Here is the article in Japanese http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20130413/fig13041321000003-n1.html and a short one in english: http://english.kyodonews.jp/photos/2013/04/219406.html
I hope all the japanese skaters who plan to retire "after Sochi" will think about participating in the Worlds 2014 in Tokyo. Finishing on Home Ice.....maybe as a World Champion sounds exciting to me! (Of course, it is nicer to leave as OGMedalist, but let's be realistic here...)
With Akiko and potentially Kanako leaving, this will be a sad time for japanese ladies skating.
Mao, Yuna, Carolina, Akiko
I suspect at least one of these skaters might hang on a year after Sochi because there is going to be such a void that a world title will be within reach where it might no have been before.
Hopefully if the best three ladies do retire after Sochi you will no longer post on this forum.Basically the best three ladies in many many years gonna retire all at once.
Taka will also retire.
Looks like this will be the final nail in the coffin for figure skating. Who wants to see Liza and Adelina and Gracie and Ashley dominating the world scene?
Sad year for figure skating. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
I knew there was something terribly wrong when I saw Mao skate at World Trophy. I'm so sad but I knew this was going to happen one day. With Mao and Dai retiring, the Golden Age of Japanese Figure Skating will end. There will be empty seats in Japan even.
Basically the best three ladies in many many years gonna retire all at once.
Taka will also retire.
Looks like this will be the final nail in the coffin for figure skating. Who wants to see Liza and Adelina and Gracie and Ashley dominating the world scene?
Sad year for figure skating. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.
People keep saying D/W are retiring, but THEY have not said it.