Benjamin Agosto

Benjamin Agosto , born the January 15th 1982 with Chicago, is a artistic skater American. Since 1998, its partner in dance on ice is Tanith Belbin with which it represents the the United States.

Belbin and Agosto became first American with being Olympic medals in dance on ice, at the time of the Olympic Games of Turin in 2006.

Biography

Benjamin Agosto was born from a Porto Rican father and a Jewish mother. He started to patinate at the six years age, after having received his first pair of shoes to his birthday. At the beginning of its career, it was pulled by Susie Wynne. Its first partner was Katie Hill, with which it compétitionna on the Novice level and Junior. When this partnership was finished in 1998, Benjamin moved with the Michigan to involve itself with Igor Shpilband, which found a new partner to him.

In 1998, Benjamin and Tanith Belbin begin their association. As of the season 1999-2000, the couple is success on the Junior level. They gained the national title junior as well as a bronze medal with the Championships of the Junior world. At their first year on the level Senior, they were classified second with the Championships of the United States and were qualified for the world team. They are sent to the Championships of the Junior world and Senior at each year that their age allows them.

Belbin and Agosto were qualified to go to the Olympic Games of Salt Lake City in 2002, when it finished second with the Championships of the United States. But they were not eligible, because Belbin, which is of Canadian origin, did not have the American citizenship. They were thus to send to the other championships of RESULTING to which they were eligible: four Continents, championships of the world Junior and Senior. In 2002, they gained the championship of the Junior world. The following season, Agosto did not have any more the necessary age to take part in the Championships of the Junior world.

In 2004, Tanith and Benjamin gained the championship of the United States for the first time. During the championship of the United States of 2005, in which the marking system of the 6.0 for the last time, they collected that perfect notes of 6.0 for the presentation at the time of the free dance. On the 30 notes of 6.0 data lasting this championship in dance on ice, Belbin and Agosto have 14 of them. It is the second best total of 6.0 after Michelle Kwan, who is in account 38.

With the Championships of the world of 2005, Belbin and Agosto gained the money medal. In spite of that, they were always ineligible to go to the Olympic Games of Turin in 2006, since Belbin still did not have the American citizenship. Their money medal combined with the classification of the other American couple, made it possible the United States to have three places for the dance on ice with the Olympic Games for the first time since 1984.

By a special act of the last American Congress on December 28th, 2005, signed by the President Georges W. Bush on December 31st, 2005, Tanith Belbin became an American citizen. Thus, it was eligible to take part in the Olympic Games of Turin. They gained money the medal, on February 20th, 2006, becoming the first American couple of dancers over ice to gain an Olympic medal.

During the season 2006-2007, Belbin and Agosto presented a free dance on the music of " That' S Entertainment". This program received a rather cold reception, therefore they decided to get rid some and presented another free dance on the music of the film " The fabulous destiny of Amélie Poulain" at the time of the championships of the United States of 2007. They gained their third national title, the money medal in the Four Continents and a second bronze medal with the Championships of the world.

Prize list

(with Tanith Belbin)

* Note: Jr = Junior; With = Abandonment

(with Katie Hill)

* Note: NR = Beginner; Jr = Junior

See too

Tanith Belbin

External bonds

Official site
Biography RESULTING

Simple: Benjamin Agosto

Random links: