ISU World Team Trophy 2023: Takahashi Daisuke's last dance? Maybe, maybe not
A night after ending his third ice dance season, the Japanese star says he hasn't decided whether to hang up his skates or return in 2023-24 when he will turn 38.
Figure Skating
As The Clash used to sing, Should I stay or should I go? That is the question for Takahashi Daisuke.
“At the banquet last night, a few of the judges came over and told me how I’ve finally become a proper ice dancer and they all asked, ‘You’re continuing right?’” Takahashi said on Sunday (16 April) ahead of the gala exhibition for the ISU World Team Trophy in Tokyo, where another season of figure skating concluded a day earlier.
“I told them, ‘I’ll have a serious think about it.’ Listen, I really don’t know how things are going to turn out.”
Chimed in his partner Muramoto Kana, “Our focus has been on getting through the season so we just haven’t had the time to think about what to do next.”
As he has maintained ever since the world championships in Saitama last month, the 37-year-old Takahashi declined to say whether he will return for a fourth ice dance campaign or call it a competitive career.
The Vancouver 2010 men’s singles bronze medallist will hit the ice show circuit first as he has a think about next steps.
Takahashi is coming off a personal best free skate at the Team Trophy (116.63) that followed a moving performance at the worlds, widely regarded as his best as an ice dancer.
There’s every reason to believe he could go out on a high at his age. But he could also say he’s never been better at ice dance, which is true.
One thing appears to be certain however: Takahashi is in no particular rush, and he doesn’t need to be.
“After last season I knew I wanted to come back. But it’s a lot of hard work and you have to commit. I needed to take some time to think things through for another year,” Takahashi recalled of his decision a year ago.
“We got off to a late start as a result and there was a lot we had to overcome but because of that, we managed to deliver a performance we can be proud of at the world championships as well as here at the Team Trophy.
“We went through a lot this season but I’m really glad we nailed it in the end. All’s well that ends well.”