Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sept. 21, 2007) – Five-time U.S. pairs medalists Rena Inoue and John Baldwin announced today their withdrawal from the upcoming ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series. The two-time U.S. champions intend to start their competitive season at the 2008 U.S. Championships in Saint Paul, Minn.
“We have had a very busy postseason and became aware that we would have to approach this next one with a completely different plan than what we have done in the past,” Inoue and Baldwin said. “It is very important for us to do well at the U.S. Championships, Four Continents and the World Championships, and we have decided to put all our focus into these competitions,” Inoue said.
photo Paul Harvath US Figure Skating |
“Our long-term goals have not changed, and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver is where we plan to be,” Baldwin said. “We’re still passionate about the sport and competing, but the last few seasons have been incredibly demanding. This will allow us the time we need to defend our position in competition and continue our quest for an Olympic medal.”
Inoue and Baldwin have been one of the top-ranked U.S. pairs teams, both nationally and internationally, since 2002. They are the first pairs team in history to land a throw triple Axel in competition, and the first to accomplish the feat at the U.S. Championships, World Championships and the Olympic Games. The 2008 U.S. Championships in Saint Paul will mark their eighth consecutive trip to the event.
Inoue and Baldwin were scheduled to compete at the Cup of China and NHK Trophy (Japan). American pairs team Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker will represent the U.S. in pairs in China and Japan.
Naomi Nari Nam and Themi Leftheris, the 2007 U.S. bronze medalists, recently announced their withdrawal from this year’s Grand Prix season due to an injury to Nam. However, they, too, are expected to return to competition at the 2008 U.S. Championships.
The U.S. pairs participants in the 2007 Grand Prix Series are as follows:
2007-2008 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - Pairs
USA | CAN | CHN | FRA | RUS | JPN |
Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski | Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent | Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker | Brooke Castile and Ben Okolski | Julia Vlassov and Drew Meekins | Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker |
Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig | Julia Vlassov and Drew Meekins |
| Tiffany Vise and Derek Trent |
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MeeRan Trombley and Laureano Ibarra |
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Ticket sales for the 2008 U.S. Championships in Saint Paul, Minn., can be purchased at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at (651) 989-5151 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For group ticket information, call (651) 312-3486.
- U.S. Figure Skating -