SPANISH 'super-skater' Javier Fernández plans to retire from the ice-rink – a decision that appears to his fans to have come out of the blue.
“My body and mind aren't up to it any more – I have to accept that,” said the twice-world champion figure-skater.
His last appearance will be at the forthcoming European championships in Belarus at the end of January, but the 27-year-old from Madrid does not seem happy about it.
“When your sporting career ends, you have nothing; you're alone,” said Javier, who now lives in Toronto, Canada.
“Skating has given me everything. It's my profession and I also want it to be my future – I want to carry on contributing to the sport, not as a competitor but definitely as someone dedicated to it,” the 2018 Winter Olympic bronze medallist admitted, confirming he has no intention of stepping out of the arena altogether.
Universally considered to be one of the world's top skaters, who has placed Spain very firmly on the map for the sport, Javier's first Olympic medal in Pyeongchang was a case of third time lucky, having come 14th in 2010 and 10th in 2014 – but as well as netting the 2015 and 2016 world championships, he has also been non-stop European champion from the year 2013 onwards.
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