French ice dancers Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder will not participate in their scheduled Grand Prix events, Skate America and Skate Canada, according to Icenetwork. Delobel recently had a baby and the article stated that the pair wasn't going to start practicing again until October 26. And remember, they had to pull out of a few competitions last season due to a shoulder injury.
The ice dancers explained they would not be ready for their scheduled Grand Prix events, Skate America or Skate Canada, and would make a decision about the French Championships closer to the event.
When Delobel announced her pregnancy, many thought the veteran team (both are 31) would retire. But the couple's longtime coach, Muriel Boucher-Zazoui, and associate coach Romain Hagenauer, who train their dancers in Lyon, urged them forward.
"With Isabelle and Olivier, we plan the return [to competition] very carefully and take it step by step," Boucher-Zazoui said.
I guess it's going to be a few months (perhaps not until French nationals?) that we will know if this team will be at the Olympics. It would be difficult for them without getting as many shots at having international judges see their programs. However, Virtue and Moir missed the Grand Prix series last season and still managed a bronze at Worlds, so it's obviously not impossible (although Virtue and Moir were in a few competitions prior to Worlds).