Belbin and Agosto - The Most Outstanding Ice Dance Team in U.S. History:
It has been said that Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are the most outstanding ice dance team in United States history.
2006 Olympic Silver Medalists:
In 1976, ice dancing was first introduced in the Olympics. Americans Colleen O'Connor and Jim Millns won a bronze medal in ice dancing at that Olympics. No other skaters have won an Olympic medal in ice dancing until Belbin and Agosto won the silver medal in 2006.
Tanith is Originally From Canada:
Tanith Belbin is now a dual citizen of both the United States and Canada. She was not eligible to represent the U.S. at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games because she was not yet an American citizen. On December 31, 2005 Belbin became a United States citizen and also became eligible to compete for the U.S. in the Olympic Games.
Tanith's Birthdate and Place of Birth:
Tanith Belbin was born on July 11, 1984 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Ben's Birthdate and Place of Birth:
Benjamin Agosto was born on January 15, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois.
How Tanith and Ben Began Skating Together:
Tanith began skating when she was only two years old. She did ice dancing at first, but switched to pairs and won a medal in pairs at the Canadian nationals. She decided she was growing too tall to be a pairs skater and decided to return to ice dancing. In 1997 she began looking for an ice dance partner. In 1998, her coach arranged a try-out with Ben Agosto and their skating immediately clicked. The two moved to Detroit to train.
Family:
Tanith's Family:
- Parents: Michele and Charles Belbin.
Tanith's mother is a figure skating coach and designs skating clothes. - Brother: Lucas
Ben's Family:
- Parents: Miriam and Angel Agosto
- Brothers: Nico and Joe
- Sister: Lisa
Education:
Ben graduated from Groves High School in 2000. Tanith is a graduate of Laurel Springs School, a distance learning private academy.
Competitive Highlights:
- 2010: Olympics - 4th
- 2010: U.S. National Championships - 2nd
- 2009: World Championships - 2nd
- 2008: World Championships - 4th
- 2008: U.S. National Championshps - 1st
- 2007: World Championships - 3rd
U.S. National Championships - 1st - 2006: Olympics - 2nd
World Championships - 3rd
U.S. National Championships - 1st - 2005: World Championships - 2nd
U.S. National Championships - 1st - 2004: World Championships - 5th
U.S. National Championships - 1st - 2003: World Championships - 7th
U.S. National Championships - 2nd - 2002: World Championships - 13th
U.S. National Championshps - 2nd - 2001: World Championships - 17th
Coaches:
Tanith and Ben are coached by Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.
Hobbies:
Ben's hobbies include guitar, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Tanith's hobbies include bike riding, cooking, and shopping.
Charity Work:
On February 7, 2005 Tanith and Ben hosted "Skate-Aid for Tsunami Relief." It was a figure skating benefit show. The show raised more than $37,000 and the proceeds went to the Red Cross International Response Fund for Tsunami Relief. Belbin and Agosto invited several U.S. National and International figure skating competitors to perform in the benefit. 1,570 people came to see the show.
Goals and Dreams:
Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto hoped to win gold at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. That did not happen. After the Vancouver Olympics, they began a new chapter in their lives. The two hope to explore what the world has to offer outside of skating.
