American · Detroit, Michigan, USA · Born 1 January 1987American ice dance duo who became the first Americans to win Olympic ice dance gold, capping a 17-year partnership that began when they were just eight and nine years old.
Meryl Davis was born on 1 January 1987 and Charlie White on 24 October 1987, both in the Detroit, Michigan area. They were partnered by coach Seth Chafetz in 1997 when Davis was nine and White eight, beginning what would become the longest-running ice dance partnership in U.S. history, spanning 17 years. Davis and White won Olympic silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games behind training partners Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, then broke through the following year to win the 2011 World Championship, the United States' first-ever ice dance world title, beating the reigning Olympic and World champions. They won a second World title in 2013 and were undefeated throughout the 2010-11 season. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Davis and White set world record scores in both segments to win gold by 4.53 points over Virtue and Moir, becoming the first American ice dancers to win Olympic gold, and added bronze in the team event. They retired from competition immediately after, going on to compete separately on Dancing with the Stars, and have continued performing in ice shows and broadcasting while remaining the most decorated ice dance team in U.S. history.
Becoming the first American ice dance team to win Olympic gold, after a 17-year partnership that began in childhood
How They Played
Technically precise, athletic ice dancers renowned for complex lifts, rapid twizzles and a deep partnership connection built over nearly two decades
Lasting Impact
The most decorated American ice dance team in history, credited with elevating U.S. ice dance to a genuine world power alongside Canada's Virtue and Moir
Career Honours
- 2014 Olympic Gold Medal (first American ice dance gold)
- 2010 Olympic Silver Medal
- 2x World Champion (2011, 2013)
- 6x U.S. National Champion (2009-2014)
American Athletes