"We have great chemistry," says Belbin, who is traveling with White as part of the Smuckers Stars on Ice skating tour, which stops in Los Angeles Thursday at the Staples Center and Anaheim Friday at the Honda Center. "We like each other a lot, and the competing part hasn't ever factored into our relationship or how we work with our respective partners."
They've known each other for more than a decade, having both trained in the Detroit area. But the fireworks ignited only last June. "After that, we did every form of communication – cell, texting, Facebook," says White.
White's skating partner, Davis, was apprehensive at first. "She was concerned about how we would handle competitions," White says. "But Meryl saw that I was there to skate my best and that's what I would concentrate on." (White and Davis ended up winning the silver medal in Vancouver. Belbin and Agosto finished fourth, after winning silver themselves in 2006.)
Now, White and Belbin are perfecting a new routine – daily life together. They share a hotel room on tour and are openly affectionate in public. Belbin, who once dated Evan Lysacek (and for whom both are rooting on Dancing with the Stars), may retire from competitive skating this year. She also plans on moving to Ann Arbor, Mich., to live with White, who will continue to compete with Davis.
They're also planning a Mexico vacation.
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