PAIRS--
Confirmed to be done:
- Shen/Zhao (CHN): they'll be taking their Olympic gold medals and heading into retirement for good this time.
- Pang/Tong (CHN): the newly minted Olympic silver medalists and 2010 World champions are also headed for retirement and, like their Chinese counterparts, are an off-ice couple.
- Mukhortova/Trankov (RUS): the Russian duo has split since the World Championships last month, and he'll be skating with Tatiana Volosozhar (formerly of Ukraine).
- Volosozhar/Morozov (UKR): this off-ice couple bid adieu to competitive skating at the Olympics with an 8th place finish, and she will be teamed up with Maxim Trankov to represent Russia.
- Kavaguti/Smirnov (RUS): because of Yuko's recurring shoulder problems, there have been rumors that this team might be calling it quits this year. If they vow to stick together, who knows if her body will hold up another four years?
- Dube/Davison (CAN): while the team has said they are staying together for next year, they will be taking it one season at a time. Jessica's mental focus and passion for skating seems to have gone missing this season, and they're going to need to refocus and rededicate themselves if they hope to stand on the World podium again.
- Langlois/Hay (CAN): injuries kept this team from competing last season, and while they made a remarkable comeback in 09-10, it's hard to say whether they'll be sticking around.
- Zhang/Zhang (CHN): a disappointing 09-10 season aside, this team may choose to stay together to keep Chinese pairs skating on the map.
- Castile/Okolski (USA)
- Inoue/Baldwin (USA)
- Savchenko/Szolkowy (GER)
- Evora/Ladwig (USA)
- Bazarova/Larionov (RUS)
- Denney/Barrett (USA)
- Berton/Hotarek (ITA)
- James/Bonheur (FRA)
Confirmed to be done:
- Stephane Lambiel (SUI)
- Kevin van der Perren (BEL)
- Evgeni Plushenko (RUS): after a disappointing (but deserved) silver medal in Vancouver, the 27-year old Russian is saying he might stick around until Sochi 2014. While dreams are free, it's not likely that his ailing knees would allow him to reach his peak form of 2006 ever again. And as this year's Olympics proved, his transitionless programs and shaky jumps aren't going to cut it anymore.
- Evan Lysacek (USA): while he has said he can't imagine life without training and competing, the Olympic champion seems to have many off-ice aspirations, too.
- Johnny Weir (USA): the U.S. bronze medalist has been slowly falling down the rankings (and out of favor with the judges) the past few years. Weir has never really adapted to the new scoring system, and I would be shocked if he continues to compete.
- Samuel Contesti (ITA)
- Ryan Bradley (USA): this showman would be sincerely missed, and while he isn't likely to hang on until Sochi, he may continue to compete for a few more years.
- Daisuke Takahashi (JPN): the new World champ has said he will stick around at least until the World Championships next year in his home country of Japan.
- Brian Joubert (FRA)
- Jeremy Abbott (USA)
- Adam Rippon (USA)
- Patrick Chan (CAN): the Canadian champ has already said he will be re-using his "Phantom of the Opera" free skate for next season.
- Takahiko Kozuka (JPN)
- Nobunari Oda (JPN): the Japanese star has split from former coach Nikolai Morozov and is looking for a new training situation.
- Michal Brezina (CZE)
Confirmed to be done:
- Belbin/Agosto (USA): the pioneers of U.S. ice dance, Tanith and Ben will enjoy a new time in their lives. Their legacy will live on forever, and after making their broadcast debut for Universal Sports at the World Championships last month, we may hear them in the commentating booth again sometime soon.
- Delobel/Schoenfelder (FRA): the French duo made a valiant comeback to competition this year, placing 6th at the Olympic Games.
- Khokhlova/Novitski (RUS): Sergei is said to have health conditions that are aggravated by skating. Jana will likely look for a new partner.
- Navarro/Bommentre (USA): the sentimental favorites of many in the U.S. skating community, Kim and Brent will surely be missed.
- Virtue/Moir (CAN): the Olympic champs have been wishy-washy on their plans for next season.
- Domnina/Shabalin (RUS): while I'm sure they want to continue competing, there is no way Maxim's knees will hold up. They barely got through this season and I would be very surprised we ever see them back on competition ice.
- Davis/White (USA): they Olympic and World silver medalists have a lot more competitive aspirations in them, such as becoming the first U.S. ice dance team to win World gold.
- Faiella/Scali (ITA)
- Pechalat/Bourzat (FRA)
- Kerr/Kerr (GBR): they're in it for another season, at least.
- Zaretsky/Zaretsky (ISR)
- Samuelson/Bates (USA)
- Crone/Poirier (CAN)
- Bobrova/Soloviev (RUS
- Cappellini/Lanotte (ITA)
Confirmed to be done:
- Susanna Poykio (FIN)
- Julia Sebestyen (HUN): the four-time Olympic veteran has had a long and storied career.
- Yu-Na Kim (KOR): the Olympic champion has faced insurmountable pressure since her senior debut in 2006. Should she choose to leave the competitive skating world, her legacy is securely intact.
- Joannie Rochette (CAN): after suffering the heartbreaking loss of her mother in Vancouver, it is unknown whether the Olympic bronze medalist will find the emotional strength to return to a rigorous daily training schedule.
- Sarah Meier (SUI): the former European silver medalist has battled chronic injuries and failed to even qualify for the free skate at last month's World Championships.
- Carolina Kostner (ITA)
- Sasha Cohen (USA): a comeback this season led to a 4th place finish at the U.S. Championships in January.
- Miki Ando (JPN): shoulder injuries, poor programs and uninspired performances could sway Ando to hang up her skates, though the Worlds in Tokyo next March could be a strong motivating factor for the 22-year old.
- Mao Asada (JPN)
- Mirai Nagasu (USA): America's new leading lady is just getting started in what should be an illustrious career (*knock on wood*).
- Rachael Flatt (USA): it remains to be seen if she'll defer her college experience for a year or two or try to do both.
- Laura Lepisto (FIN): the World bronze medalist will look to increase her jump arsenal this quadrennium.
- Akiko Suzuki (JPN)
- Cynthia Phaneuf (CAN)
- Ksenia Makarova (RUS)
- Alena Leonova (RUS)
- Kiira Korpi (FIN)
- Ashley Wagner (USA): the U.S. bronze medalist missed qualifying for the Olympics this season, but seems motivated to hang around until Sochi.
1 comment:
Thanks for the list. I was wondering which skaters we'd likely be seeing next season.
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