Olympic runner-up dance duo out for GP final
- Source: Global Times
- [22:26 November 25 2009]
- Comments
Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto
Reigning world and Olympic silver medalists ice dance duo Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto of the US Wednesday said they are pulling out of next week's Grand Prix final in Tokyo.
The five-time US ice dance champions will not compete in the tournament from December 3 to 6 because Belbin underwent oral surgery Wednesday to ease the pain of an impacted wisdom tooth and was advised to avoid strenuous activity for at least a week.
"Tanith and I are very disappointed that we won't be able to compete at the Grand Prix final," Agosto said.
Despite the disruption to their schedule, Agosto said they will be ready to compete at the US Championships, the US qualifying meet for February's Vancouver Winter Olympics. The US meet is staged at Spokane, Washington from January 14 to 24.
"As soon as Tanith is ready, we'll be back on the ice and training," Agosto said.
The couple, who qualified for this year's final with triumphs at China and Skate America, missed last season's GP final and US nationals because Agosto had a back injury.
Belbin and Agosto, runners-up at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, took world silver medals in 2005 and 2009 and finished third at the 2006 and 2007 worlds.
They train under former Olympic champions Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov.
Agencies
