Randy Gardner (figure skater)

Randy Gardner

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

Randy Gardner (born December 2, 1958) is an American former pair skater. Together with Tai Babilonia, he won the 1979 World Figure Skating Championships and five U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1976–1980). The pair qualified for the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics.

Career

Babilonia and Gardner began skating together 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][5]

In 2006, Gardner appeared as a choreographer on the reality television series 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.[6] It has not been released. In 2008, Babilonia and Gardner announced their retirement from show skating due to a neck injury sustained by Gardner and their advancing ages.[7][5]

Personal life

Gardner discovered in 1998 that he was adopted after a relative divulged the family secret.[1][7] 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] In 2006, Gardner revealed that he is gay.[1]

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 = Withdrew

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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" (PDF). Excel Energy Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ Rosewater, Amy (January 14, 2013). "A life in skating: An interview with John Nicks". IceNetwork.
  5. 1 2 Randy Gardner. Sports-reference
  6. ↑ "Catching up with...Randy Gardner". Lifeskate.com. April 11, 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Together Forever". People Magazine, Vol. 69, No. 20, p. 159. May 26, 2008.
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