Inoue & Baldwin Win U.S. Pairs Crown, Make History Landing Throw Triple Axel Options

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The podium features the top American teams.
Photos by Susan D. Russell



St. Louis, Mo. (Jan. 13, 2006) – Rena Inoue and John Baldwin captured the U.S. pairs title Friday evening at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, Mo., earning them an automatic nomination to the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Also nominated to the Olympic team were silver medalists Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem.

Rena Inoue and John Baldwin won the U.S. pairs title.



Inoue and Baldwin finished with a dominating lead and a total score of 181.05, while Hinzmann and Parchem earned 166.32 points. 2005 U.S. champions Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash grabbed third, tallying 165.16 total points; they were nominated as first alternates to the Olympic team. Tiffany Scott and Rusty Fein took fourth with 158.39, and Naomi Nari Nam and Themistocles Leftheris earned fifth with 157.32 points.

Inoue and Baldwin became the first pair in history to land a throw triple Axel in competition. They skated a near-clean program, minus Baldwin turning out during the landing of their side-by-side triple toes.

Baldwin was ecstatic with their performance. “We were working on the throw triple Axel last year but took a few hard falls and opted not to do it last year,” Baldwin said. “This year it was something we were determined to do, mainly because we wanted to make our mark on the sport of pairs figure skating. Rena and I knew what we had to do tonight. We knew that it wouldn’t be easy, and we knew that we had to pull off the best performance in our competitive careers. Being at my 20th nationals, I feel like I have been in school for 20 years, and tonight I graduated.”

Hinzmann and Parchem were equally happy with the evening’s outcome. They skated strong with the exception of a fall by Hinzmann on the side-by-side triple toes. Parchem was first alternate to the Salt Lake City Olympic team with his former partner Stephanie Kalesevich. This quadrennium, he knows he will compete under the five rings.

“Tonight felt wonderful,” Hinzmann said. “I was thrilled with our performance and with our placement. Aaron and I just wanted to do what we had been doing in practice, and I can honestly say we did that tonight.”

Orscher and Lucash led the field following Wednesday’s short program and were disappointed with their program Friday. Their free skate was trying, as Lucash doubled his triple toe in their planned triple toe-double flip sequence, while Orscher flipped out of their throw triple flip, put her hand down on their side-by-side double Axel and put both hands down on the throw triple Salchow.

“There are some days where you and your partner are just clicking together,” Lucash said. “You have to be on the same wave length, and for some reason we had to fight through every element.”

Torino will mark the first Olympic appearance for Baldwin, Hinzmann and Parchem. Inoue is a two-time Olympian, competing for Japan in both singles (1992, 1994) and pairs (1992).

Both of the pairs nominations must be approved by the United States Olympic Committee before they become final.

2006 Olympic Winter Games Pairs Nominations to the USOC

1. Rena Inoue and John Baldwin
2. Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem
1st alternate – Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash
2nd alternate – Tiffany Scott and Rusty Fein

2006 World Figure Skating Championships Pairs Selections

1. Rena Inoue and John Baldwin
2. Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem
1st alternate – Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash
2nd alternate – Tiffany Scott and Rusty Rein

2006 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships Pairs Selections

1. Rena Inoue and John Baldwin
2. Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem
3. Katie Orscher and Garrett Lucash
1st alternate – Tiffany Scott and Rusty Fein
2nd alternate – Naomi Nari Nam and Themistocles Leftheris

2006 World Junior Figure Skating Championships Pairs Selections

1. Kendra Moyle and Andy Seitz
2. Bridget Namiotka and John Coughlin
3. Julia Vlassov and Drew Meekins
1st alternate – Kaela Pflumm and Christopher Pottenger
2nd alternate – Bianca Butler and Joseph Jacobsen