History of Timothy LeDuc in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 24, 2024

"Timothy LeDuc is a retired American pair skater known for their groundbreaking achievements in the sport. Partnered with Ashley Cain, they clinched two U.S. national championships, a silver medal at the 2018 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, and two Grand Prix medals. LeDuc's legacy extends beyond their athletic accomplishments, as they hold the distinction of being the first openly gay skater to secure a pairs title at the U.S. Championships. Furthermore, they made history as the first openly non-binary athlete to qualify for the Winter Olympics, marking a significant milestone in LGBTQ+ representation in sports."

May 4, 1990: Birth of Timothy LeDuc

Timothy LeDuc was born on May 4, 1990.

2002: Inspired by the Olympics

Timothy LeDuc became interested in figure skating after watching the 2002 Olympics and began taking lessons.

2008: First US Championship Appearance

At the 2008 US Championships, a 17-year-old Timothy LeDuc placed 7th in the novice men's category.

2010: Novice Pairs Debut

Timothy LeDuc competed in novice pairs with Lauren Gifford, placing 10th at the 2010 US Championships.

2011: Junior Pairs Success

Timothy LeDuc and Cassie Andrews won bronze in junior pairs at the 2011 US Championships and placed 9th at the World Junior Championships.

June 2012: New Partnership

Timothy LeDuc teamed up with DeeDee Leng in June 2012.

2012: Senior Pairs Debut

Timothy LeDuc and Cassie Andrews moved up to the senior level, placing 11th at the 2012 US Championships.

2013: International Debut

Timothy LeDuc and DeeDee Leng made their international debut at the 2013 International Challenge Cup, finishing fifth.

2014: End of Partnership

Timothy LeDuc and DeeDee Leng's partnership ended in 2014 after they placed 7th at the US Championships.

March 2016: Return to Competition

After skating with their sister for two years, Timothy LeDuc decided to return to competition in March 2016.

May 2016: Tryout with Ashley Cain

Following a suggestion from US Figure Skating, Timothy LeDuc tried out with Ashley Cain.

May 23, 2016: Partnership Confirmation

Timothy LeDuc and Ashley Cain confirmed their intention to compete together.

2016: Challenger Series Debut and First International Medal

Cain/LeDuc made their Challenger Series debut, winning bronze at the 2016 Golden Spin of Zagreb where they upgraded their twist to a triple.

2017: First US Championships as a Team and Four Continents Debut

Cain/LeDuc placed third at the 2017 US Figure Skating Championships and 9th at the Four Continents Championships.

2017: Start of 2017-2018 Season and First Grand Prix Event

Cain/LeDuc started their season with a 4th place finish at the 2017 Lombardia Trophy and 7th at the Nebelhorn Trophy. They placed 6th at their first Grand Prix event, the 2017 Cup of China.

2018: Second Four Continents and US Championships

Cain/LeDuc placed third at the 2018 US Championships and won silver at the 2018 Four Continents Championships.

2018: International Success

Cain/LeDuc started their season strong, placing first at both the 2018 US International Figure Skating Classic and the Ondrej Nepela Trophy. At the Grand Prix events, they placed third at Skate America and sixth at the Rostelecom Cup.

2018: Four Continents Silver Medal

Timothy LeDuc and Ashley Cain won silver at the Four Continents Championships, their first medal at a senior ISU championship.

2019: World Championships and World Team Trophy

Cain/LeDuc placed ninth in their first World Championship appearance and were part of the gold medal-winning Team USA at the World Team Trophy.

2019: Grand Prix Assignments

Cain/LeDuc won gold at the US Classic, defeating the reigning World silver medalists. Despite being considered favorites, they placed fifth at Skate America and fourth at the Internationaux de France after struggling with their throw Lutz and other elements.

2019: First US Pairs Title and World Championship Debut

Cain/LeDuc won their first US pairs title and were assigned to compete at the 2019 Four Continents Championships and World Championships.

2019: First US Pairs Title

Timothy LeDuc and Ashley Cain won their first US pairs title at the 2019 US Championships.

2020: Skate America

Cain/LeDuc placed fourth at the 2020 Skate America, which was attended only by skaters training in the United States due to the pandemic.

2020: Fourth Place Finish

Cain/LeDuc placed fourth at the 2020 US Championships after errors in both the short program and the free skate.

2021: Grand Prix Events

Cain/LeDuc won bronze at Skate Canada International and placed fourth at the NHK Trophy, achieving a new personal best in the free skate.

2021: Bronze Medal and World Championship Appearance

Cain/LeDuc won bronze at the 2021 US Championships and were later called up to compete at the World Championships, where they placed ninth.

2021: Publicly Non-Binary

Timothy LeDuc began using they/them pronouns in 2021.

February 2022: Timothy LeDuc and Ashley Cain-Gribble become US National Champions and qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics

In February 2022, Timothy LeDuc and Ashley Cain-Gribble won the US National Championships, securing their spot on the US Olympic team for the 2022 Winter Olympics. This made LeDuc the first openly non-binary athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics. Cain and LeDuc emphasized their commitment to showcasing equality in figure skating, with their coach noting their strong teamwork and ability to support each other.

2022: Cain-Gribble and LeDuc place eighth at the 2022 Winter Olympics

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Ashley Cain-Gribble and Timothy LeDuc placed eighth in the pairs figure skating event. Despite a strong short program that landed them in seventh place, Cain sustained an ankle injury in practice. During the free skate, multiple jump errors, including a fall that resulted in Cain hitting her head on the ice, caused the pair to drop to ninth in the segment and eighth overall.

2022: Cain-Gribble and LeDuc compete at the World Championships after the ban of Russian athletes

In 2022, Cain-Gribble and LeDuc competed at the World Championships, which saw the absence of Russian athletes due to the ban following the invasion of Ukraine. Despite a strong showing in the short program, where they placed second, the pair faced difficulties in the free skate. Cain experienced multiple falls, including one on a triple Salchow that led to a head injury, leading to the program's stoppage and her removal from the ice on a stretcher.