Belbin and Agosto look to break the ice for US

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2006

TURIN, Italy (AFP) — Three-time national champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto will be looking to give the United States their first Winter Olympics ice dancing title starting here next week.

The world silver medallists believe that the new system of voting brought in after the 2002 Olympics pairs voting scandal can help them scupper Russian favourites Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov.

Navka and Kostomarov, the two-time world champions, are looking to reclaim the title for Russia after French skaters Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat took gold in Salt Lake City.

But Agosto believes that the changes to the sport will allow for surprises.

"The sport has grown and become more demanding with the new judging system. You see a lot of flip flopping...