Tanith Belbin & Benjamin Agosto are the first U.S. Ice Dance team to win a Silver Medal in the Winter Olympics, and they accomplished this feat at the 2006 games in Torino, Italy.  In addition to this accomplishment, they are World Silver Medalists and five-time U.S. National Champions. 

Tanith Belbin was born on July 11, 1984 in Kingston, Ontario into a skate-oriented family.  Her mother Michele, a former skating coach and costume designer, introduced the young girl to the ice at the age of 3.  She fell in love with the sport of ice dancing early on, but switched to pair skating at the age of 10 when she couldn’t find a suitable dance partner.  From there, Tanith enjoyed competitive success winning a Silver medal at the Novice level at the Canadian Nationals.  But with a sudden growth spurt and an undying passion, Tanith switched back to ice dancing and ventured to Michigan in search for a new partner.

Born January 15, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois, Benjamin Agosto was born into a culturally rich, multi-ethnic family.   Baseball and music were the activities that caught Ben’s attention at an early age, but it wasn’t until his six^th birthday that he realized his passion for skating.  Inspired by the likes of Brian Boitano, Ben spent his days at the rink and pursued his dream of a career on the ice.

After skating at the Novice and Junior levels with a different partner, in 1999, Ben and his coaching team thought it was time for a change. Under the advisement of their respective coaches, Ben was introduced to Tanith Belbin, a young skater who had just moved to Detroit to pursue her dream of becoming a successful ice dancer.  The two endured a two-hour tryout where there was instant chemistry and where ultimately, history was made.  America had just found its newest skating stars.

In the early 2000’s, Tanith and Ben achieved success at the international level, earning several medals in the World Junior Championships and continuing this trend at the Senior Worlds.   However, because Tanith was not yet a U.S. citizen, the duo had to skip the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Although discouraged, the partners trekked on, continuing their winning streak at many major competitions.  During the 2005-2006 season, Tanith and Ben dominated many competitions, placing 1^st at the U.S. Championships, Grand Prix, and Skate America.  They also rose to international fame with a second placing at the World Championship.  With this feat, Tanith and Ben qualified to be part of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2006 games in Torino, Italy. 

On February 20, 2006, Tanith and Ben won the Silver Medal in ice dancing, making them the first U.S. ice dancing team to win a medal in the Olympics since 1976.  They had changed Olympic history.

Since the 2006 Winter Games, Tanith and Ben have skyrocketed to international fame both on and off the ice.  During the 2007-2008 season, the twosome has continued their success on ice, winning their fif^th consecutive U.S. Championship title, tying the record with only four other U.S. ice dancing couples.  Off the ice, Tanith has been earning rave reviews in the entertainment field.  She has recently been pursuing her dream job as a broadcast journalist and is now under contract with Good Morning America as a contributing reporter.  Last summer, her on-air performances were capped off with the ESPY’s where she acted as a correspondent, interviewing the likes of actor Matthew McConaughey and NBA star LeBron James.  With all of this, she is definitely making her mark across the board.

When she’s not skating, you can find Tanith spending time with her family, friends, and pets or doing the things she loves like bike riding, cooking and shopping.  But in the meantime, you’ll find Tanith on the ice training for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and continuing to fulfill her role as America’s ice princess.

When Ben is not dancing around the ice, he has been pursuing his other talents, which include music and entertainment.  With a passion for entertaining people, Ben has been talking his way to the top, doing voice over work as a villain in an upcoming video game.  He has also been spending time playing the guitar and singing the blues, a hobby that he hopes to make into a career someday. 

And when you don’t find Ben gliding on the ice, giving his best impression of Bill Cosby, or singing the blues, you’ll find him in Canton, Michigan spending time with his family and girlfriend Merrie.  He loves to be outdoors - scuba diving, rock climbing, horseback riding - you name it.  But no matter how busy Ben may be, he is dedicated to representing his country as a proud Olympic ice dancer and medalist.