Yukina Ota retires?

[Kathy]

This is so sad. She really was gorgeous on the ice. I loved her skating. EDITED TO ADD: that some are saying that this has not been confirmed and that the article may have been based more on rumor.

http://www.japanskates.com/Yukina retires.htm

 

[Vash01]

Sad news. I had always hoped she would return to good health and beautiful skating.

Vash

 

[purplecat]

She probably was my favorite of the Japanese ladies along with Fumie. Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me.

 

[Sylvia]

This was just posted by a Japanese skating fan at FSU:
"as far as I know, Ota hasn't retired. she is training in colorado springs and going thru physical therapy. Her choregrapher Tom Dickson is from colorado springs and that's why she is there I guess."

Edited to add: Thanks to the GS moderator who added a question mark to this thread title so that it reads "Yukina Ota Retires?" because this news has NOT been officially confirmed, as far as I am aware.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Another one bites the dust. Tragedy for me. It had been a looong time since I saw someone so fluid in her skating. I had Olympic Gold for her regardless of any jumping bean.
Maybe she could join the Japanese Ballet Company, but she may be too old for that now.

Joe

 

[JonnyCoop]

I'm sorry to hear this, too, if it is true. I really liked her at 4C's a couple years ago and was hoping to see more of her over the next several seasons -- but then again, given the level of her competition in Japan, it may not have happened much anyway.....

 

[Sk8harvest]

If this rumor is true, count me as another disappointed Yukina Ota fan. I loved her fluid skating style. I hope we have the opportunity to see her skate again, whether competively or in skating shows.