2025-26 Retirements, Splits and New Partnerships

[cocteautwin]

I'm here for all the crazy ideas for Michał and already (partner)shipping Zosia and Rysiek.

I'm all for Zosia and Rysiek. As for Michał, I'm team Katia (at least let them do trials) but I also saw Marietta Atkins on ice partner search for pairs, so who knows.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Lim/Quan have split. Both are looking for new partners.

https://x.com/rockerskating/status/2046396856578490402

This broke my heart They were such great storytellers. I loved them and the connection they had as partners - always supporting each other through the rough times. I know Ye really struggled with his twizzles this year and that let them down. The only silver lining in this for me is if maybe Hannah and Nathan Lickers partner up? Hannah is so captivating, I really need her to find a good new partner fast as I will miss seeing her on the ice.

 

[Karoltyna]

I'm all for Zosia and Rysiek. As for Michał, I'm team Katia (at least let them do trials) but I also saw Marietta Atkins on ice partner search for pairs, so who knows.

Marietta has lots of elegance on ice, isn't reliable jumper but her 3T and 3S would be just enough for pairs. Katia trying for pairs is my headcanon, but maby next quad? She still places reliably in european top 10.

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Hmm, Hannah Lim and Paul Ayer for Mexico?

Or Lim and Lickers for Canada?!

 

[cocteautwin]

Marietta has lots of elegance on ice, isn't reliable jumper but her 3T and 3S would be just enough for pairs. Katia trying for pairs is my headcanon, but maby next quad? She still places reliably in european top 10.

She does but I'm afraid her jumps won't improve enough to let her climb in the ranks and she looked a but burned out and dissapointed with her scores for the last few seasons, so I think maybe pairs could be an opportunity for her to get even bigger achievements and find fresh passion and new goals. It's not easy to fix the technique at her age in singles but she's still young for pairs and her jumping capacities plus experience would be definitely enough. Her height and body type also seem to be suitable for pairs. Of course, I have no idea if this is sth she has desire to try and if she and Michał would be a good match but looking from the outside some factors seem to be favorable.

 

[Karoltyna]

She does but I;m afraid her jumps won't improve enough to let her climb in the ranks and she looked a but burned out and dissapointed with her scores for the last few seasons, so I think maybe pairs could be an opportunity for her to get even bigger achievements and find fresh passion and new goals. It's not easy to fix the technique at her age in singles but she's still young for pairs and her jumping capacities plus experience would be definitely enough. Her height and body type also seem to be suitable for pairs. Of course, I have no idea if this is sth she has desire to try and if she and Michał would be a good match but looking from the outside some factors seem to be favorable.

I could totally see her going for throw quads she has the courage and gritt

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I´m really sad about Hannah and Ye, they were really growing on me this season and their FD at Worlds was so wonderful and emotional. I do wonder if they already had decided then.
They seem to split on good terms, so that is good to know that they support each other. I hope they can both have success in finding new partners.

 

[4everchan]

I am on the Lim and Lickers boat too now.

I could also see Lim and Therien, but that would not be my first choice.

I am not sure whom I see yet for Ye.

We need a new game I gather. Guess the new teams Maybe we should start another thread not to burden this one

 

[FlyingFeather]

He was born there while his parents were there for work but moved really early to China and then to Canada as a toddler. At this point, getting Icelandic citizenship would be difficult and timely. So if the goal is 2030, I wouldn't be surprised to see both of them skating still for Korea. They would have to sit out one entire year to represent Canada, which is not such a big deal if they don't find a partner quickly... but in ice dance, it can be tough to climb the rankings so not being able to compete this year may present a challenge for future qualification. So my hunch would be that they are looking to represent Korea, with a chance of coming back representing Canada, which they did as juniors.

Considering how long it took for Korea to release Minsol Kwon... I am wondering if that's a risk to take for them to move to another country.

Best case scenario for Korea is that they both find partners and don't switch countries, thereby doubling the country's ice dance international representation. A little off topic--I know that a lot of people don't like the Olympic team event, but it does seem to motivate federations to invest in all the disciplines. I wonder how invested the Korean federation is in keeping one or both of them in view to the 2030 team event. Also, it's like I remember another country having a team split, and then two new partnerships emerged which bolstered their program. But I honestly can't remember who, when, which country, and if it was ice dance or pairs. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

 

[Diana Delafield]

Best case scenario for Korea is that they both find partners and don't switch countries, thereby doubling the country's ice dance international representation. A little off topic--I know that a lot of people don't like the Olympic team event, but it does seem to motivate federations to invest in all the disciplines. I wonder how invested the Korean federation is in keeping one or both of them in view to the 2030 team event. Also, it's like I remember another country having a team split, and then two new partnerships emerged which bolstered their program. But I honestly can't remember who, when, which country, and if it was ice dance or pairs. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

I doubt if you're thinking as far back as the 1970s, but Irina Rodnina and Alexei Ulanov won world and Olympic titles in the early years of the decade. Then he fell in love with their second-rank pairs girl and split with Rodnina to skate with Liudmila Smirnova. Rodnina, in revenge, acquired the less-experienced new partner Alexander Zaitsev, whipped him into shape, and continued winning everything in sight for the rest of the decade, battling with Smirnova/Ulanov.

 

[Ivana]

Best case scenario for Korea is that they both find partners and don't switch countries, thereby doubling the country's ice dance international representation. A little off topic--I know that a lot of people don't like the Olympic team event, but it does seem to motivate federations to invest in all the disciplines. I wonder how invested the Korean federation is in keeping one or both of them in view to the 2030 team event. Also, it's like I remember another country having a team split, and then two new partnerships emerged which bolstered their program. But I honestly can't remember who, when, which country, and if it was ice dance or pairs. Does this ring a bell with anyone?

I guess you mean Spain in ice dance when Sara Hurtado/Adrian Diaz split in 2015 and Hurtado/Khaliavin and Smart/Diaz emerged the next season.

 

[saine]

Fiona Bombardier and Benjamin Mimar (Pairs, Canada) have split. Fiona will be looking for a new partner.

 

[moonvine]

Fiona Bombardier and Benjamin Mimar (Pairs, Canada) have split. Fiona will be looking for a new partner.

What on earth is going on with Canadian pairs?!?!

 

[4everchan]

Boooooooo. Saw that one coming.

RE what's going on with Canadian pairs and dance, could be also due to lack of funding for some.

 

[Dreamer57]

Boooooooo. Saw that one coming.

RE what's going on with Canadian pairs and dance, could be also due to lack of funding for some.

Really, how did you see that? I thought they were back in training a little while ago.

 

[Dreamer57]

Regarding Lim/Quan splitting... I am so sad. I had a thought after he struggled with the twizzles this season that Hannah might drop him and I'm upset it was true. They were such a special team. I'm wondering if Hannah will partner with a Canadian guy who will try for Korean citizenship for 2030 (since there are literally no Korean guys who are in ID to my knowledge). Or she could switch back to Canada but miss an entire international season . Wishing good luck to both of them, they are so talented.

The Canadian field is quite depleted now behind Lajoie/Lagha, it's worth switching back. And KSU focuses almost all its efforts in singles skating.

 

[crystalspin]

Fiona Bombardier and Benjamin Mimar (Pairs, Canada) have split. Fiona will be looking for a new partner.

Wow, Canada is truly starting from ground up in this new quad! I hope they have enough pair teams for the host spot at SC. Best of luck to Fiona finding a new partner.

 

[4everchan]

Really, how did you see that? I thought they were back in training a little while ago.

They vanished from patinage Québec funding list

 

[Cutting the ice]

Let’s hope Fiona and Ben both continue to skate. This is very sad. Perhaps Loucas and Fiona?

 

[4everchan]

Let’s hope Fiona and Ben both continue to skate. This is very sad. Perhaps Loucas and Fiona?

I have the feeling that both Loucas and Kelly Ann are done... but I hope that both Ben and Fiona continue as well. I think a really striking match may be Ferland with Fiona but then, he does have a partner.