Belbin & Agosto

Belbin & Agosto

Olympic Silver Medalists, USA
RESIDENCE:
Aston, PA
BIRTHDATE:
July 11, 1984 / Jan. 15, 1982
BIRTHPLACE:
Quebec, CAN / Chicago, IL.
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Photos

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Biography Competitive Results Behind The Scenes

All partnerships are a careful balance of work, commitment, and passion. This can be said of marriages, companies, and certainly ice dancers. Everyone can attest to the challenges presented by finding that “perfect match”. Whole television series have been created to depict the almost impossible odds of finding true love. Human Resource Departments struggle daily to find employees that meet the needs of their companies. And some skaters go their whole careers never finding the ONE that compliments them and allows them to succeed.

 

 

For Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto the impossible happened 8 years ago when their coach Igor set up a try-out for them. They had both skated with other partners. They had both auditioned many more. But creating a winning team requires more than skills. It requires charisma, chemistry, and that “certain something”. From the first time they hit the ice together they both knew they had found their skating match and since then they have grown and developed together into one of the foremost dance teams to grace the sport and the most successful U.S. ice dancing team ever.

It is easy to see when you watch them glide through their almost seamless routines that they have good lines, and complementary technique.

 

 

Ben is a smoldering and handsome young man and Tanith is a glowing and glamorous young woman. They look good together and are a pleasure to watch. They appear to enjoy themselves. Watching them dance is reminiscent of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers with some modern edge and spice added to the mix. There is no doubt they are terrific together on the ice but what becomes truly evident and what is most remarkable is watching them off the ice.   It is there we see how perfectly suited they are as a team.

Tanith is a delight in every respect: she is fun, cheerful, kind, and articulate. Ben is quiet initially until you discover his subtle and tremendous sense of humor and deep creativity. When you watch them preparing for interviews you see that they anticipate each other’s moods and needs. Even here they complement each other. They have strengths that support one another. Where one is shy the other is gregarious, and when one is nervous the other is strong. This counterplay keeps them balanced, grounded, and ready for anything that comes their way.

 

 

Take the challenges they faced regarding Tanith becoming a US citizen: they handled the stress and pressure with decorum and aplomb. They are a synergistic duo: the two being stronger than each individually.

 

 

Now, with their sights set on Olympic gold in 2010, this team remains focused on reaching their full potential in life and sport. During the next four years, Tanith and Ben both plan on balancing their training with other opportunities outside of skating, including voice-over work for Ben (like on a recent video game for FOX), and broadcasting for Tanith (including her current role as a contributer to ABC's Good Morning America). The pair is also very active in philanthropic activities, with numerous charities including the Pennies in Action Fund (funding breast cancer research), creating and hosting the 2007 “Home for the Holidays- A Celebration on Ice” show, benefiting the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. They helped raise $37,000 for Tsunami Relief through the Red Cross International Response Fund with the 2005 “Skate-Aid for Tsunami Relief” show and additionally are affiliated with other charities including Figure Skating in Harlem, The Jimmy Fund (Dana Farber Cancer Institute), Project Hope, the Ennis Center for Children, Cool Kids Campaign and others.     


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YEAREVENTRESULT
2010Winter Olympics4th
2009ISU GP Cancer.Net Skate America1st
2009ISU GP Samsung Anycall Cup of China1st
2008Skate America2nd
2008World Championships4th
2008 U.S Championships1st
2008 Grand Prix Final 2nd
2008Cup of China 2nd
2007 Skate America 1st
2007Cup of Russia1st
2007World Championships 3rd
2007 Four Continents Championships 2nd
2007U.S Championships 1st
2006Cup of Russia1st
2006Cup of China2nd
2006Campbell's Cup Team USA Competition 2nd
2006World Championships 3rd
2006Winter Olympics2nd
2006Four Continents Championships 1st
2006 U.S. Championships 1st
2005Skate America 1st
2005Nebelhorn Trophy1st
2005World Championships 2nd
2005 Four Continents Championships 1st
2005 U.S. Championships 1st
2004 Grand Prix Final2nd
2004 Cup of China 1st
2004 Skate America 1st
2004 World Championships 5th
2004 Four Continents Championships 1st
2004 U.S. Championships 1st
2003 Grand Prix Final 3rd
2003 Cup of Russia 2nd
2003Trophee Lalique4th
2003 Skate America 1st
2003World Championships 7th
2003 Four Continents Championships 2nd
2003 U.S. Championships 2nd
2002 Trophy Lalique3rd
2002 Skate America 3rd
2002 World Championships 13th
2002 World Junior Championships 1st
2002 Four Continents Championships 2nd
2002 U.S. National Championships 2nd
2009World Team Trophy1st
2009 World Championships2nd

Blog

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Interview

Is Compulsory Dance, Original Dance, or Free Dance your favorite and why?

Apr 13, 2010 1:25:00 PM

I usually prefer the Original Dance the most out of the three Dance portions because it allows more freedom and creativity than the Compulsories, but it’s not as long as the Free Dance!read more >

Thinking back to all the programs that you have skated together as a team, which program is your favorite? Which is the most memorable?

Apr 13, 2010 1:30:00 PM

I think my favorite program was our 2008 Chopin FD because it allowed us to show a new, more mature side to our skating after so many years skating together. I think our most memorable program however was probably our Elvis medley FD. read more >

How did this year’s Olympic experience compare to your experience at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, Italy?

Apr 13, 2010 1:30:00 PM

Despite medaling in Torino and not in Vancouver, I have to say that my Olympic experience in 2010 was ten times better than in 2006! The first time around I was so overwhelmed, the entire trip is now just a blur in my memory. Although I was of course thri...read more >

After making the decision that this year would be the final year to compete, what is your next step?

Apr 13, 2010 1:30:00 PM

Well, at this point we have not formally decided whether or not we will retire from competitive skating or not. We’d like to take our time on Stars on Ice to get a feel for life as a professional skater and see how we like it! After that, if we do ever ...read more >

Do you have a ritual before stepping onto the ice? If so, what is it?

Apr 13, 2010 1:30:00 PM

I like to walk through my program on the floor and I always make sure that my guards are perfectly lined up. read more >

If you weren’t professional figure skaters, which careers would you have chosen?

Apr 13, 2010 1:35:00 PM

I’d like to get into broadcasting and journalism after my skating career ends.read more >

During the 2010 Olympic Games, what was your favorite sport to watch (besides figure skating, of course!)

Apr 13, 2010 2:05:00 PM

I really had the most fun being a fan of the USA hockey team this year. That final CANADA vs. USA hockey game was so exciting!read more >

What do you look most forward to this year as a full-time member of the Stars on Ice cast?

Apr 13, 2010 2:05:00 PM

As a child, I never missed Stars on Ice when it passed through my town and always loved the groups’ numbers because it allowed me to see my favorite skaters interact with one another in a way you never get to see in competition. That being said, now t...read more >

What insight can you give fans about your Stars on Ice performances this season?

Apr 13, 2010 2:05:00 PM

The program we’re performing as our solo this year is my personal first attempt at conceptualizing and choreographing a skating program. Ben and I both love Jason Mraz and had seen a couple on the TV show So You Think You Can Dance perform to the song w...read more >

Skating Tips

  • QUESTION FROM A BLOGGER:
    How do you stay positive and keep from getting frustrated during the learning process?
    BELBIN & AGOSTO :
    I rely on my partner a lot to keep me calm but for those who don’t have that luxury, I would say just be sure that you leave your skating life at the rink and try not to think about it too much when you’re at home or anywhere else. Skating takes up enough of our time and emotions as it is and, if you allow it to, it can completely swallow you up and make everything seem far more stressful than it has to be.
  • QUESTION FROM A BLOGGER:
    How do you choose your music for your routines?
    BELBIN & AGOSTO :
    We sit down with our coaches each year and listen through many stacks of CD’s to get a general feel for what we’d like to achieve in our skating through our programs that season (ie; more mature, more energetic, more lyrical). Once we’ve narrowed down the emotion we’re after, we try to find music that we personally feel is the best vehicle for us to convey the programs message through.
  • QUESTION FROM A BLOGGER:
    What are some characteristics I should look for in a coach?
    BELBIN & AGOSTO :
    I think the most important thing to look for in a coach is experience.
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Skater Cam

Belbin & Agosto- "If It Kills Me" by Jason Mraz

5/11/10

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