SOCHI, Russia — Meryl Davis and Charlie White won the gold medal in ice dance Monday, the first Olympic title in the event for the United States.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada, the 2010 champions, took silver. Russia’s Elena Ilinykh and Nikita Katsalapov captured bronze.

Davis and White won silver in Vancouver, but in the four years since have overtaken the Canadians, their training partners in Detroit.

The Americans scored 116.63 points in the free dance to finish with 195.52, 4.53 ahead of Virtue and Moir.

After a near-flawless performance to “Sheherazade,” Davis rested her head on White’s back in exhausted elation.