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Valérie Marcoux retires from eligible figure skating competition
(April 24, 2007 - Ottawa, ON) - Skate Canada announced today that former Canadian Pair Champion Valérie Marcoux, who won three consecutive national titles with her partner Craig Buntin, has retired from eligible competition.
Marcoux, 27, of Gatineau, Que., and Buntin, 26, of Kelowna, B.C., who formed their partnership in 2002, most recently placed sixth at the 2007 International Skating Union (ISU) World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo.
After capturing the Canadian title in 2004, 2005 and 2006, Marcoux and Buntin won the silver medal in the senior pair event at the 2007 BMO Canadian Championships in Halifax in January. The duo placed fourth in their national championship debut in 2003.
They have also experienced international success. Marcoux and Buntin competed at four ISU world championships, placing as high as fifth in 2006. They also placed 11th at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, and qualified for the 2006-2007 ISU Grand Prix Final, where they placed fifth.
Marcoux began pair skating at the age of 20 with former partner Bruno Marcotte. Marcoux and Marcotte placed fourth in the senior pair event at both the 2001 and 2002 national championships and competed at the 2002 ISU world championships, where they finished 12th.
“I’m ready to move on because I’ve achieved all that I wanted,” said Marcoux. “I feel totally satisfied with my career. I was lucky to have shared all of this with Craig, and I wish him all the best in finding a new partner and achieving all of his goals.”
“Val is the most positive, persevering and fiercely competitive person I have ever met,” said Buntin. “She achieved more than most people ever imagined she could and she did so without ever being handed any gifts. Throughout the past eight years, I have witnessed her work ethic, drive and determination and have gained a deep respect for her as a skater and as a person.
“I have no doubt that we will remain close friends for the rest of our lives. I am going to miss Val dearly, but there is no doubt in my mind that she will be extremely successful in every project that she tackles.”
Both Marcoux and Buntin, who were coached by Richard Gauthier and Manon Perron at the Club de Patinage Artistique St-Leonard, plan to remain involved in the sport.
Marcoux will move to Columbus, Ohio, to coach.
Buntin is now looking for a new skating partner and hopes to compete in the 2007-2008 season.
Skate Canada, the national governing body responsible for the development and administration of figure skating in Canada, is the largest figure skating association in the world. With skating programs for athletes of all ages, offered at 1326 clubs across the country, Skate Canada is an association dedicated to providing every Canadian the opportunity to experience the passion, spirit and triumph of skating.
