Tanith Belbin
Figure Skating - Ice Dancing
2006 Olympic silver medalist
2010 Olympic hopeful
Personal Specs
Height: 5'6"
Coaches: Natalia Linichuk & Gennadi Karponosov
Partner: Ben Agosto
Short List Performance
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- 2006 Olympic silver medalists
- Two-time World Championships silver medalists (2005, 2009)
- Two-time World Championships bronze medalists (2006, 2007)
- Five-time U.S. Champions (2004-08)
- Ranked No. 2 in ISU World Standings as of May
Vancouver Watch
The most decorated ice dancing team in U.S. history is hoping to improve upon its silver-medal showing from Torino. The duo missed its chance to claim a sixth straight U.S. title in February, bowing out because of Agosto's back injury, but came back to claim silver at the World Championships. The 2006 Olympic champions from Russia have retired, leaving the door open. However, a new Russian team has ascended to No. 1 in the world rankings and beat Belbin and Agosto for gold at the 2009 World Championships.
Personal
Originally from Canada, Belbin began skating at 2 1/2 because her mom was a skating coach. She went through five partners before teaming with Agosto. Agosto was born in Chicago, but he moved to Detroit in 1998 to skate with Belbin. They missed out on competing at the 2002 Winter Games, despite finishing second at the 2002 U.S. Championships, because of Belbin's unfinished citizenship process. They organized and skated in the 2005 Skate Aid for Tsunami Relief that raised $40,000 for tsunami relief in Southeast Asia. Belbin would like to become involved in broadcast journalism after her skating career is over.
Did You Know...?
- Belbin has worked as a "Good Morning America" correspondent and a Ford NY model
- Belbin was named ESPN.com Page 2's "Hottest Female Athlete" in 2006