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 Filipino on her father's side and part Native American.[1][6]
In 1990, a biographical film of her rise to fame was aired on television,
On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story.[7]
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.