Tanith Belbin

Tanith Belbin
Belbin in a press conference
Personal information
Full name	Tanith Jessica Louise Belbin
Country represented	United States
Born	July 11, 1984 (1984-07-11) Kingston, Ontario
Home town	Ann Arbor, Michigan
Residence	Aston, Pennsylvania
Height	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Partner	Benjamin Agosto
Former partner	Liam Dougherty (CAN) Ben Barruco (CAN – pairs) Andrew Hinton (CAN)
Coach	Natalia Linichuk Gennadi Karponossov
Former coach	Igor Shpilband Marina Zueva Elizabeth Coates
Choreographer	Natalia Linichuk
Former choreographer	Igor Shpilband J. T. Hornstein
Skating club	IceWorks
Retired	June 2010
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	221.26 2005 Worlds
Comp. dance	44.00 2005 Four Continents
Original dance	67.54 2005 Worlds
Free dance	111.54 2005 Worlds
Medal record Figure skating Ice dancing Competitor for the United States Olympic Games Silver 2006 Turin Ice dancing World Championships Silver 2009 Los Angeles Ice dancing Bronze 2007 Tokyo Ice dancing Bronze 2006 Calgary Ice dancing Silver 2005 Moscow Ice dancing Four Continents Championships Silver 2007 Colorado Springs Ice dancing Gold 2006 Colorado Springs Ice dancing Gold 2005 Hamilton Ice dancing Gold 2004 Gangneung Ice dancing Silver 2003 Beijing Ice dancing Silver 2002 Jeonju Ice dancing Grand Prix Final Silver 2007–2008 Turin Ice dancing Silver 2004–2005 Beijing Ice dancing Bronze 2003–2004 Colorado Springs Ice dancing World Junior Championships Gold 2002 Hamar Ice dancing Silver 2001 Sofia Ice dancing Bronze 2000 Oberstdorf Ice dancing Junior Grand Prix Final Gold 2000–2001 Ayr Ice dancing

Olympic medal record
Figure skating
Competitor for the United States
Silver	2006 Turin	Ice dancing

Tanith Jessica Louise Belbin (born July 11, 1984) is a Canadian-American ice dancer. Though born in Canada, she holds dual citizenship and has competed for the United States since she began skating with Benjamin Agosto in 1998. With Agosto, Belbin is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World medalist, three-time Four Continents champion (2004–2006), and five-time U.S. champion (2004–2008).

Personal life

Tanith Belbin was born in Kingston, Ontario and raised in Kirkland, Quebec. She lived and trained in Canton, Michigan for many years, before moving to Aston, Pennsylvania to train at Ice Works.

Belbin's mother, Michelle (McKinlay) Belbin, is a costume designer and she makes some of Belbin's costumes. She trained as a figure skater [1] in St. John's, Newfoundland,[2] under Rolf Adomeit. Her father, Charles Belbin is an engineer. Both parents have been strongly supportive of her career.

Career

Tanith Belbin began skating when she was almost three and started ice dancing at about eight or nine. She competed both as a pair skater and ice dancer in Canada before deciding to concentrate completely on ice dancing. She was introduced to ice dancing by Paul Wirtz and competed with partner Liam Dougherty. Her pairs partner was Ben Barruco, with whom she placed 2nd at the novice level at the 1997 Canadian Championships. She did not compete with either partner internationally.

After a year without a partner in Canada, Belbin moved to Detroit in 1998, where she was partnered with Benjamin Agosto by their coach Igor Shpilband. They had early success, winning the bronze at the 2000 World Junior Championships in their first competitive season. Belbin and Agosto qualified for the 2002 Olympics by placing second at the 2001 U.S. Championships, but were not able to compete because Belbin was not an American citizen.

Belbin received her green card in August 2002. Because she started the citizenship process before new rules went into effect, her citizenship would not have been completed before 2007. Belbin and Agosto, therefore, focused more on Nationals and Worlds, winning Nationals four times, and earning the silver at Worlds going into the Olympics.

Fans of Belbin and Agosto wrote letters and signed petitions asking for a special act of Congress to let Belbin become a citizen in time for her to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where many believed they could medal. This was a controversial move. The mother of fellow American ice dancer David Mitchell believed that it was unfair to bend the requirements for U.S. citizenship for Belbin, when so many other "aliens of extraordinary ability" were denied expedited citizenship.^{[citation needed]} Supporters pointed out that the U.S. had three dance team spots at the Olympics only because Belbin and Agosto had earned the third spot by medalling at the 2005 World Championships.^{[citation needed]} Had they not, the U.S. would have had only two spots. By this logic, Belbin and Agosto had earned their own spots. However, by a special act of Congress sponsored by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) that passed on December 28, 2005, which President George W. Bush signed on December 31, 2005, Belbin became a naturalized citizen, making her able to compete for the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics.^{[citation needed]} In January 2006, the pair won their third consecutive national title and qualified for the Olympics. At the Turin Olympics, Belbin and Agosto won the silver medal in ice dancing, the highest Olympic result of any American team in the discipline, and the first American ice dancers to win an Olympic medal in 30 years. They went on to win the bronze at Worlds.

For the 2007–2008 season, Belbin and Agosto began with first place finishes at both Skate America and Cup of China which qualified them for the Grand Prix Final, where they placed second. They won their 5th national title and then placed 4th at the 2008 Worlds after a fall by Belbin in the Compulsory Dance.

Belbin and Agosto were regular cast members of the Champions on Ice tour from 2004 until COI went out of business following the 2007 season.^{[citation needed]} They were guest stars on part of the 2008 Stars on Ice tour.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2008, Belbin and Agosto left Igor Shpilband, who had coached them for their entire partnership, and began working with the married coaching team of Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponossov in Aston, Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching different technique, Linichuk advised Belbin to gain 10 pounds and develop some muscles in order to skate faster and more fluidly. This also gave Belbin more core strength to hold her positions better, thus making lifts easier for Agosto.

Belbin and Agosto began the 2008–2009 season at the 2008 Skate America and 2008 Cup of China, winning silver at both competitions. They withdrew from the 2008–2009 ISU Grand Prix Final after the original dance due to a back injury to Agosto. They withdrew from the 2009 U.S. Championships before the event began due to Agosto's injury. They were named to the team to the 2009 World Championships. At Worlds, they won the original dance and placed second in the compulsory and free dances to win the silver medal overall.

Belbin and Agosto won both their Grand Prix events in the 2009-10 season: the 2009 Cup of China and the 2009 Skate America. They withdrew from the Grand Prix Final for medical reasons. At the 2010 U.S. Championships, they were unable to reclaim their national title, finishing second behind Meryl Davis and Charlie White. Belbin and Agosto were nominated to represent the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics. They finished 4th in the Olympic ice dancing event. They did not compete at the 2010 World Championships.

On June 10, 2010, Belbin and Agosto announced their retirement from eligible skating. Belbin said that in addition to touring professionally, she is interested in a career in broadcasting.

Post-competitive career

Following her retirement from competitive skating, Belbin decided to move back to Michigan to attend college and be closer to friends and family, including boyfriend Charlie White.

Belbin has commentated for ice dance competitions on Universal Sports Network and was cast as the color commentator on the ABC show Skating with the Stars. She also works as a choreographer.

Programs

Belbin and Agosto perform a straight-line lift during their Tosca free dance at the 2009 World Championships.

Season	Original dance	Free dance	Exhibition
2009–2010	Moldavian Folk Dance	Ave Maria performed by Sumi Jo Stabat Mater by Gioachino Rossini	If It Kills Me performed by Jason Mraz
2008–2009	Stepping Out by John Kander and Fred Ebb	Tosca by Giacomo Puccini	Falling Slowly Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
2007–2008	Appalachian Hoedown	Selections from Frédéric Chopin arranged by Joseph Le Duca	Let's Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez SexyBack & My Love by Justin Timberlake
2006–2007	Concierto Para Quinteto by Ástor Piazzolla Oblivion by Ástor Piazzolla	Overture from That's Entertainment! Amélie (soundtrack) by Yann Tiersen	Let's Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez
2005–2006	Salsa Con Coco by Pochy y Su Cocoband Let's Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez	Bulenas Jaleo by Luis Winsberg Duende by Esteban	Green Acres American Woman La Rosa Let's Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez
2004–2005	Charleston: Cabaret Slow Foxtrot: New York, New York Quickstep: Cabaret	Shadritsa Edvin Marton's Russian Gypsy Dance	Green Acres
2003–2004	Jitterbug: 5 months, 2 weeks, 2 days by Louis Prima Blues: Give me Some Money Too by Leni Hester Swing: Hey Pachuco by Royal Crown Revue	West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein	Elvis Presley Medley Green Acres
2002–2003	Waltz: La traviata Drinking Song by Giuseppe Verdi Polka: Jolly Robbers by Franz von Suppé	Heartbreak Hotel & Hound Dog & Jailhouse Rock & Teddy Bear by Elvis Presley	Elvis Presley Medley (modified FD)
2001–2002	The Mask of Zorro, A Los Amigos	Sarajevo	Oscar Tango
2000–2001	More, Girls Girls Girls	Alexandros	Une Vie d'Amour
1999–2000		The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi	Une Vie d'Amour

Competitive highlights

(with Agosto)

Post-2004

Belbin and Agosto (left) on the podium at the 2009 World Championships.

Event	1999–00	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10
Winter Olympic Games							2nd				4th
World Championships		17th	13th	7th	5th	2nd	3rd	3rd	4th	2nd
Four Continents Championships			2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	2nd
World Junior Championships	3rd	2nd	1st
U.S. Championships	1st J.	2nd	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	1st	WD	2nd
Grand Prix Final					3rd	2nd		WD	2nd	WD	WD
Skate America			5th	3rd	1st	1st	1st		1st	2nd	1st
Cup of China						1st		2nd	1st	2nd	1st
Trophée Lalique			6th	3rd	4th
Cup of Russia					2nd			1st
World Team Trophy										1st
Nebelhorn Trophy							1st
Goodwill Games			5th
Junior Grand Prix Final	4th	1st
Junior Grand Prix, Mexico		1st
Junior Grand Prix, Germany		1st
Junior Grand Prix, Canada	1st
Junior Grand Prix, Japan	2nd

• WD = Withdrew
• J = Junior level

(Pair skating with Barruco)

Event	1996–1997
Canadian Championships	2nd N.

• N = Novice level

References

• World Junior Figure Skating Championships: ISU Results: DancePDF (11.0 KB)
• Belbin & Agosto at the United States Figure Skating Association
• Belbin & Agosto at the International Skating Union

External links

• Official website
• Tanith Belbin at the United States Olympic Committee
• Tanith Belbin at the Internet Movie Database