Randy Gardner (figure skater)

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.

Randy Gardner
Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner
Personal information
Full nameRandy Gardner
Country representedUnited States
Born (1958-12-02) December 2, 1958
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Former partnerTai Babilonia
Former coachJohn Nicks
Skating clubSanta Monica FSC
Los Angeles FSC
Retired2008

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 a thigh 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 Games5thWD
World Championships10th10th5th3rd3rd1st
U.S. Championships2nd2nd1st1st1st1st1st
Nebelhorn Trophy1st
Coupe des Alpes3rd
WD = Withdrew

References
  1. 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-10.
  3. "Past U.S. Champions - Senior" (PDF). Excel Energy Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2012.
  4. Rosewater, Amy (January 14, 2013). "A life in skating: An interview with John Nicks". IceNetwork.
  5. Randy Gardner. Sports-reference
  6. "Catching up with...Randy Gardner". Lifeskate.com. April 11, 2008.
  7. "Together Forever". People Magazine, Vol. 69, No. 20, p. 159. May 26, 2008.

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