Amélie Lacoste announces retirement from competitive skating

OTTAWA, ON:  Amélie Lacoste, 25, of Delson, Que., has retired from competitive skating. The 2012 Canadian Champion, representing CPA du Roussillon, was a mainstay on the Canadian National team for six years. Lacoste represented Canada many times in international competition including two 16^th place finishes at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships (2011, 2012), seven appearances at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships (2005, 2009-2014) and various ISU Grand Prix events, notably earning bronze at the 2011 Skate Canada International. She is a four-time Canadian medallist at the senior level, and one of few skaters to win the Canadian title at the novice (2003), junior (2005) and senior levels (2012).

This season, she placed fifth at the U.S. International Figure Skating Classic, fifth at Skate Canada International, sixth at Trophée Eric Bompard, 12^th at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships and earned bronze at the 2014 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships. Lacoste started in private lessons at the age of six with her first coach Lynn McKay. From 2009 – 2013 she worked with Nathalie Martin at CPA Saint-Léonard in Montreal, Que and concluded her competitive career with the team of Christy Krall, Damon Allen, Erik Schulz and Janet Champion in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“This was a difficult decision for me, but I am excited to start a new chapter in my life. This past year, with changing my training base, helped renew my passion and love for training and competing,” said Amélie Lacoste.  “I’m very happy with all that I have accomplished and I would like to thank everyone who made my journey and my career a success. Even though I had “ups” and “downs” during the years, you were always there to help and give me advice to be a better skater and a better person. And I would like to thank my family, especially my parents and my sister. They supported me through 20 years of my skating career, and I truly cherish the commitment and sacrifices they made to allow me to pursue my dreams.”

In addition to her family, Amélie had many other people to acknowledge who supported her throughout the years. “A special thanks to my dress maker, Mrs. Luis, my physiotherapists Claude Aquin and Stephane Fournier, my sport psychologist Wayne Halliwell, and all the other specialists who worked with me. I also appreciate all the choreographers who helped me develop that very important aspect of my figure skating. My home club, CPA Du Roussillon, ARPAS (Patinage Rive-Sud), Patinage Québec and SkateCanada were with me every step of the way, and your support is so appreciated. And lastly I would like to thank all the officials, volunteers, supporters and fans, who always had a word of encouragement or cheered me on. Without all of these people in my life, I would never have achieved my goals, or become the person that I am now.

“Amélie represented Skate Canada proudly as a member of our national team for many years and as our Canadian champion in 2012,” said Mike Slipchuk, High Performance Director, Skate Canada. “She worked with great desire and determination to achieve her goals, and pursue her dreams. We are pleased she plans to stay involved in skating, and look forward to keeping her engaged now as a member of our national team alumni.”

Although not completely sure of her future plans, Amélie plans to stay connected to skating and to give back to the sport that has been so much a part of her life. She has a final word for anyone who wants to pursue and achieve a goal. “Believe in your dreams. Dreams do come true if you are willing do anything in your willpower to achieve it. Go after it. The most important thing, listen to your heart and follow your intuition.”