Olympic silver medallist and six-time national medallist Kevin Reynolds, 28, Coquitlam, B.C., has announced his retirement from competitive skating. Reynolds has been a constant on the skating scene since 2002, when he won the Canadian novice title. He won a silver medal as a member of the Canadian squad in the team event at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
“Despite an encouraging start to the season with a new personal best short program, I was unable maintain this form and my body has started to tell me it has had enough. It was a tough decision but given the circumstances I know it is the right choice,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds continued, “I would like to thank Skate Canada for their support throughout my long and wonderfully rewarding competitive career. I would also like to thank the many Canadian and Japanese skating fans who always supported and believed in me, even in those moments where I doubted myself. Finally, I would like to give a special thank you to my long-time coach, Joanne McLeod, who has been with me on this incredible journey every step of the way. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the sport of skating as I move on to the next phase of my life and pursue new career opportunities.”
Reynolds is an eight-time senior national team member and has represented Canada at the world championships six times. In 2013, he won his first senior gold medal on the international circuit at the ISU Four Continents Championships. During his successful junior years, he qualified for the 2006 ISU Grand Prix Final, wining the bronze medal.
"Kevin has been such an important thread in the fabric of skating in British Columbia over his career. Early on he demonstrated a special ability to accomplish new technical feats but more importantly he emerged as a unique artist in the form of skating," said Ted Barton, Excutive Director, Skate Canada BC/YK Section. We say good bye to his competitive career and we welcome him into our coaching fraternity to help the next generation of young athletes emerge."
Reynolds helped to move the sport forward with his advanced jumping skills. In 2010, he was the first skater to land two quad jumps in a short program. He was also the first skater to land five quad jumps in competition at the 2013 ISU Four Continents Championships, with two quads in the short program and three in the free program.
Reynolds is working towards completion of his degree at the University of British Columbia. He is expected to graduate in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, with a minor in Japanese Language and Culture. He will be staying involved with skating as a full-time coach at the Champs International Skating Centre of B.C.
