Tanith Jessica Louise Belbin White is a Canadian-American ice dancer and Olympic program host for NBC Sports. Though born in Canada, she holds dual citizenship and has competed for the United States since she began skating with Benjamin Agosto in 1998. With Agosto, Belbin is the 2006 Olympic silver medalist, four-time World medalist, three-time Four Continents champion (2004–2006), and five-time U.S. champion (2004–2008).
Margarita Aleksandrovna Drobiazko is a Lithuanian ice dancer. She began competing for Lithuania in 1992 when she teamed up with Povilas Vanagas. With Vanagas, she is the 2000 World bronze medalist, a three-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, a two-time European bronze medalist, the 1999 Skate Canada champion, and competed in five Winter Olympics, finishing as high as 5th.
Povilas Vanagas is a Lithuanian ice dancer. With his wife Margarita Drobiazko, he is the 2000 World bronze medalist, a three-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, a two-time European bronze medalist, the 1999 Skate Canada champion, and competed in five Winter Olympics, finishing as high as 5th.
Figure skating was first contested in the Olympic Games at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Since 1924, the sport has been a part of the Winter Olympic Games.
Igor Yuryevich Shpilband is an American ice dancing coach and former competitor for the Soviet Union. He is the 1983 World Junior champion with former partner Tatiana Gladkova.
Country changing is a phenomenon in the figure skating world in which skaters change the country they represent in competition. There are many different reasons why competitors switch countries, but it mostly comes down to maximizing the possibility of being able to compete at the World Figure Skating Championships and the Winter Olympic Games. A skater who cannot do that representing their home country often looks for another one. Because spots to Worlds and the Olympics are allotted by country, not by skater, a skater can hope to transfer to a new country and have a better chance of becoming national champion, being sent to Worlds, and qualifying for a spot in the Olympics.
Cathy Reed is an American-born Japanese ice dancer. With her brother Chris Reed, she is a seven-time Japanese national champion.
Nelli Nailevna Zhiganshina is a Russian-born German ice dancer. With Alexander Gazsi, she is a six-time German national champion and has won twelve international medals. They have placed as high as 6th at the European Championships and 10th at the World Championships.
Lithuanian nationality law operates on the jus sanguinus principle, whereby persons who have a claim to Lithuanian ancestry, either through parents, grandparents, great-grandparents may claim Lithuanian nationality.. Citizenship may also be granted by naturalization. Naturalization requires a residency period, an examination in the Lithuanian language, examination results demonstrating familiarity with the Lithuanian Constitution, a demonstrated means of support, and an oath of loyalty. A right of return clause was included in the 1991 constitution for persons who left Lithuania after its occupation by the Soviet Union in 1940 and their descendants. Lithuanian citizens are also citizens of the European Union and thus enjoy rights of free movement and have the right to vote in elections for the European Parliament.
Marina Olegovna Zoueva or Zueva is a Russian figure skating coach, choreographer, and former competitor in ice dancing. Representing the Soviet Union with Andrei Vitman, she placed 5th at the 1977 World Championships and won two medals at Skate Canada International. She has coached a number of skaters to Olympic medals, including Tessa Virtue / Scott Moir, Meryl Davis / Charlie White, and Maia Shibutani / Alex Shibutani.
Taavi Rand is an Estonian former ice dancer. With partner Irina Shtork, he is the 2013 International Cup of Nice bronze medalist, the 2013 Ukrainian Open silver medalist, and a four-time Estonian national champion.
Stefano Caruso is an ice dancer with dual German and Italian citizenship. Representing Germany with Tanja Kolbe, he won seven international medals and two German national silver medals. They placed eighth at the 2013 European Championships and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics, finishing 19th. Earlier in his career, Caruso competed for Italy with Isabella Pajardi.
Rebeka Kim is a South Korean ice dancer. With partner Kirill Minov, she is the 2016 South Korean national champion and placed sixth at the 2014 World Junior Championships. Earlier in her career, Kim competed in single skating. She is the 2009 and 2010 Nestle Nesquik Cup novice champion.
The overall quota for the figure skating competition is 148 total skaters, consisting of 74 men and 74 ladies. There will be 30 skaters in each of the single skating disciplines, 20 pair skating teams, and 24 ice dance teams. The maximum number of entries that can be qualified by a National Olympic Committee is 3 per event, making 18 the maximum number of entries that a country can qualify.
Katherine Reutter is an American short track speed skater. She is a two-time medalist in the Winter Olympics, 2011 overall world silver medalist and the 2010–2011 overall ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Cup champion.
Isabella Tobias is an American-born Israeli ice dancer who competes with Ilia Tkachenko. Together they have won four medals on the ISU Challenger Series.
Dean J.Copely, Jr. is an American former competitive ice dancer. With Charlotte Lichtman, he is the 2011 World Junior Ice Dance Bronze Medalist and 2011 U.S. Junior Ice Dance Champion.
Lithuania competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia from 7 to 23 February 2014. The team consists of nine athletes competing in five sports. The nine athletes mark the most athletes the country has ever qualified for a Winter Olympics.
