Tiffany Chin to Forgo Olympics to Become Professional Skater

Tiffany Chin, whose physical problems prevented her from regaining the form that enabled her to twice finish third in the world, has retired from competitive figure skating, her mother said Monday.

Marjorie Chin of Toluca Lake said that her daughter has signed a two-year contract valued at more than $1 million with Holiday on Ice, which tours in Europe and the Orient, and also will be a guest star for three weeks later this year with Ice Capades.

Chin, 20, will make her professional debut Nov. 18 with the Ice Capades’ Continental Company in Houston.

After finishing fourth in the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, Chin was considered an early favorite for a medal in 1988. She continued her ascent in 1985, winning the national championship and finishing third in the world.

But her progress was impeded by a muscle imbalance that affected her legs, arms and hips. She was third in the national championships in 1986, and although she surprised figure skating experts by retaining her third place in the world championships a month later, it was apparent this year that she was not fully recovered.

She finished fourth in the 1987 national meet in Tacoma, Wash., and did not qualify for the World Championships last March in Cincinnati.

Marjorie Chin said her daughter’s physical condition has since improved, but, considering the strength of the other U.S. women, particularly 1986 world champion and 1987 runner-up Debi Thomas, 1987 national champion Jill Trenary, and Caryn Kadavy, third in the world this year, there was no guarantee Chin would have made the team for the Winter Olympics next February in Calgary.