Meryl Davis & Charlie White

NEW YORK — Meryl Davis and Charlie White recently performed at a figure skating show in Japan. An International Skating Union official they’ve known for years approached them.

“You’re bringing so much more to the ice now after ‘Dancing with the Stars,'” the official said. “You have to come back.”

Click to expand...

White is training his new puppy, Finnegan – “Finn” — and helping set up his wedding with 2006 Olympic ice dance silver medalist Tanith Belbin. Davis is back in school, taking University of Michigan online classes.

Click to expand...

Following the Olympics, White and Davis competed on TV’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Davis, who won the competition, said nearly as many people recognize her for that as for her skating.

“With young people it’s often the Olympics, people recognize me as a skater,” she said. “With middle-aged or older people its usually from ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ especially women.”

Click to expand...

Davis and White continue to train at the Arctic Edge in Canton, where they prepared for the Olympics, but the pressure is gone. "Charlie and I just sort of skate around the ice laughing the whole time," Davis said. "For the most part, we have stayed true to our roots and stayed on the ice, which has been more fun than we expected. When we are home, we are on the ice together, just about every day in Canton."

They are getting ready to perform in the upcoming Stars on Ice tour, which starts Dec.30 in Lake Placid, N.Y. They are no longer being coached by Marina Zoueva, who guided them to Olympic gold, so they are trying to come up with different programs on their own, choreographing themselves.

"We have to push ourselves to keep being creative and interesting," White said.

But this experience could have a long term benefit. It could lead them back to the Olympics after the two announced in June they would sit out the 2014-15 season.

"I think we could (compete again)," White said. "In the past, with ice dance, if you win an Olympics, it's tough to keep going because you have to find new ways of expressing yourself and challenging your own skating. But what's so interesting in the system we are in right now, it is constantly changing. The challenges are inherent in the system. For us, that is something that would make it easier and the reason why we are still considering (competing). On top of that, we have a love of competition. Even now, when we do our show programs, we are constantly pushing ourselves to get all of the edges, to do the lifts. That's always there. So it wouldn't be a difficult transition."

Click to expand...

LisaM said:

^Man am I jealous!

Click to expand...

sabinfire said:

Yes, Happy Birthday Meryl! Jan 1st is the perfect date for a birthday.

I wonder if she is home for her birthday? It's always nice to cross paths with her around town. I had never seen an Olympic gold medal in person until Meryl & Charlie brought them home to Ann Arbor (not that I've ever gone out of my way to see one).

Click to expand...

Q: Speaking of Tanith Belbin, Charlie, you are in the midst of wedding planning. What is the latest with your wedding plans with Tanith?

White: I can tell you it will be in Michigan (laugh). It will be in the end of April.

Q: I am guessing there will be fair representation from the skating community.

White: Yes.

Davis: Yes, I’m wearing my skates!

Q: What about representation from co-stars from your spin on “Dancing With The Stars?”

Davis: Yes, I will be there!

Click to expand...

dorispulaski said:

Meryl & Charlie lit a torch to open US Nationals. They entered the rink in a car. Charlie almost fell getting out of the car...he had shoes on.

Click to expand...

cruzceleste said:

How do you drive a car on ice? Glad Charlie didn´t fall

Click to expand...