Rebecca R. Gardiner grew up on the track and participated in youth Track and Field events as a member of the Yuma Valley Flyers Track Club in the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic program from childhood into her teenage years. She was a sprinter/hurdler at the collegiate level as a member of the Iowa State University Track and Field Team. She later continued competing as a sprinter/hurdler with the Central Park Track Club of New York City. In recent years, she has enjoyed Track and Field as a spectator and continues to run and enjoy an active lifestyle. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She resides in West Orange, New Jersey with her wonderful husband, Myrtho, and their beautiful children, Vivienne and Solomon.