2022-23 Retirements, Splits and New Partnerships

[AlexBreeze]

Russian pair skaters Daria Pavliuchenko / Denis Khodykin, the 2020 European bronze medallists, have split. Denis says he intends to continue his career in one way or another, nothing has been heard from Dasha yet.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqnriS3ILQz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

His post sounds like Dasha can't continue.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

I'm glad I got to see Dasha and Denis live, they always stood out from the rest of the Russian pairs. It would have been so exciting to see their further progress - the way they developed their programs towards more acrobatic content.

 

[surimi]

Russian pair skaters Daria Pavliuchenko / Denis Khodykin, the 2020 European bronze medallists, have split. Denis says he intends to continue his career in one way or another, nothing has been heard from Dasha yet.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqnriS3ILQz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

That's a pity. I thought they had so much to offer yet. Their Tron(sp?) program was one of my favorites the season they skated to it. Good luck to both partners in their next careers.

 

[Seven Sisters]

I'm glad I got to see Dasha and Denis live, they always stood out from the rest of the Russian pairs. It would have been so exciting to see their further progress - the way they developed their programs towards more acrobatic content.

I agree. That Sing Sing Sing program, Be Italian, Denis’ goofiness and flair for performance…I found them such fun, and will miss them. All the best to them in their future endeavors.

 

[Szayel008]

His post sounds like Dasha can't continue

She was seen as a children's coach. Moreover, they say that Darya has vasculitis.

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

Now that you mention it, she appeared in some photos at Moskvich around Christmas with some younger kids' group. I didn't think much of it at the time, but maybe she'll pop up there as a coach.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Sergei Dobroskokov says that P/Kh wanted to split/retire even before Olympics

https://tass.ru/sport/17449229

 

[LadyB]

I'm glad I got to see Dasha and Denis live, they always stood out from the rest of the Russian pairs. It would have been so exciting to see their further progress - the way they developed their programs towards more acrobatic content.

Same here. They were great and brought a fresh breeze to Russian pair skating- just hope they both find success and projects that make them happy going forward. Fingers crossed my chubby cheeks Den will find an appropriate partner.

 

[LadyB]

Sergei Dobroskokov says that P/Kh wanted to split/retire even before Olympics

https://tass.ru/sport/17449229

Not surprised, as talk and rumours about that are going on for quite some time.

 

[Skater Boy]

Russian pair skaters Daria Pavliuchenko / Denis Khodykin, the 2020 European bronze medallists, have split. Denis says he intends to continue his career in one way or another, nothing has been heard from Dasha yet.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqnriS3ILQz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Sad I liked this team and thought they had a chance. But I guess Covid and Russia being banned hasn't helped.

 

[Skater Boy]

She was seen as a children's coach. Moreover, they say that Darya has vasculitis.

So young? Was that what Irina Slutskaya had? Or was it Eliza Tut?

 

[Szayel008]

So young? Was that what Irina Slutskaya had? Or was it Eliza Tut?

Yes, the disease is like Irina's.
She was with Alina Vafina at the competitions. (1:23:20)

 

[skylark]

German pair skater Ruben Blommaert has announced his retirement

I think it was wonderfully brave of Ruben to write that "for my part I have always valued the 'having fun' part higher than 'the result' part. I need to enjoy the journey to be successful at it." There's so much attention paid to the Hard-Work-Mindset that it seems like we forget that it doesn't work that way for some people, and that for some people, enjoying the day-to-day is what makes the hard work worthwhile and what makes success possible. It varies according to temperament, character, and whether happiness comes with the daily grind or a goal to be postponed.

Just chalk that up to one more item on the list of things that make skating with a partner a difficult and iffy proposition.

I can say that I'm really glad Ruben enjoyed his time in Japan so much. I can imagine that might have made his decision harder; but on the other hand, he can feel that he's going out on a high, which is a great thing.

To link this to another topic on previous pages, I'm remembering that Alexa and Brandon said from the beginning that their work habits were more similar with each other than had been the case with their previous partners. It shows. Also, I clearly recall that Alexa said nearly a year ago in an interview that if she and Brandon continued this year, one of her reasons was that she wanted to experience how competing would be different with the elevated self-confidence that came with being world champions.

Just to be clear, I'm not making any predictions about Alexa & Brandon continuing, or not. Nothing has been announced? I think they'll follow their hearts ... and I'm sure it's a very difficult, very complicated decision for them and they may take their time making it again.

 

[katymay]

I'm glad I got to see Dasha and Denis live, they always stood out from the rest of the Russian pairs. It would have been so exciting to see their further progress - the way they developed their programs towards more acrobatic content.

One of my all time favorite Russian pairs. And my heart broke for them, they always seemed to 'just miss'. I will miss them.

 

[AlexBreeze]

Denis said in a short interview that he is now in his best shape ever. He is doing difficult combos like 3Lz+3T+3T, 3S+1Eu+3S+1Eu+3S and even learning a quad. He hasn't found a partner yet. He still wants to show unusual creative programs.

https://sport24.ru/news/figureskating/2023-04-05-figuristy-darya-pavlyuchenko-i-denis-khodykin-pochemu-raspalas-para-intervyu-denisa-khodykina?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_content=-1001322682980:5603

 

[AlexBreeze]

Georgian pair Karina Safina/Luka Berulava have split. Karina has posted it on her IG. She says that she leaves Pavel Sliusarenko team. It wasn't her decision. She is looking for a partner and recovering.

 

[Mariiiiskate]

This was really excepted. Hopefully she can recover and finds new partner. Is she continuing to represent Georgia is the question? her IG bio has nothing about what country she is representing.

I wonder if Nastya and Luka might get announced soon.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Georgian pair Karina Safina/Luka Berulava have split. Karina has posted it on her IG. She says that she leaves Pavel Sliusarenko team. It wasn't her decision. She is looking for a partner and recovering.

This doesn't come as a surprise to me, and I hope Karina can find peace and healing in a better environment (and hopefully with a more supportive partner) in the near future. I wish her all of the best of luck, both for her health (physically and mentally) and for her career in skating.

 

[ladyjane]

Although expected, I'm really sad. They went out on a low, and Karina really needs to recover. I wish them the best for the future.

 

[Dreamer57]

Georgian pair Karina Safina/Luka Berulava have split. Karina has posted it on her IG. She says that she leaves Pavel Sliusarenko team. It wasn't her decision. She is looking for a partner and recovering.

I am so sad for her, she has achieved history for georgia only to be treated in this way. Hope she makes a full recovery and finds a better team.