Robert McCall (figure skater)

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 medallist.

Robert McCall
Robert McCall and Tracy Wilson in 1985.
Personal information
Full nameRobert McCall
Country represented Canada
Born(1958-09-14)September 14, 1958
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
DiedNovember 15, 1991(1991-11-15) (aged 33)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Former partnerTracy Wilson
Marie McNeil
Skating clubHalifax SC
Retired1988

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 medallists, 1977 Canadian junior national champions, 1978 & 1979 Canadian senior bronze medallists, 1980 silver medallists, 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 medallists. 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] It was an open secret that he was gay.[5]

In 2018 McCall was named one of the greatest 15 athletes in Nova Scotia's history.[6]

Results

(with Marie McNeil)

Event 1976-77 1977-78 1978-79 1979-80 1980-81
World Championships13th13th
Canadian Championships3rd3rd2nd1st
Skate Canada International8th8th3rd
World Junior Championships3rd

(with Tracy Wilson)

Event 1981-82 1982-83 1983-84 1984-85 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88
Winter Olympic Games8th3rd
World Championships10th6th6th4th3rd3rd3rd
Canadian Championships1st1st1st1st1st1st1st
Skate Canada International2nd1st1st
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References
  1. Scott Hamilton, Landing It, Publisher: Kensington West ISBN 1-57566-466-6
  2. 1989 World Professional Championships Archived 2010-12-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Bondy, Filip (November 17, 1992), "FIGURE SKATING; AIDS Deaths Tear at Figure-Skating World", The New York Times, 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
  5. Hamilton, Scott; Lorenzo Benet (1999). Landing It: My Life On And Off The Ice. New York, NY: Kensington Books. ISBN 1-57566-466-6.
  6. Tattrie, Jon (30 April 2018). "Sidney Crosby to headline 'greatest sports dinner' in Nova Scotia". CBC Sports. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
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