Olympic bronze medalist Carolina Kostner will sit out the 2014-15 competitive figure skating season, according to her social media accounts.
Kostner, 27, became the second oldest women’s figure skating medalist since 1928 in Sochi, according to sports-reference.com. She also won bronze at the World Championships in March, her sixth career Worlds medal.
The Italian is the latest women’s skater to announce a break. Sochi silver medalist Yuna Kim retired, World champion Mao Asada is also sitting out next season, as is two-time U.S. bronze medalist Agnes Zawadzki.
Russia appears the overwhelming favorite for success next season, including the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai in March. It boasts Olympic champion Adelina Sotnikova, World silver medalist Yulia Lipnitskaya and two-time World junior champion Elena Radionova.
The U.S. could return all of its Olympians -- Gracie Gold, Ashley Wagner and Polina Edmunds -- who finished in the top nine in Sochi.