Richard Taylor (skater)

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Richard Taylor (1981-August 8, 2004) was a Welsh inline skating and freestyle skiing champion.

Taylor, from Barry in Wales, learned to skate because he wanted to become a stuntman. He turned professional at the age of 15 after winning the World Amateur International Inline Skate Series (IISS)and qualifying 6th in the Professional Competition in Amsterdam 1996 . He went on to win the UK National In-Line skating championship twice. Taylor had a large fanbase, especially in Europe. He also competed in the British Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding Championships in Les Deux Alpes in March 2004, winning the Big Air ski title and was about to join the Line Skis Professional Team that winter season.

[edit] Death

He collided with a concrete lamp-post while skating, near his home on August 2, and suffered a skull fracture that caused a coma. He also broke both legs in the accident. When he failed to regain consciousness, his parents on August 8 consented to his life support machine being turned off. As Richard was a registered organ donor it meant that he was able to give added life to 4 people and sight to 2.

His parents Gaynor and the now late John Taylor set up the Richard Taylor Memorial Fund to raise funds to have the Skatepark at the Knap, Barry upgraded and dedicated to his memory.