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Russian stars will not defend Olympic pairs title

Russians Tatyana Volosozhar and Maksim Trankov are the latest figure skaters to decide they will not defend their Olympic gold medals in PyeongChang.

Their PR director confirmed the decision in an email Wednesday, saying the married pairs skaters “are enjoying family life with their newly born daughter Angelica” and will not compete this season.

It follows announcements from fellow Sochi champions Adelina Sotnikova, Yulia Lipnitskaya, Yevgeny Plushenko and Meryl Davis and Charlie White earlier this year.

It came as little surprise.

Volosozhar, 31, and Trankov, 34, last competed at the 2016 World Championships, where they placed seventh.