Japan's Komatsubara Misato retires, ends ice dance partnership with husband Tim Koleto

Beijing 2022 Olympic medallist Komatsubara Misato announced her retirement from competitive figure skating on Monday (22 April) and with it, called time on her ice dance partnership with husband Tim Koleto.

It remains to be seen whether Koleto, 32, will join his wife on the professional circuit or continue competing, according to a statement issued by the couple who was part of Japan's bronze-winning team in Beijing - their lone Olympic Winter Games appearance.

"I am here to share with you that I’ve decided to close the curtain on my 23-year competitive career following the World Championships in Montreal in March 2024," the 31-year-old Komatsubara wrote in English on her social media handles.

"I have kept pushing myself to search for what I lacked and chase what I don’t have throughout my career. Looking back, my competitive career was fulfilled by sweet memories and beautiful human beings, like treasures.

"Through my skating journey, I’ve learned to confront challenges head-on and find solace in the process. I have had many wonderful experiences, and the difficulties showed me beauties even more special.

"While fully utilising what I have learned, I will continue to absorb as much as possible to be an individual human being and strive to become someone who can contribute to creating a richer society.

"The feeling of the wind on my cheeks when I first skated still makes me smile years afterwards. It has truly been a happy competitive career.

"Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart."

Komatsubara and Koleto, of the United States, were married in 2017 and Koleto was naturalised five years later. Together, they won the Japanese nationals five times including four in a row from 2018 to 2022.

Komatsubara is expected to pursue her coaching license at the pair's training base in Canada.