Belbin and Agosto withdraw from U.S. figure skating championships
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Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, the ice dance silver medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics and five-time U.S. champions, withdrew from the upcoming U.S. figure skating championships because Agosto hasn’t had enough time to practice after recovering from a back injury.
The duo has petitioned U.S. Figure Skating to be named to the U.S. squad for the World Championships, which will be held March 22-29 in Los Angeles.
The World Championships will determine the number of entries countries will be granted in each discipline at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. If Belbin and Agosto are given a spot on the World Team and they’re in anything less than top shape, that could hurt U.S. chances for an Olympic ice dance berth.
Agosto hurt his back last month, leading the couple to withdraw from the Grand Prix Final.
‘I am getting excellent treatment from my doctors, but my back simply needs more time to mend,’ he said in a statement released by U.S. Figure Skating. ‘There’s just no way to rush the healing process on this one.
‘It’s a huge disappointment for us. We had been looking forward to defending our title once again at the U.S. Championships. However, the good news is that I am making progress, and I hope to begin training again in a few weeks.’
Belbin said she has been training on her own to maintain her fitness level.
-- Helene Elliott
* The original picture on this post was not of Belbin and Agosto and was replaced at 7:25 p.m.