Yugo Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov, who are retiring from figure skating ©Getty Images

Russian pairs figure skaters Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov have announced their retirement from the sport.

The duo's coach Tamara Moskvina told TASS that they had decided to hang up their skates.

"Yuko and Sasha have taken into account their health condition and their competitive capabilities compared to other pairs from Russia and other countries," she said. 

"They were unlikely to be included in the Olympic team to participate in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, so they decided not to tempt fate."

Yugo Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov won two European titles ©Getty Images
Yugo Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov won two European titles ©Getty Images

Kavaguti, 35, and Smirnov, 32, won two bronze medals at the World Figure Skating Championships.

They also claimed two gold medals at the European Figure Skating Championships, as well as two silvers and a bronze.

In 2010 they competed at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, narrowly missing a medal by finishing fourth.

They were ruled out of contention for their home Sochi 2014 Games after Smirnov suffered a knee injury. 

They became a pair in 2006 and spent most of their professional career under Moskvina's guidance.