Charles Sinek
Encyclopedia
Charles Sinek is an American
ice dancer. With partner and wife Beata Handra
, he is the 1999-2002 U.S. national pewter medalist
.
He originally skated with his sister Anne Sinek for several years. After his sister retired, he skated with Regina Woodward at the senior level. He eventually turned professional. He competed at the 1994 Gay Games
as a last minute replacement partner for Stephane Vachon, a friend whose partner could not compete with him due to illness. Vachon was about to withdraw, but Sinek volunteered to partner him because he already knew the dance. They won the gold medal in the Male/Male Compulsory Dance 4 competition. Sinek reinstated as an amateur in 1995 and began skating with Beata Handra
.
Handra and Sinek were married in 1996.
Despite their fourth place finish at the 2002 Nationals, Handra & Sinek earned the United States' second spot to the 2002 Winter Olympics
because the two teams who placed above them (Tanith Belbin
& Benjamin Agosto
and Melissa Gregory
& Denis Petukhov
) were not eligible to compete at the Olympics due to citizenship problems.
(with Handra)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ice dancer. With partner and wife Beata Handra
Beata Handra
Beata Handra is an American ice dancer. With partner and husband Charles Sinek, she is the 1999-2002 U.S...
, he is the 1999-2002 U.S. national pewter medalist
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
.
Biography
Sinek's father, Joachim Sinek, represented Chile at the Olympic Games in the 1950s in fencing.He originally skated with his sister Anne Sinek for several years. After his sister retired, he skated with Regina Woodward at the senior level. He eventually turned professional. He competed at the 1994 Gay Games
Gay Games
The Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. It welcomes participants of every sexual orientation and every skill level...
as a last minute replacement partner for Stephane Vachon, a friend whose partner could not compete with him due to illness. Vachon was about to withdraw, but Sinek volunteered to partner him because he already knew the dance. They won the gold medal in the Male/Male Compulsory Dance 4 competition. Sinek reinstated as an amateur in 1995 and began skating with Beata Handra
Beata Handra
Beata Handra is an American ice dancer. With partner and husband Charles Sinek, she is the 1999-2002 U.S...
.
Handra and Sinek were married in 1996.
Despite their fourth place finish at the 2002 Nationals, Handra & Sinek earned the United States' second spot to the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
because the two teams who placed above them (Tanith Belbin
Tanith Belbin
Tanith Jessica Louise Belbin is a Canadian-American ice dancer. Though born in Canada, she holds dual citizenship and has competed for the United States since she began skating with Benjamin Agosto in 1998. With Agosto, Belbin is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World medalist,...
& Benjamin Agosto
Benjamin Agosto
Benjamin Alexandro Agosto is an American ice dancer. With partner Tanith Belbin, Agosto is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, a four-time World medalist, the 2004–2006 Four Continents champion, and 2004–2008 U.S. champion....
and Melissa Gregory
Melissa Gregory
Melissa Gregory is an American ice dancer. With partner and husband Denis Petukhov, she is the 2004–2007 U.S. silver medalist.-Biography:...
& Denis Petukhov
Denis Petukhov
Denis Petukhov is a Russian-American ice dancer. With partner and wife Melissa Gregory, he is the 2004-2007 U.S. silver medalist.-Biography:...
) were not eligible to compete at the Olympics due to citizenship problems.
Competitive highlights
(with Regina Woodward)| Event | 1989 |
|---|---|
| U.S. Championships United States Figure Skating Championships The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters... |
11th |
(with Handra)
| Event | 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games | 23rd | |||||
| Four Continents Championships | 5th | 6th | 4th | |||
| U.S. Championships | 10th | 8th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 4th |
| Skate America 2000 Skate America The 2000 Skate America competition was held at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from October 26 through 29th. The compuslory dance was the Westminster Waltz.... |
6th | |||||
| Skate Canada Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
7th |