Tai's Skating Coloring Book: Coloring Book (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781523301454)

Tai Babilonia remembers vividly that day when she first watched figure skating on television, and became instantly intrigued with the sport and art of figure skating. It was Peggy Fleming, the 1968 Olympic Champion, and the beauty that Peggy exhibited mesmerized Tai, and from that point forward, Tai knew that she would grow to feel that the ice was her home. After learning to skate from her first coach, Mabel Fairbanks, she was paired with Randy Gardner and was placed under the instruction of legendary coach, John Nicks. While rising to the top of US pair skating, along the way Tai and Randy earned a spot on the US 1976 Winter Olympic Team, where they placed 5th. But, even greater success was in their future. They went on to win five consecutive US National titles (1975-1980). They also earned six consecutive trips to the World Figure Skating Championships. At the 1979 World Championships, Tai and Randy won the title, and became the first American pair team to win Gold in 29 years, and has not been repeated by an American pair team to this day. This accomplishment catapulted Tai and Randy into the legendary echelons of US skating history. Their World title positioned Tai and Randy as favorites, heading into the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, NY. But, their lifelong goals of Olympic glory would be cut short, due to an unfortunate injury to Randy, and they were forced to withdraw just as the pairs competition began. As Tai and Randy's amateur career came to a close, they were only beginning a illustrious professional career, highlighted by signing as headliners with Ice Capades, Tour of Champions, and other touring companies. Additionally, Tai and Randy were frequent competitors on the professional competitions, including the World Professional Figure Skating Championships, the Challenge of Champions and many others. She has performed in some of the most prestigious venues around the world - Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, Kennedy Center, Wembley Arena, the Universal Amphitheater, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and in special appearances for Queen Elizabeth II, and at the White House for US Presidents Carter, Ford, Reagan and Clinton. Away from the ice, Tai's story has been one that has intrigued the American public for decades, and her life was chronicled in the television special, "On Thin Ice: The Tai Babilonia Story" and has authored one book with Randy Gardner, entitled "Forever Two As One."