Nagging knee pain forces Takahashi to hang up skates
Print Edition
FORMER world champion Daisuke Takahashi said yesterday he has decided to retire from competitive figure skating, ending a career that brought Japanese male singles skating to world prominence.
“I am yet to decide what to do next. But I have decided to retire,” said the bronze medallist from the 2010 Vancouver Olympic. “To move on with my life — and the remaining part of my life will be long — I needed to draw a line and retire from competition,” said Takahashi, who for years has struggled with nagging knee pain that has affected his recent performance.
Takahashi, 28, dubbed the “prince on ice” by his legion of female followers, made the announcement in a nationally televised press conference, shortly before the new ISU figure skating grand prix season starts later this month.
One of Japan’s most admired athletes, Takahashi dazzled judges and fans with his brilliant step and spin sequences. He appeared in three winter Olympic Games, Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. He was the first Japanese male figure skater to get an Olympic medal, to become the world champion (in 2010) and to win the ISU Grand Prix Final (in 2012).
Relatively short at 1.65 meters, Takahashi competed with likes of Evgeni Plushenko of Russia and Swiss star Stephane Lambiel as well as his compatriot and reigning world champion Yuzuru Hanyu, who won the gold at Sochi Olympics this year. After the Sochi Games, Takahashi was diagnosed with chronic joint inflammation in his right knee that required him to rest for weeks.
Takahashi was recently the subject of a sexual harassment scandal, stemming from a booze-fuelled party at which he was repeatedly hugged and kissed by the 49-year-old woman in charge of his sport.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔＄粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
