ABOUT THE PROJECT

LOGLINE
World Champion pairs figure skater and two-time Olympian, Randy Gardner, goes solo with this raw, riveting expose of his life.

SYNOPSIS
Skater-Filmmaker Sharidan brings the story of Randy Gardner, of the champion figure skating team Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner, to the screen.

Randy is the first Olympian ever to do a play of this kind, as directed for the stage by Joshua Ravetch (Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking). The filmmakers also follow Mr. Gardner as he and his partner Tai are being honored by the Ice Theatre of New York and the Los Angeles City Council. Additional interviews with colleagues, coaches, and never before seen home movies round out the documentary.

As part of the effervescent duo, Tai and Randy were not only making figure skating history, but were poised to shatter the U.S.S.R dynasty on the battlefield of the Cold War at the Winter Games of 1980 in Lake Placid. But their victory was cut short due to Randy’s injury, and their “Miracle on Ice” would happen for the U.S.A. Men’s Hockey team. Randy’s broken dreams did not deter him from a full creative life after the Olympic torch was extinguished. But as a gay man, he had to overcome new obstacles on his road to being an out and open athlete. He survived the tortures of reparative therapy, and keeping his sexuality quiet during his competitive years. Then, he was hit with the realization that he was adopted — discovering that truth at age 40. He went on a quest for his birth mom, found her, and then found out the disturbing circumstances surrounding his birth. Pop icon Dorothy Hamill and Randy’s partner of over 50 years, Tai, join him on stage to deliver a sense of humor and an “everything’s going to be OK” attitude. GO FIGURE is a feel good and intense look at personal identity and the American dream.

PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature

DIRECTOR Sharidan W-Sotelo
PRODUCER Sharidan W-Sotelo, Randy Gardner

WEBSITE gofiguredocumentary.com