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Canada’s ‘unexpected’ world champion Osmond retires
LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Kaetlyn Osmond, who battled through
injuries and the rigours of international competition to become the 2018
world figure skating champion, announced her retirement on Thursday.
The Canadian retires at the age of 23 having won the world title and three
Olympic medals, including the ladies bronze at the Pyeongchang Winter Games.
The three-time national champion won also won the team gold in Pyeongchang
and then in March 2018 she captured the worlds in Milan.
“I guess it’s officially out there for everyone to know,” Osmond tweeted.
“I am no longer going to be competing. I’ve personally known this for a
while, but to hear it officially announced, it doesn’t sound real.
“I am excited about future plans that I have, and I can’t wait to share
them with you!”
Osmond is one of just four Canadian women in history to win the worlds,
joining Karen Magnuson in 1973, Petra Burka in 1965 and Barbara Ann Scott in
1948 and 1947.
Osmond has said she rose to the top after battling against the tag of being
an underdog, which she attributed to coming from a tiny community in
Newfoundland.
“I was, at times, overlooked when I was younger,” she told the Canadian
Broadcasting Corp. “Part of it was because I came from Newfoundland.
“I was always seen as the newcomer or the underdog. Even when I won the
world championship very few people told me they saw it coming. Most people
referred to me as the unexpected world champion.
“I never felt that was the case, but it’s something that I’ve dealt with
every step of the way.”
Osmond placed eighth in her first worlds in 2013. She battled injuries over
the next couple of seasons, including two surgeries for a broken fibula. She
went on to win the silver in the Helsinki Worlds in 2017.
“I hope that people will look at what I’ve done and understand that I
didn’t have an easy career,” she told the CBC.
“Nothing was taken for granted. I loved to perform but beyond that I was
willing to fight to be a better skater. It wasn’t just about winning. It was
important to get stronger and be better. I fought for every single thing I
won.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0844 hrs