Texas Figure Skating Pair to perform in Beijing
Cain-Gribble and LeDuc after performing at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships
The Olympics Opening Ceremony is about to begin in Beijing, China. There aren’t that many events in the Winter Olympics like the Summer Olympics. The event that I am most excited to watch is the Figure Skating portion. I am a native to Texas, so the pair that I am rooting for is Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc. Ashley and Timothy train in Euless, Texas. With all their hard work being a pair for the last five years they competed at the 2022 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc performed an amazing free skate short program.
The pair won gold with a 145.84-point free skate and a 225.23 total. Which qualifies them to compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
They are uniquely themselves as a pair and not wanting to be stereotyped as a traditional ice skating pair. They don’t have that typical love story, nor do they have a dominant partner portraying as masculine. They are both tall, Ashley is 5 foot 6 inches and Timothy is 6 foot 1 inches. Usually Figure Skaters are shorter, but Timothy is able to lift and support Ashley no problem. They are always open with each other in the way they move on the ice and having real life conversations. Timothy told Ashley that they are nonbinary and Ashley had no problem with it. Timothy has had some partners in the past that didn’t want them to openly admit that and keep it to themselves. This pair works so well together and trusts each other. That’s what makes them a winning pair!
Timothy is the first openly nonbinary person to compete in the Winter Olympics. “My hope is it shifts to that queer people can be both open and successful in sports,” LeDuc said. “Queer people have always been here, we’ve always been part of this sport, we’ve always been part of other sports. It’s not always been possible to be open. ... I stand on the shoulders of so many amazing queer people.”
Watch this duo at the Beijing Olympics performing the short program and free skate events on
Friday February 4th Short Program
Monday February 7th Free Skating
Friday February 18th Short Program
Saturday February 19th Free Skating