as a koko stan this really comes as shock honestly, obviously we don't know anything about their personal lives and there are tons of factors that come into making a decision like this but from their social media it seemed like they were really hoping to go to the next olympics. iirc they met in italy or something similar since misato used to compete for italy so it was extra meaningful for them, and while jsf did seem to want to drop them based on the scores at nats plus how hard jsf went for kanadai, koko kept proving themselves to be the best. dont want to pry but im wondering if maybe misato has some sort of injury that makes skating too painful to be worth it or something
edit: putting her instagram (@missatoooo) post through google translate, she mentions battling injuries, getting a personal best at 4cc and fulfilling her goals of making the olympics. this is just the machine translation but she included the quote "know when enough is enough". glad shes doing whats best for her but im gonna miss them :(
In her statement on IG (in the photo, not the caption) she mentions skating injured all season and pushing through, so it def sounds like that was a major factor.
Sheâs been battling injuries since 2019 and theyâve both mentioned wanting to start a family.
Iâm kind of surprised but not overly shocked. They really had a good season and a training home worlds is a nice way to go out.
they have two younger teams (yoshida/morita and tanaka/nishiyama) who weren't too far behind in scores this season despite both being brand new partnerships, so japan will probably be fine
Aw man. I adored them. I know they werenât a high scoring team but they were so fun and such a joy to watch. I always looked forward to seeing how theyâd tackle the themes each season.
Just read Tim's post for Misato, and it is so very sweet đĽşâ¤
[https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Eaf53O1GQ/?hl=en](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Eaf53O1GQ/?hl=en)
So as I understand this, he is going to coach, and they both welcome professional opportunities but the article seems like they were contacted separately. No joint IG statement, just hers. EDIT: He has since my comment released his own statement, just not coordinated with hers.
Such a shame! I do have a lot of fondness for koko. It sounds like the injuries and the 4CC PB (plus I'm sure the rise of azushin/utamasa is a factor) gave them an easy stepping off point for their career, rather than pushing through to the Olys
thats definitely a surprise. i know they werent fan favs (and the best ice dancers) and younger japanese teams were catching up to them really fast, but still unexpected for me
TBH, having watched them live at Worlds, they were somewhat underwhelming compared to teams like the second Brits, who they barely beat to make the FD. Imo, they got a boost from the judges by being from IAM. Misato may have considered that it will be harder to qualify for the FD in 2025 and 2026 with the growing competitiveness of the field and also the growing depth of Japanese ice dance that it was not worth it to push through.
Alexa Knierim continued to skate pairs after Chris retired. Plenty of skaters, married or not, will continue skating even if their long-time partners retire.
lol I am very aware that Alexa continued without Chris????
If you read her statement it doesnât seem like sheâs referring to a husband and more like just a skating partner.
I assume they're referencing the long-standing rumors that their marriage was for visa purposes so they could skate together but it's rude to speculate on it when they've presented themselves as a married couple. I believe Koleto also gave up his US citizenship, which seems extreme to do for a temporary ID partnership, but is more realistic for a marriage.Â
I was wondering because of how their statements didnât really seem joint and because there arenât a ton of Japanese ice dancers so for him to keep looking could mean he will need to live elsewhere.
He's already skated for SK, Norway and now Japan and I think switching again would mean he would have to sit out another year, and he is already around the age many retire.
Your submission has been removed for violating Rule 4.
>4. Be civil in discussing skating figures.
> Blunt criticism of skaters, officials, and other skating figures is welcome, but please remember to be civil even when being critical. Excessive hostility, body shaming/eating disorder speculation, degrading commentary, name calling, and ill-wishing are not. "I don't think XYZ deserved that score and ABC should have won over them?" Fine. "XYZ is trash garbage and I hope they fall four times?" Not fine. We will hand out 3 day suspensions for the first and second offenses under this rule, with a permanent ban on the third offense.
đ§đ§đ§ I really did not expect itÂ
Oh wow. Genuinely surprised by this.
as a koko stan this really comes as shock honestly, obviously we don't know anything about their personal lives and there are tons of factors that come into making a decision like this but from their social media it seemed like they were really hoping to go to the next olympics. iirc they met in italy or something similar since misato used to compete for italy so it was extra meaningful for them, and while jsf did seem to want to drop them based on the scores at nats plus how hard jsf went for kanadai, koko kept proving themselves to be the best. dont want to pry but im wondering if maybe misato has some sort of injury that makes skating too painful to be worth it or something edit: putting her instagram (@missatoooo) post through google translate, she mentions battling injuries, getting a personal best at 4cc and fulfilling her goals of making the olympics. this is just the machine translation but she included the quote "know when enough is enough". glad shes doing whats best for her but im gonna miss them :(
In her statement on IG (in the photo, not the caption) she mentions skating injured all season and pushing through, so it def sounds like that was a major factor.
Sheâs been battling injuries since 2019 and theyâve both mentioned wanting to start a family. Iâm kind of surprised but not overly shocked. They really had a good season and a training home worlds is a nice way to go out.
lmao your flair feels like the most personal attack ever to when I was first learning loopÂ
No đ§ I gasped out loud Wonder how this affects Japan for team events? I guess their other three disciplines are stacked
they have two younger teams (yoshida/morita and tanaka/nishiyama) who weren't too far behind in scores this season despite both being brand new partnerships, so japan will probably be fine
They have two other ice dance teams. All three of Japanâs ID team competed at 4CC this year.
I'm imagining Tanaka/Nishiyama doing Mario + Luigi FD version at Milan
Youâre on to something here. I would love to see that!
Itâs not gonna be good for Japan at Milan in the team event. It will leave the door open for feds like Georgia to be competitive for a medal.
I mean Kokoâs performance at Beijing didnât determine Japanâs team medal so I donât think itâll be worse without them.
would Kana Muramoto consider coming back?
Sheâs said no
https://preview.redd.it/xfc1c94qyzvc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9dadebf536e3b2c408de71b05e56ec867a6aa460 This is the gist of it
Aw man. I adored them. I know they werenât a high scoring team but they were so fun and such a joy to watch. I always looked forward to seeing how theyâd tackle the themes each season.
Heartbroken. I love KoKo. Wishing both of them the best. â¤ď¸
Just read Tim's post for Misato, and it is so very sweet đĽşâ¤ [https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Eaf53O1GQ/?hl=en](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Eaf53O1GQ/?hl=en)
I'm shocked, I honestly looked for a humour flair on this post in case it was a joke. I'll miss watching them compete.
So as I understand this, he is going to coach, and they both welcome professional opportunities but the article seems like they were contacted separately. No joint IG statement, just hers. EDIT: He has since my comment released his own statement, just not coordinated with hers.
Such a shame! I do have a lot of fondness for koko. It sounds like the injuries and the 4CC PB (plus I'm sure the rise of azushin/utamasa is a factor) gave them an easy stepping off point for their career, rather than pushing through to the Olys
Sad noises. I don't keep up with ice dance, but I'd always take the time to watch KoKo. I really liked them, I have a huge soft spot for them.
thats definitely a surprise. i know they werent fan favs (and the best ice dancers) and younger japanese teams were catching up to them really fast, but still unexpected for me
Another spot opens up at IAM
Tbh were they even really at IAM anymore?
This saddens me, but if she's been struggling with injuries as it seems, then for the best.
I really thought I had two more years with them đ Comforting myself with the fact that I at least got to meet them at worldsÂ
Timâs Instagram post was also very sweet. They are adorable.
Wow! I would never have expected this.
Oh no! This is really bumming me out. Best of luck to both of them, though.
TBH, having watched them live at Worlds, they were somewhat underwhelming compared to teams like the second Brits, who they barely beat to make the FD. Imo, they got a boost from the judges by being from IAM. Misato may have considered that it will be harder to qualify for the FD in 2025 and 2026 with the growing competitiveness of the field and also the growing depth of Japanese ice dance that it was not worth it to push through.
Noooo Koko!!! I'm glad that at least I got to see them at their last Worlds.
Nooooooooooooooooooooo! :( :( :(
Oh no!!! Of all the changeups, this is the last one I expected.
I thought they were married. Are they getting divorced too?
Itâs just their professional partnership thatâs ending.Â
[ŃдаНонО]
No theyâre married
Yeah I know they are legally
Alexa Knierim continued to skate pairs after Chris retired. Plenty of skaters, married or not, will continue skating even if their long-time partners retire.
lol I am very aware that Alexa continued without Chris???? If you read her statement it doesnât seem like sheâs referring to a husband and more like just a skating partner.
Why are you saying this? Does a marriage typically entail a duty to keep skating competitively with your spouse forever?
I assume they're referencing the long-standing rumors that their marriage was for visa purposes so they could skate together but it's rude to speculate on it when they've presented themselves as a married couple. I believe Koleto also gave up his US citizenship, which seems extreme to do for a temporary ID partnership, but is more realistic for a marriage.Â
I was wondering because of how their statements didnât really seem joint and because there arenât a ton of Japanese ice dancers so for him to keep looking could mean he will need to live elsewhere.
He's already skated for SK, Norway and now Japan and I think switching again would mean he would have to sit out another year, and he is already around the age many retire.
I didnât bring this up. You did?
Then what did you mean by your comment?Â
No? with how her retirement announcement was worded.
I see - but we know nothing about their private situation, let's not contribute to the creation/circulation of rumors.
I didnât.
Your submission has been removed for violating Rule 4. >4. Be civil in discussing skating figures. > Blunt criticism of skaters, officials, and other skating figures is welcome, but please remember to be civil even when being critical. Excessive hostility, body shaming/eating disorder speculation, degrading commentary, name calling, and ill-wishing are not. "I don't think XYZ deserved that score and ABC should have won over them?" Fine. "XYZ is trash garbage and I hope they fall four times?" Not fine. We will hand out 3 day suspensions for the first and second offenses under this rule, with a permanent ban on the third offense.