Randy Gardner (figure skater)

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Randy Gardner
Personal information
Full name Randy Gardner
Country represented United States
Born (1958-12-02) December 2, 1958 (age 54)
Los Angeles, California
Former partner Tai Babilonia
Former coach John Nicks
Skating club Santa Monica FSC
Los Angeles FSC
Retired 2008

Randy Gardner (born December 2, 1958 in Los Angeles, California) is an American former pair skater. With partner Tai Babilonia, he is the 1979 World champion and a five-time (1976–1980) U.S. national champion. The pair qualified for the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics.

Contents

Career [edit]

Babilonia / Gardner began skating together as children, when Babilonia was eight and Gardner ten.[1] Their coach was John Nicks. The pair became five-time U.S. national champions and won the gold medal at the 1979 World Championships.[2][3] They were medal favorites at the 1980 Winter Olympics but were forced to withdraw due to an injury to Gardner.[1][4]

In 2006, Gardner appeared as a choreographer on the television show "Skating with Celebrities". In 2008, he indicated that he was working on his autobiography which was to be released at the end of the year.[5] It has not been released. In 2008, Babilonia / Gardner announced their retirement from show skating due to a neck injury sustained by Gardner and their advancing ages.[6]

Personal life [edit]

Gardner discovered in 1998 that he was adopted after a relative divulged the family secret.[1][6] After a five-year search, he found his birth mother who had become pregnant with him at age 17 after being raped by a family friend.[1] Gardner came out as gay in 2006.[1]

Competitive highlights [edit]

(with Babilonia)

Event 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
Winter Olympic Games 5th WD
World Championships 10th 10th 5th 3rd 3rd 1st
U.S. Championships 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
Nebelhorn Trophy 1st
Coupe des Alpes 3rd
WD = Withdrew

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Elliott, Helene (March 20, 2008). "Tai and Randy's bond is sure and steady off the ice". Los Angeles Times. 
  2. ^ "World Figure Skating Championships Results: Pairs medalists" (PDF). International Skating Union. 
  3. ^ "Past U.S. Champions - Senior". Excel Energy Center. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. 
  4. ^ Rosewater, Amy (January 14, 2013). "A life in skating: An interview with John Nicks". IceNetwork. 
  5. ^ "Catching up with...Randy Gardner". Lifeskate.com. April 11, 2008. 
  6. ^ a b "Together Forever". People Magazine, Vol. 69, No. 20, p. 159. May 26, 2008. 
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