Meryl Davis and Charlie White upset Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto to take first place in the ice dancing comeptition. Full results are here.

Press conference audio

• Medalists on their performances

• Meryl Davis on the depth of U.S. ice dancing

• Tanith Belbin on returning to Olympics

• Bronze medalists Evan Bates and Emily Samuelson on the Olympics

Ice skaters competing in Compulsory Dance this morning, performing the same selected dance – the Golden Waltz – to the same music. The skaters compete at 6 p.m. Friday in the Original Dance and 11:40 a.m. Saturday in the Free Dance.

The top-standing skaters after this morning’s competition:
1. Meryl Davis/Charlie White, 45.42
2. Tanith Belbin/Benjamin Agosto, 45.02
3. Kimberly Navarro/Brent Bommentre, 37.60
4. Emily Samuelson/Evan Bates, 37.36

Tanith Belbin and Harry Sladich in St. Louis at the 2006 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Photo courtesy of Harry Sladich.

 

Harry Sladich is the president and CEO of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. He and his team are hard at work preparing for the upcoming National Figure Skating Championships. However, he took time to share his thoughts about ice skating and to reveal a not-so-secret crush.

Q. When was the last time you went ice skating?

A. “The day after Thanksgiving with my nine-year-old daughter, Sabrina, at the Ice Palace at Riverfront Park. This was the first time in about six years that I’d been on skates, and her first!”

Q. Any favorite skating memories?

A. “As a sophomore in high school I found myself becoming very interested in Figure Skating by watching Dorothy Hamill at the 1976 Winter Olympics ( the reason for this interest might  have been her athletic abilities or maybe just a HUGE “crush” on a really attractive woman) and as an adult, watching my then 7 year old daughter have a “crush” on pairs skater Ben Agosto during the 2007 US National Championships here in Spokane.  Ben later came out of the skater’s area during the event at my request to sign my daughter’s shirt, it was a magical moment for her and I am so grateful for the kindness he (and the other skaters) showed while they were here.”

Q. Do you have a favorite figure skater?

A. “My current favorite skater is Tanith Belbin and the reason for that is…well… reference the earlier comments about Dorothy Hamill.  I remember saving a photo of myself and Tanith to my screen saver and as the photo came up on my laptop my daughter, who was by my side said “Oh no, mom’s not going to like that dad”  My wife just smiled and told my daughter that she has her own celebrity “crushes”!  I have a very observant child.”

Q. What are you most looking forward to about the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships?

A. “I look forward to seeing our community shine once again.  We just know how to do these things right and the visitors and skaters confirm that.  The mood will be festive and active in January and it couldn’t happen in a better month!

Q. What do you want guest and/or the television audience to remember about Spokane?

A. “That it is a beautiful region, bigger than they thought, more capable, and extremely friendly.  I want them to consider coming back and I hope they see our website in the ice!  www.visitspokane.com and log on to learn more about this great place we call home.”