Babilonia and Gardner began skating together when Babilonia was eight and Gardner ten.[2] Their first coach was Mabel Fairbanks, and began training with John Nicks in 1971. They won the gold medal as juniors at their first U.S. Nationals in 1973 and as seniors, they came in second place in 1974 and 1975. The pair became five-time U.S. national champions and won the gold medal at the 1979 World Championships.[3][4] They were medal favorites at the 1980 Winter Olympics but were forced to withdraw due to a thigh injury to Gardner,which ended their competitive careers.[2][5][6][4][7]
In 2006, Gardner appeared as a choreographer on the reality television series Skating with Celebrities.[8] In 2008, he indicated that he was working on his autobiography which was to be released at the end of the year.[9] 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.[10][6]
Personal life
Gardner discovered in 1998 that he was adopted after a relative divulged the family secret.[2][10] 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.[2] In 2006, Gardner revealed that he is gay.[2][11][12]
