February 18, 2014

Despite fierce competition from Canadian and Russian figure skaters, Meryl Davis and Charlie White became the first Americans to win a gold medal in ice dancing. Ice dancing combines skating with ballroom dancing. The two University of Michigan students captured the top prize at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, with their energetic and fluid performance to the music Scheherazade (1888) by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Davis and White had led going into the free dance part of the competition, after the compulsory dance and original dance segments. In all, White and Davis earned the highest point total ever in ice dancing. The two have been skating together for 17 years.

The official flag of the International Olympic Committee displays the Olympic symbol. The symbol consists of five interlocking rings that represent Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. (World Book illustration)