"By then Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner had become one of the most decorated pairs in U.S. figure skating history, their individual names eventually melding into one. "My last name is ' and Randy,'" Babilonia said. "And I embrace it." As a pair "Tai and Randy" won five U.S. championships, medaled in three world championships and qualified for the Olympics twice,"
"Their success also pushed open doors that had long been closed since Babilonia, Black on her mother's side and part Filipino and Native American on her dad's side, was the first U.S. skater from any of those ethnic groups to compete in the Olympics or win a world title. Among those to follow her were Debi Thomas, a two-time U.S. champion and a bronze medalist at the 1988 Winter Olympics, and Elizabeth Punsalan, a two-time Olympian and five-time national champion in ice dancing."
Mabel Fairbanks encouraged an 8-year-old Tai Babilonia to skate with 10-year-old Randy Gardner, beginning a partnership that lasted decades. Tai and Randy won five U.S. championships, medaled in three world championships and qualified for two Olympics, all before Babilonia turned 21. Babilonia’s mixed Black, Filipino and Native American heritage made her the first U.S. skater from those groups to compete in the Olympics or win a world title. Their achievements opened opportunities for skaters of diverse backgrounds, and successors included Debi Thomas and Elizabeth Punsalan. Tiffany Chin later emerged as the first Asian American national champion.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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