2025-26 Retirements, Splits and New Partnerships

[cocteautwin]

Josefin.. another retirement that I expected to happen but still feels so sad. I'll miss her, she's so special. Anyway, I wish her all the best.

 

[bartlebooth]

It's not surprising, still quite sad.
Josefin’s skating is so expressive and her story is so inspiring. Drawing a parallel with cinema (one of her interests) one could say that she has achieved the status of “cult” skater, just as there are cult films that are beloved and cherished through generations.
She has achieved a lot in figure skating and on her own terms: she took a break and came back later, was coached by her sisters.
She made it to the biggest stages even if her technical ceiling wasn't the highest, but, boy oh boy, what a performer she is!. Honestly, a regret I have about her career is that her best seasons were during COVID, with all the deriving limitations: the way she skated at 2021 Worlds in Stockholm, I would have loved her to have an adoring home crowd on their feet, and deservedly so! At least this season, struggles notwithstanding, she experienced a standing ovation at Euros. She skates so big, emoting with her whole body, and I feel that she is the golden standard for Performance (not that the judges cared).
I wish her all the best for her future projects, hoping that show skating will find a place in them, along with coaching and choreographing.
Since she is also a writer, I would also love to read opinion pieces on figure skating, or maybe hear her host a podcast. Great to read that she is working on a skating-related screenplay! I hope it will see the light!
Thank you, Josefin, for your unconventional path and for being such a treasure!

 

[chepe]

I will miss her so much. She's an actress on the ice.

She does the best tragic face in the business
It's so unfortunate we didn't see her at Olympic ice one last time, but at least she went out on a high note, throwing out one of her best performances in her last Euros.

 

[Ivana]

This one hurts. I was almost sure it was coming, but it still hurts. Josefin was a rare gem, she will be missed.

 

[frompolandwithlove]

Oh this one is sad. One of the most underappreciated skaters out there. In another dimension she goes viral for her big, dramatic skating, always so genuine and generous on the ice.

 

[crystalspin]

Thank you Josefin for that beautiful skate at Euros that brought me to tears. Cheers to a long career, will be very missed next season.

 

[elektra blue]

Looks like we have an announcement from Queen Jos

Josefin Taljegård on Instagram: "It is time."

2,984 likes, 274 comments - josefintaljegard on April 15, 2026: "It is time.".

www.instagram.com

not a surprise but sad anyway. she's still the best Joker on ice

 

[ladyjane]

I'm not even a woman's skating fan but Josefin was (and is) something else. A highlight of performance! She'll be greatly missed.

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Another retirement post, not unexpected for me

 

[triplelutzzzzz]

Josefin.. another retirement that I expected to happen but still feels so sad. I'll miss her, she's so special. Anyway, I wish her all the best.

Josefin retired? Wow, I'll miss her skating at comps

 

[Magill]

Another retirement post, not unexpected for me

Not unexpected at all but they're going to be missed so dearly. Good luck to RikuRyu and thank you so much for all the wonderful moments on and off the ice!!!! All the best for the future

 

[Sai Bon]

Another retirement post, not unexpected for me

I just saw a TSL post on FB and hoped it was't true... but of course it was. They retire on a high.
So grateful that they overcame so many obstacles and achieved their dream.

 

[moonvine]

So in concerns to the ISP for the US, Jimmy Ma is still listed and he has said that he planned to retire after this past season. I would say don't put too much thought in Chock and Bates still being listed at this time.

Where and when did he say this? I certainly hope not. Someone’s got to bring home the bacon.

 

[sissy7]

We were all expecting it, this bittersweet moment

RikuRyu retirement

"We, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, have decided to retire from competitive skating at the end of this season.

To everyone who has supported us since the very beginning of our team, thank you so much.

We, “Rikuryu,” have been able to continue competing thanks to the support of so many people.

Whenever we struggled, there were always people who reached out and stood by our side.

Each and every bit of that support made us stronger and became the driving force that carried us this far.

We also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Kinoshita Group and all of our sponsors, as well as to our family and friends who have stayed by our side through everything.

And to Coach Bruno and everyone on the coaching team who have supported us until now, we are truly full of gratitude.

Thank you for always believing in us and guiding us in such a positive way.

The time we spent walking this path together, sharing both joy and disappointment with all of you, is an irreplaceable treasure to us.

We will never forget all the experiences and encounters we have had, nor the gratitude we feel toward everyone who has supported us.

We are drawing a line under our competitive careers, but we feel that we have given it everything we had, and we have no regrets. Everything up to now is something we are proud of, and it is a precious part of our lives.

Going forward, we will continue taking on new challenges together so that more people in Japan can learn about pair skating.

We would be very happy if you would continue to watch over us warmly.

Thank you very much for everything over so many years.

-Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara"



Edit: sorryyyyyy, duplicate post

 

[cocteautwin]

RikuRyu... So many beautiful moments, incredible career that started with a lot of potential and exceeded it all. I totally expected it to happen, thety deserve to rest, go home and have an amazing next chapter of their life. But it's hard to imagine not having them on the ice. I'm sure they will contribute to develop many more great teams from Japan. Also, beside they skating I appreciate the quality of their relationship, the respect, trust and care they showed for each other, we not always see it in pairs. Great legacy and example to follow.
Happy for them, sad for myself.

 

[ladyjane]

Not unexpected but still a bit sad about Rikuryu. However, they did end their career with one of the best Free skates I have ever seen. Talking about ending on a high, clearly applies!

 

[Karoltyna]

I guess I expected this announcement. But still I will miss them do much. All the best wishes to them.

 

[Livi]

Another retirement post, not unexpected for me

I'm so sad

 

[Ivana]

I'm sad to see Rikuryu go, but at the same time happy for them step into the next chapter of their lifes. They both seem pasionate about developing the next generation of Japanese pair skaters and I do hope they will succeed in their dreams. Their SP in team event and FS in individual competition were the best farewell they could have had.

 

[Arriba627]

I first saw them skate live at Skate America 2021. It was obvious even then that they had something special. I remember they seemed so determined and fierce. Thx for all the memories.