Canada Strikes Gold In Ice Dancing, United States Earns Silver

Sports News - February 23rd, 2010 - Written By Bryan Cross

It has been a disappointing Olympics overall for the Canadians, but Monday night provided a much needed thrill, as the duo of Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir took home the gold medal in Ice Dancing.

The victory in the event was the first for Canada, which has now won five gold medals in Vancouver, and 10 overall.

Since Ice Dancing became an Olympic event in 1976, only two winners prior had been from outside Russia.

"I'll probably wear it in the shower," Moir said of his gold medal draped around his neck. "I'm not going to take it off all week."

In a sport they are used to dominating, the Russians have walked away without a gold medal in all skating events this Olympics, with only the women's singles remaining. If the theme continues, it will be the first Olympic Games since 1960 that Russia has not earned a gold medal in a skating event.

Not only did the Russians not earn gold, they failed to earn silver. That honor went to the team of Meryl Davis and Charlie White from the United States. With the silver medal, U.S got consecutive dance medals in the Olympic games for the first time ever. The team from Russia, Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin, earned the bronze medal.

"North America has really come into its own in terms of ice dance," Davis remarked. "This Olympics is a little bit of a turning point again. It's really exciting to be a part of it."

The United States have had a fantastic winter games in terms of medals won. With the addition of the silver from ice dancing, Team USA has tabbed 25 medals. With at least a silver medal awaiting the women's ice hockey team, the Americans will surpass their 2006 record.

"For us to be a part of that, it's really exciting," Davis said.

The gold medal team from Canada were stunned at their final point total, which was over five points higher than any other team.

"We knew it was in us, but to get out there on the Olympic ice and to perform and to execute like that," Moir said after the gold medal ceremony. "It's a feeling that I've never had."

With less than a week remaining, Canada's "own the podium" campaign has not developed into reality, but the gold medal in Ice Dancing has brought joy to the nation. The Americans lead the overall medal count, followed closely by Germany. The German team was the favorite to win the medal race according to the Olympic Betting Lines at Bodog sportsbook. Canada followed closely behind, with the United States in fourth.