MADRID, 24 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish skater Adrián Díaz announced this Monday his sports retirement “at a competitive level” after a career marked by the successes of recent years in the ice dance modality, among which are a bronze at Skate Canada in 2021, the fourth place in the European past and the Olympic diploma in the last Beijing Games.
“I would like to announce my retirement from the world of skating, from ice dancing at a competitive level. After so many years, I feel that the time has come to turn the page and close this beautiful chapter of my life,” said Díaz, 31 years, in a letter published by the Royal Spanish Federation of Sports on Ice (RFEDH).
The Catalan made it clear that this decision “is not easy since it affects an entire team”, mainly his partner in the ice dance modality, Olivia Smart, with whom he achieved a historic Olympic diploma in Beijing 2022 at the end of eighths.
In this sense, the RFEDH made it clear that the skater of British origin will follow “a new sports path within the umbrella” of the federation and that “any news will be duly communicated in the future.”
“From here I want to thank Olivia for all the good times she has given us over the years and for helping me to be a better partner and person on the ice. You know how proud I am of you and what we have experienced this last season has been incredible. and unforgettable”, added the Barcelonan about his partner.
The Spaniard, who also competed in the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 with Sara Hurtado, with whom he formed a duo between 2008 and 2015, thanked “the entire team of coaches and skaters” from the Montreal Academy ( Canada) in which he trained “for creating such an environment” that made him feel “at home”.
Adrián Díaz also thanked the RFEDH, CSD, COE, FCEH and FC Barcelona “for helping and being there” when they were needed “despite the difficulty of the problem or the distance”. “Thank you for being part of our Olympic dream,” he remarked, without forgetting the “families and friends” for having “trusted” them and having “supported and encouraged” them to move forward “in good and bad times”.
“Having said this, I really want to turn the page, to explore new projects and see what the future holds for me. A kiss and many thanks to everyone from my heart,” said the skater, who was one of the pioneers in the modality of ice dance.