Silverstein and O'Meara Announce Time Off From Competitive Skating

Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O'Meara Photo by Michelle Harvath

(5/3/06) - Olympic ice dancers Jamie Silverstein & Ryan O'Meara announced today their decision to take time off from competitive figure skating. Silverstein is returning to Cornell University where she will be a junior in the fall. O'Meara is joining the Alltell Ice Den in Scottsdale, Ariz., as the dance director. Both skaters expressed the possibility of returning to competitive skating in future years.

“I appreciate the gifts that everyone gave us and the chances that everyone took,” Silverstein said. “I'm proud of us. The best part of this past year has been the relationships I've built with Ryan and my coaches. Being part of an extended family was really special to me. I feel most blessed by having these people in my life, because it's the day-to-day stuff that means the most – enjoying what you're doing and caring about what you're working on.”

Silverstein and O'Meara partnered up in the spring of 2005. They excelled rapidly under coaches Igor Shpilband and Marina Zoueva, winning the compulsory and free dances at the Lake Placid Ice Dancing Competition in August. Their finishes helped secure them a spot on the 2005-06 U.S. Figure Skating National Team, and they finished fifth at their Grand Prix event in October, Smart Ones Skate America. They went on to place third at the 2006 State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earning them the final space on the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team. Just 10 months after forming a team they traveled to Torino, Italy, where they finished 16th out of 24 teams.

“I want to thank U.S. Figure Skating for its continued support of my skating career,” O'Meara said. “I have traveled and met many wonderful people. I especially want to thank my coaches and my parents for helping me achieve my dreams. I will value the friendships I've formed for years to come.”

Silverstein formerly skated with Justin Pekarek from 1995-2000, with whom she was the 1999 World Junior champion. She left the sport to attend Cornell, where she was on the Dean's List from 2003-2005. This year she will be a resident advisor in the freshman dorms for her second time and plans to continue pursuing her major, “Catharsis across culture and context.” She plans to remain involved in the sport in the future, though she is not sure if that will include competitive skating or not.

“All I know is that I love to skate, and it's something that I want to be a part of my life,” she said. “I love the idea of creating an ice theater, blending drama and dance in a staged setting. What I love most about skating is not the athletic or competitive form of it, but the ability to explore grace and communicate on a different plane.”

O'Meara formerly skated with Lydia Manon from 2003-2005, winning the bronze medals at the 2005 Four Continents Championships and the 2005 U.S. Championships. He, too, has not ruled out a return to competitive skating, though his present focus is shifting to coaching and teaching others.

“I'm excited to try something new in my life,” O'Meara said. “I worked hard to get to the top in competitive skating, and I want to give back to the skaters in Arizona. I've been doing this for so long that I want to step out of my comfort zone and try some new things. The facility is fantastic, and the people are super nice and really ready for a strong dance program. I'm really looking forward to helping them build that.”