Music: {allcanada} Four Canadian figure skaters call it quits

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

{allcanada} Four Canadian figure skaters call it quits

OTTAWA -- Shawn Sawyer, Joey Russell, Adam Johnson and Diane Szmiett have all retired from competitive figure skating.

The 26-year-old Sawyer, from Edmundston, N.B., is a seven-time national team member, and competed in the 2006 Olympics. Sawyer just finished the Canadian "Stars on Ice" tour and plans to continue skating professionally.

"I am adding a big step to my path and I know it is the right direction," Sawyer said.

Russell, 22, of Labrador City, N.L., is the current Canadian bronze medallist, and finished 24th at the world championships in April. Russell is enrolled in university and plans to skate in shows and work in choreography.

"My biggest goal was to make my family and country proud. I wouldn't change one memory, either good or bad, for the world," Russell said. "I have been in love with this sport since I was six years old and will continue to support skating and my fellow athletes."

Johnson, from Chatham, Ont., made the national team this past season with pairs partner Kaleigh Hole after finishing fifth at the Canadian championships. Johnson is finishing up his degree in French and psychology at the University of Western Ontario, and plans to take up coaching.

The 20-year-old Szmiett, from Watford, Ont., is a two-time national team member and was the 2006 Canadian junior champion. She'll turn her focus to studying full-time, and is entering her fourth year of her bachelor's degree at Western.