Mabel Fairbanks

Mabel Fairbanks (November 14, 1915 – September 29, 2001) was an American figure skater and coach. She was inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame, as the first African-American, and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame.

Early life

Of African-American and Seminole descent, Mabel Fairbanks was born on November 14, 1915 in Florida's Everglades.^[1][2] She had a sister, Pearl, who was younger by a year,^[1] and an elder brother.^[3]

Fairbanks never met her father and was orphaned at the age of eight when her mother died.^[3] After staying with a teacher who treated her like a "maid," she joined her brother in New York but his wife did not accept her.^[3] A wealthy woman saw her sleeping on a park bench and offered her a job as a babysitter at a home overlooking Central Park.^[1]

Career

Fairbanks began figure skating around 1925 to 1928.^[4] After observing children at the Central Park ice rink, Fairbanks bought herself used skates, which were two sizes too big, and went to join them.^[1] She said, "Blacks didn't skate there. But it was a public place, so I just carried on."^[2] She later practiced on a 6ft by 6ft rink constructed by her uncle in her room.^[2] She gained further inspiration after seeing Sonja Henie in the 1936 film One in a Million.^[4]

In the 1930s, Fairbanks, due to her race, was denied access to the local rink by the cashier but she kept returning until the manager admitted her.^[4] Maribel Vinson Owen and Howard Nicholson provided her with technical advice.^[4] Fairbanks was not allowed to compete in the national qualifying event for the Olympics or any competition.^[2] In a 1998 interview, she said, "If I had gone to the Olympics and become a star, I would not be who I am today."^[3]

Fairbanks performed in shows in New York until the 1940s.^[5][1] After relocating to Los Angeles, she toured internationally, skating with Ice Capades in Mexico and later with Ice Follies.^[2]

Fairbanks coached singles and pairs, including Tiffany Chin, Billy Chapel, Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi / Rudy Galindo, Tai Babilonia / Randy Gardner, Leslie Robinson, Michelle McCladdie, Richard Ewell, Debbie Thomas, Atoy Wilson, and Jean Yuna.^[3][6][7] She also taught skating to the children of many celebrities.^[3] In 1997, she became the first African American inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame.^[1] She was inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in October 2001.^[8][9]

Personal life

Fairbanks never married.^[1] She was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis in 1997^[3] and with acute leukemia in mid-2001.^[1] She died on September 29, 2001 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.^[1][2][10] She is interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Hollywood, California.

References