Daisuke Takahashi Road to Sochi 14/10 Press Conference 1 - Translation Courtesy of Rosewood at FSU ...................................... I found videos of the whole press conference and I summarized the first half. Wish this would be supportive for his international fans to understand what he said during the conference. Sorry for my bad English, though. Perfect translations might be posted by someone else later. -About the decision? My original plan was to make an announcement of my decision here by myself, but its a shame the cat was out of the bag before my announcement. After finishing the shows I had nothing but considering my decision, I struggled for a while, but then I felt its better to draw a line and retire. I thought Ill be more comfortable with drawing a line first and then taking enough time to consider my future plan than in the reverse order. If I were to retire from competitions after finishing Worlds with previous announcement of my retirement, it would have been ideal. I feel very sorry for my fans it didnt go that way. It is not that I dont have feeling for my comeback at all, but I want to draw a line once, Im not retiring from skating itself, from now Ill take time to talk with my mind about whether Ill make a comeback or take a different path. But Im afraid it will be truly tough to make a comeback since unexpectedly todays press conference(for retirement) turned to be SO big. I wished to announce my retirement in smaller conference. Anyways, I feel great now to announce my decision after spending months with struggling in making my decision. -What is the biggest reason to make a decision to retire? Sochi Olympics was one of my biggest goals. I wished to skate in Worlds but I was not able to. So I missed the timing to draw a clear line inside of myself in that process. It might be based on my nature that I felt like drawing a line now although I havent decided what my next goal is. I felt uneasy with my situation taking a break. I feel more comfortable with drawing the line before the new season in senior fields(GPS) starts. The decision came to my mind quite naturally during I was talking about my future. It was the middle of Sepetember when I made my decision. ...Sorry I know Im not talking very well now...Im nervous today since I havent appeared in such big press conference for a while... After all I think I had been with the thoughts and the thoughts(fore retirement) came clearer when every stuff such as shows finished and I was left in a quiet life. -Injuries or motivations? Injuries were not big problems. As for motivations, it could be counted as one of the reasons. Sochi Olympics was my ultimate goal but I was not satisfied with my skating there, struggling with my injuries. So I left my thoughts in Olympics. But, on the other hand, I feel its difficult for me to maintain my motivations for four more years. It was difficult for me to maintain motivations even during the Sochi Olympics cycle. I felt its impossible to continue for more years at this point. -The most impressive memory? Ummmm....I always looked forward, so I havent looked back my career before...my answer would be everything. Ups and dows were all my good memories. I cant say which one was the best. -Did you have something particular to focus on during your competitive career? I think Im not a person who insist on something, Im rather a person who get on the wave and look forward. I dont insist of my idea but I accept others ideas and try them. Ive been hungry to learn a lot from other people. As for my performance, Ive skated with thoughts that its important to let the audience get together into one with me. Maybe those two are from my natural character. -Any idea about your future plan? I dont have any so far. I skate in ice shows, though. Im going to consider about my future putting a little distance from figure skating than before. I may accept any opportunities if Im given. Anyways, for a couple of years Ill keep a few steps of distance from figure skating and consider about my next path to walk on. I need time to see how much Ive loved figure skating or for what Ive skated such enthusiastically. Ive been facing the goals one after another, and I havent had time to talk with my mind. I really need to know whether it was the given goals I faced one after another or it was my pure passion for skating that has pushed me forward so far. I need time, I dont think I need to set a time-limit. -Any messages for your fans? Im regretful since my skating(in Olympics) turned to be the last one in competitions without the beforehand announcement of my retirement. I feel sorry for that. Im not leaving skating itself. I continue skating in front of you, my fans. I wish youll keep me in the corner of your mind and remember me like there was such a skater(named Takahashi) at that time. I wish youll support me, if youll be in the mood to do so, when I start something next, although at this point I dont know what path Ill take in the future. ETA: I was a bit surprised yesterday since every Japanese TV-net showed clips of the press conference and playbacks of his career in their news shows. He is such a big star. It is so true that he contributed greatly to make the senior mens field popular in his mother country. Yesterday a commentator from NHK compared his retirement to the last stage of a wonderful long run play. It was well said. ................................ https://youtube/watch?v=KRDXpZhikww
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:45:35 +0000