In the 35 years since Halifax figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist Rob McCall succumbed to AIDS-related complications, figure skating has undergone a profound transformation. Athletes once concealed their sexuality; today, many compete openly and proudly.
A Stark Contrast to the Past
Canada’s Paul Poirier exemplifies this shift. He came out publicly in 2021 and secured an Olympic bronze medal with longtime partner Piper Gilles. Their performance featured RuPaul’s ‘Supermodel,’ a bold queer anthem from the 1990s.
“I think it was just fabulous, especially to see it on the Olympic stage,” remarked Ryan Stevens, a figure skating historian who documents the sport’s LGBTQ history.
During the 1980s and 1990s, few elite skaters lived openly as gay. McCall, who claimed bronze with Tracy Wilson at the 1988 Calgary Olympics, kept his private. His first partner, Marie McNeil Bowness—a 1981 Canadian champion with him—recalls him confiding in her aboard a plane when she was 15.
“I was 15 and we were on an airplane one time and he just came out and talked to me about it,” she shared recently. “I think it probably took a lot of weight off his shoulders.”
Within elite skating circles, McCall’s orientation was known but shielded from public scrutiny. Fears of lost endorsements and judging bias prevailed. Insiders observed that while homosexual partners attended events, they often posed as relatives to maintain appearances.
AIDS Crisis Devastates Skating Community
The AIDS epidemic struck male figure skaters particularly hard. More than 70 coaches, choreographers, skaters, and community members worldwide perished from related illnesses—a toll rarely discussed officially.
Stevens maintains a comprehensive list of those lost on his Skate Guard blog. At his death, McCall organized an AIDS research fundraiser, which posthumously raised over $500,000.
“It’s really, really hard and I don’t think there’s an answer as to why,” Stevens said of the lack of acknowledgment. McNeil Bowness echoes this sentiment.
Progress on Display at Milano Cortina 2026
Bronze medalists Gilles and Poirier highlight skating’s evolution. Viewers spotted Poirier’s fiancé cheering from the stands during the Milan medal ceremony.
Such visibility stems from leadership changes. Organizations like Skate Canada now champion inclusion, including strong support for transgender athletes.
“A big reason the sport has become much more accepting and so much more progressive is because the people that are in charge have changed,” Stevens explained.
“[Poirier] will be accepted because of who he is,” McNeil Bowness affirmed. “It’s great for him to be that role model and I think it’s nothing but positive for those others in our sport and everywhere to see it.”
