Will the reigning Olympic gold medalists for ice dancing return to the rink to compete in 2018? Jim Brickman finds out this weekend
Jim Brickman caught up with Meryl Davis and Charlie White while they’re touring the country of China with Visa and a few other American tourists. Jim found out how they’ve been spending their time since winning the gold in Sochi and if they’ll be going for gold again in 2018…
Jim Brickman: Meryl and Charlie are on with us right now from Beijing! They’re talking with us about what’s ahead and a new initiative that’s taking them to the Great Wall of China. So thank you guys so much for calling from so far away. Why don’t you tell us what you’ve been up to since you took home the gold.
Meryl Davis: That’s right, well it’s been an incredible 2 years – hard to believe that it has been 2 years now since Sochi – but we’ve been very busy sort of traveling around doing a lot of skating, some speaking engagements. Right now we’re here with Team Visa as part of the 2016 US-China Tourism year and this is definitely a special thing we get to do and to be able to and be off the ice and celebrate traveling around and the history and the culture China has to offer to tourists is something we’re very excited to celebrate.
Jim: And why China and why The Great Wall?
Charlie White: When we were competing and when we were getting ready for the Olympics, it’s really just everything is really just the same day in and day out training. And since the Olympics we’ve really been able to enjoy just this totally different avenue and way of life you know. Very different experiences and being able to make the most of touring around China is something that’s very special and something we obviously get behind you know in promoting and trying to get more people to do so.
Jim: I know you’re both representing the US, it’s a great experience I’m sure. What’s been your favorite part about visiting China?
Meryl: Today we got a chance to go to the Forbidden City, which we hadn’t been to before. We’ve wanted to on previous trips but haven’t had the time unfortunately, so to be able to finally get there and experience it and just see and experience the magnitude and vast history you can sort of feel while you’re there is really incredible. And I think that’s really our favorite part about China, it’s history and to be able to stand in the Forbidden City, stand on the Great Wall and feel like you’re a part of it.
Jim: So the 2018 Winter Olympics follow this summer’s in Brazil. Are you guys going to be competing?
Charlie: Yeah, good question. We’re actually undecided still. We haven’t competed since the last Olympics and we’ve just been doing a lot of exhibitions so we’re on the ice quite a bit. We know full well what it takes to be at the top of your game, especially for the Olympics, and it’s a big commitment. So we want to make sure we’re in the right frame of mind and we have this opportunity to step away, enjoy it, and make a really well informed decision because it’s a lot of sacrifice. And yeah so in the next 6 to 8 months we’ll sort of sit down and figure out you know if it’s meant to be and if not that’s ok too. But we really have our options open as of right now.
Follow Meryl and Charlie’s adventures off the ice on social media or www.meryl-charlie.com
Meryl Davis was born on January 1, 1987 in Royal Oak, Michigan. Charlie White was born on October 24, 1987 in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Are the longest-tenured U.S. ice dancing team, having been together since 1998 … Were coached by Seth Chafetz (1993-2006) and Igor Shpilband.
Davis started skating at age 5 on a lake near her house … Participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program from 1992-94.
White began skating at the age of 5 so he’d be able to go skating with friends when he got older … Participated in the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills Program from 1992-94 … Also played hockey … Broke his ankle playing hockey and missed the 2005 U.S. Championships … Played on a state championship hockey team … Had success as a singles skater, qualifying for the U.S. Championships as a junior in 2006.
In 2010, Meryl Davis and Charlie White won a silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. They are the 2011 and 2013 World Figure Skating Ice Dance Champions. In 2014, at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, they became the first ice dancers from the United States to win gold.
PERSONAL NOTES
Davis was named Delta Delta Delta “Woman of the Year” and University of Michigan “Student of the Year” … Volunteers for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Relay for Life, Fitness for Kids and Classroom Champions.
White is the youngest of five children (one brother, three sisters) … Parents, Jacqui and Charlie, own and manage an oil company in downtown Detroit … Studying political science … Supports Scholastic’s “Read Every Day,” Classroom Champions and Figure Skating in Harlem.
