Ben Agosto
The Beginning
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 5th 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.
Rising to the Top
After skating at the novice and junior level with different partners,
in
1999, Ben and his coaching team thought it was time for a change.
And then
fate stepped in. 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 2 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 their new partnership, Ben and Tanith achieved success at the
international level in the early 2000's, earning several medals
in the World
Junior Championships and continuing this trend at the senior worlds.
In
doing so, the pair qualified to be part of the Olympic team at
the 2002
Games in Salt Lake. However, because Tanith was not yet a citizen,
the duo
had to regrettably skip the games. Although disheartened, the skaters
pushed forward and continued to dominate in their sport, winning
a silver
medal at the 2005 World Championships. After this achievement,
Ben and
Tanith again qualified to go to the Olympics in Torino to represent
the
United States. And with a little bit of luck, a lot of support,
and the
signature of George Bush, they wouldn't have to miss out on this
opportunity
again.
The Games
When Tanith was rewarded her citizenship in late 2005, the pair
looked
brightly to the Winter Games in Torino. Momentum was now on their
side as
Tanith and Ben were "official" U.S. Olympic team members
and as Ben was
slowly but surely recovering from an injury. They took the Games
by storm,
with Ben enjoying the "Olympic Experience" at all levels.
On and off the
ice, Ben was a great spokesperson for team USA. Not only did Tanith
and he
win the first medal in their discipline in 30 years, but Ben also
acted as a
natural team leader and a bi-lingual ambassador for English and
Spanish
media. In one fail swoop, Ben helped change Olympic history turned
his
silver medal into Gold.
Up To Date
Since the Olympic games, Ben and Tanith have developed into America's
sweethearts, both on and off the ice. The duo has continued to
make their
mark in the sport, winning their 4th consecutive U.S. Championships
and the
Cup of Russia in the 2006-2007 season. And 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 for video games. 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 medallist.
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