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Carolina Kostner plans to skate two more seasons and then retire after the next Olympics. (Getty Images)

By icenetwork.com

(07/12/2012) - Days after telling an Italian magazine she was considering retiring from competitive skating, reigning world champion Carolina Kostner announced she will continue on through the next Olympic Games.

Kostner posted the following message on her official website Thursday:

"Dear friends, I've been thinking about my life and future a lot lately and after consulting my coach and family, I decided to continue my competitive career until Sochi 2014. It won't be an easy challenge, therefore I hope you will keep supporting me the way you did through all of these years! Thank you. Love, Carolina"

She goes on to say she is training in Oberstdorf, Germany, with coach Michael Huth for the new season and that her next on-ice appearance will be in Verona, Italy, in the show "Opera on Ice."

Kostner told the magazine Gente last week, "Now that I've had the satisfaction of climbing onto the world's highest stage, I'm happy, and I might choose to resume my (normal) life. It's a tough decision, and I want to take a few more weeks to reflect."

She is scheduled to make her first competitive appearance in 2012-13 at the Cup of China, Nov. 2-4 in Shanghai, followed by Trophée Eric Bompard, Nov. 16-18 in Paris.

Kostner is coming off her finest season to date, with wins at the Grand Prix Final, European championships and world championships.