Yagudin may retire from skating

[Luenatic]

The link contains SA spoiler, don't click the link if you don't want to be spoiled.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/10/25/sports2256EDT0473.DTL

four-time world champion said a hip problem that's bothered him since last December could force him out of competitive skating.

Asked whether next weekend's Skate Canada might be his last competition, tears filled Yagudin's eyes.

"Yes," he said. "Other skaters called me this morning, and it was just so sweet that everyone wanted to wish me luck. I can't just sit and watch the other skaters.

"We'll just see what happens."

Yagudin said he was born with a bad right hip. The socket doesn't cover the bone completely, causing irritation. Doctors have told him he would have developed problems eventually, even if he wasn't a skater.


Very sad news. I feel so sorry for Alexei. :(

[adrianchew]

Thanks Luenatic - I found the article earlier but didn't have time to digest it, then heard about it via IM from a big Aleksei fan... and at the very least, Aleksei got to do it all in skating.

[Lee]

That would be so sad...I've come to enjoy his skating very much in the past couple years. He has all the potential to be as versatile a professional skater as Kurt or Scotty. I do hope he's able to continue in some capacity...

[Tigger]

There's really not much you can say, is there? What sad news. :( I wish him nothing but the best.

[Cheshire Cat]

:cry: :cry: :cry:

This news is so so sad, to stop skating from choice is one thing, but to be forced out through a congenital problem like that is very upsetting.
One comfort is that he has achieved so much while he was able too.
Maybe the miracles of modern medicine will come up with a solution.

[donnamarie]

Very sad. Poor Alexei. I hope he will still be able to compete as a pro, although there aren't very many competitions available.

[CherylS]

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Poor Alexei! His life and his self-esteem were so wrapped up in skating and the long career he should have in touring, etc. even after he finally gave up amatuer competing and it's so sad hearing him so worried about the future. I just hope that some miracle can help him and that he'll find something else he can enjoy doing post-skating.
I hope he knows how many people he's got wishing the best for him! :cry:

[CherylS]

Hey everyone, I was thinking that maybe Alexei could use a lot of supportive letters right now. Maybe we could even fax them to Spokane or Quebec City????? Its really about all we can do to help right now as fans.

[jcspkbfan]

I was worried something like this might happen when I first heard Yagudin was planning to compete in eligible events and tour with SOI at the same time this year--I just never thought it would happen this early in the season! :( Did anyone else have memories of Tara Lipinski when they read this article?

All of those quads and triples Alexei has landed over the years seem even more impressive now considering he's had this hip problem for most of his life!

I only hope he's at least able to tour with SOI this year and go on to have a successful pro career!

[Greek Chic]

This is very bad news. I wish him all the luck and health that he can possibly get during this time. I will miss Alexei dearly. He is so young and he has the rest of his life ahead of him.

[Amidala]

These things shouldn't happen to talent like Alexi, w/out him eligible mens skating will lose its brightest star. I'm so sorry Dani, IM me when you get this. :(

[duane]

this is very bad news, not only for yagudin but for the fans of figure skating. the excitement of mens eligible skating will decrease tremendously. actually, it will be downright boring! :(

[bjay]

:cry: I am really sorry to hear yagudin may be forced out of
competitions, because of his hip. So may skaters are injuring the
hip. Good luck to him.

[tollerfan]

Alexei is my favourite male skater (and has been for the last few years). I will miss his energy and talent desperately in eligible skating. There's no one else like him right now IMO. I wish him well in the pro circuit (if he really has decided to retire)...but I'm hoping he'll at least be able to finish this season with another world championship!

[Germanice]

Actually I'm in a state of worldweariness right now, but it doesn't matter! Alexei, if you read this ....... I know how you must feel now, but please!!!!!, NEVER forget .... you're a fighter, YOU'RE the GLADIATOR!

Laugh at me, I don't care!

Anke :cry:

[Tapper]

This is sad news, indeed. He's a wonderful artist and athlete - and a great personality. I hope that he can find some solace in knowing that he has the admiration and support of fans worldwide.

[Rowena]

How terrible!! Like pretty much everyone else on this thread Alexei is one of my favourites. One of the few things I was looking forward to this post-Olympic season was that Alexei would still be skating in eligible competition. It's so sad because when I watch him skate I still think that we haven't seen him reach his full potential (I know, I know, how much better can he get?). I was hoping that he would stay in, and stay healthy, through 2006, though I see the near impossibility of such a hope.

I hope that he has enough recovery time between now and Skate Canada, because if that is truly going to be his last competition, I don't just want him to win, I want him to blow us away!

[loveskating]

This is so sad to hear.

I admire this young man so much...he had so much to overcome, his own father left him, he and his mom were very poor, but his talent and determination brought him to true greatness as a skater. If he can no longer skate, I will never, ever forget his skating anyway.

I just feel that no matter what, he will be successful and happy. He will not let anything stop him.

[danibellerika]

Thanks, Amidala.

My heart just sank when I heard the news. Hearing that "Yes" was literally just like a dagger my heart too. He's one of my favorites so I cried when I first heard. I just hope that he'll be ok. It's just hard to imagine a podium without him on it. He's just not done yet.:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[m8j]

Thats awful! Alexei is the best male skater, in my opinion, to touch ice. He isn't even at his peak because if he was, it would mean he couldn't get any better.
I hope he's ok!:cry:

[catija]

i personally think he should have retired after worlds. he's acheieved everything already, and could prob. get better w/ professional skating rather than amateur.

if he really retires, i will miss him in the skating world cuz i've seen him skate since the mid 90s. i will also miss the rivery b/w him and plushenko. it was quite a site a few yrs back :)

[pittypat]

His doctors told him to take a couple of months off from skating to allow his hip injury to heal but he wouldn't listen to them so now his future is in doubt as regards eligible skating. :roll:

He should have sat-out this season and returned next year to see how that injury healed. Oh well.....:cry:

[speedy]

Amazing...I really had no idea he was even having this type of problem. Wow, all the injuries just keep piling up in skating...so much for trying for 2006, sounds like he won't even make it to 2003. There certainly hasn't been a lot of good news in skating this year. :cry:

[spiralsrfun]

This is awful news...who knew he had this problem since birth. :o

I wish him the best, and I hope he can continue to skate in the pro world....to heck with the jumps...it's his passion that I love.

Best wishes to you Alexei. :cry:

[Sparkey]

What about a total hip replacement?8O

[danibellerika]

I was thinking that myself. But since I'm not doctor, I don't know if that would be the best thing.

[Anita18]

I did some reading over the Internet on that, and the only thing it will do is reduce the pain. He would not be able to run or do any strenuous activity, let alone skate. Also, total hip replacements are meant for older people (ie people who are expected to die before the replacement breaks down, which it will eventually - and the operations done to fix a replacement is even more difficult than the original surgery) I don't think that's a good idea in any case. Hopefully there will be something else out there - there are new medical treatments coming out every year. I'm sure hoping that there will be something that can be done for him.

[Halo girl]

Am I reading something wrong? Right now he's only saying he's going to stop eligible skating isn't he? At the moment he isn't giving up skating altogether. It sounds like he's still going to try to skate however he can.

However, if he does have to give up competing, I'll miss him too. Such a shame things like this have to happen.

BTW, for the person asking about hip replacements. Even if you have one, that isn't the same as having your real hip. I've known several people who have had hip replacements who are able to move around after the replacement, they are never the same. If Alexei had to do this, that would probably mean him really giving up skating because I don't think a replacement could take the wear and tear that his skating would give it.

[Mistyeyed]

OMG! Life is so unfair! This sounds alittle like what Tara L., went through although I am sure it's not the same thing. This is very sad. I am so glad Yags won his Olympic Gold. At least he will never have to wonder about that. But to not see him skate..... How heartbroken he must feel since this is all he has ever known. But then again, he is young and handsome and is a star, I bet their are plenty of things he can accomplish if he sets his mind to it. He could go back to school. But I bet he would always miss skating....I don't know what to say......What a lose that would be to men's skating. He has so much to give still......:cry:

[nutty-ducky]

poor! alexei! i really hope that he will still be able to compete with his hip! i am sad for him. but i am glad he won the olympic gold medal if he might have to quit!

[melanieuk]

Alexei's hip story (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?level_3_id=107&page=5452170)

He sees his skating future as very bleak, but is determined to be able to skate again.

On the hip replacement idea:
I don't think people with hip replacements could skate like Yagudin. :(