- Joined
- Mar 1, 2014
Can he still use the comeback clause? I thought he might have used it in 2009-2010 season after he came back from the knee injury. It's more likely he can compete at a CS next season.
I don't know, if the GP designation rules concerning comeback/return of ranked skaters were exactly the same in 2009/10 as the ones in effect now. I hope I'm interpreting this correctly - per current regulation (paragraph 2.2 c)) it sounds to me like he would have qualified as a returning skater back in 2009/10 after sitting out the previous season, because he placed high enough at the two immediately preceding World Championships (2nd in 2007 and 4th in 2008).
Whereas as a come-back skater he'd be eligible even after missing multiple seasons, if he placed within top 6 in the the past 10 years at Worlds (paragraph 2.1 c)):
2. DESIGNATION OF THE SKATERS 2.1 Seeded Skaters/Couples
c) “Come-Back” Skaters/Couples: Skaters/Couples who were previously seeded (placed 1 to 6 within the past 10 years at a ISU World Figure Skating Championships) and subsequently did not participate in one or more competitive seasons will be given priority consideration to re-enter the ISU Grand Prix of Figure ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final 2018/19 Page 3 of 16 Skating for selection of up to 2 assignments if they commit in writing to participating in two ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events and if such return is announced and confirmed by the date of the annual Selection Meeting. Such so called “Come Back Skaters/Couples” will not substitute any of the Seeded Skaters/Couples, mentioned under a). “Come Back Skaters/Couples” must not fulfil the requirements of the minimum Grand Prix score and would be considered for selection as an Organizing ISU Member Choice. A come back under this clause is allowed only once in their competitive career for any Skater/Couple.
If my memory doesn't fail me, he also mentioned having the opportunity of making use of the come-back skater clause, if he ever wished to do so, during his retirement press con back in 2014.
Then again who knows, if he even aims at that level now? I'd be happy to see him compete at a senior B/Challenger too (preferably at a cozy comp in Europe Nebelhorn
)

And 'Millions of THANK YOU, Dai-chan, for giving us such a very very special X'mas gift! 
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How lucky we really are that we can see his gorgeous skating and his genuine smiles again!
The past one gave us so much more than what I could have imagined or dared to dream with Dai-chan's unexpected unretirement. I'm so, so grateful that he came back with a renewed passion for skating and gave us a performance for the ages with a hauntingly beautiful rendition of The sheltering sky at JNats, showing that there's still so much more he has to say. To me figure skating is an infinitely richer "place" because of his presence. I'm looking forward to follow his further progress on his comeback road. Even if there are occasional bumpy sections – overcoming those will help him grow and make him stronger.