Randy Gardner (figure skater)

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Randy Gardner
Personal information
Full name Randy Gardner
Country represented United States
Born December 2, 1958 (1958-12-02) (age 53)
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 pair skater. With partner Tai Babilonia, he was the 1979 World Champion and the 1976-1980 U.S. national champion.

[edit] Career

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

As an adult he discovered that he was adopted after a relative divulged the family secret and he subsequently tracked down his birth mother, with whom he developed a relationship.[2] He indicated that he was working on his autobiography which was to be released at the end of 2008, but there is no indication anywhere that it was ever published.[3]

Gardner has been featured as a choreographer on the television show "Skating with Celebrities".

In 2008, Babilonia and Gardner announced their retirement from professional figure skating due to a neck injury suffered by Gardner and their advancing ages.[2]

[edit] Competitive highlights

(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  • WD = Withdrawn

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Los Angeles Times, March 20, 2008: Babilonia and Gardner's Bond Survives Off the Ice
  2. ^ a b People Magazine, May 26, 2008, Vol. 69, No. 20, p. 159: "Together Forever"
  3. ^ Lifeskate.com, April 11, 2008


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