Video of Kana's and Daisuke's retirement press conference, held on 2 May, 2 pm JST:
Summary of the 1 hour-long Q&A session:
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/05/02/kiji/20230502s00079000190000c.html
Machine translation:
More information on Daisuke's right knee:
I also read that they are both interested in coaching, but can't find the source anymore.
______________________________________
I will thoroughly miss Kana and Dai in competitions, but am looking forward to everything they have to offer from now on.
Thank you, Kana and Dai, for the countless memorable performances and all you have given to the sport in your long active careers!
Summary of the 1 hour-long Q&A session:
https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/05/02/kiji/20230502s00079000190000c.html
Machine translation:
Kanadai's retirement press conference: Takahashi's right knee "has reached its limit", Muramoto "couldn't ask for a better partner".
[ 2 May 2023, 14:24 ]
Figure skaters and ice dancers Kana Muramoto (30) and Daisuke Takahashi (37=Kansai University KFSC) held a press conference on the 2nd in Tokyo, and announced their retirement.
Takahashi said "Kana Muramoto and Daisuke Takahashi have decided to retire from competition after this season", and Muramoto reiterated "After experiencing many things, we have decided to retire from ice dance competition".
The pair announced their retirement on Instagram on 1 May. Muramoto said: "I'm a little refreshed because I can finally tell the world. There's no need to keep it a secret, so... I don't really feel it, but I feel that I've finally finished my athletic career", and Takahashi added: "There were quite a few people who asked me what I was going to do in the future, so I couldn't tell them, but I feel relieved to make the announcement. As for myself, I feel that I am starting a new chapter in my life."
On the timing and reasons for his decision to retire, Takahashi said: "I was the one who told Kana about my retirement. I'm very sorry about the timing, but I told Kana after the Four Continents Championships. It was already decided then that we would retire after this season's World Championships. But we didn't want to challenge the World Championships with the feeling of retirement, so we decided to make the announcement afterwards. We were thinking of announcing it before the World Team Trophy, but we missed the timing while we were doing various things..." he laughs.
"The reason was that my right knee felt like it had reached its limits. I still don't feel any limitations in terms of performance, but as I train at a competitive level, I've reached a point where I can't do anything with my own efforts in terms of the technical aspects of taking it to the next level. I wanted to go beyond that, but the biggest thing was that my body couldn't keep up with it. I couldn't get rid of that, and I felt that even if I continued, I wouldn't be able to grow as a person."
Muramoto said: "I heard after the Four Continents, that he would be retiring at the end of this season. We had started with a two-year plan when we were formed, so I was prepared to hear that he would be retiring at any time. When I actually heard, I wasn't surprised at all. I thought, oh, I see, I knew it," she said frankly.
Muramoto added, "I didn't feel that I had reached my limit yet when I heard from Dai-chan, but I feel that there is no better partner, and I still want to create works with Dai-chan... so the option of looking for a new partner didn't come up at all". She said she couldn't think of any other partner, and added: "I decided that this season's World Championships would be my last, and I'm very happy now, because we gave our best performance. I think we have done our best. I think we have achieved the memorable performance that we have been aiming for for a long time. She also thanked Takahashi: "I know it has been hard for you for the past three years, so I am grateful to you for ice dancing."
In their 3rd season of formation, they won the All Japan Championship in December last year for the first time. It was a season of leaps and bounds, with an 11th place finish at the World Championships in March this year, matching Japan's best ever result. This was Takahashi's second retirement.
While they are retiring, they will continue to perform as "Kanadai" in ice shows, such as "Ice Explosion", which will be held in Fukuoka from 12 to 14 May. In addition to active athletes, they will perform with Torino Olympics gold medallist Shizuka Arakawa and others. Muramoto and Takahashi will appear in ice shows not only as a couple but also on their own in the future.
More information on Daisuke's right knee:
Sometimes he loses strength when he stands up, so he has no choice but to squat down on the left. Sometimes he wakes up in the morning and can't get on his feet, making it impossible to practice lifts. He wanted to push himself, but he couldn't push hard enough. This season, he was able to make it to competition in good shape without pushing too hard.
I also read that they are both interested in coaching, but can't find the source anymore.
______________________________________
I will thoroughly miss Kana and Dai in competitions, but am looking forward to everything they have to offer from now on.
Thank you, Kana and Dai, for the countless memorable performances and all you have given to the sport in your long active careers!
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