Rudy Galindo
Encyclopedia
Val Joe "Rudy" Galindo is an American
figure skater
who competed in both single skating
and pair skating
. As a single skater, he is the 1996 U.S. national champion
and 1987 World Junior Champion
. As a pairs skater, he competed with Kristi Yamaguchi
and was the 1988 World Junior Champion and the 1989 & 1990 U.S. National Champion.
Galindo was partnered with Kristi Yamaguchi
by his coach, Jim Hulick, who died of AIDS-related cancer in 1989. The pair won the 1988 World Junior
title and the U.S. senior championships
in 1989 and 1990. In singles, Galindo won the 1987 World Junior title before temporarily giving up the discipline in order to concentrate on pairs. However, in April 1990, Yamaguchi decided to end the partnership to focus on her singles career, and with no one of her caliber to partner with, Galindo returned to singles competition.
His father died of a heart attack in 1993, his brother, George, died from AIDS in 1994, as did another coach, Rick Inglesi, in 1995. Galindo took eight months off after the 1995 U.S. Championships
. However, with the following year's event in his hometown, presenting a chance to compete in front of his mother who no longer traveled, he decided to resume training in September 1995. In January 1996, he won the men's title at the U.S. Championships
at the San Jose Arena, becoming the oldest male to win this title in 70 years. He went on to win a bronze medal at the 1996 World Championships
. His sister, Laura, was his coach.
Galindo retired from eligible competition in the summer of 1996. After being diagnosed as HIV positive
and recovering from hip replacement surgery, Rudy continued to tour with the Tom Collins' Champions on Ice
show until it went out of business in 2007.
Galindo coaches at Sharks Ice San Jose, the same rink where he trained during his competitive career. He is to be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
in Christine Brennan
's book Inside Edge: A Revealing Journey Into the Secret World of Figure Skating (ISBN 0-385-48607-3), which was published shortly before he won his national title in 1996. He is the first openly gay skating champion in the U.S. He published his autobiography Icebreaker in 1997 (ISBN 0-671-00390-9).
In 2006, Galindo was a celebrity judge on the WE tv
series Skating's Next Star
, created and produced by Major League Figure Skating and hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi
.
)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
figure skater
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
who competed in both single skating
Single skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
and pair skating
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
. As a single skater, he is the 1996 U.S. national champion
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
and 1987 World Junior Champion
World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...
. As a pairs skater, he competed with Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two...
and was the 1988 World Junior Champion and the 1989 & 1990 U.S. National Champion.
Biography
Rudy Galindo is the third child of Jess and Margaret Galindo, having a brother, George, who was ten years older and sister, Laura, five years older. He began skating with his sister and, although the sport was expensive, his parents were supportive and forewent a chance to buy a house, settling instead for a larger trailer.Galindo was partnered with Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two...
by his coach, Jim Hulick, who died of AIDS-related cancer in 1989. The pair won the 1988 World Junior
World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion...
title and the U.S. senior championships
United States Figure Skating Championships
The United States Figure Skating Championships is figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions of the United States. The competition is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. In the U.S. skating community, the event is often referred to informally as "Nationals".Skaters...
in 1989 and 1990. In singles, Galindo won the 1987 World Junior title before temporarily giving up the discipline in order to concentrate on pairs. However, in April 1990, Yamaguchi decided to end the partnership to focus on her singles career, and with no one of her caliber to partner with, Galindo returned to singles competition.
His father died of a heart attack in 1993, his brother, George, died from AIDS in 1994, as did another coach, Rick Inglesi, in 1995. Galindo took eight months off after the 1995 U.S. Championships
1995 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1995 United States Figure Skating Championships was the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 1994-1995 figure skating season. They were the national championship to determine the national champions of the United States. They were held in Providence, Rhode Island.Skaters competed in...
. However, with the following year's event in his hometown, presenting a chance to compete in front of his mother who no longer traveled, he decided to resume training in September 1995. In January 1996, he won the men's title at the U.S. Championships
1996 United States Figure Skating Championships
The 1996 United States Figure Skating Championships were the United States Figure Skating Championships of the 1995-1996 figure skating season. They were a national championship to determine the national champions of the United States....
at the San Jose Arena, becoming the oldest male to win this title in 70 years. He went on to win a bronze medal at the 1996 World Championships
1996 World Figure Skating Championships
The 1996 World Figure Skating Championships were the World Figure Skating Championships of the 1995-1996 season. Elite senior-level figure skaters from ISU Member Nations competed for the title of World Champion. Skaters competed in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating,...
. His sister, Laura, was his coach.
Galindo retired from eligible competition in the summer of 1996. After being diagnosed as HIV positive
HIV positive people
HIV-positive people are people who have the human immunodeficiency virus HIV, the agent of the currently incurable disease AIDS.Over the years of coping with the stigma and discrimination that accompany the diagnosis in most societies, a large number of support groups have been formed...
and recovering from hip replacement surgery, Rudy continued to tour with the Tom Collins' Champions on Ice
Champions on Ice
Champions on Ice was a touring ice show in the United States. The show featured a large cast of both professional and Olympic-eligible figure skaters along with novelty acts such as skating acrobats. The shows were focused primarily on solo performances by the skaters rather than ensemble work or...
show until it went out of business in 2007.
Galindo coaches at Sharks Ice San Jose, the same rink where he trained during his competitive career. He is to be inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Personal life
Galindo is of Mexican descent by way of his grandparents on his father's side. He disclosed his homosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
in Christine Brennan
Christine Brennan
Christine Brennan is an American sports columnist, TV and radio commentator, best-selling author and nationally-known speaker....
's book Inside Edge: A Revealing Journey Into the Secret World of Figure Skating (ISBN 0-385-48607-3), which was published shortly before he won his national title in 1996. He is the first openly gay skating champion in the U.S. He published his autobiography Icebreaker in 1997 (ISBN 0-671-00390-9).
In 2006, Galindo was a celebrity judge on the WE tv
WE TV
We TV is the third TV channel from Malayalam Communications Ltd, in Kerala and based at Trivandrum. The other two channels of this company are Kairali TV and People TV. WE TV is mainly aimed at the youth and was officially launched on April 14, 2007. Mr...
series Skating's Next Star
Skating's Next Star
Skating's Next Star is a reality television show that began airing on the WE tv on April 26, 2006. The show also aired in Toronto in early 2007....
, created and produced by Major League Figure Skating and hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two...
.
Singles career
| Event | 1981-82 | 1982-83 | 1983-84 | 1984-85 | 1985-86 | 1986-87 | 1987-88 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
3rd | ||||||||||||
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
3rd | 2nd | 1st | ||||||||||
| U.S. Championships | 1st N. | 5th J. | 3rd J. | 3rd J. | 8th | 10th | 11th | 8th | 5th | 7th | 8th | 1st | |
| Vienna Cup | 1st | ||||||||||||
| Nations Cup | 4th | ||||||||||||
| Prague Skate | 2nd | ||||||||||||
| Asko Cup | 1st | ||||||||||||
| Pokal der Blauen Schwerter | 2nd | ||||||||||||
| Grand Prize SNP | 1st |
- N = Novice level; J = Junior level
Pairs career
(with Kristi YamaguchiKristi Yamaguchi
Kristine Tsuya "Kristi" Yamaguchi-Hedican is an American figure skater. She is the 1992 Olympic Champion in ladies' singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won one junior world title in 1988 and two...
)
| Event | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 | 1987–88 | 1988–89 | 1989–90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
5th | 5th | ||||
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
5th | 3rd | 1st | |||
| U.S. Championships | 5th J. | 1st J. | 5th | 5th | 1st | 1st |
| Skate America Skate America Skate America is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It is organized by the United States Figure Skating Association. The location changes yearly... |
5th | 2nd | ||||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
3rd | 4th | ||||
| Skate Electric | 1st |
- J = Junior level