Valeriy Angelopol: “I’ve decided to pause my athletic career. I’ve truly been working with specialists to stabilize my emotional and psychological state.”

Valeriy Angelopol Announces Career Pause to Focus on Health

original source: Instagram

Ice dancer Valeriy Angelopol announced a pause in his figure skating career to focus on his health and emotional well-being, expressing gratitude to his supporters while sharing his personal journey and future hopes. Here’s a translation of his comments.

Until 2023, Valeriy Angelopol skated with Vasilisa Kaganovskaya. Following the dissolution of their partnership, he attempted to form pairs with Arina Ushakova, Alexandra Shinkarenko, and Daria Kareva, but none of these partnerships reached the competition stage. Now, Angelopol has shared an emotional update regarding his decision to step back from skating:

“Hello, everyone! Writing this is incredibly difficult, but it feels like the right thing to do – for myself and for the people who have continued to believe in me, even during my long absence from the sport. I’m deeply grateful for that support and faith.

I’ve decided to pause my athletic career. Right now, it’s absolutely essential for me to focus on other aspects of my life.

During my absence, there were many rumors about me, which was understandable. I don’t want to pretend that everything was perfect, but I do have the right to be honest and clear up certain misconceptions.

Only three people have known what I’ve been going through during this time – Danya, Lenya, and Karandash. They protected me from the internet, from others, and even from myself. I love you dearly.

I’ve truly been working with specialists to stabilize my emotional and psychological state. I’ve also dabbled in a different profession and explored the world of cinema, diving into its challenging behind-the-scenes processes. Honestly, I’m not sure what’s harder – competing on the ice or enduring the grueling filming schedule. In this new world, I’ve met incredible people who taught me, supported me, and helped me get back on my feet. This has been a priceless experience!”

Angelopol expressed his ongoing passion for figure skating and his hopes to return someday:

“I’m still myself. I still love figure skating. I still want to come back. I still listen to Pharaoh (the musician). I’m trying to preserve my true self and become more self-aware, but I’ve stopped making promises.

If I’m lucky, I’ll return to the ice – I don’t know in what capacity – but for now, it’s not something I need to think about. Thank you to everyone who accompanied me on this bright, interesting, and difficult journey. We will meet again. I promise to keep trying.”

Angelopol also addressed the media with a heartfelt request:

“To media representatives, I kindly ask you to stop reaching out to my family members for comments about me or citing them as sources. This may have been acceptable earlier in my career when I was younger, but things have changed now. I hope you’ll respect this. Thank you all.”

Related topics: Vasilisa Kaganovskaia Valeriy Angelopol