Charles Sinek

Charles Sinek (born December 28, 1968) is an American former competitive ice dancer. With partner and wife Beata Handra, he is the 1999–2002 U.S. national pewter medalist and placed as high as fourth at the Four Continents Championships.

Charles Sinek
Personal information
Country representedUnited States
Born (1968-12-28) December 28, 1968
Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
PartnerBeata Handra
Former partnerRegina Woodward
Former coachInese Bucevica
Former choreographerInese Bucevica, Shanti Rushpaul
Skating clubSC of New York
Former training locationsMonsey, New York
Began skating1977
Retired2002

Personal life

Sinek was born on December 28, 1968, in Wilmington, North Carolina.[1] His father, Joachim Sinek, represented Chile at the Olympic Games in the 1950s in fencing.[2]

Charles Sinek and Beata Handra were married in 1996.[1] Their son, Kai Bela Sinek, was born on May 11, 2017.[3]

Career

Charles Sinek originally skated with his sister, Anne Sinek,[4] for several years. After his sister retired, he skated with Regina Woodward at the senior level and then turned professional.

Sinek competed at the 1994 Gay Games as a last minute replacement partner for Stephane Vachon, a friend whose partner was unable to compete due to illness. Sinek volunteered to skate with Vachon because he already knew the dance.[5] They won the gold medal in the Male/Male Compulsory Dance 4 competition.[6]

Sinek reinstated as an amateur in 1995.[7] He teamed up with 18-year-old Beata Handra.[4] In 2000, Handra/Sinek were given their first Grand Prix assignment, Skate America. Three weeks before the event, Sinek developed a staph infection after Handra accidentally cut his right shin in practice.[4] He recovered and they competed at the event, placing sixth.

In the 2001–02 season, Handra/Sinek missed their two Grand Prix assignments due to health issues—in August 2001, Sinek underwent knee surgery which resulted in a blood clot in his calf, and tore his meniscus a second time in September 2001.[7]

Handra/Sinek placed fourth at the 2002 U.S. Championships and were sent to the 2002 Four Continents Championships where they placed a career-best fourth. They were also granted the United States' second spot to the 2002 Winter Olympics because two teams who ranked above them nationally—Tanith Belbin / Benjamin Agosto and Melissa Gregory / Denis Petukhov—were ineligible for the Olympics due to citizenship problems. Handra/Sinek placed 23rd at the Olympics.

Programs

(with Handra)

Season Original dance Free dance
2001–2002
[1]
2000–2001
[8]
  • Happy Feet
    by Paolo Conte
  • Botch-A-Me
    by Luigi Astore, Riccardo Morbell, E. Stanley

Competitive highlights

With Beata Handra
International[1]
Event 96–97 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02
Winter Olympics23rd
Four Continents5th6th4th
GP Skate America6th
GP Skate Canada7th
National[1]
U.S. Championships10th8th4th4th4th4th
GP = Grand Prix

With Regina Woodward
Event 1989
U.S. Championships11th

References
  1. "Beata HANDRA / Charles SINEK: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 10, 2002.
  2. Nii, Jenifer K. (February 15, 2002). "Dancers' path to S.L. winding, icy". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011.
  3. Elfman, Lois (July 20, 2017). "Handra, Sinek reveling in being first-time parents". IceNetwork.com.
  4. Powers, John (January 16, 2001). "Dancers have taken the plunge". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
  5. Miller, Toby (2002). Sportsex. Temple University Press. pp. 29. ISBN 1-56639-994-7.
  6. "Gay Games IV". Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  7. "Handra and Sinek Announce Plans". Golden Skate. May 28, 2002.
  8. "Beata HANDRA / Charles SINEK: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 17, 2001.
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