Huh? Why so? Because of jealousy and ice dance vindictiveness bts? IMO, I feel less respect for Ben Agosto for the way he commented in such a snubby, negative fashion at 2025 U.S. Nationals when Neset/ Markelov were in the kiss 'n cry. It's not Agosto's business nor anyone else's business when two young people personally unknown and unrelated to us decide to get married. Neset's parents fully approved her getting married at 17. And from all evidence, Leah & Artem are very much in love. Frankly, it makes me very suspicious of Ben's motivations. While Ben himself is based at WASA in Colorado, he was formerly Tanith Belbin's ice dance partner. Thus, his gossipy comment targeting Leah & Artem while they sat in the kiss n' cry, IMO smacks of trying to cast aspersions on talented N/M for the purposes of harming them in the judges' minds, while hoping to give further advantage to their rivals in the MIDA camp. If this was not Ben's intention, he still comes off as a snobby, feckless gossip, and not a good or fair commentator.
I recall that when they were juniors, Leah & Artem were interviewed by GS. Artem spoke about having moved in with Leah and her family when he first came to the U.S. He said he fully had plans to move out on his own when he could. But, as it turned out, they all got along so well that he was embraced by her family and they all felt comfortable and happy about him continuing to live with them. His family later met her family, too, and they all get along well. I think that's wonderful. Family love and support means a lot.
Clearly, Artem & Leah ended up falling in love, which is surely the main reason why they married so young. The fact it also helps to gain U.S. citizenship faster probably had some bearing on why they married sooner than later. But I don't think they decided to marry just for citizenship reasons. I'm sure they married because they are in love and want to be together forever. Is there a 'taint' or 'stigma' on other teams like Efimova/ Mitrofanov and Lauriault/ Le Gac because getting married helped one of the partners to gain citizenship faster? There shouldn't be. I believe both of those couples fell in love, too, which was surely their main reason for getting married. Anyone fixated on Leah's age has a problem with being negative and judgmental. Such attitudes do not bode well for judgemental people's personal karma.
A career partnership in figure skating will not last as long as a committed, sincere marriage union. Bystander fans and figure skating officials need to concern themselves with their own personal affairs and try to avoid being holier-than-thou to the point of sitting in judgement on a talented and accomplished young, married ice dance team. Fortunately, I doubt that Neset/ Markelov are worrying themselves about petty gossip and nasty gossipers. They are clearly working hard, having fun, and seem fully and positively engaged in building their promising career.
agree.. thank you!
I love all of these junior teams. 
