Javier Fernandez - not retiring but....

[Elizabeth]

He won't be at the World Championships in Milan and he won't do a full season of competitions next year but may go to Europeans.

There will only be one Spanish skater at Worlds - Javier Raya will be the only Spanish representative in the individual [men's] category there. [Felipe Montoya, who skated at the Olympics, does not have the (higher) SP minimum TES score required.]

[Elizabeth]

According to the translation of a Spanish article:

Javi moves back to Madrid to develop skating in Spain and work on show production. He won't compete full seasons but wants to do Euros.

[Judy]

while I understand that skaters who competed at Olympics are tired and ready for their season to be over or to retire, it is very disappointing that so many skaters won't be competing at Worlds in Milan. Even more so for those attending!

[Elizabeth]

It often happens at the post-Olympic Worlds, Judy

This year it seems like more than usual but that may partly be due to the fact that there were so many "mature" competitors.

I like to look at the post-Olympic Worlds as
a) a chance for redemption or
b) a chance for those who will be the future Olympians to start their journey.

There have been some outstanding performances at these events in past years.