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- Jul 15, 2024
Kobi Chant has announced his retirement. He was an ice dancer representing Australia with Romy Malcolm.
2024-25 Retirements, Splits and New Partnerships
- Thread starter surimi
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- Oct 25, 2012
The last international competition for Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA (ITA) was the Cup Of China FS on 11th November 2023, while the last international competition for Barbora KUCIÁNOVÁ / Martin BIDAŘ (CZE) was the Warsaw Cup FS on 22nd November 2024.
So, with representing the Czech Republic, they can hit the ground running.
But, I can't see Anna getting a Czech passport in time for the Olympics.
Looking forward to seeing what they are like together.
CaroLiza_fan
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- Sep 16, 2024
They would have to compete for an Olympic spot at Beijing in September and that will be very difficult. If they were superior jumpers like Izzo/Maierhofer they might have a chance, but I believe Valesi is weak in that area. At Beijing we will likely see a strong American or Italian team, plus a strong Russian team and a rising Chinese team trying to get the three spots. In addition, three or four smaller fed teams who have already been competing for some years together. So even if Anna got a passport it seems to me highly unlikely they would even qualify for 2026. Probably aiming for 2030 by the time which Bidar will be 32 years old...?
As Anna has already been out of international competition for a year, they can compete as soon as the paperwork comes through with her release. If they can get the technical minimums, they can compete at Worlds this year, which is an easier route for qualifying. However, to achieve that they would need to be skating better in this new partnership than either did in their last ones.
That's a shame.
I think they'd moved to Bergamo to train. I wonder whether being in a new country put too much strain on the partnership.
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To my understanding, in Beijing, one Russian pairs team will compete in order to qualify for the 2026 Olympics, NOT to get 3 spots for Russia in pairs.
You mention that Bidar will be in his early 30s by 2030. With desire, effort, and excellence, age factors are increasingly being overcome by pairs athletes as demonstrated by Deanna Stellato; Maxime DesChamps; Danny O'Shea; Zoe Jones; Matteo Guarise; et al.
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I *think* that aroundtheworld778 was assuming that there would only be 3 spots left to fill after worlds, not that Russia would be trying to get three spots.
I think the three spots refer to the three spots total that will be available to qualify at Beijing. 16 Olympic spots are qualified at Worlds this year for Pairs, with an additional 3 up for qualification at Beijing for 19 spots total for Pairs at the Olympics.
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- Sep 1, 2020
^^ Thanks for clarifying. Only 19 pairs spots are allowed for the 2026 Olympics? Not great, IMHO, for growth and advancement for athletes. 
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- Jan 17, 2022
I am not sure what caused the split, but I don't think training in Italy was the cause.That's a shame.
Claudia herself is Italian and was training in Bergamo as a Singles skater before switching to pairs.
Noah has moved a lot for his career before - Valencia then Granada then Madrid, then Egna, then Caen (for a short partnership with France's Clelia Liget-Latus) and then Bergamo.
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- Jan 17, 2022
Small addition to this: There will very likely be more than three spots up for grabs as there's a high chance a country without a second or third team at Worlds will place high enough to qualify for two or three spots (Georgia, Australia, USA, Italy, Germany, ...).
The 19-spot limit in total stays the same, of course (and still makes no sense - 5 full warm-up groups would be 20 teams).
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- Feb 24, 2012
THat's a tall order even with a very weak pairs field. I mean how much time would they skate as a team? Let alone get programs together.
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- May 27, 2021
Russian ice dancers Yulia Churkina/Boris Frolov have split as Yulia is looking for a partner https://www.tulup.ru/partnerview4930.html
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- Jan 17, 2022
Israeli Junior pair Sofia Enkina / Nikita Kovalenko have seemingly split, as Nikita is on IcePartnerSearch.
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- Jan 17, 2022
Two more splits coming to you via IcePartnerSearch:
Hilda Taylor / Alexander Buchholdt (2024/25 Jr National Champions)
Rachel Martins / Juel Kowalczyk (2023/24 Advanced Novice National silver medalists, 9th at 2024/25 Jr Nationals)
Hilda Taylor / Alexander Buchholdt (2024/25 Jr National Champions) Rachel Martins / Juel Kowalczyk (2023/24 Advanced Novice National silver medalists, 9th at 2024/25 Jr Nationals)
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Oh no, I really liked them on the JGP
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- Jan 29, 2007
So this is the reason they have send other pairs to Bavarian Open (maybe giving chance to try to get JWS mins) and they are not listed to any competition any more at local fed's competition spots list. IMO they would have been able to reach to the scores. It was not long partnership them. I don't follow Hilda at Ig but stalked if she has commented about it - there was nothing. It was noteable she had photos with her previous partner but nothing with Alexander, not even from the podium at National championships but she had photo from the podium 2023 with Nolan.Two more splits coming to you via IcePartnerSearch:
Another IcePartnerSearch split:
Noemie Rolland/Etienne Lacasse (pairs, 4th at 2024-25 Junior Nationals)
Noemie Rolland/Etienne Lacasse (pairs, 4th at 2024-25 Junior Nationals)- Status
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