Drobiazko & Vanagas (LTU) - 2002 Salt Lake City, Ice Dancing, Free Dance

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA - 2002 Winter Games, Ice Dancing, Free Dance - Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas of Lithuania placed 5th in the Free Dance to finish in 5th Place overall. However, with both Fusar-Poli & Margaglio and Bourne & Kraatz having fell in their Free Dances, the Lithuanians thought they should have placed ahead of them and should have won the Bronze Medal, since any falls in the Free Dance required a mandatory deduction of 0.1 in the Technical Merit mark. Fusar-Poli & Margaglio should have received a 0.1 deduction, while Bourne & Kraatz should have received a 0.2 deduction. The Lithuanian Skating Federation filed a complaint which was rejected by the ISU. You be the judge.

[@mjdegens8384]

This couple is the reason I fell in love with Ice Dancing. I remember seeing this performance and being mesmerized in 02. Loved their passion and expression of the music. I will never forgive the judges for robbing them of a medal so deserved.

[@arvinreuben5455]

And not just at this competition - at EVERY event they competed at. They are truly phenomenal.

[@user-op2qc6ym5x]

Они такие красивые!!!! На них очень приятно смотреть! Причем всегда!

[@ermionifragkoulidou672]

A fantastic performance, after all these years I watch it with such joy. Such a great skating couple. They should have won silver, they gave it ALL. Politics robbed them of their medal and it is a scandal we will not forget

[@user-id9lk3yb2g]

Они меня просто завораживают.Благодарю за впечатления, очень красиво.

[@xoxolatl]

Still my favourite ice dance couple of all time. And my favourite program by them. Thanks for posting!

[@coldenbluu]

Even though Rita was not on the same level as Povilas, but honestly all of the top teams during the time werr unbalanced (L/A and B/K were just all weak, FP/M had weak male and D/V had weak female), and I still think these two and the French team A/P were relatively well matched than the other pairs. These two were always undermarked, they should have won silver here and gold at worlds that year.

[@ermionifragkoulidou672]

Well said. Povillas was a phenomenal skater. All their performances were innovative and passionate but they were underscored all the time. Back then the federations had great power over results and this is the reason they never got what they really deserved, sometimes they were even shockingly undermined like in 2002 worlds.

[@ezgikoroglu7786]

2024, still think they were robbed

[@timothychow177]

Vanagas looked a like Ryan Gosling?

[@user-kf6zg1pq3u]

Как минимум это серебро на тех Олимпийских Играх. Лобачева и Авербух с этим политическим танцем про 11.09.01 это даже смешно и глупо. Печально,что и в Нагано на мире ничего не изменилось. Одно хорошо,Авербух слава Богу не чемпион тех Игр.

[@hudgensons]

These two are now performing in Sochi while Russian occupants are shelling civilians of a free democratic state of Ukraine...

[@gk891]

I personally thought they should've placed 2nd. I might've even had the Bulgarians in 3rd (but that could be wishful thinking on my part).

[@salome7580]

I've always loved this pair. This free danceis so powerful! I miss them.

[@Unfiltered494]

So it's been 15 years since this event and it still pains me. How this silver medal performance ended up in 5th place is beyond me. And what happened a month later at Worlds was nothing but a disgrace to the sport. By far the most underrated skaters in history. This still breaks my heart.

[@mieketrouw4784]

I agree!

[@ChristineTheHippie]

I feel so bad for them, wonderful team but always underrated. First robbed here, then AGAIN at worlds. So frustrating.

[@crystalwilliams2769]

Their energy passion + speed in this performance simply AMAZING!!!!! The song they picked was the best johnny hallyday!

[@mjdegens8384]

Crystal Williams Yes, Yes, Yes! I fell in love with Hallyday because of them!

[@andane2335]

@@mjdegens8384 ghey are from my country:)

[@vesibeleva1901]

I`ve always loved this team! I would give them a silver! I think after Grishuk/Platov`s time there are only three duets - really masters on the ice - Anissina/Piezerat; Drobiazko/Vanagas and Denkova/Staviski!

[@MusikPiratCH]

I never was a fan of Grishuk/Platov (they didn't deserve Gold in Lillehammer 1994). Like Rahkamo/Kokko Drobiazko/Vanagas weren't credited for their performances - right Silver would have been the true outcome in Salt Lake City 2002!

[@ChristineTheHippie]

I agree with them, I do love Bourne and Kraatz, they fell, so did the Italians, the Lituanians should have placed higher. I would put them in at least bronze, maybe even silver. Jayne Torvill herself said they Rita and Povilas should have medalled. Politics. After the Worlds in 2002, figure skating was in big trouble and it was clear the 6.0 system needed to go, just too many controversies.

[@svetipetkau8025]

Мы вас любим и не забыли!!!!!!!

[@DorEnErnil]

I loved/love this program. They totally got cheated, but I hope they're still proud of this performance.

[@sydneyaustralia100]

Desde luego, merecían haber quedado terceros. Un programa excelente, con buena presentación y buen ejecutado. Deberían haber sido bronce por delante de los italianos y los canadienses.

[@Danfenixunico]

Incluso la Plata. Ya que los rusos aunque bien. Les faltó la pasión. Y claro que fueron beneficiados por los jueces. En el caso de D/V siempre los hicieron menos.

[@MariaDe7]

Beautiful

[@randomsandoz]

This was a great FD and considering what happened during the competition I think they should have won the bronze medal.

[@crystalwilliams2769]

Beautiful! Rest in peace johnny hallyday

[@snmanor2633]

It's really a shame and at the Worlds it only got worse for them. I believe this pair was at their peak this season. They are the ones who should have left Salt Lake City with the bronze.

[@jimmyseraphin7314]

Ils auraient du etre 2eme derriere les francais. Leurs notes m ont toujours fait gerber. Enfoirés de juges!

[@whoskin]

Should have been 2nd in the Free. Judging was even more political then than it is now

[@rafearcher7882]

THIS and also probably the real world champs of Nagano :(

[@rafearcher7882]

Their technique is so terribly underscored, it almost seems criminal - no, it certainly is.

[@lauracento9649]

Sono splendidi

[@ChristineTheHippie]

The Italians fell twice? When did they fall the second time?

[@intldawn]

They were cheated. No two ways about it. FP & M were overscored throughout the entire competition, perhaps getting some credit for being the reigning world champs. Rita and Povilas shouldn't have been in fifth to start with. They should have been third after the original dance and this performance would have kept them there. Theoretically.

[@Julicska]

Ooh, Seth Meyers' looking good. :)