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2004 U.S. Bronze Medalist Jennifer Kirk Announces Retirement From Competitive Figure Skating
Sept. 7, 2005 - Jennifer Kirk announced today her plans to retire from competitive figure skating, effective immediately. Kirk won the bronze medal at the 2004 State Farm U.S. Championships and was a three-time U.S. World Team member. She plans to move back to her hometown of Boston, Mass., attend television broadcasting school and coach figure skating.
“This has been a very tough decision for me to make, especially considering the magnitude of the upcoming season,” Kirk said. “Although I still love skating very much, my passion and love for the competitive aspect of the sport has dwindled following the death of my mother in 2001 and my nagging hip injuries.”
Kirk burst onto the competitive figure skating scene in 1998, winning the novice bronze medal at the U.S. Championships. Just two years later she won the 2000 World Junior title, and two years after that, the 2002 Four Continents title.
After graduating from high school in the spring of 2002, she moved to Detroit, Mich., to train with Richard Callaghan. Under Callaghan's tutelage Kirk won the bronze medal at the 2004 U.S. Championships and placed 18th at the 2004 World Championships. In June 2004 Kirk moved west again, this time to the Los Angeles area to train under Frank Carroll and Ken Congemi.
“I am so thankful for all of the amazing experiences and opportunities that skating has offered me throughout the years,” Kirk said. “I feel very blessed to have reached such a high level in this tough sport. I feel that I'm leaving the sport on a very positive note. It wasn't one event or one thing that made my decision; it's just something I've wanted for awhile. I think I've finally grown up enough to make this decision and go with it.”
The 2004-2005 season marks Kirk's last. She struggled in the beginning of the year, but she came back strong to place fourth at the 2005 U.S. Championships, third at the Four Continents Championships and 17th at the World Championships.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the hard work that everyone at U.S. Figure Skating has done concerning my skating career over the years. I also want to thank my fans for all of their support and everybody who has been involved in my career. I love skating and always will.”
Sept. 7, 2005 - Jennifer Kirk announced today her plans to retire from competitive figure skating, effective immediately. Kirk won the bronze medal at the 2004 State Farm U.S. Championships and was a three-time U.S. World Team member. She plans to move back to her hometown of Boston, Mass., attend television broadcasting school and coach figure skating.
“This has been a very tough decision for me to make, especially considering the magnitude of the upcoming season,” Kirk said. “Although I still love skating very much, my passion and love for the competitive aspect of the sport has dwindled following the death of my mother in 2001 and my nagging hip injuries.”
Kirk burst onto the competitive figure skating scene in 1998, winning the novice bronze medal at the U.S. Championships. Just two years later she won the 2000 World Junior title, and two years after that, the 2002 Four Continents title.
After graduating from high school in the spring of 2002, she moved to Detroit, Mich., to train with Richard Callaghan. Under Callaghan's tutelage Kirk won the bronze medal at the 2004 U.S. Championships and placed 18th at the 2004 World Championships. In June 2004 Kirk moved west again, this time to the Los Angeles area to train under Frank Carroll and Ken Congemi.
“I am so thankful for all of the amazing experiences and opportunities that skating has offered me throughout the years,” Kirk said. “I feel very blessed to have reached such a high level in this tough sport. I feel that I'm leaving the sport on a very positive note. It wasn't one event or one thing that made my decision; it's just something I've wanted for awhile. I think I've finally grown up enough to make this decision and go with it.”
The 2004-2005 season marks Kirk's last. She struggled in the beginning of the year, but she came back strong to place fourth at the 2005 U.S. Championships, third at the Four Continents Championships and 17th at the World Championships.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the hard work that everyone at U.S. Figure Skating has done concerning my skating career over the years. I also want to thank my fans for all of their support and everybody who has been involved in my career. I love skating and always will.”
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