2006 Olympians Hinzmann and Parchem Announce Retirement

Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem at 2005 Skate America Photo by Paul Harvath

(5/30/06) - 2006 Olympic pairs skaters Marcy Hinzmann & Aaron Parchem announced today their retirement from competitive figure skating. The 2006 U.S. silver medalists skated together for three years, placing 13th at the Olympic Winter Games and 11th at the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships.

“After Worlds we agreed to take a six-week period to not discuss any decisions,” Hinzmann said. “We knew that coming down from this amazing season, we needed time before we made any abrupt decisions. We both realized we're on the exact same page. We know the kind of dedication and commitment it takes to skate at this level. We both feel really accomplished with everything that we've done.”

Hinzmann started out as a singles skater and was coached by Carol Heiss Jenkins. She made the switch to pairs skating in 2001, skating with Ronnie Biancosino and Steve Hartsell each for one season. She and Parchem paired up before the 2003-2004 season and placed third at their first event, the 2003 Finlandia Cup. She skated throughout the entire 2004-2005 season with a torn ACL and had surgery to repair the injury shortly after the 2005 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships, where she and Parchem finished third.

“We just had the dream season for us this year,” Hinzmann said. “Coming into an Olympic year and getting prepared really quickly was a bit of a challenge (after knee surgery), but one that we were so excited to take on. Obviously making the Olympic Team was a huge highlight. It does not get any better than that. We were really on the cusp as to if we were going to make it or not. For it to come through in our favor was a dream come true.”

Parchem took up pairs skating in 1997 and skated briefly with Michelle Keen and then Shawna Winters. He teamed up with Stephanie Kalesavich in the spring of 1999, and together they won the junior title at the 2000 U.S. Championships and the bronze medal at the 2000 Nebelhorn Trophy. They narrowly missed qualifying for the 2002 Olympics, placing third at the 2002 U.S. Championships, making them first alternates to the Olympic Team. That fate was not to be relived in 2006, as Hinzmann and Parchem's second-place finish at the 2006 U.S. Championships earned them a spot on the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team.

“We were just so happy to be able to experience all the things we got to this season – nationals, Four Continents, the Olympics and Worlds,” Parchem said. “The Olympics and Worlds were what we've always hoped we would get to, and we got there. Just being able to take part in all of that was amazing. It was life changing for both of us.”

Hinzmann and Parchem plan to continue coaching with the Detroit Skating Club and skating together in shows and exhibitions. Both are currently undecided on their future plans but are exploring their options.

“We really thank U.S. Figure Skating for everything they've done for us,” Hinzmann said. “We thank the support of our family members, our coaches and the Detroit Skating Club. We had so many people to get us to this point who really supported us and believed in us. Had we not had that backing we wouldn't have gotten this far.”

Added Parchem: “This has been a great time for Marcy and myself. The reason it was so great is because we got to share it with so many people, and so many people helped us get where we wanted to go. I'm just so grateful to everybody for their support and kind words.”