Press Releases - Olympic Silver Medalists Tanith and Ben

General Press \| Competitive Coverage \| Archive Press
General Press: Skating Magazine, Nov. 2006 View Cover Hour Detroit, May 2006 Check out Tanith and Ben in the May 2006 issue of Hour Detroit Magazine! View Cover \| View Article 12/07 2007 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS SHOW Melanie Hoyt, Ice-Dance.com ".Belbin & Agosto drew heavily from local Detroit talent to fill the ice." View Article 12/21/07 Local Star Power Lights Up Ice Jo-Ann Barnas, Detroit Free Press "We want to exhibit the depth of skating here in Detroit," Belbin said. View Article 11/19/07 Home for the Holidays - A Celebration On Ice Edge Marketing U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist Ice Dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto announced today they are leading a skating and music benefit for two top Detroit health care institutions: the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. The benefit will support cutting edge cancer research, education and patient care. View Article 10/11/07 Frosted Pink: Putting Women's Cancers on Ice on ABC Icenetwork.com "The two-hour program features an all-star skating and entertainment cast with the overall aim of fighting and surviving cancers that primarily affect women." View Article 8/27/07 Meissner's Event a Huge Success Examiner.com “It’s a wonderful cause and it’s nice for us to get the opportunity to take part in a show that’s more than just an entertainment show,” Agosto said. View Article 8/23/2007 Skating show will benefit top instructor diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia Boston Globe "Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have never met Iveta Ice, but the longtime, and highly regarded figure skating coach has earned the utmost respect from the four-time US ice dance champions." View Article 8/23/2007 Skating Towards a Cure: "An Evening With Champions" TownTimesNews.com - Watertown, CT "Top Olympic and world skaters...will do triple axels and toe loops to benefit the Jimmy Fund..." View Article 4/27/07 Champions on Ice Skaters on 'Blades of Glory' Tanith and others comment on the ice skating comedic blockbuster on Newsday.com. Watch the Video 4/09/2007 Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto spice up Ice Dance with a Hip Hop flare. View Article 2/20/2007 Belbin has new partner Sorry, guys. Tanith Belbin has a new boyfriend -- and he has a few things you don't. View Article Checking up on the hottest female athletes: Part IV By Mary Buckheit Page 2 Rather than search for some new flash in the pan, we made Mary catch up with the timeless babes gone by. Today's installment: Tanith Belbin -- Page 2's Hottest Female Athlete 2006. 02/03/2007 Tanith Belbin and Evan Lysacek: Ice Skating's Hottest Couple People Magazine “They may not skate together, but Evan Lysacek and girlfriend Tanith Belbin are suddenly the hottest couple on ice.” View Article 01/28/2007 U.S. Gaining Ground in Ice Dancing Associated Press “Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto firmly have established themselves as one of the world's top teams, and they're starting to see real depth behind them. With world-class teams on the junior and novice levels, the Americans are poised to have success in the sport as never before.” View Article 01/24/2007 They're citizens of world Boston Globe SPOKANE, Wash. -- Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto look back on last year...making this work, so we tossed it and started from scratch." The new theme...entirely different style from what Ben and I typically skate to. It's much... View Article 01/17/2007\| Belbin and Agosto Create a New Free Dance to "Amelie" USFSA “Belbin and Agosto were looking for a free dance that was fun and light-hearted – something that could represent their love of performing.” View Article
Competitive Coverage: 4/17/2008 Belbin and Agosto leaving Michigan BY JO-ANN BARNAS - FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER - Free Press exclusive View Article Additional articles on coaching change- Myfoxdetroit Detroit News WXYT TV Detroit Ice Network 1/27/2008 Belbin, Agosto find joy in national ice-dancing crown Gary Mihoces, USA Today "...they captivated the crowd and won the free skate to clinch their fifth consecutive ice dancing title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships." View Article 1/24/2008 Yee-haw! Belbin and Agosto take another step toward fifth U.S. title Nancy Armour, Associated Press - MSNBC.com "Belbin and Agosto don't take their status as favorites lightly." View Article 1/24/2008 Belbin, Agosto set pace early TDS "Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto took their first steps Wednesday toward a fifth consecutive ice dancing title in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships." View Article 12/18/2007 Sonia Bianchetti's Thoughts on the 2007 Grand Prix Final Sonia Bianchetti, About.com "As a spectator, I preferred Belbin/ Agosto , who were very elegant on the ice." View Article 12/14/2007 Tanith Belbin, Benjamin Agosto win original dance of Grand Prix Detroit Free Press "...with their best score of the season." View Article 11/10/2007 Belbin and Agosto Win at Cup of China International Herald Tribune "...Belbin and Agosto gain their second victory after a win at Skate America two weeks ago. View Article 10/29/2007 Good start to season for Belbin and Agosto timesleader.com "They put the finishing touches on their fourth Skate America crown Sunday with a flowing, romantic free skate to music by Chopin." View Article 10/24/2007 As Tanith & Ben compete in Skate America 2007, the location for Skate America 2008 is announced HeraldNet.com - Everett, WA "Skate America will bring many of the world's best figure skaters to the city in 2008." View Article 3/23/2007 Mich. ice dancers take the bronze By SALVATORE ZANCA ASSOCIATED PRESS View Article 3/22/2007 U.S. ice dancers Belbin and Agosto 3rd at worlds USA Today The top three from last year's championships are in the same position heading into Friday's free dance. However, this time they are separated by a half-point. View Article 3/22/2007 Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto moved up to third place John Niyo / The Detroit News Canton ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto moved up to third place after the original dance competition Thursday at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo, Japan. View Article Four Continents: 02/10/2007 Belbin-Agosto: Strong Second at Four Continents Detroit Free Press “The pair showed off their new program -- set to the "Amelie" soundtrack -- in a first-place performance at the U.S. Championships. They were even better at Four Continents..” View Article 01/28/2007 Dancing to a Different Tune Pays Off Washington Post “It was a testament to their dominance in their discipline that they trounced a promising field to clinch their fourth consecutive U.S. ice dancing title despite the fact that, by their own assessment, they only reached about 45 percent of their new program's potential in its debut before a riveted crowd at the Spokane Arena on Friday night.” View Article 01/27/2007 Belbin-Agosto win fourth straight dance title Sports Illustrated “Belbin and Agosto are the class of U.S. ice dancing, not missing a podium since finishing fifth at the 2004 world championships. Since then, they've won their silver in Turin as well as silver and bronze at the world championships. For another couple to beat them, Belbin and Agosto are going to have to beat themselves. And they're too good and too experienced to do that.” View Article 1/27/2007 Belbin-Agosto win fourth straight dance title USA Today “The four titles leave Belbin and Agosto one shy of the U.S. record. They can match that next year and, odds are, they'll keep right on going. They've already said they plan to skate in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and nobody in the United States has shown any signs of being able to catch them.” View Article 01/27/2007 Fourth U.S. dance title for Belbin and Agosto Boston Globe “Olympic silver medallists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto easily won their fourth straight national dance title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Spokane, Washington, on Friday.” View Article 04/28/06 ESPN’s Hottest Female Athlete Poll ESPN.com Be sure to check out what Tanith has to say about winning ESPN's Hottest Female Athlete poll on page 2 of ESPN.com! View Article
Archive Press- August 6, 2006 She may be named after the Egyptian goddess of the sun, moon and stars, but to the millions who watched this year's Winter Olympics in Torino, ice dancing silver medalist Tanith Belbin is a goddess of the ice.” View Article
“The Hour Detroit, one of the city’s biggest publications, features US Olympic silver medalist Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto in the May 2006 issue!” Read It Now
Tanith Belbin: Model of the Week; Source: Askmen.com
Canton fetes adopted heroes; Source: Detroit Free Press “Olympic ice dance silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, along with other high-achieving rinkmates, were honored Thursday for their accomplishments in a season that affirmed
Canton skaters third, but happy; Source: Detroit Free Press “Second best at the Olympics, third best in the world -- and Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto of Canton couldn't be happier.” View Article
WHO’S OUR NEXT SKATING CHAMPION?: As best pals, Belbin and Agosto dance for history; Source: Detroit Free Press “Now Belbin is 21 and Agosto 24, and they have blossomed from awkward teenagers to America's best ice dancers ever. Ask, and they will say theirs is a partnership built on trust and respect, that friendship means more than the Olympic silver medal they won last month at the Torino Winter Games.” View Article \| View Poster
Marshalls SkateFest with Belbin and Agosto a Hit in Michigan. Source: US Figure Skating More than 350 local kids took to the ice with Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto over the weekend at Suburban Ice Macomb in Macomb, Mich., learning the fundamentals of skating as a part of the first-ever Marshalls SkateFest to take place in the spring. View Article
Golden Opportunity Cohen, Belbin-Agosto in good shape for worlds Posted: Friday March 17, 2006 NEW YORK (AP) -- Winning a title at this week's figure skating world championships might be just as tough as winning at last month's Olympics. View Article
Silver Medalists Belbin & Agosto See Gold With ACUVUE® OASYS™ Brand “VISTAKON®, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., today announced that its ACUVUE® OASYS(TM) Brand Contact Lenses with HYDRACLEAR(TM) PLUS will sponsor Olympic Silver medal winners Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto throughout 2006.” View Article
Belbin, Agosto Thinking Ahead to Worlds; Source: Washington Post “Now that Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have a silver medal, it's time to think gold. A day after giving the United States its first medal in Olympic ice dancing in 30 years, Belbin and Agosto were still trying to absorb what they achieved. But they were already thinking ahead.” View Article
It’s all fame and family for Canton duo; Source: Detroit Free Press “Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto of the Arctic Edge in Canton were a few hours into their first full day as Olympic ice dance silver medalists, and they were discovering firsthand the magnitude of their accomplishment -- at least for folks back home.” View Article
Cloud over USA lifted with duo’s silver moment; Source: USA Today “Tanith Belbin has been a U.S. citizen for exactly 51 days, but in that time, she won a national championship, went to the Olympics and, Monday night at the Palavela, did something no U.S. citizen has ever accomplished before. She and her partner, Ben Agosto, won an Olympic silver medal in ice dancing.” View Article
Ice Dancers End 30-Year Medal Drought for U.S.; Source: New York Times “On Monday, Belbin wiped away tears as she saw the United States flag raised. To her, it did not matter that the Russian anthem was being played. After all she had been through to reach the Olympics, the silver medal was enough this time.” View Article
Agosto, Belbin Go from Limbo to Silver; Source: Washington Post “The pair _ in Olympic limbo just two months ago _ won the first U.S. ice dancing medal in 30 years Monday night, a silver behind Russia's Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov. It also was the first U.S. figure skating medal in Turin.” View Article
Belbin, Agosto ‘gung ho’ from start; Source: Detroit Free Press “They've since skated to international stardom, winning a silver medal at the Torino Olympics on Monday, the best finish in U.S. ice dancing history. Yet those who know the pair from Canton's Arctic Edge say they've kept the same unassuming attitude they had when they were young unknowns.” View Article
Belbin, Agosto ‘gung ho’ from start; Source: Detroit Free Press “They've since skated to international stardom, winning a silver medal at the Torino Olympics on Monday, the best finish in U.S. ice dancing history. Yet those who know the pair from Canton's Arctic Edge say they've kept the same unassuming attitude they had when they were young unknowns.” View Article
MICHAEL ROSENBERG: American Dream; Source: Detroit Free Press “Belbin and Agosto made it to Torino, and now they have a little extra something for their carry-on bags: silver medals, matching their silver at the last world championships. ("It's a set!" Belbin said.) And in the process, they announced themselves as the most marketable, popular and important ice dancers in U.S. history.” View Article
Dancing for joy; Source: The Boston Globe “It had been 30 years and it literally took an act of Congress to make it happen. Until last night, American ice dancers had been more than a few beats behind the orchestra at the Olympics, but new citizen Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto made their own history at the Palavela last night, earning the silver medal behind Russian favorites Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov.” View Article
A silver lining: U.S. dances way to 2nd; Source: The Boston Herald “‘We felt pressure mostly from ourselves, pressure to prove to ourselves that there was a reason, that we were destined to be here,” Belbin said. “We’re happy how it turned out. We didn’t really have a storybook ending in mind, but this is pretty close.’” View Article
Newly minted silver medal winners are marketable, popular “Even if they hadn't won America's first Olympic ice dance medal in 30 years Monday night, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were already on their way to becoming two of the most popular - and marketable - athletes of the Winter Games.” View Article
Canton’s Belbin, Agosto capture silver medal “Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto — the ice dancers from Canton’s Arctic Edge — completed an amazing Olympic run Monday at the Palavela with the first U.S. medal in ice dancing in 30 years.” View Article
Americans win first dance medal since ’76 “Belbin and Agosto won the first dance medal for the United States since the 1976 Games and the first-ever silver. It also is the only medal for American figure skaters at these Olympics.” View Article
2/19/2006 \| Dancing for Gold “This is a tribute to Belbin and Agosto, of course -- the skaters from Canton were breathtaking in Sunday's original dance portion of ice dancing. They jumped from sixth place to second, behind Russians Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov.” View Article
Agosto, Belbin rise to 2nd as others fall; “On a night when everyone kept falling, Chicago native Ben Agosto and partner Tanith Belbin climbed the standings of the Olympic ice dancing competition Sunday. Entering tonight's free dance, they're in position to become the first Americans in 30 years to win an Olympic medal in the event.” View Article
Russians Leading Ice Dance; U.S. Pair 2nd; “In an event where nobody but nobody falls, just about all the contenders did in Sunday night's original dance. And the biggest beneficiary of the splatfest were Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto.” View Article
2/17/2006 \| Belbin, Agosto Stand Sixth in Ice Dancing “They are young, and Olympic newcomers, but U.S. ice dancers Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto nonetheless entered these Winter Games as major medal favorites. So it was surprising at best, and possibly a reason for concern for the U.S. team, when at the conclusion of the Olympic compulsory dance Friday, Belbin and Agosto stood in sixth place.” View Article
02/17/2006 \| Belbin and Agosto sixth as Italy, Russia lead ice dance; "Americans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were sixth, but a slim margin separates the top group of skaters. Belbin and Agosto are just 1.42 points out of first place, which means the USA still has a serious shot at its first Olympic medal in ice dancing in three decades." View Article
02/17/2006 \| Ice dancers Aim for gold, respect "This year the USA has a serious shot at its first Olympic medal in ice dancing in three decades. What's more, 2005 world silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have a shot at gold." View Article
02/16/2006 \| U.S. has best shot at first ice dancing gold medal TURIN, Italy - "The United States has its best opportunity to win its first Olympic gold medal in ice dancing since the event was added to the program 30 years ago." View Article
No sleeping during ice dance this time, you might miss a U.S.medal "After two decades of being the most skippable event at the Olympics, figure skating's ice dance is actually worth watching this year. For the first time since 1976, an American couple not only has a chance to medal in dance, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto have an outside shot at winning it." View Article
Becoming a US Citizen “Belbin was sworn in at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Detroit on Saturday morning, one day after President Bush signed an appropriations bill speeding up the naturalization process. Belbin is now eligible to participate in the Torino Olympics, where she and partner Ben Agosto will be favorites to win the United States' first Olympic ice dance medal.” From USA Today; Titled: Ice Dancer Belbin Sworn in as U.S. Citizen
Dream No Longer on Ice “The Canadian-born Belbin passed the citizenship test and got her naturalization certificate Dec. 31. Then she and Benjamin Agosto cruised through last week's US Figure Skating Championships in St. Louis, winning their third straight ice dancing title by the length of a Versailles ballroom. Now, the best couple in American history heads for Turin, where they're expected to win the first US Olympic ice dancing medal in 30 years at next month's Winter Games.” From: Boston Globe; Titled: Dream No Longer on Ice
U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1/10/2006 ) "Tanith Belbin, sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Dec. 31 and now eligible to represent this country in Turin, didn't miss a beat Tuesday at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Along with longtime partner Ben Agosto, she made a memorable first appearance on ice as an American." From: CBS Sportsline; Titled: New Citizen Belbin starts road to Torino on high note
Belbin, Agosto Do the 'Yankee Polka “The pre-event workout marked the first time in their career together that running in circles did not represent a metaphor for their participation in the sport's Olympic trials. Unlike four years ago, when they finished second at the U.S. championships but could not go to the Olympics, their performance here could mean -- and surely will mean -- a trip to the Olympic Games and a shot at the first U.S. Olympic ice dance medal since 1976.” Washington Post; Titled: Belbin, Agosto Do the 'Yankee Polka'
U.S. Figure Skating Championships (1/13/2006) “Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto had seen perfect marks of 6.0 before…But they were visibly stunned when all nine judges awarded them perfect 6.0s for presentation.” From Washington Post: Titled: Belbin and Agosto Are Perfect
Belbin, Agosto wrap up ice dancing spot “Two weeks after being sworn in as a U.S. citizen, [Belbin] carried an American flag around the ice during the medals ceremony Friday night at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. It was her third national title, but it was unlike the others. Completely.” From: MSNBC; Titled: Belbin, Agosto wrap up ice dancing spot
Four Continents (1/26/2006) From USA Today: Titled: Another Competition, another lead for Belbin & Agosto “Even without their best scores, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are too good to beat.” From USA Today: Titled: Another Competition, another lead for Belbin & Agosto
Familiar Dancers showing their stuff “Give Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto a chance to put on a show, and they'll take it. The three-time U.S. ice dance champions are making the most of what will be their final tuneup before the Torino Olympics, easily winning the compulsory dance Wednesday at Four Continents.” From: USA Today; Titled: Familiar Dancers showing their stuff
Belbin-Agosto comfortably in skating lead “Tanith Belbin was the picture of serenity as she skated around the ice, while partner Ben Agosto hammed it up with the crowd. The three-time U.S. champions had every reason to feel good at Four Continents on Wednesday, opening up a big lead in their last tuneup before the Turin Olympics.” From: ABC News; Titled: Belbin-Agosto comfortably in skating lead