Yukina Ota, 03 WJC Champion and 04 4CC Champion, announced her retirement from competing by her own words here.

http://iceblue.cocolog-nifty.com/figure/2008/11/post-8f20.html

She has fought the ankle injury over recent years. She made up her mind this fall and told her retirement to JSF. She will return to Doshisha University where she studied before next spring. And she also wrote she wanted to skate in front of us in the future if given the chance.


Sad news. (Especially at this timing, after Dai-chan's injury..... However it has been said her injury is incurable.)
She was a beautiful beautiful skater. I loved every movement of her, which was always full of grace. I wish her the best for a new chapter of her life.

Yukina Ota 07 JNC SP & FP
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=mkSZe-URlLM
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=K-soOqrJsys

Yukina Ota FP 02 JNC at her hometown Kyoto. (16yo!!)
http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=3lcUcvHpPQM

Thanks for the news, miyu! Yukina really was a gorgeous skater. I wish her the best for her personal and skating life after this retirement.

These athletes are in a sport that forces them to push their bodies to the limit every day. If only their bodies were able to hold up long enough for them all to reach their full potential… Aaayyy.

Thanks for the news, miyu. That's too bad she had to bow out because of an injury. All the best for her in the future.