Parsons started learning to skate at age seven to play hockey but ultimately chose figure skating.[3][4] He joined the Wheaton Ice Skating Academy in December 2003.[5] Early in his ice dancing career, he skated with Kristina Rexford.[6]
The next month, the Parsons won their first junior national title at the 2017 U.S. Championships, over 11 points clear of the field. The siblings would cap off their undefeated season by winning the 2017 World Junior Championships; similar to the 2016–17 JGP Final, the Parsons won the event overall after placing second in the short and first in the free, earning an even narrower victory of 0.56 ahead of Loboda/Drozd. The Parsons earned personal bests in their combined total and free dance scores on their fifth Junior Championships trip.[12]
"I couldn't be more proud of you, Rach, you're superhuman. It's been an amazing journey, and I've loved sharing it with you. If I know one thing, it's that we haven't seen the last of you ❤️"
On April 2, 2019, Rachel announced on Instagram that she was retiring from figure skating following a lengthy struggle with an eating disorder. Michael said he intended to continue skating with a new partner.[13]
Competing at their first U.S. Championships, Green/Parsons placed fifth in the rhythm dance.[17] They were fifth in the free dance, despite a fall. Parsons said afterward that they were "still a very young team, but it's coming along faster than I ever expected. I couldn't be more proud; I am very happy."[18]
2020–21 season
The coronavirus pandemic and resultant lockdowns resulted in Green and Parsons not being able to see or train with each other from March to June. Caroline enlisted her brother Gordon as a training partner at home.[19] In order to limit international travel, the ISU assigned the Grand Prix based on geographic location, and Green/Parsons attended the 2020 Skate America[20] finishing in fourth place.[21]
For their free dance, Green, Parsons, and their choreographers opted to design a program in emulation of Martha Graham's style of modern dance, which Parsons characterized as involving "a lot of emotion into almost sparse movements."[23]
Entering the 2022 U.S. Championships seeking to qualify for the third berth on the American Olympic team, Green/Parsons placed third in the rhythm dance despite a twizzle error, slightly ahead of defending national bronze medalists Hawayek/Baker, who also had a twizzle error. They were fourth in the free dance and dropped behind Hawayek/Baker overall, taking the pewter medal.[28] They were named first alternates for the Olympic team and were sent to compete at the 2022 Four Continents Championships in Tallinn, where they won the gold medal. Parsons reflected on not making the Olympic team, saying, "even while not making the team, we set ourselves up very well for the next four years, and this is a great starting point right here. Not making the team is certainly a motivation."[29]
Green and Parsons left their longtime coaches at Wheaton Ice Dance Academy to train at the new Michigan Ice Dance Academy founded by retired Olympic medalists Charlie White and Tanith Belbin. Parsons said of the change, "these next four years are about pushing ourselves as skaters, as artists, and as people."[30]
Beginning the season at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy, Green/Parsons placed fifth.[31] In their first Grand Prix at the 2022 Skate Canada International, the team placed narrowly third in the rhythm dance but were overtaken in the free dance by Canadians Lajoie/Lagha and finished in fourth place, albeit significantly improving their scores over the Finlandia Trophy.[32] At their second Grand Prix, the 2022 NHK Trophy in Sapporo, they won the bronze medal, their first Grand Prix medal as a partnership and Green's first.[33][34]
With presumptive national silver medalists Hawayek/Baker missing the 2023 U.S. Championships for health reasons, Green/Parsons entered the event as the favourites for the silver, and finished almost ten points clear of bronze medalists Carreira/Ponomarenko.[35]
Green/Parsons entered the 2023 Four Continents Championships as contenders for the bronze medal, but after Parsons fell in the rhythm dance they placed fifth in that segment, 9.05 points back of Lajoie/Lagha in third.[36] They placed fourth in the free dance, but remained in fifth overall, and finishing behind Carreira/Ponomarenko, who came fourth. Parsons said that they were happy with their performance on the day.[37] They finished sixth in their World Championship debut.[38]
2023–24 season: Second consecutive Grand Prix medal
Green/Parsons came sixth at the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy.[39] Receiving advice from judges there, they opted to discard their original Paula Abdul rhythm dance, switching to a medley of music from Scorpions. Creating the latter program over a period of only a few weeks was "a great learning experience," in the team's view. In its first outing at the 2023 Skate America, they finished fifth in the rhythm dance, and rose to fourth after the free dance. Parsons called the result "a big step towards where we want to be compared to Lombardia Trophy."[40] At their second Grand Prix, the 2023 Cup of China, they placed third in the rhythm dance despite Green losing a twizzle level. Parsons commented that they had "debuted this program at Skate America and at that point it was two weeks old. So now it is four weeks' old and we are happy with progress."[41] Third in the free dance as well, they won their second Grand Prix bronze medal.[42]
In advance of the 2024 U.S. Championships, Green/Parsons were named to the American team for the 2024 Four Continents Championships in Shanghai.[43] They were third in the rhythm dance at the national championships, but multiple errors in the free dance dropped them to fourth place, taking the pewter medal. Parsons deemed it "a disappointing skate."[44] At Four Continents they came fifth in the rhythm dance, and finished sixth overall after a sixth-place free dance. Green said they were "well prepared for a sharp off-season."[45]
