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,” the bronze medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics said.
“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.
Photo: AFP
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 International Skating Union (ISU) 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 two other Winter Olympic Games, Turin in 2006 and Sochi this year.
Takahashi was the first Japanese male figure skater to win an Olympic medal, to become the world champion (in 2010) and to win the ISU Grand Prix Final (in 2012).
Relatively short at 1.65m, Takahashi competed with the likes of retired greats Evgeni Plushenko of Russia and Swiss star Stephane Lambiel, as well as his compatriot and reigning world champion Yuzuru Hanyu, who, at the Sochi Games, became the first Japanese male figure skater to win Olympic gold.
Takahashi reached the peak of his career after tearing ligaments in his right knee, which forced him to miss the 2008-2009 season.
However, his performances began to deteriorate in recent years, and saw more disappointments than celebrations last season.
He finished sixth at the Sochi Olympics, effectively handing over the mantle of the sport to his young rival.
After the Sochi Games, Takahashi was diagnosed with chronic joint inflammation in his right knee, which required him to rest for weeks.
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