Valentina Marchei/Ondrej Hotarek end partnership

[starrynight]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnqWXy5AaD3/?taken-by=valemarchei14

Valentina has posted that her and Ondrej are taking separate paths.

Valentina wants to aim to 2022 and wants to be back competing next season.

I assume she is aiming to continue in pairs?

The announcement (written in Italian) seems positive, so it's likely the split was amicable. I would not be surprised if they split simply because Ondrej could not commit to another 4 years. Which is not unexpected as Ondrej will be 38 in 2022.

Good luck to Valentina. I am very interested to see who her new partner might be.

 

[TAHbKA]

wow.

 

[rfisher]

I never thought I'd say this, but I'd love to see her with Matteo Guarise.

 

[Sk8swan]

Not out of blue... it was pretty obvious they were not going to compete this season as they haven't been training together on a regular basis anymore. I expected them to keep doing shows together though but it looks like that's not the case...

 

[Sk8swan]

I would not be surprised if they split simply because Ondrej could not commit to another 4 years. Which is not unexpected as Ondrej will be 38 in 2022.

...but she would be 36... not that much younger...

 

[hanca]

It may be quite hard to find a partner of her level.

Just checked icepartnersearch. Evegeni Krasnopolsky is still searching for a partner.

 

[starrynight]

...but she would be 36... not that much younger...

I mean yes. But it's a big call to continue skating into your late 30s. Only the very determined try to do this. It's not like going for another quad if you are 28. If Valentina is particularly determined all the best to her, but it's harder for a partner who may not want the same thing so passionately.

 

[hanca]

I mean yes. But it's a big call to continue skating into your late 30s. Only the very determined try to do this. It's not like going for another quad if you are 28. If Valentina is particularly determined all the best to her, but it's harder for a partner who may not want the same thing so passionately.

And he is the one doing the lifting, throwing etc. In late thirties the body is not the same as it was in twenties.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Oh no I really liked this team. Valentina is one of my favourites and such a great personality on the ice.

 

[3Lz+3Lo]

Sad to see this, enjoyed watching their programs.

 

[starrynight]

I was originally expecting they would retire (she is 32 and he is 34) and we would see them occasionally at shows. So in a way it is a bonus if we see more of Valentina.

I expect she will need to arrange for a partner to switch countries for her (or switch herself?) as I don't know if there is any Italian partner who is available.

 

[paskatefan]

So sad about this news. I loved their partnership. Wishing them both all the best in their futures.

 

[TAHbKA]

Did she write she is looking for a partner/will continue in pairs?
Given the state of the Italian ladies she and Kostner can continue till they are 60 (as much as I love Russo...)

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

WHAT?????????????????????????

I just woke uo... PLEASE say it isn't TRUE??????

I will add them my demise/split poll if I could..

WHY???

they are at their best ever and now ended?????? Like Yankowskas & Coughlin... they do their best ever and then split???

Why cant he stay in a partnership????

Ugggg, Im going back to Spain...

They were prob my favorite pair team....

NOT what I needed to hear today.....

 

[barbarafan]

WHAT?????????????????????????

I just woke uo... PLEASE say it isn't TRUE??????

I will add them my demise/split poll if I could..

WHY???

they are at their best ever and now ended?????? Like Yankowskas & Coughlin... they do their best ever and then split???

Why cant he stay in a partnership????

Ugggg, Im going back to Spain...

They were prob my favorite pair team....

NOT what I needed to hear today.....

Perhaps he would like to spend more time with family and lead a more normal life. He is certainly due. Hope he passes on his skills to younger generation or helps in admin ..building the skating world and making sure there are opportunities for kids.

 

[quartz]

wtf is going on anymore.

 

[hanca]

wtf is going on anymore.

I know, 34 year old who wants to retire! How dare he! Maybe he should have a chat with Zhang who would teach him that 34 is far too young age to retire.

 

[barbarafan]

I know, 34 year old who wants to retire! How dare he! Maybe he should have a chat with Zhang who would teach him that 34 is far too young age to retire.

Zang is only 34 in his dreams.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Perhaps he would like to spend more time with family and lead a more normal life. He is certainly due. Hope he passes on his skills to younger generation or helps in admin ..building the skating world and making sure there are opportunities for kids.

#Denied

lol

 

[MrMystery]

Unfortunate, as they were a great team, but not surprising. As we all know, figure skating takes quite a wear and tear on the body, and while I don't mean to imply that Hotarek is old, he is getting up there for a world class skater. Wishing them both the best. Let the speculation games begin on who Marchei will return with.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

What about a dream team of Smirnov and Marchei? What???????????????

Stolbova & Marchei? What? I'm a progressive!!!

 

[hanca]

Zang is only 34 in his dreams.

Don’t be unkind. If Zhang has ID that says that he is 34, we should politely pretend that we believe him.

 

[fan]

Now i'm super bummed about seguin and bilodeau...they would have kicked arse this season with all of the splits...

 

[escaflowne9282]

Bummer ! I liked them! Their performances at the Olympics were such a treat this past season. It's understandable given their ages but I am sas to see them end.

 

[barbarafan]

Don’t be unkind. If Zhang has ID that says that he is 34, we should politely pretend that we believe him.

Sorry....not that kind

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Ugggg.. Looking at this photo https://www.instagram.com/p/BnqWXy5AaD3/?taken-by=valemarchei14

it reminds me how much of a match they were for each other...

Equal in their expressiveness, equal in the ability to play characters and actually equal in technicality as well.

Im depressed. I love this team.

I wonder if they would perform professionally together or in non ISU shows ever.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Such a shame.

They were so on at the Olympics, and I really thought they had a legitimate shot at a medal in Milan.

Sadly, the team looked tight and nervous at the world championships. I think the pressure of expectations may have affected them.

 

[Sabine-Yuna]

That's sad. I liked them. Martin Bidar is still available.

 

[hanca]

That's sad. I liked them. Martin Bidar is still available.

So is Krasnohorsky.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Zang is only 34 in his dreams.

Give me a staple gun, soft lighting, and Vaseline on my camera lens, and I can play thirty - four like nobody's business, too.