Regina Woodward

Regina Barr, Woodward, (born 18 September 1970) is an American-born Hungarian retired ice dancer. With her partner, Csaba Szentpétery, she competed in the ice dance event at the 1992 Winter Olympics. They were the first mixed-citizenship team to compete where one member was not a defector awaiting citizenship in a new country. She now works as a coach.

Career

Early career Woodward began skating at age 9 after receiving free passes to a rink within walking distance of her home. She and her brother trained there, as their mother had multiple sclerosis and wanted them to participate in an activity that did not require her to drive them.

At age 12, she moved to Philadelphia to train. She began ice dance at age 16. Woodward's family had an extensive background in music, with multiple family members playing in concerts or bands, which helped her adapt to ice dance. then competed with Charles Sinek in 1989. Woodward worked part-time while they competed.

The Hungarian federation made a rule change to allow them to compete at the Hungarian Championships in 1990 without Woodward yet having citizenship. The pair placed second.

The next season, the pair competed at the 1990 Skate America. Skating magazine, in its review of the competition, praised their free dance for being "unique"; it portrayed a couple's wedding day. They placed 14th at the 1991 European Championships.

In January 1992, shortly before the Hungarian Championships, Szentpétery dropped Woodward in training. She continued to train despite having torn cartilage and a fracture in her kneecap, saying, "I had never had an injury that had kept me off the ice. My attitude was if you ignore it, it will go away. Plus I didn't have much of an option. What was I going to do, not go to the Olympics because my knee hurt?" She also said that Szentpétery showed great concern for her. Afterward, they were 14th at the 1992 World Championships.

Following the Olympics, Woodward had knee surgery. The pair moved to Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, and Woodward returned to skating in October 1992. Due to her injury, they reduced how much they trained.

Woodward now works as a coach at the Philadelphia Skating Club.