2025-26 Retirements, Splits and New Partnerships

[saine]

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (Ice Dance, Canada) have split.

Discussion thread here.

 

[saine]

Starr Andrews and Daniil Parkman are a Pairs team for the US.

Discussion thread here.

 

[Moxiejan]

Edited to clarify:

I’m so confused … who will be Luke Wang’s partner? It had been thought by many that the Flores-Wang breakup meant that Starr-Wang would be a team.

 

[dorispulaski]

There were all kinds of rumors about Starr and Luke Wang...

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

Because they're dating people assumed they'd skate together. But just because they work as a couple doesn't mean they work as a pairs team.

 

[saine]

Fiona Bombardier and Loucas Ethier are now a Pairs team for Canada.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

Edited to clarify:

I’m so confused … who will be Luke Wang’s partner? It had been thought by many that the Flores-Wang breakup meant that Starr-Wang would be a team.

That was speculation. While it has also been rumored that Starr tried out with Luke, and with Balazs Nagy, Luke's split with Olivia Flores was not precipitated by a desire to partner with his girlfriend on the ice. Luke is apparently going to be attending UCLA, per his posts on IG. Whether or not he is planning to continue skating while going to school, has not been confirmed.

 

[moonvine]

Edited to clarify:

I’m so confused … who will be Luke Wang’s partner? It had been thought by many that the Flores-Wang breakup meant that Starr-Wang would be a team.

Katie?

 

[IceDancingQueen]

Marjorie Lajoie and Zachary Lagha (Ice Dance, Canada) have split.

Discussion thread here.

I am genuinely so shocked and saddened by this. There is nothing left of Canadian ice dance for the foreseeable future

 

[saine]

More Canadian Pairs updates from the Skate BC/YT High Performance entry list.

Ava Cheung/Stephen Parc Qu Lee have split as they are entered for the competition with different partners.

Ava Cheung/Keith Lau are now a Pairs team, I'm assuming Canada for now and are competing at the Junior level.

Elena Peltier/Stephen Parc Qu Lee are now a Pairs team, assuming Canada as well, they're entered for Novice.

 

[FlossieH]

There seem to be a lot of developing pairs at Connaught now?

 

[Diana Delafield]

There seem to be a lot of developing pairs at Connaught now?

Kirsten Moore Towers is back at full coaching strength after baby Jack's birth in February, and is busily planning the growth of the club's pairs program over the next few years.

 

[Silevril Ilumire]

Edited to clarify:

I’m so confused … who will be Luke Wang’s partner? It had been thought by many that the Flores-Wang breakup meant that Starr-Wang would be a team.

Or Audrey Shin?

 

[saine]

Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (Pairs, Australia) have split. He is taking a step back from competitive skating, she is open to looking for a new partner.

 

[ramurphy2005]

Epps/Gilman, Ice Dance, split

Julia Epps on Instagram: "After 12 years together, Blake and I have decided to part ways. I wish nothing but the best for him, as he was a significant part of my life and I am so thankful for the experiences I’ve gained from our time together. Though

julia_epps on May 17, 2026: "After 12 years together, Blake and I have decided to part ways. I wish nothing but the best for him, as he was a significant part of my life and I am so thankful for the experiences I’ve gained from our time together. Though it was an extremely difficult decision, I...

www.instagram.com

 

[surimi]

Epps/Gilman, Ice Dance, split

Julia Epps on Instagram: "After 12 years together, Blake and I have decided to part ways. I wish nothing but the best for him, as he was a significant part of my life and I am so thankful for the experiences I’ve gained from our time together. Though

julia_epps on May 17, 2026: "After 12 years together, Blake and I have decided to part ways. I wish nothing but the best for him, as he was a significant part of my life and I am so thankful for the experiences I’ve gained from our time together. Though it was an extremely difficult decision, I...

www.instagram.com

USA, I guess?

 

[DemTuppesSeine]

USA, I guess?

Israel if I remember correctly

 

[ladyjane]

Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore (Pairs, Australia) have split. He is taking a step back from competitive skating, she is open to looking for a new partner.

I am not really surprised. Not because they would have problems as a team, but the injuries. I totally get that you would wish to end that. But I surely will miss them!

 

[lileychristie]

I am not really surprised. Not because they would have problems as a team, but the injuries. I totally get that you would wish to end that. But I surely will miss them!

AFAIK Anastasia has been the one suffering more injuries, but according to her post she definitely wants to continue and is looking for a new partner. Looks to me it's Hektor who's had enough of long training overseas, sounds like he wants to spend more time with his family (which is very fair). But of course who knows, the injuries could've been a factor as well.

At least based on both their posts the split seemed amicable. I'm so sad we're losing our only pairs team, but I wish them both happiness and success in their future endeavours. And I hope we have more investment in pairs (and figure skating in general) in Australia.

Who knows, Australia might actually end up with 2 pairs team..... Haruna & Hektor maybe?

 

[ramurphy2005]

New Junior US pair team:

Tallulah Tanner/Blake Mcgee

TALLULAH TANNER on Instagram: "‼️‼️ NEW JUNIOR PAIRS TEAM ALERT ‼️‼️ Absolutely thrilled to be teaming up with @mcgee1528 this season! And beyond grateful to be part of GPI Pairs, we can’t wait to see what this season brings us! ⛸️💫 @usfigureskatin

208 likes, 25 comments - tallulahtskates on May 20, 2026: "‼️‼️ NEW JUNIOR PAIRS TEAM ALERT ‼️‼️ Absolutely thrilled to be teaming up with @mcgee1528 this season! And beyond grateful to be part of GPI Pairs, we can’t wait to see what this season brings us! ⛸️💫 @usfigureskating #usa🇺🇸...

www.instagram.com