Charlie Bilodeau retires from competitive skating

[TallyT]

I'm just sorry for both of them - Lubov especially - and because I really liked them in the competitions I saw this year.

He didn't handle it the best way true, and she has a right to feel upset by being blindsided, but honestly, there probably wasn't a good way especially given the current inability for them to meet face to face. And we forget (until one of our heroes does something to remind us) sports stars are no better or more sensitive or even brave than the rest of us. A lot of people have done as cackhanded a job in break ups of all kinds...

I wish them both well, and whether Lubov goes back to her previous job or finds a new partner, I hope she has the success she deserves.

 

[ladyjane]

I am so unhappy about this. To be clear: when I read the article I understood he had informed both his partner and his coach beforehand, but he had made the decision totally for himself. Which of course he is entitled to. He had reasons. In fact I sympathised because he clearly felt guilty about how he handled the split with Julienne and also how Lubov would feel, and he is unhappy about that himself. No changing of his decision, but still. So, I'm not blaming Charlie for making this decision, although it's the second one in a short time that he makes a partner unhappy. Could he have taken more care about the effect on his partner(s)? Sure he could. Does that make him an awful person? I don't think so. It's just very painful for all concerned. Sad.

 

[Skatefan15]

Another person Charlie just leaves in the dust... I feel bad for Lubov since they had so much potential. I wonder what she’s going to do?

 

[rain]

He's so young still, I'm very surprised about him wanting to quit. So sad for Lubov. I really hope she can find another partner. She is just such a bright light. Maybe she can teach Nic Nadeau how to pairs skate.

But...I have to respect his decision. If he no longer wants to skate, then he no longer wants to skate, and shouldn't feel like he has to. It's just too bad that he had to disappoint two very talented and wonderful partners before coming to this realization.

 

[oly2018]

What a giant mess. Charlie is within his right to make the best decision for himself, but the way he handled himself shows a lot of immaturity. Everyone is entitled to their feelings, but you also need to know when to share them when other people and their lives are involved. Lubov gave up earning potential with Cirque and moved with the hopes of competing for at least the next two years. If Charlie was unsure of continuing to the next Olympics, he should have been upfront about that when he contacted Lubov to pair up. Lubov was never given the chance to make an informed decision. Part of growing up is learning to communicate your feelings, even when they are hard.

 

[cuiniel]

Some other interesting tidbits from his published statement on Radio-Canada (translated with my high-school level French and WordReference):

- He considers himself a jack of all trades, and gains energy from living a varied life — which participating at high-level sports doesn’t allow for
- He’s not a figure skating enthusiast ("un passionné"). He is foremost in love with "la glisse” (which as far as I can figure is...skiing? sledding? M'aidez svp, les francophones)
- Nevertheless, he was most talented in skating, so he saw it as the best way to achieve his Olympic dream.
- During the year that he stayed away from the sport, he revisited some old passions. He started renovating his apartment by himself and resumed his studies full-time. But he was still blinded by the lure of winning: he wanted an Olympic medal at all costs.
- As Canadian Nationals approached, difficulties presented themselves, and stress was constant. He was filled with doubts as Nats drew closer. He told his psychologist that there were days when he wished he would get injured to have an easy way out. When asked if he wanted to delve deeper into this, he refused, out of fear or realizing that he...was elsewhere in his life? (“Rendu ailleurs dans la vie”)
- He gave it his all for Canadian Nats, but by the time 4CC came around, he approached it with the sentiment of: "At worst, this will be my last competition." They performed poorly, and he was disappointed but not surprised; his heart wasn't in it.
- "To Lubov and Julianne, rest assured that I have always been honest in my path."

I totally understand not realizing what you truly desire in life and not wanting to have difficult conversations; but from his account, he should at the very least have had a conversation with Lubov before 4CC, since it seems like he had already made his decision then.

 

[lariko]

Oh, no. They looked so promising.

 

[skylark]

Lubov gave up earning potential with Cirque and moved with the hopes of competing for at least the next two years. If Charlie was unsure of continuing to the next Olympics, he should have been upfront about that when he contacted Lubov to pair up. Lubov was never given the chance to make an informed decision.

Charlie wrote/gave such an extensive exploration of his thoughts and feelings, I imagine so that people wouldn't be misinformed or misstate them. When he paired up with Lubov, Charlie *did* want to go for an Olympic medal.

I even managed to make myself believe that everything would be better with a new partner. I was going to find happiness in skating with Lubov. When we started our new partnership in February 2019, my goals were clear.

I had already reached my first dream, that of participating in the Games. If I was ready to start again in a new adventure, it was for the medal. Getting on the podium was my ultimate goal.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/...odeau-retraite-patinage-artistique-olympiques (Google Translate)
​

Did any of you bashing him ever think that maybe he was trying to ignore everything and see if it would just go away, and that's why he didn't tell them?

This is not some lifelong pattern. It was a 10+ year skating career, with an ending drawn out over a few years which were probably hell for him.

I cannot dig to understand what is at the bottom of these thoughts for fear of realizing that I have gone elsewhere in my life....I was in denial.​

https://ici.radio-canada.ca/sports/...odeau-retraite-patinage-artistique-olympiques. (Google Translate)​

He was in denial. It's very common that people like Charlie who are sunny and optimistic have things that they hide from themselves.

How many skaters have gone through this exact same thing but nobody heard about it, including their partners, because they found their motivation again?

That's a really interesting question. Because from Charlie's description of his feelings, that's what he hoped and expected to happen.

Charlie had every right to keep his feelings personal. His partners had/have every right to be shocked/disappointed/feel like they have knives in their backs/etc. Not every situation has to have a bad guy and a victim. Sometimes things just reek for everyone, and it's nobody's fault.

I wish that Charlie could have informed Lubov and given her a week or two to process the news before announcing. But for whatever reason, he didn't or felt he couldn't. I'm sorry to cite an example of a pair who competed for USA, but when Mervin Tran told Marissa Castelli he was going to California to try out with another partner, that was the end of the C/T partnership. That was more up front, but it was still a shock to Marissa, and it equally threw her into an emotional and professional crisis. Marissa just didn't make her shock known via IG at the time. However a split happens, it's got to be painful for everyone.

I really hope for a good outcome for Lubov, whether that's finding a new partner, skating again with Cirque, or finding a new path that brings her joy. I also wish for the best for Charlie. My biggest take-away from the article was that he thrives in living a more balanced life, where he can explore more than one of his passions.

 

[SmallAminal]

He told her via Facetime yesterday according to the articles and Lubov's Instagram.

OK so I stand corrected. At least he did tell her first - he didn't let it come to her thru media (her Instagram post looked that way to me). It might have been more sensitive to let Lubov process for a little bit. Maybe he was *that* unhappy that he felt he had to get it off his chest ASAP...I think the pandemic and being on lockdown has been emotionally taxing for everyone, so maybe he couldn't hold it in anymore. Or maybe he wasn't being considerate. Either way, I do feel really bad for Lubov.

 

[Harriet]

I'm very sorry for the mental and emotional stress he seems to have been going through these past few years - what he describes sounds a lot like depression - and I hope he finds his way clear of it in the future.

For his own sake and that of those around him, though, I also hope he learns some stronger and more effective interpersonal communication skills.

 

[Ryan O]

It's surprising to see this partnership end so soon since they had a pretty good season together.

But if Charlie doesn't feel he can continue any further I guess now is the time to announce it rather than forcing himself to go on.

It was probably also disappointing for Charlie & Lubov to miss out on a Worlds spot to Walsh & Michaud, but Eveylen & Trennt skated very well, too.

 

[Ladskater]

Charilie and Lubov will be missed on the Canadian team and by Canadian fans. Best of luck to them both.

 

[surimi]

I have read the article in French. I have not read any Google translate or English translations.

Charlie *did* tell Lubov and his coach before the public announcement. In fact, he says that he made a point to tell them before making any news public.

Now, was Lubov shocked when she heard from Charlie? Probably. But the article is very clear that Charlie has had conflicted feelings about skating for some time now, and was trying to find motivation, and in fact, that precipitated his break up with Julianne.

The beginning paragraph refers to when he started writing the article, making up his mind, writing out his thoughts. Not that he is publishing something without having told his partner.

So Charlie may be right or wrong, but he did not break it off in the press

Okay, thanks for clarifying this!

 

[yqs100]

really sorry for Lubov.

now, anyone can think about who would be the potential next partner for Lubov?

 

[Dr. Jenn]

He's so young still, I'm very surprised about him wanting to quit. So sad for Lubov. I really hope she can find another partner. She is just such a bright light. Maybe she can teach Nic Nadeau how to pairs skate.

But...I have to respect his decision. If he no longer wants to skate, then he no longer wants to skate, and shouldn't feel like he has to. It's just too bad that he had to disappoint two very talented and wonderful partners before coming to this realization.

I actually had the same thought re: Nic - half joking, half not. He's a big, strong guy, and he would be a good physical match with Lubov, I would think. She's already in Quebec, right?

 

[WeakAnkles]

Not the classiest of men is this Mr Bilodeau.

And if you disagree with me remember: that means I will disagree with you.

 

[Kypma]

His reasons for retiring, and however he came to admit them to himself, are all more than fair and kudos to him for realising that his heart was no longer in competitive skating. HOWEVER, the manner in which he chose to make this decision public, i.e. planning ahead with the media (presumably - hard to believe that Radio-Canada would post it early the following morning if it requested it the day prior after speaking to Lubov and Richard) instead of posting the same text on his own social media, so doing the same media series to what was done in the split from Julianne and the subsequent partner search, is in poor taste.

 

[rain]

I actually had the same thought re: Nic - half joking, half not. He's a big, strong guy, and he would be a good physical match with Lubov, I would think. She's already in Quebec, right?

Yeah, I was only half joking, too. He's physically built to be a pairs skater now, not a singles skater. Not only is he tall, he's broad across the shoulders and chest, which makes the quads etc. difficult to impossible to do with consistency, but would be ideal for a pair skater who has to do lifts/throws. He's a very good skater and a charismatic performer. How long does it take guys to learn the pair moves, anyway? Of course he'd have to want to, and I don't know that he's ever shown any interest in pairs.

It's just sad that we've now got three incredibly talented pairs girls without partners: Julianne Seguin, Lubov, and Justine Brasseur (not remotely surprised by the end of her pair, but still sad, since there was a ton of potential). I really wish more of these guys who realistically are never going to be quad kings would at least consider pairs.

 

[Sabrina]

I was shocked by this abrupt retirement. I am sorry for Lubov as I was sorry for Juliane. Lubov/Charley had great chemistry and a lot of potential. Two wrong skates is not the end of the world. I really hope Lubov finds another partner but that's not at all easy. I also wanted Juliane to find someone, but apparently nothing happened. In this time, when nothing happens around except Covid 19 moving around, sad news are even worse.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I feel so heartbroken for Lubov. She clearly has a lot of talent and drive and they had a good thing going. It's understandable if Charlie wants to call it quits, but sounds like he didn't give her an opportunity to talk things through or have sufficient heads up.

I hope she finds a new partner and has sufficient time to build for the Olympics, there's still time. There are better pairs partners than Bilodeau and I'm sure there will be those looking to pair up with a talent like Lubov and have a shot at the Olympics.