Tanith Belbin Quotations

We usually make a point not to watch in case that happens because it affects you mentally.

We're so glad to be a part of this generation of ice dancing. It's a combined score.

When we saw the flag going up, it was a sight we had not prepared for because we didn't want to create a dream we couldn't obtain due to reasons out of our control. We felt pressure from ourselves, to prove that we were destined to be here.

Lots of teams feel better staying at home and just taking it easy and building up themselves in training. But for us, it's definitely better to come here. These are the same international judges who will judge us at the Olympics and we want their feedback.

She referenced that when she spoke with us, and she's extremely supportive. It was very, very nice to meet her.

Obviously, we could have done better. I had a few stumbles, but I wasn't anticipating to come here and have three flawless performances.

I have lived here for so long, and this was the last piece of the puzzle. I really feel that I have found my place here. Some of the greatest moments of my life were while I lived here, and now I feel complete.

I have lived here for so long and this was the last piece of the puzzle.

I don't think we've fully experienced all the emotions yet. This was the most challenging performance just because of the pressure. But coming away with the medal makes it all worth it. I know for a fact it won't take another 30 years (for the U.S to get another).

We feel it is our time to shine, and now we can make the most of this as we try to qualify for the Olympic Games. I have lived here (in the United States) for so long, and this (citizenship) was the last piece of the puzzle. I really feel that I have found my place here. Some of the greatest moments of my life were while I lived here, and now I feel complete.

I think we have a good shot at worlds. The door is opened a little bit further for us to challenge for that gold medal, and hopefully one year, if not this one, we can get that first American title.

I think that moment was one we hadn't even allowed ourselves to imagine. We didn't want to create a dream we couldn't attain because of something out of our control. It hasn't really hit us, but when it does, it'll be quite overwhelming.

It feels very special to be a part of both countries. I follow the Canadian team, I keep an eye on how they're doing, so it does feel as if I'm connected to both teams, but as a skater, I'm American.

I'm so excited, so proud of everybody -- it's an amazing group. We've all been through so much just to get here.

We'd rather it be here than at the Olympics. So in that respect, it's good.

We didn't have a storybook ending in mind, but this is pretty close.

When you add it all together, regardless of where we finished (in the free program), we were second overall. It's a combined score, and we're happy we were able to have a good original dance that helped us.

We felt we improved on our performance at nationals. This is an invaluable experience for us to sees how our elements will be (scored).

To be here at all was an amazing experience. We were very happy with how we did, and to have the result that we did was just icing on the cake.

The moment we saw the flag rising, we hadn't allowed ourselves to imagine. We didn't want to create a dream that we couldn't attain because it might be out of our control.

The moment we saw the flag rising was one we hadn't allowed ourselves to even imagine because we didn't want to create a dream we couldn't obtain for reasons outside of our control. It was definitely a new sight for us to see and one we don't even know how we're going to react to when it comes to us.

All athletes here, U.S. athletes in particular ... have added pressure to add to that medal count. We felt pressure mostly from ourselves, pressure to prove to ourselves that there was a reason and we were destined to be here. We didn't really have a storybook ending in mind, but this was pretty close.

The U.S. team has always been welcoming to me. Now I've put that last hurdle behind us, and we can go to the Olympics.

It's just the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for.

It was a success for us today to go out and perform it as well as we did because the last time was several years ago when we had just moved up to seniors and we could barely handle ourselves on the ice with this dance.

It's our first Olympics, and a lot of the teams that are competing with us here are second- or third-time Olympians. It's great to be able to come here and get a medal our first time out, when we didn't even know we would be here. You can't ask for more.

It's unnatural to think that in the past that everyone was equally strong in the compulsory, free and original dance. ... I'm proud to be part of this generation of ice dancing.

It's so incredibly wonderful to see the movement, because it's unrealistic to think that each team has equally strong compulsory, original and free (programs). Everybody has different strengths, and we're so glad to be part of this generation of ice dancing.

In 2002, I was sitting at home watching the opening ceremonies, not knowing how emotional it would be knowing I could have been there. I turned it off pretty quick. I don't know what it would have felt like if we'd had to do it again. I'm glad we don't.

In 2002 I was sitting at home watching the Opening Ceremonies and, realizing I could have been there, it was pretty emotional, much harder that I thought it would be. I turned the Games off pretty quick and pretty much ignored them.

I know for a fact it will not take another 30 years for the next medal.

I really don't think we've really, fully experienced all the emotions we will once we calm down and realize what we've accomplished. I think this is the most exciting dance competition I've ever been a part of and some of us have ever seen.

I think all athletes here, and U.S. athletes in particular, have additional pressure to add to that medal count. It seems like there's so much attention to the podium.

Being sick, we were a little cautious preparing for this event.

Canada has always been extremely supportive of me. Thankfully, when I made the move, I had full support of everybody back home. It does feel special to be a part of both countries. I do follow the Canadian team as well and keep an eye on them. I have not, honestly, received one (negative) letter, one word, nothing toward my decision to become an American citizen.

I don't think we could imagine sitting another one out.

For the first time, I was able to cross the border and when I was asked my citizenship, I could say American. That was exciting.

The energy the U.S. team created within itself was really amazing. No one really could contain themselves anymore.