Hocke and Kunkel: 'Quitting is not an option'

[gsk8]

German pair skaters Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel are looking back on their most successful season yet. After winning two medals at the Challenger Events, the team went on to take the bronze at the Grand Prix in France. They also captured the bronze at the European Championships in Espoo and rounded out their season with a clean free skate at Worlds in Saitama, placing ninth overall.

The promising young team from Berlin has improved significantly since relocating to Bergamo, Italy, to train last summer. However, decreased funding of the German Skating Union has created a lot of challenges, not only for them, but for all German skaters. For example, they will no longer pay any expenses at Challenger Events or the costs for the coach at Grand Prix events as they have in the past.

In this interview, the German champions explain their situation and touch on possible consequences. They also talk about the state of the sport of figure Skating in Germany and express their hopes for the future. They reveal what motivates them to continue and discuss plans for the off-season and their next goals for their skating career.

 

[ladyjane]

I like them, I have since they started as juniors. I am pleased they're on the way up again but the trouble with the Federation is worrying. Let's hope it works out in the future, and that the complaints (they are not the only German skaters having the same ones) will be solved. I would be saddened if they had to represent another country although it is understandable!

 

[gsk8]

They have been very forth-coming as of late with their challenges.

I realize a many folks don't like to see skaters switching countries, but stories like these make sense when that happens.