Tanith Belbin Canadian-American figure skater who competes in ice dancing. Date of Birth: 11.02.1984 Country: USA

Biography of Tanith Belbin

Tanith Jessica Louise Belbin is a Canadian-American figure skater who specializes in ice dancing. She was born on July 11, 1984, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and grew up in Kirkland, Quebec.

Early Life and Training
Tanith initially participated in both ice dancing and pair skating, but later focused on ice dancing. Under the guidance of coach Paul Wirtz, she competed in ice dancing with Liam Dougherty, and in pair skating with Ben Barruco from Canada. However, she was unable to reach the international level with these partners. In 1998, Tanith moved to Detroit, where her new coach, Igor Shpilband, paired her with Benjamin Agosto.

International Success
With her new partner, Belbin quickly achieved success, winning a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in their first season together. They qualified to compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics but were unable to participate due to Tanith not having obtained American citizenship until 2007. Belbin and Agosto then focused on competing at the international and national levels, winning the U.S. Championships four times and earning a silver medal at the World Championships.

Olympic Medalist
Belbin and Agosto's dedicated fans petitioned Congress to grant Tanith early American citizenship to allow her to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Their efforts were successful, and the duo represented the United States, winning the silver medal. This achievement marked the highest placement for American ice dancers since 1976.

Continued Success and Coaching Change
Following the Turin Olympics, Belbin and Agosto won their fifth U.S. Championship title but placed fourth at the 2008 World Championships due to a fall by Tanith in the compulsory dance. They then decided to part ways with their coach of almost ten years, Igor Shpilband, and began training with Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov in Aston, Pennsylvania.

Injuries and Final Season
During the 2008-2009 season, Belbin and Agosto won silver medals at the Grand Prix events but had to withdraw from the Grand Prix Final and the U.S. Championships due to Benjamin's back injury. However, they still competed at the World Championships, winning the silver medal, just narrowly missing out on gold by a fraction of a point.

In their final season together in 2009-2010, Belbin faced health issues that led to her withdrawal from the Grand Prix Final. The duo was later selected to represent the United States at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto's partnership showcased their talent and dedication, earning them numerous accolades and making them one of the most successful ice dance teams in American history.