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Robert McCall (figure skater)
Encyclopedia
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
.
. 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
, and won the World Professional Figure Skating Championships
in 1989.
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. However, his health deteriorated and he died of AIDS
-related brain cancer on November 15, 1991 at age 33.
(with Tracy Wilson
)
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(September 14, 1958 – November 15, 1991) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice dancer. With partner Tracy Wilson
Tracy Wilson
Tracy Wilson, CM is a Canadian ice dancer. With partner Rob McCall, she won the Canadian national championship from 1982–1988, were three-time World bronze medalists, and were the 1988 Olympic bronze medalists....
, he was the 1988 Olympic bronze medalist
Figure skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1988 Winter OlympicsThe events took place at the Stampede Corral and the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.-Medal table:-Men's:-Free Skate final standings :Referee:* Sonia Bianchetti...
.
Biography
McCall was born in Halifax, Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
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
1980 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
and the 1981 World Figure Skating Championships
1981 World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
.
Following that season, McCall teamed up with Tracy Wilson
Tracy Wilson
Tracy Wilson, CM is a Canadian ice dancer. With partner Rob McCall, she won the Canadian national championship from 1982–1988, were three-time World bronze medalists, and were the 1988 Olympic bronze medalists....
and skated with her until his death. They were the 1982-1988 Canadian national champions
Canadian Figure Skating Championships
The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has...
and three-time World bronze medalists
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
. They placed 8th at the 1984 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics
-Medal table:-Men:Referee:* Donald H. GilchristAssistant Referee:* Tjasa AndréeJudges: Vladimir Amsel Gerhard Frey Monique Georgelin Ida Tateoka Ingrid Linke Björn Elwin Tatiana Danilenko Oskar Urban Margaret Berezowski Tsukasa Kimura -Ladies:Katarina Witt became the first lady to repeat as...
and won the bronze medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics
Figure skating at the 1988 Winter OlympicsThe events took place at the Stampede Corral and the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.-Medal table:-Men's:-Free Skate final standings :Referee:* Sonia Bianchetti...
.
They turned professional in 1988 and skated professionally together. They toured with Stars On Ice
Stars on Ice
Stars on Ice is a touring figure skating show produced by IMG. It was originally conceived in 1986 as a vehicle for IMG client Scott Hamilton, who had been released from his contract with Ice Capades, after being told that male skaters do not sell tickets...
, and won the World Professional Figure Skating Championships
World Professional Figure Skating Championships
The World Professional Figure Skating Championships, often referred to as Landover, was an elite made-for-TV figure skating competition. It was created by Dick Button, a 2-time Olympic gold medalist, through his production company Candid Productions. It usually took place in December...
in 1989.
In 1988, Wilson and McCall were made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
In March 1990, McCall became critically ill with pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
while touring in a show with Brian Boitano
Brian Boitano
Brian Anthony Boitano is an American figure skater from Sunnyvale, California. He is the 1988 Olympic champion, the 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and the 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion. He turned professional following the 1988 season...
and Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt is a German figure skater and model. In Germany she was commonly called "Kati" in the past, but today her full name is used more often....
, and was diagnosed with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which at that time had restrictive immigration and customs laws barring persons with AIDS. However, his health deteriorated and he died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related brain cancer on November 15, 1991 at age 33.
Results
(with Marie McNeil)| Event | 1977-78 | 1978-79 | 1979-80 | 1980-81 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
13th | 13th | ||
| Canadian Championships Canadian Figure Skating Championships The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has... |
3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 1st |
| Skate Canada International Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
8th | 8th | 3rd |
(with Tracy Wilson
Tracy Wilson
Tracy Wilson, CM is a Canadian ice dancer. With partner Rob McCall, she won the Canadian national championship from 1982–1988, were three-time World bronze medalists, and were the 1988 Olympic bronze medalists....
)
| Event | 1981-82 | 1982-83 | 1983-84 | 1984-85 | 1985-86 | 1986-87 | 1987-88 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Olympic Games Winter Olympic Games The Winter Olympic Games is a sporting event, which occurs every four years. The first celebration of the Winter Olympics was held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The original sports were alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating... |
8th | 3rd | |||||
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
10th | 6th | 6th | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd |
| Canadian Championships Canadian Figure Skating Championships The Canadian Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of Canada. It is organized by Skate Canada, the nation's figure skating governing body. The levels of the competition are senior and junior; in some years, the novice level has... |
1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| Skate Canada International Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
2nd | 1st | 1st |