Belbin, Agosto open season big
Americans take gold by nearly six points in Beijing
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| Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are among the top dance teams vying for gold in Lake Placid. (Getty Images) |
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By icenetwork.com staff
(10/31/2009) - Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto began their season's bid for Olympic gold with a solid win in Beijing, defeating Russians Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski by nearly fourteen points.
The five-time U.S. champions led throughout, winning the compulsory, original and free dance segments.
Their religious-themed free, choreographed by their coach, Natalia Linichuk, to an alternative arrangement of the classic "Ave Maria" and Gioacchino Rossini's interpretation of "Stabat Mater," a medieval poem, featured six Level 4 elements, including rare (for this season) Level 4 circle steps. The choreography was subtle and elegant, highlighted by creative lifts and a superb twizzle sequence.
Belbin and Agosto earned 95.85 points for the free dance and 194.51 overall.
The Russians' free dance to Lev Knipper's "Meadowlands" stressed their speed and Khokhlova's extreme flexibility, although the couple -- who won world bronze in 2008 but slipped to sixth place last season -- gained two deductions for extended (too long) lifts.
Performing to Nino Rota's The Immigrants, Italians Federica Faiella and Massimo Scali were second in the free dance and third overall with 179.92. Like the Americans, six of their elements rated Level 4.
Making their senior Grand Prix debut, Madison Chock and Greg Zuerlein finished eighth with 149.17 points.
Lynn Rutherford contributed to this article