By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports

Follow Martin Rogers on Twitter at @mrogersyahoo

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Finally Canada owned the podium and in this instance at least, the Americans were happy to let them have it.

As Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir’s hometown heroics came under scrutiny with controversy raging over ice dance’s complicated judging system, the Canadian team’s primary source of support came from south of the border.

“Tessa and Scott did an incredible job,” said Tanith Belbin, who finished fourth with Ben Agosto. “It is very exciting for them and for Canada to win a gold medal at home and there aren’t many people who deserve this more.”

There was somewhat less graciousness from other athletes, including Italy’s Massimo Scali and Russia’s Maxim Shabalin.

“When you compete in your home country the crowd goes crazy and it can help the skaters,” said Scali, who placed fifth with his partner Federica Faiella. “I hope that it does not affect the judges.

“I don’t agree with the system. They [Virtue and Moir] are not real dancers. They are very technical and don’t really ‘dance’ on the ice.”

Bronze medalist Shabalin, who along with partner Oksana Domnina finished third in Monday’s free dance, also questioned the result, but there was nothing but support from Belbin and Agosto, and runners-up Meryl Davis and Charlie White, also Americans.

“The Canadians are our friends and it is an incredible achievement for them to win a gold medal,” White said. “The atmosphere of the crowd was amazing and they reacted to them. They are worthy winners.”

Virtue and Moir captured the hearts of the Pacific Coliseum audience with a sensational performance, which clinched victory by just under six points from Davis and White. (read more at below source)

SOURCE: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/figure_skating/news?slug=ro-icedance022210&prov=yhoo