Ice Skaters Mallory, Rand Skip Season for Military Service
Estonia’s star ice skating duo, Caitlin Mallory and Kristjan Rand, has been forced to skip their next competitive season.
The pair took 13th place last winter in the European Championships in Tallinn. In the Turin World Championships, they placed 17th. Mallory and Rand now have other responsibilities, as Rand was drafted into the military and both of them have to finish college, wrote Eesti Päevaleht.
“It can’t be said that they are completely skipping the season because training will continue. But Caitlin and Kristjan will not be seen competing this year,” said Rand’s mother and trainer Lea Rand.
The Rand family thought that their son would not have to complete compulsory military service until next year. “But in June a letter came home, saying that on July 6 he needs to go, and that’s that. Of course, I started looking into it, but the Olympic committee also suggested that it would be wise to get it over with,” said Lea.
Kristjan will serve in the military alongside other athletes. He will stay off the ice for three months, but after that he will continue training while he serves the remainder of his eight months in the military.