retirement comment in English

I have announced retirement from

competitive figure skating carrier last week.

As most of figure skaters retired in their 20s,

many of you are surprised that I have been

competing until 33 years old.

My goal is always has been Olympic

After skated in XIX Olympic Winter Games (2002, Salt Lake City)

XX Olympic Winter Games (2006, Torino),

I kept skating even from very small local competitions

in order to get a chance for Olympic again,

“Holy Place” I don’t know any other words to

describe Olympic Games.

Olympic has cast a spell over me

when I first experienced in 2002,

since then I put myself together to

get another chance for 2006.

I got the chance, and proved myself.

There was no regret after my performance,

I did my best performance there,

although I finished 4^th place.

I think I was missing something,but I couldn’t understand

what I was missing.

I thought I would never find out the answer

unless I go back to Olympic Games,

and this is why I had been skating until now,

because I always had a dream.

However as a competitor I had to face to the reality

that I will be 37 when the　next Olympic Games

are taking place, and above all, I haven’t even

qualified for The Japan Figure Skating Championships

this year after I finished 8^th in qualify competition.

I finally decided to leave competitive field.

Looking back my carrier, I have been skating for

28 years since I was 6.

First of all, I want to thanks to all the support

from fans. Their warm encouragements always

pushed my back, especially when I was down and

was about to lose confidence.

I am very lucky to have met all of you and

I would never been able to imagine my skating life without you.

Thank you again.

Also many thanks to my sponsor company,

Phoenix and Kappa skating club, to believe in my skating

and support my carrier.

Finally, I want to thank my parents, for your

enormous support and love to have me keep skating

for 28 years.

After my retirement, I will keep studying under

Lori Nichol who has choreographed my program

since I was 15.

Lori has taught me the joy of skating

and skating foundations

Not only skating skills but also expressiveness occupied

important part of judgments.

When I think how I can contribute to future skating,

my answer is to become a professional choreographer

and pass tradition and charm of figure skating I learned

from Lori to younger generations.

My goal is always Olympic Games, this has not been changed.

I am not able to come back as a competitor,

although I will be back as a choreographer and

would like to show my programs through great skaters.

So, this is just beginning.

Until my programs receive standing ovation from spectators in Olympic Games, my journey will go on.

Thank you very much.

Fumie