Tai Babilonia
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name: | Tai Reina Babilonia |
| Country represented: |  United States |
| Date of birth: | September 22, 1960 |
| Place of birth: | Los Angeles, California |
| Former partner: | Randy Gardner |
| Former coach: | John Nicks |
| Skating club: | Los Angeles FSC |
Tai Reina Babilonia (born September 22, 1960 in Los Angeles, California) is an American pair skater. With partner Randy Gardner, she is the 1979 World Champion and the 1976-1980 U.S. national champion.
Contents |
[edit] Career
Babilonia & Gardner began skating together when Babilonia was eight years old and Gardner was ten. 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.
Babilonia was the first figure skater of partial African American descent to win U.S. and World titles[citation needed]. She is also part Filipino on her father's side and part Native American[citation needed]. In the late 70's and early 80's, however, her mixed ethnic ancestry was rarely discussed by the media.
While skating as a professional, Babilonia became addicted to amphetamines and alcohol and attempted suicide via an overdose of sleeping pills in the fall of 1988.[1] After receiving treatment, she returned to the ice.
Babilonia appeared in the 2006 FOX television program "Skating with Celebrities", partnered with Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner (Decathlon).
Babilonia has a son, Scout Gabriel (born in February 1995), with her ex-husband Cary Butler, whom she married in 1992 and divorced in 1997.[2] She is engaged[when?] to comedian David Brenner.[3]
In 2008, Babilonia and Gardner announced their retirement from professional figure skating due to a neck injury suffered by Gardner and their advancing ages.[4] In retirement, she is living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming[5] where she coaches part-time and also designs with Bear Hill Sports an activewear line called Tai.[6]
[edit] Competitive highlights
(with Gardner)
| 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
- ^ People Magazine, May 26, 2008 Vol. 69, No. 20, p. 159: "Together Forever"
- ^ Tai Babilonia - Biography
- ^ People Magazine, May 26, 2008 Vol. 69, No. 20, p. 159: "Together Forever"
- ^ People Magazine, May 26, 2008 Vol. 69, No. 20, p. 159: "Together Forever"
- ^ http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?ctg=2
- ^ Lifeskate.com, May 25, 2009
- Sports-reference profile
- "Skate Canada Results Book - Volume 1 - 1896 - 1973" (PDF). Skate Canada. http://skatecanada.ca/en/events_results/results/archives/SkateCanadaResultsBook-%20Volume1-1896-1973.pdf.
- "Skate Canada Results Book - Volume 2 - 1974 - current" (PDF). Skate Canada. http://skatecanada.ca/en/events_results/results/archives/SkateCanadaResultsBook-Volume2-1974-current.pdf.
- Past U.S. Champions - SeniorPDF (123 KiB)
- "World Figure Skating Championships Results: Pairs Medalists" (PDF). International Skating Union. http://www.isu.org/vsite/vfile/page/fileurl/0,11040,4844-148238-165454-56217-0-file,00.pdf.
[edit] External links
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