Tai Babilonia

American ice skater paired with Randy Gardner when she was eight and he, ten, in 1970 by their coach to

achieve a precision mirror-image grace. They were National champions from 1976, winning five consecutive

U.S. pairs titles and bronze medals for two world meets. They were the first American pair in 29 years to win

the World Figure Skating championship in Vienna on 3/14/1979 for their unique pas de deux on ice. They were

the toast of the skating world and the sport's American darlings, ready to take on the 1980 Olympics until, in

February, Randy had a muscle injury. Their skates were put away along with their hopes and dreams.

When they returned to the ice, going pro with the Ice Capades in a grueling schedule, Babilonia was isolated

and unhappy. She began to use drugs and alcohol and engaging in short term romances. In January 1988 she

decided to quit skating, She was tired and overworked with no personal life. In her love life, she could not

seem to choose the right person or to make a commitment. She spend too much time crying, and one night,

she lost control and turned on Randy in his dressing room, hitting him and screaming at him. After they

finished their Las Vegas run, she dropped out. She sat around her condo, sleeping, not answering the phone,

drinking, thinking of suicide.

In June, she went to her first AA meeting, and told her parents that she was an alcoholic. Three months later,

when she slipped and fell off the wagon, she lost control. On September 14 she took pills and booze. Instead

of peacefully falling asleep, she found that suicide involves shaking, sweating, vomiting and terror. She called

her mom and said, "I did a really stupid thing." With her survival from the brink, she immediately entering

rehab and therapy to pull herself together. Gardner stuck by her through thick and thin, and their friendship

has been one of the great constants of Babilonia's life.

In 1992 she married TV sitcom music engineer Cary Butler, 26. They had their son, Scout Gabriele, on

1/25/1995, Los Angeles. Her dad died in 8/1996, and she divorced Butler early in 1997.

In May 1996, she and Gardner were honored at the White House with past and present Olympians and

received a huge ovation after skating in the dinner presentation at the nearby Hilton. Gardner is the

choreographer and show director. In August 1996, the TV cameras rolled on a dramatic representation of their

story, with all the glories and disasters, "On Thin Ice, The Tai Babilonia Story."