Robert McCall (figure skater)

Robert McCall

Robert McCall and Tracy Wilson in 1985.
Personal information
Full name Robert McCall
Country represented  Canada
Born September 14, 1958(1958-09-14)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Died November 15, 1991(1991-11-15) (aged 33)
Ottawa, Ontario
Height 175 cm (5.74 ft)
Former partner Tracy Wilson
Marie McNeil
Skating club Halifax SC
Retired 1988
Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Canada
Figure skating
Bronze 1988 Calgary Ice dancing

Robert "Rob" McCall, CM (September 14, 1958 – November 15, 1991) was a Canadian ice dancer. With partner Tracy Wilson, he was the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist.

Biography

McCall was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He moved to Toronto when he teamed up with Tracy Wilson.

McCall competed with Marie McNeil early in his career. They were the 1975 Canadian novice silver medalists, 1977 Canadian junior national champions, 1978 & 1979 Canadian senior bronze medalists, 1980 silver medalists, and the 1981 national champions. They placed 13th at the 1980 World Figure Skating Championships and the 1981 World Figure Skating Championships.

Following that season, McCall teamed up with Tracy Wilson and skated with her until his death. They were the 1982-1988 Canadian national champions and three-time World bronze medalists. They placed 8th at the 1984 Winter Olympics and won the bronze medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

They turned professional in 1988 and skated professionally together. They toured with Stars On Ice,[1] and won the World Professional Figure Skating Championships in 1989.[2]

In 1988, Wilson and McCall were made a Member of the Order of Canada.

In March 1990, McCall became critically ill with pneumonia in Portland, Maine while touring in a show with Brian Boitano and Katarina Witt, and was diagnosed with AIDS. He initially kept the nature of his illness a secret because he hoped to be able to continue to skate professionally in the United States, which at that time had restrictive immigration and customs laws barring persons with AIDS.[3] However, his health deteriorated and he died of AIDS-related brain cancer on November 15, 1991 at age 33.[4]

Results

(with Marie McNeil)

Event 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81
World Championships 13th 13th
Canadian Championships 3rd 3rd 2nd 1st
Skate Canada International 8th 8th 3rd

(with Tracy Wilson)

Event 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88
Winter Olympic Games 8th 3rd
World Championships 10th 6th 6th 4th 3rd 3rd 3rd
Canadian Championships 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st
Skate Canada International 2nd 1st 1st

References

  1. ^ Scott Hamilton, Landing It, Publisher: Kensington West ISBN 1575664666
  2. ^ 1989 World Professional Championships
  3. ^ Bondy, Filip (November 17, 1992), "FIGURE SKATING; AIDS Deaths Tear at Figure-Skating World", The New York Times, http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E0CE0D91630F934A25752C1A964958260, retrieved 2010-02-13 
  4. ^ Wallechinsky, David; Jaime Loucky (2005). The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics, Toronto: Sport Classic Books. ISBN 1-894963-45-8