Tai Babilonia, a U.S. Winter Olympic original, credits figure skating trailblazer Mabel Fairbanks

[Sylvia]

By Nick Zaccardi:

Tai Babilonia, a U.S. Winter Olympic original, credits figure skating trailblazer

When Tai Babilonia debuted at the Olympics in 1976, the fact that her presence in Innsbruck, Austria, was historic did not enter her 15-year-old mind.

sports.yahoo.com

Excerpts:

Fairbanks was a trailblazer. In the 1930s, she wasn’t allowed to join a figure skating club because she was Black, and thus barred from competition. Yet Fairbanks still ended up in the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, having skated in international shows and coached future Olympic and world champions.
“She always told me and her other students of color, when you get out there to perform and compete, it doesn’t matter what color you are, you still have to go out and give it your best,” Babilonia said in a recent interview. “Pearls of wisdom I use to this day.”
Fairbanks first matched Babilonia, then 8 years old, and Randy Gardner, then 10, as a pairs’ team for a small skating show at their club.

Babilonia and Gardner remained skating partners — “soulmate,” Babilonia calls Gardner now. Gardner remembered appearing on the cover of Jet magazine with Babilonia, but that she didn’t care for the attention and didn’t want to identify as one race.
“I just don’t think Tai got the recognition she deserved, if she wanted it,” as a pioneer, he said. “I don’t really think she really cared that much about it, though, to be honest.”
Babilonia was asked if she considered herself a pioneer. She paused, then answered.
“In a multiracial way, yes,” she said. “I think I am the first multiracial Olympic figure skater with the Black, Filipino, Hopi Indian makeup. Is that a pioneer? I don’t know.”

ABC piece reported by Donna de Varona that aired during 2003 U.S. Nationals (includes on camera interview clips of Babilonia, Atoy Wilson, Debi Thomas, Tiffany Chin, Kristi Yamaguchi, Rudy Galindo):

Mabel Fairbanks and Breaking the Color Barrier in Figure Skating

A glimpse of Mabel Fairbanks, an African-American skater in the early days of ice skating in the U.S. and other skaters like Atoy Wilson, Tai Babilonia, Debb...

www.youtube.com

 

[layman]

That's a powerful (and gracious) tribute. Thank you for posting that.

 

[Lynn226]

I loved Tai & Randy. Here's their 1979 world championship free skate.

Tai Babilonia & Randy Gardner USA - 1979 World Figure Skating Championships Free Skate & Scores

youtu.be

 

[Wyliefan]

There's a possible TV miniseries about Mabel Fairbanks in the works, and Tai Babilonia and Atoy Wilson are helping with it! https://www.latimes.com/sports/stor...her-story?_amp=true&__twitter_impression=true

 

[Sylvia]

There's a possible TV miniseries about Mabel Fairbanks in the works, and Tai Babilonia and Atoy Wilson are helping with it!

USFS' Skater Spotlight has an update on the project: https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/babilonia-wilson-work-bring-fairbanks-life-screen

History-making skaters Atoy Wilson, the first African American to win a U.S. figure skating title, and Tai Babilonia, five-time U.S. pairs champion and World champion, are one step closer to bringing the life story of coach Mabel Fairbanks to the screen. After seven years of conversations, the project is now in development with the production company of a high profile celebrity (who they decline to name).
“We envision it as a probably three-part television series that dramatizes her life,” said Wilson, the executor of Fairbanks’ estate. “Her life in the early stages of coming to New York, then becoming the professional skating personality that she was along with developing her skills as a coach.”
“This is not going to be a documentary,” Babilonia said.

 

[Sylvia]

USFS' Skater Spotlight article by Amy Rosewater about how Frank Carroll was impacted by the life of Mabel Fairbanks through his coach and mentor, Maribel Vinson Owen: https://www.usfigureskating.org/news/article/passion-and-persistence

Editors Note: In the February issue of SKATING magazine, former students of Mabel Fairbanks remember their beloved coach with first-hand accounts of her talent, kindness, friendship and passion. Fairbanks, who was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1997, broke down racial barriers and created opportunities for her pupils of all races and diverse backgrounds. Maribel Vinson Owen, a hall of fame athlete and coach who mentored such legends as Frank Carroll, instructed Fairbanks behind the scenes, encouraging her to become a show performer when racism closed the doors on her competitive aspirations. Vinson Owen would go on to share stories with Carroll about Fairbanks and the racism of the times.

Vinson Owen was one of the only skating coaches who would provide lessons to Fairbanks, a Black and Indigenous athlete. At the time, the top rinks in the country were not open to Black skaters, nor were the top coaches. But Vinson Owen would let Fairbanks enter rinks through the back door and sneak in private lessons free of charge.
“She couldn’t do it out in the open,” Carroll said. “It’s unbelievable that this could’ve occurred, but this was the 1930s.”
Years later, Carroll and Fairbanks would cross paths in California. One week, Carroll, Fairbanks and Richard Garrett, a former Ice Capades star from Canada, trained together in Van Nuys, California.
“I had just been in Ice Follies and was feeling pretty hotsy totsy about myself,” Carroll said. “And then I saw Mabel, and she was so acrobatic, doing butterflies and I was just very impressed.”

The Fairbanks section of stories in the February 2021 issue of SKATING magazine (pages 24-30 online; pp. 22-28 in the print edition) includes reminiscences by Atoy Wilson, Michelle McCladdie, Richard Ewell & Tai Babilonia and currently can be read here: https://www.usfigureskating.org/about/skating-magazine

Information about the newly created Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund that "financially assists and supports the training and development of promising Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) figure skaters with the goal of helping them realize and achieve their maximum athletic potential": https://www.usfigureskating.org/support/donate/mabel-fairbanks-skatingly-yours-fund

Starr Andrews is the first beneficiary of the Fund (eta link to watch Babilonia announce the award to Starr & her mom: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKHV9cOgQz0/) and has been featured in several articles this month:

By Karen Rosen:

Starr Andrews inspiring more figure skaters to be “Black Like Me”

A video of Starr Andrews skating to “Whip My Hair” when she was 9 has 56 million views on YouTube. But it’s the 19-year-old’s performance to “Black Like Me" that attracted an admiring tweet from former first lady Michelle Obama.

olympics.nbcsports.com

By Brandon Penny:

Starr Andrews Embraces Role as Ambassador for Fairbanks Fund and Guaranteed Rate - U.S. Figure Skating

So much has happened in Starr Andrews' life this figure skating season that it often feels like an out-of-body experience for the 19-year-old.

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

By Jason Lewis:

Starr Andrews infuses Black culture into figure skating

Figure skater Starr Andrews has gone viral with her “Black Like Me” and “Whip My Hair” performances.

lastandardnewspaper.com

 

[Aussie Willy]

This sounds fascinating. Thanks for posting about it.

 

[Sylvia]

The February 26th edition of the "Ice Talk" podcast featured Tai Babilonia and Starr Andrews talking "about the impact of Fairbanks and other BIPOC athletes, as well as the continuing efforts to confront the issues of race and inequality on and off the ice":

Ice Talk: Black History Month: Learning from Skating's Legacies

The sport of figure skating was changed for the better by the barrier-breaking efforts of people like Mabel Fairbanks. This week on Ice Talk, Mirai and Tara continue the conversation with Tai Babilonia and Starr Andrews about the impact of Fairbanks and other BIPOC athletes, as well as the...

icetalk.libsyn.com

Starr chats with Mirai for about 10 minutes, starting around the 24-minute mark, following Tai's interview.

ETA:

Tai Babilonia re-tweeted the recent CBS This Morning video segment about Figure Skating in Harlem and mentioned Mabel Fairbanks and Atoy Wilson will both be honored by FS in Harlem next month: https://twitter.com/taiskates/status/1370036428437004289

Fairbanks & Wilson will be honored at FS in Harlem's Champions in Life Virtual Benefit Gala on April 22, 2021: https://figureskatinginharlem.org/calendar/2021-champions-in-life-virtual-benefit-gala/

 

[Sylvia]

Congratulations to Lindsay Thorngren (whose mother is Black) and Samuel Eckenroed on being named today as the two additional recipients of the Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund - press release:

Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund Awards Two Additional Athletes | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

USFS' post includes their photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNqCrHpg3C5/

Tai Babilonia re-tweeted the recent CBS This Morning video segment about Figure Skating in Harlem and mentioned Mabel Fairbanks and Atoy Wilson will both be honored by FS in Harlem next month: https://twitter.com/taiskates/status/1370036428437004289

Fairbanks & Wilson will be honored at FS in Harlem's Champions in Life Virtual Benefit Gala on April 22, 2021: https://figureskatinginharlem.org/calendar/2021-champions-in-life-virtual-benefit-gala/

Free registration to attend virtually: https://www.fshchampions.org/

 

[pixie cut]

It appears there will be some skating at the virtual gala. https://www.usfigureskating.org/new...es-mabel-fairbanks-highlight-fsh-virtual-gala

 

[Sylvia]

Bumping up this thread almost 2 years later...

U.S. Figure Skating announced earlier this month that Alexa Gasparotto, Jessica Jurka, Cyrus McSwain, Ria Basu, Nathaniel Chapple and Athena Huang are the recipients of the 2023 Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund scholarships (February 7, 2023):

U.S. Figure Skating Announces 2023 Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Award Recipients | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org

Alexa Gasparotto was presented with her Elite Award at Nationals in San Jose, alongside her coach, Rohene Ward - ETA a photo of them afterwards : https://twitter.com/SylviaUnseen/status/1630698218689376259

Andrews and Gasparotto Reflect on History made in San Jose (Feb. 23):

Andrews and Gasparotto Reflect on History made in San Jose - U.S. Figure Skating

The 2023 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships last month in San Jose, California, gave the world a glimpse into what the next four years might hold for Team

usfigureskatingfanzone.com

 

[Sylvia]

The Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund financially assists and supports the training and development of promising Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) figure skaters with the goal of helping them realize and achieve their maximum athletic potential. Link to the info page:

Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund

Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund

usfigureskating.org

Skylar Lautowa-Peguero, Caleb Farrington (2026 Junior Men's silver medalist), and Anastasia Christy (synchro skater) were announced as the winners of this year's awards and the presentation ceremony was at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on January 10, 2026 (before the final 2 groups of the FD) - link to Skylar's 7 photos and a clip of her receiving flowers from Tai Babilonia onstage:

Skylar Lautowa-Peguero on Instagram: "I am so thankful to receive this amazing award !❤️❤️❤️ Thank you to the Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund, @usfigureskating, and the Lisa McGraw Figure Skating Fund for honoring me with this award. I am so gr

442 likes, 24 comments - skylarlpskates on January 16, 2026: "I am so thankful to receive this amazing award !❤️❤️❤️ Thank you to the Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund, @usfigureskating, and the Lisa McGraw Figure Skating Fund for honoring me with this award. I am so grateful for your...

www.instagram.com

I can't find a link or remember if awards were given out in 2024?

U.S. Figure Skating announced earlier this month that Alexa Gasparotto, Jessica Jurka, Cyrus McSwain, Ria Basu, Nathaniel Chapple and Athena Huang are the recipients of the 2023 Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund scholarships (February 7, 2023):

New link for USFS 2023 press release: https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...s-fund-awards-six-athletes-in-third-year.aspx

Audrey Lu won the top elite athlete award in 2022 (Feb. 8 press release):

Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund Awards Six Athletes in Third Year - U.S. Figure Skating

Elite Award winner Alexa Gasparotto In 2021, the Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund was established to support the training and development of promising figure

usfigureskating.org

"This year, Lu is joined by junior men's skater Jacob Sanchez (promising recipient - article: https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...ingly-yours-fund-promising-athlete-award.aspx) and intermediate ladies' skater Kate Pressgrove (developmental recipient - article: https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...ssgrove-wins-developmental-athlete-award.aspx)."

Starr Andrews was the inaugural recipient of the award in 2021 (Jan. 15): https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...und-established-to-support-bipoc-skaters.aspx
Lindsay Thorngren (ETA correct link): https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...indsay-thorngren-now-focused-on-olympics.aspx

 

[ice coverage]

I can't find a link or remember if awards were given out in 2024?

In 2024, Valentina Plazas received a Mabel Fairbanks award in the amount of $20,000.
(Sorry, I don't know who other 2024 winners were.)

The live presentation honoring Val was in the arena at 2024 Nationals, right before the senior pairs medal ceremony (Val and Max won the bronze).

U.S. Figure Skating on Instagram: "The Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund financially assists and supports the training and development of promising figure skaters who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with the goal of helping them

1,288 likes, 16 comments - usfigureskating on February 18, 2024: "The Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund financially assists and supports the training and development of promising figure skaters who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) with the goal of helping them realize and...

www.instagram.com

Val's post from Feb 2024:

@valentina455 on Instagram: "The Mabel Fairbanks Award: an award that recognizes excellence, determination, diversity, and perseverance. Before I applied for the award I read a lot about Mabel, her story is absolutely amazing and truly inspiring. She

295 likes, 28 comments - valentina455 on February 2, 2024: "The Mabel Fairbanks Award: an award that recognizes excellence, determination, diversity, and perseverance. Before I applied for the award I read a lot about Mabel, her story is absolutely amazing and truly inspiring. She is a true...

www.instagram.com

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

The recipients for the 2024-25 season (not sure if complete):

Elite: Amy Cui
Promising: Balazas Nagy
Devlopmental: Emelyn Cobb
Notable: Jiaying Ellyse Johnson, Nathan Chapple

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Starr Andrews was the inaugural recipient of the award in 2021 (Jan. 15): https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...und-established-to-support-bipoc-skaters.aspx
Lindsay Thorngren: https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...und-established-to-support-bipoc-skaters.aspx

Thanks for posting this, Sylvia! These two links do go to the same article about Starr.

 

[Sylvia]

I've edited in the correct link for the 2021 article on Lindsay Thorngren in my post above: https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...indsay-thorngren-now-focused-on-olympics.aspx

The support of her coaches, choreographer, and larger circle has meant a lot to the 2021 Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund recipient. The award is given to "athletes who demonstrate and emphasize the attributes of good sportsmanship, commitment, perseverance and determination in striving to be their very best in the sport," the description reads.
"I read a lot about Mabel's story and being named the recipient of the award was an honor," Thorngren said.

Also - "As the 2021 Up and Coming Mabel Fairbanks Skatingly Yours Fund award winner, Thorngren has long been passionate about raising awareness for access to figure skating and representing her community.": https://usfigureskating.org/news/2023/9/21/rinkside-lindsay-thorngren-proud-to-be-dominican.aspx

Thanks @Capt. DeSoto for the 2024-25 names! Hopefully USFS eventually will publish all the Mabel Fairbanks award recipients by year on their website.

 

[Sylvia]

Since Tai Babilonia's name is in the thread title, here are her photos from St. Louis Nationals :

Only saw her Jan. 9th post today - photo of a young Caleb (with Diversify Ice's founder Joel Savary) & 2nd photo of 2026 Junior silver medalist Caleb: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTS58QqDadc/

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

This young Caleb photo was from 2021 (same year as above?): https://www.instagram.com/p/CR120MhrGDL/

With Atoy Wilson, JoJo Starbuck, Scott Hamilton, Paul Wylie, Nancy Kerrigan, Ilia:

Tai Babilonia on Instagram: "These are the moments I cherish & hold close to my ❤️ @jojostarbuck777 @soulskatera @scotthamilton84 Scott’s son Max @ilia_quadg0d_malinin @gowylie @nancyakerrigan #gratitude #friendships #skatingfamily Photo credit @crai

11K likes, 287 comments - tai_babilonia on January 9, 2026: "These are the moments I cherish & hold close to my ❤️ @jojostarbuck777 @soulskatera @scotthamilton84 Scott’s son Max @ilia_quadg0d_malinin @gowylie @nancyakerrigan #gratitude #friendships #skatingfamily Photo credit @craigrcichy".

www.instagram.com

With Colleen O’Connor/Jim Millns & Chock/Bates:

Tai Babilonia on Instagram: "Last night with some serious @usfigureskating ice dance royalty @chockbates & my 1976 Olympic Teammates Colleen O’Connor/Jim Millns 🇺🇸⛸️👑👑👑👑#gratitude #friendships #skatingfamily Photo credit @craigrcichy"

946 likes, 10 comments - tai_babilonia on January 10, 2026: "Last night with some serious @usfigureskating ice dance royalty @chockbates & my 1976 Olympic Teammates Colleen O’Connor/Jim Millns 🇺🇸⛸️👑👑👑👑#gratitude #friendships #skatingfamily Photo credit @craigrcichy".

www.instagram.com

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Team:

Tai Babilonia on Instagram: "I think we all look pretty damn good! Had a blast reuniting with my skating family. So much fun & lots of emotions flowing as we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games! 🇺🇸❤️🎉✨ Terry Kubika/ @dorothyham

1,178 likes, 25 comments - tai_babilonia on January 11, 2026: "I think we all look pretty damn good! Had a blast reuniting with my skating family. So much fun & lots of emotions flowing as we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games! 🇺🇸❤️🎉✨ Terry Kubika/ @dorothyhamill1976...

www.instagram.com

Tai Babilonia on Instagram: "#skatingmemories Introducing your 1976 @usfigureskating Olympic Team joined by special guest legend Richard Dwyer ❤️⭐️ David Santee/Dorothy Hamill/ Bill Fauver/Alice Cook/Colleen O’Connor/ Tai Babilonia/ Judi Genovesi/ Su

332 likes, 17 comments - tai_babilonia on January 13, 2026: "#skatingmemories Introducing your 1976 @usfigureskating Olympic Team joined by special guest legend Richard Dwyer ❤️⭐️ David Santee/Dorothy Hamill/ Bill Fauver/Alice Cook/Colleen O’Connor/ Tai Babilonia/ Judi Genovesi/ Susie Kelly/Andy...

www.instagram.com

9 photos (ETA that #6 shows her with Skylar, Caleb, Starr & Luke: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTZaB1ykddv/?img_index=6):

Tai Babilonia on Instagram: "My 2026 @usfigureskating Championships/ 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Team reunion photo dump~ 🇺🇸🎉✨ (1) With my bff & traveling companion @craigrcichy in the Kiss & Cry. We had a blast! (2) The consummate professio

587 likes, 17 comments - tai_babilonia on January 11, 2026: "My 2026 @usfigureskating Championships/ 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Team reunion photo dump~ 🇺🇸🎉✨ (1) With my bff & traveling companion @craigrcichy in the Kiss & Cry. We had a blast! (2) The consummate professional & so great...

www.instagram.com