Tai Babilonia
Tai Babilonia | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Los Angeles, California , U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.59 m (5 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Figure skating career | |||||||||||||||||||||
Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Skating club | Los Angeles FSC | ||||||||||||||||||||
Retired | 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Tai Reina Babilonia (born September 22, 1959) is an American former
Career
Babilonia and Gardner began skating together at eight and ten years old when skating coach
Babilonia was the first figure skater of partial African American descent to compete for the United States at an Olympics and win world titles. She is also part
In 1990, a biographical film of her rise to fame was aired on television, On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story.[7]
Babilonia appeared in the 2006 Fox television program Skating with Celebrities, partnered with Olympic decathlon gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner.
Babilonia and Gardner also appeared on an episode of Hart to Hart "Silent Dance" (season 5 episode 16) in 1984.
Personal life
Babilonia was inspired at the age of six to begin ice skating after watching Peggy Fleming on television. Babilonia has a son named Scout with former husband Cary Butler.[8] She was engaged in 2005 to actor and comedian David Brenner, but they never married before their breakup in 2011.
Competitive highlights
(with Gardner)
Event | 1973–74 | 1974–75 | 1975–76 | 1976–77 | 1977–78 | 1978–79 | 1979–80 |
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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
- ^ a b c Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Tai Babilonia". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020.
- ^ a b Elliott, Helene (March 20, 2008). "Tai and Randy's bond is sure and steady off the ice". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "World Figure Skating Championships Results: Pairs medalists" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 5, 2013.
- ^ "Past U.S. Champions - Senior" (PDF). Excel Energy Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2012.
- ^ Rosewater, Amy (January 14, 2013). "A life in skating: An interview with John Nicks". IceNetwork.
- ^ Notable Filipinos Worldwide. notablefilipinos.com
- ^ On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story (1990). IMDb
- ^ "Long Path Has Rewards for Babilonia, Gardner". Los Angeles Times. February 19, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
External links
- "Skate Canada Results Book - Volume 1 - 1896 - 1973" (PDF). Skate Canada. Archived from the original(PDF) on November 22, 2010.
- "Skate Canada Results Book - Volume 2 - 1974 - current" (PDF). Skate Canada. Archived from the original(PDF) on September 20, 2009.