Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Sadly, the dynamic Ice Dancing duo Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto were forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix Figure Skating Finals in Tokyo, Japan December 3rd-6th due to Tanith having an infected wisdom tooth. Last year the couple had to withdraw due to partner Ben Agosto sustaining a back injury. Doctor’s orders won’t allow Tanith to do physically strenuous activity for a week after surgery. So skating is out, as well as roller-derby, base jumping and competitive eating (pretty much all the fun things in life). But do not fret; the couple will be back in action for the U.S. Championships in January and they are still favored to represent the U.S. at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. All we need is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart to sponsor the U.S. Figure Skating team to one-up Stephen Colbert’s support of the U.S. Speed Skating team. I can see it now…”Team Colbert…Team Stewart…Showdown on the ice!” We give the TV hosts/New Head Coaches oversized sweatshirts and whistles and have them do their respective shows from the ice. Let the insanity and hilarity ensue!
Back to Tanith…The 2006 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2009 World Championship Silver Medalist, 2009 World Team Trophy Gold Medalist and recently single goddess of the ice (her ex-boyfriend is 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek), currently graces the December cover of Men’s Health Magazine, giving insight to readers on how to “Woo” a tech-loving lady such as herself. As international and Olympic sports guru Phil Hersh recently noted in his Chicago Tribune blog it’s that time of year with the “Surest sign the Olympics are approaching: an attractive U.S. female athlete pictured in a state of undress for a magazine.”
Men’s Health calls Tanith the “Hottest Olympic Athlete” and she was given the title of “Hottest Female Athlete” in 2006 by ESPN.com. But Tanith is not just another pretty face. With skating partner (and rockstar) Ben Agosto she is a five-time U.S. Champion, three-time Four-Continents Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist (to name a few) and is favored to medal at the 2010 Winter Games. And to top that off she’s a correspondent for NBC (When she’s not winning medals, she’s a journalist.) Born July 11, 1984 in Kingston, Ontario the 25 year old naturalized U.S. citizen holds dual-citizenship so this Winter Olympic season could mean a little extra to her and may even be slightly confusing as she represents her “home country” in her “birth country.” Can she hold both flags on the podium and trade off lines from each national anthem?
Tanith is also a philanthropist like many of her fellow figure skaters, serving on the board of Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH), a youth fitness and education program that provides girls ages 6-18 in the Harlem community with vital educational and skating opportunities. She helped create a fundraising ice show, “Tanith & Ben: Home for the Holidays” to raise money for the American Cancer Society and in 2005, created an ice show, “Skate-Aid” which raised over $40,000 for the Red Cross tsunami relief fund.
Tanith on Tanith:
“Although I am part of a team, I would like to demonstrate my individuality as a strong and accomplished young woman with endless ambition. I have so many more goals I'd like to achieve outside of my sport and I'd like to serve as a role model for young girls who are looking to find their way and establish themselves as individuals in their own right while developing the confidence necessary to reach any dream they can imagine. I want to encourage the minds of young people to be without limitations.” Keep doing what you do Tanith and maybe take a vacation sometime :)
Also, don’t miss the encore presentation of the following spectacular Disson Skating productions January 3rd through February 14th, 2010 on the Hallmark Channel.
Disson Skating presents the top figure skating talent including former Olympic Champions, 2010 Winter Olympic Contenders, World and National Champions, for a series of unforgettable productions that mixes athletic prowess and grace with the hottest live music acts spanning the iconic classics to the newest breakout artists of the music scene.
Amway Global Presents Smokey Robinson Tribute on Ice: (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa. FL). Hallmark Channel Airdate:
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010 at 1:00am EST/PST. Featuring the music of iconic R&B/Soul singer, songwriter and producer Smokey Robinson and starring 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist and Two-time World Champion Brian Boitano, 1996 World Champion and Six-time U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge, 2006 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 2008 World Champion Jeffrey Buttle and more!
Kristi Yamaguchi and Friends: Starring the Backstreet Boys: (US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ). Hallmark Channel Airdate:
Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 1:00am EST/PST. Starring 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, Olympic Hall-of-Famer and Dancing with the Stars Season Six Champion Kristi Yamaguchi, Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Ekaterina Gordeeva, Three-time U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss and more!
Scotch Brand Holiday Celebration on Ice: (Verizon Arena, North Little Rock, AR). Hallmark Channel Airdates:
Monday, Jan. 11, 2009 at 6:00 pm and Sunday, Jan. 20, 2009 at 1:00am EST/PST. Featuring live performances by legendary rock bands REO Speedwagon & Rick Springfield. Starring 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist and Two-time World Champion Brian Boitano, 2008 World Champion and 2006 Olympic Bronze Medalist Jeffrey Buttle, Two-time World Silver Medalist Ice Dancing Champions Marie-France Dubreuil & Patrice Lauzon and more!
Amway Global Improv-Ice: (Honda Center, Anaheim, CA). Hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi and Brian Boitano. Hallmark Channel Airdates:
Monday, Jan. 18, 2010 at 6:00pm and Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 at 1:00am EST/PST. Featuring the live music of Grammy-nominated artists the Goo Goo Dolls and starring 2006 Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen, 2009 World Champion Evan Lysacek, Four-time World Champion Kurt Browning and more!
Musselman’s Applesauce Presents Brian Boitano Skating Spectacular: (Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, CT). Hallmark Channel Airdate:
Monday, Jan. 25, 2010 at 6:00pm and Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 at 1:00am EST/PST. Featuring special live music guest Chicago and starring 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist and Two-time World Champion Brian Boitano, 2006 World Champion and 2007 National Champion Kimmie Meissner, 1994 World Champion and Two-time Japanese Champion Yuka Sato and more!
Progressive Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular: (Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City, SD). Hallmark Channel Airdate:
Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 at 6:00 pm and Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010 at 1:00am EST/PST. Starring Three-time U.S. National Champion Michael Weiss, 1996 World Champion and Six-time U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge, 2008 Olympic Individual All-Around Gold Medalist Nastia Liukin, 2008 Olympic Balance Beam Gold Medalist, Individual All-Around Silver Medalist and Dancing with the Stars Season 8 winner Shawn Johnson and more!
Silk Skate for the Heart: (Sears Center Arena, Hoffman Estates, IL) Hallmark Channel Airdate:
Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 at 6:00pm and Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 at 1:00am EST/PST. Featuring Reigning World Champion Evan Lysacek, 2009 Ice Dancing World Silver Medalists and 2006 Olympic Silver Medalists Ben Agosto & Tanith Belbin, with live performances from music stars Jordin Sparks, Charice, Honor Society and KSM.
Check
www.dissonskating.com for more information.
Happy Holidays!
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