MY (EX) ROOMMATE IS OLYMPIC CHAMPION!

Submitted by tjyoung on

A little context on the thread title:

 

Link

 

Sorry for the spoiler for those who were waiting to watch the replay tonight, but I think that at this point, if you were interested in the Olympic Ice Dancing outcome, then you probably already know.

 

Congrats Charlie and Meryl on 1st place. They've really pushed the envelope in this sport. I have to admit, although I've been good friends with them since I was 9 years old, I never had a true appreciation for what they do until I started training with them in 2005. I know it's an old cliché, but they really do put 110% into everything they do, from on-ice, off-ice, weight training, dance training, diet, etc.

 

A skating coach about 10 years ago once told me "That Charlie White is going to be a champion one day." I looked at her and said, he already is...he's won 3 junior championships in the U.S. already. She said, no...he'll be a World Champion one day. Well, here he and Meryl are. 6-time National Champs, 2-time World Champs, and now, Olympic Champs.

 

Congrats guys.

 

Also congratulations to my other (ex) roommates, Evan Bates and Alex Shibutani, along with their partners, Madison Chock and Maia Shibutani. They finished 8th and 9th today. It was one hell of a time living with them all on Oakland and on Michigan Ave. back in 2009-2010.

 

Also, for those of you who don't know, they all read this blog on the daily (maybe not for the last couple of weeks, though) and Charlie has posted a few times as well. They're the biggest Michigan sports fans you can find out there.

 

 

Go Blue.

 

 

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MGoSoftball

February 17th, 2014 at 4:10 PM ^

for the post and pic.  Congrats to Charlie and Meryl.  True Michigan Men and woMen.  It great to be a Michigan Wolverine.

I am sure DB will find a way to make the Charlie and Meryl Scholarship fund for anyone who at 5 years old, wanted to be an Olympic Athelete.  I cant wait until Appy St. to see them at Half Time.

Go Blue and Bring Gold

Michigasling

February 17th, 2014 at 5:35 PM ^

Brian already posted it on the front page.  But here we're getting it from the authority! 

And Brian left out Evan.  Yes, he graduated in December (you mean he was going to school a few weeks before the Olympics?!?!) and he now skates with a non-Wolverine, but that doesn't diminish his cred, or his talent (and his recovering from an Achilles tendon sliced by his former partner's skate).  Congratulations to all!

aiglick

February 17th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^

Congrats to them. Very nicely done and thanks for sharing. They've achieved so much in so little time after hard work. Good for them and much success in their future endeavors.

 

dahblue

February 17th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^

I saw that the Daily posted on Twitter today that Michigan has more olympic golds than (don't recall exactly) ~65 nations competing in the Winter Games.  Crazy.

rob f

February 17th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^

While internet "SCREAMING" is usually frowned upon, in this case you are completely justified.  I'd probably do it, too, if I had such close connections to an Olympic Medalist.  Especially  GOLD MEDALIST(S) !!!

WhoopinStick

February 17th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^

Congrats to all that made the Olympic team.  Can't wait until they're introduced at a football game so we can show them our appreciation and admiration!

Congrats and Go Blue! 

The Dirty Nil

February 17th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^

I watched them throughout the olympics, and I'm not an expert or anything (this is the first year I've actually watched the event), but they really did perform on a different level than the other competitors. Congrats to them!

JHendo

February 17th, 2014 at 4:28 PM ^

My wife used to figure skate (synchro, so not an Olympic sport...yet) up until she gave it up rather than continuing it in college.  So needless to say, she knew and skated with a lot of these Ann Arbor / Michigan Olympians growing up and has been talking my ear off about how great these skaters are the past couple weeks.  So while I roll my eyes at her everytime she starts up, and I'm sure it will be non-stop tonight too, it's pretty cool that this Michigan connection has some golden hardware to take back home.  Go Blue and Go 'Murica!

JHendo

February 18th, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^

There certainly is a bit a truth in that quasi-prediction in the article you read.  From a pure outsider's perspective listening to my wife and her old skating friends talk about it ad nauseum, it does certainly seem that we can't be too far off from it becoming an Olympic sport.  In the last 4 years alone, it's really picked up some steam towards that direction, and the success of the team element added this year certainly isn't hurting that momentum.

clarkiefromcanada

February 17th, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^

Except for the part where the Canadians finished second (I did not  find this cool). The Canadians also train in Canton, MI.

Congratulations on the Gold.

Gif for the champs

 

 

 

 

bluebyyou

February 17th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^

I am truly delighted for Meryl and Charlie's success.  We should be bursting with pride at what our students accomplish in the classroom and in athletics.  

Winning an Olympic gold medal, a first for the US in figure skating in this event, is a stunning accomplishment achieved by incredible dedication and hard work.

And kudos to the other three ice dancers on the US Olympic team who attend Michigan.

Leaders and best...the University of Michigan.

Bocheezu

February 17th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

they come from a different background than I do, and when I was in college I used to be very judgmental/competitive about that sort of stuff, but they put in the effort and 100% deserve it. 

MGoGrendel

February 17th, 2014 at 4:47 PM ^

Wilton Speight photo bombed me several years ago when I roomed with a future Olympic champion.

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(Upper right corner of the post's picture; I know I've seen that face in a recruiting profile somehwere!)