]

RESPECT to the "old" man! (he will be 33 next month)

Sergei Voronov announced his retirement

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFAhXBiqoIM/?igshid=1rex87pc7e44s

 

[AJ Skatefan]

RESPECT to the "old" man! (he will be 33 next month)

We used to call him “Grandpa Sergei.” I always liked him and thought it was cool that he hung in there for so long.

 

[PeterG]

RESPECT to the "old" man! (he will be 33 next month)

Six world championships, one reaching the top ten.

Seven trips to Euros, one silver medal, one bronze and one almost-bronze in his first Euros appearance, placing fourth.

Three tips to the GPF, with one bronze medal.

Twenty three appearances at Grand Prix events, multiple medals won including gold, silver and bronze.

A silver and bronze medal at Junior Worlds.

14 consecutive appearances at Russian Nationals, would have been 16 consecutive except for his withdrawal at his second-to-last Russians. Considering some see Russians as perhaps a mini-Worlds, impressive that he won two gold medals, three silver and two bronze.

Cheers, mate!

 

[sonsofanarchy]

Why did not Marchei not continue in pairs? She has not competed since 2018 I believe.

 

[Ananas Astra]

Why did not Marchei not continue in pairs? She has not competed since 2018 I believe.

Lack of a partner, I guess. Hotarek retired in 2018.
Marchei was with Holiday on Ice for one season IIRC.

 

[Sylvia]

Elena Radionova officially announced her retirement today on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFb7SsEDBGQ/

From the current "From Russia with love" thread:

Not surprising, but Elena Radionova officially announced her retirement. Here’s a long interview with her (in Rus)

"Я выжала максимум": откровенное интервью Елены Радионовой

Бронзовый призер чемпионата мира 2015 года, первая в истории двукратная чемпионка мира среди юниоров Елена Радионова откровенно побеседовала с Анатолием... РИА Новости Спорт, 22.09.2020

rsport.ria.ru

Anyone can go ahead and start a new thread with a translation or summary of her interview.

THANK YOU @Ka3sha for doing it : https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ounces-her-retirement-“i-gave-it-all”.107603/

 

[Ka3sha]

Anyone can go ahead and start a new thread with a translation or summary of her interview.

Am doing it right now

 

[Sylvia]

Cross-posting Nick Zaccardi's article on Polina Edmunds, post-retirement, here too:

Polina Edmunds wanted another Olympic run. The coronavirus pandemic stopped it.

Polina Edmunds, a 2014 U.S. Olympic figure skater, retired from the sport due to the coronavirus pandemic.

olympics.nbcsports.com

And even though all but one (Edmunds) of these skaters retired before 2020 - from the October 2020 issue of IFS - BEYOND THE BOARDS: WHAT COMES NEXT? By Brooklee Han (published online on Nov. 2, 2020) - Ashley Wagner, Dylan Moscovitch, Danielle O'Brien, Greg Merriman, Polina Edmunds, Jeremy Abbott, Jenna McCorkell:

Beyond the Boards: What Comes Next? – International Figure Skating

Transitioning into real life is a challenge for all athletes, including figure skaters who have to navigative life beyond the boards.

www.ifsmagazine.com

How Brooklee Han ended her article (eta that she tweeted yesterday that she interviewed all of these skaters virtually back in July):

... That being said, my retirement has not been all sunshine and roses.
Like my former teammates O’Brien and Merriman, I find it challenging to truly connect with people outside of skating and I, too, have grappled with feeling left behind by my former classmates, who are now well established in their professional and adult lives. Like Edmunds, I often wonder if I will ever find something I love as much as I loved skating. And like Abbott, I am uncertain of who I am if I am not a skater.
If I learned anything from my conversations with these athletes it is that who you surround yourself with during any major life transition can make a huge difference. And, it makes no difference whether someone was a World or Olympic champion or came 20th at a World Championships. Every athlete experiences a loss of direction when they retire and that experience is different for everyone.
The best advice from all of us is not to hesitate to reach out for support. As we have all learned, there is a good chance that a fellow athlete has gone through the exact same thing and will be more than willing to help guide you through the maze of life beyond the boards.

2 Sergei Voronov interviews post-retirement: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...was-happy-to-skate-till-the-age-of-32.107579/

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I always get nervous to click on this thread.

 

[Jeschke]

I always get nervous to click on this thread.

This!
All Perkova fans might have had another minor heart attack entering FSU thanks to @Sylvia

 

[mkokos82]

I don't know if this was posted earlier, but Plutowska / Flemin have called it a career according to this post from Polish Figure Skating Association

Polski Związek Łyżwiarstwa Figurowego / Polish Figure Skating Association

⚡️Nowa kadra narodowa i pożegnania⚡️ Zarząd PZŁF, na wniosek Komisji Sportu, zaktualizował na ostatnim posiedzeniu 🌟kadrę narodową 🌟⬇️⬇️⬇️ http://www.pfsa.com.pl/docs/1718/PZLF2018_kadra.pdf...

www.facebook.com

 

[missing]

Sean Rabbitt has announced his intention to step away from competitive skating.

 

[Sylvia]

Sean Rabbitt has announced his intention to step away from competitive skating.

^^^ Sean tweeted a link to this Instagram post which he ends this way: "My fans, YOU are the reason I skate, the reason I still love what I do! I might not be competing any longer, but I’ll be skating for you all every opportunity I can! "

Interview Sean Rabbitt did in September 2020 in which he recalls some of his most memorable skating highlights (starting here):

ENTREVISTA CON SEAN RABBITT

Una entrevista llena de inspiración y honestidad! Sean Rabbitt nos muestra que nada es imposible y que ni siquiera la edad puede detenerte cuando quieres alc...

www.youtube.com

He cites his 2019 Nationals short program (watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxp15HyFeMA ) as well as his bronze in his first international for Team USA at 2015 Autumn Classic International.

 

[BittyBug]

Awww, Sean Rabbitt had such an amazing run. It's hard to remember a nationals without him there, and he was always a pleasure to watch.

 

[Garden Kitty]

Sean always evidenced such an enthusiasm for the sport and seemed so supportive of other skaters. I'll miss seeing him compete

 

[kre56]

Best of luck in your new venture Sean! You are such an inspiration to so many!

 

[paskatefan]

All the best to Sean! It's been a pleasure to watch him develop from the junior to senior level through the years. Power forever!