Ice dancing will surely get the attention it has so longed for. The main reason is that the
United States finally has a chance to not only medal, but contend for gold!
Tanith Belbin and
Benjamin Agosto are three-time U.S. champions and the current world silver medalists. Ontario-born Belbin would have had to wait until 2010 to represent the U.S. at the Olympics, but Congress stepped in on her behalf. She was sworn in as a citizen on Dec. 31, 2005. Belbin and Agosto have benefited greatly from the new judging system. Strong and consistent performances have allowed them to rise quickly through the usually rigid ranks of ice dancing over the last two years.
Russia's
Tatiana Navka and
Roman Kostomarov are the two-time and defending World champions. Their long lines, flexibility and unique lifts make them the dominant team and gold medal favorites.
There are a number of couples that could stand on the podium.
Elena Grushina and
Ruslan Goncharov of the
Ukraine took third at last year's world championships and have had strong results this season.
Two veteran teams have come out of retirement this year with medal aspirations. Lithuanians
Margarita Drobiazko and
Povilas Vanagas placed a respectable third at the European championships in January. This will be their fifth trip to the Olympics which is reason enough to be impressed. Italians
Barbara Fusar Poli and
Maurizio Margaglio – the only returning medalists from Salt Lake City – have made a comeback as well, and feel ready to challenge for gold. They have talked up a storm recently hoping to agitate the current world champions. However, they have not been rated at any major competitions since their retirement. We will have to wait to see whether their skating lives up to their big talk.
