Dorothy Hamill

In 1993, the Ice Capades was in serious financial trouble. The company had filed for bankruptcy in 1991. Hamill, her husband, and businessman Ben C. Tinsdale, bought the company in 1993. She put it under her own company, Dorothy Hamill International, of which she was president. She told Steve Wulf of Sports Illustrated, "It was breaking my heart to think there would be no more Ice Capades. It wasn't just that I once skated for the company, it was also the thought of all those skaters out of work."

When Hamill took over, she changed Ice Capades to suit her tastes as a skater. The shows had become dated using a variety format, but Hamill made it into a show on ice. She hired better quality skaters, choreographers, and costumers. She also did away with weigh-ins. One of her greatest successes was with the Ice Capades show she executive produced, 1994's Cinderella Frozen in Time. Praised by critics and aired as a special on ABC, Hamill herself skated the lead in many stops on the tour. Hamill also created other ice shows, including Hansel & Gretel—Frozen in Time.

In 1995, Hamill and her partners sold Ice Capades to International Entertainment, Inc. Though she intended to retire again from professional skating, divorce and bankruptcy problems contributed to her return to the ice. In 1995, she skated in the Legends of Figure Skating, replacing an ill Katarina Witt. In 1996, Hamill skated in the Hershey's Kisses Figure Skating Challenge, a team competition between three teams of four skaters. Her team included Michelle Kwan, Todd Eldredge, and Dan Hollander.

Hamill was asked to compete in the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games, against other professional skaters and the leading amateurs of the day. Though she had not competed in over a decade, she did well, placing fifth. As Sharon Raboin wrote in USA Today, "Hamill delighted with her tight, fast spins, where she looks like a blur; her tremendous edge control, mastered years ago with compulsory figures training; and her desire to make the most of every moment in her program."

Hamill believed she aged well as a skater. She told Wulf from Sports Illustrated, "I don't think people realize that skaters get better as they get older. Olympic skating is all about jumping, how many triples you hit

Dorothy Hamill

cleanly. Watch professional skaters, and you'll see a more fluid, more disciplined style. Some of it comes with practice, some of it comes with maturity…"

Though Hamill was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2000, she continued to skate in professional tours such as Champions on Ice. Her name was still a draw. Hamill also continued to appear in commercials and work as a skating commentator for various broadcasts. Of her life, she explained to Tim Reynolds of The Times Union, "There have been good times, there have been bad times, there have been hectic times. But I've always had skating. When things were, or are, going badly in my personal life, I always have my therapy. I always have my skating."