Povilas Vanagas

Povilas Vanagas (Lithuanian pronunciation: [ˈpôːvʲɪɫɐs ˈvaːnɐɡɐs]; born 23 July 1970) is a Lithuanian ice dancer. With his wife Margarita Drobiazko, he is the 2000 World bronze medalist, a three-time Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, a two-time European bronze medalist (2000, 2006), the 1999 Skate Canada champion, and competed in five Winter Olympics, finishing as high as 5th.

Povilas Vanagas
Povilas Vanagas in 2009.
Born (1970-07-23) 23 July 1970
Šiauliai, Lithuania
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Figure skating career
Country Lithuania
PartnerMargarita Drobiazko
Skating clubSports School Baltu Ainiai
Began skating1974
Retired2002, 2006
Medal record
Figure skating
Ice dancing
Representing  Lithuania
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2000 NiceIce dancing
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place2006 LyonIce dancing
Bronze medal – third place2000 ViennaIce dancing
Grand Prix Final
Bronze medal – third place2001-2002 KitchenerIce dancing
Bronze medal – third place2000-2001 TokyoIce dancing
Bronze medal – third place1999-2000 LyonIce dancing

Career

Vanagas began skating at age three.[1] His mother, Lilija Vanagiene, was Lithuania's national skating coach.[1][2] Vanagas won six national titles in men's singles.[1] At age 18, he was drafted into the Soviet Union army and sent to Moscow, Russian SFSR.[1] Given a choice between becoming a soldier or skating full-time, Vanagas chose to become an ice dancer.[1]

Tatiana Tarasova paired Vanagas with Russian ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko in Moscow.[1] After the breakup of the Soviet Union, they decided to represent Lithuania. Vanagas said, "It was difficult at the beginning because there was a lot of friction between Russia and Lithuania. Since Rita is Russian, it caused many problems."[1] They moved to Kaunas, Lithuania and began training with Elena Maslennikova.[1] In 1995, they began working also in England with Betty Callaway, Jayne Torvill, and Christopher Dean.[1]

In 1999, Drobiazko and Vanagas began spending time with Elena Tchaikovskaia in Moscow, while continuing to work with Maslennikova in Kaunas.[1] They were also coached by Lilija Vanagiene and Anatoliy Petukhov.[3][4] Drobiazko and Vanagas retired from competition following the 2001–2002 Olympic season, but returned to competition in 2005 to compete at their fifth Olympics.[5] In preparation for the 2005–2006 season, they worked with Maslennikova, Rostislav Sinicyn, Igor Shpilband, Marina Zueva, Gintaras Svistunavicius, and David Liu, in the United States, Germany, Russia, and Lithuania.[5] Drobiazko and Vanagas became the first and only figure skaters to compete at five Olympics. They retired again in 2006 following the World Championships.

Their choreographers included Elena Maslennikova,[1][6] Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean,[1] Elena Tchaikovskaia,[1] Tatiana Pomerantseva,[4] Elena Kholina,[4] Yuri Puzakov,[4] Vasily Kleimenov,[3] and Gintaras Svistunavicius.[5][6]

In the summer of 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vanagas played a role in a ballet Swan Lake on ice with Drobiazko in Sochi that was organized by the Kremlin. On August 10, Lithuania's president Gitanas Nausėda signed a decree stripping off the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas from both skaters.[7]

Personal life

Vanagas is fluent in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, and English.[1] While competing, he was a caregiver for an elderly woman.[1] Vanagas has been married to Drobiazko since June 2000.[6][8]

In the summer of 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Vanagas and Drobiazko played a role in a ballet Swan Lake on ice in Sochi that was organized by former Olympic champion Tatiana Navka. On August 10, 2022, Lithuania's president Gitanas Nausėda signed a decree stripping off the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas from both skaters.[7]

On September 15, 2023, Lithuania's president Gitanas Nausėda signed a decree stripping Povilas Vanagas' wife and professional partner, Margarita Drobiazko, of her Lithuanian citizenship due due to due to her "public support for the Russian federation" during the Ukraine War.[9][10][11][12]

Programs

(with Margarita Drobiazko)

Season Original dance Free dance Exhibition
2006–present
[13]
  • Saudades do Brasil em Portugal
    by Carminho
  • In the Mood For Love (Yumeji's Theme)
    by Shigeru Umebayashi
2005–2006
[6][13]		 Latin:
  • La Playa
    by Miriam Jurado
  • Banca Banca
    by E-Type
The Phantom of the Opera
by Andrew Lloyd Webber
  • The Point of No Return
 Pirates of the Caribbean
by Klaus Badelt
  • The Black Pearl
  • Will And Elizabeth
  • Moonlight Serenade
  • He's a Pirate
2002–2005
[13]
  • Possession
    by Ayman & Hisham
2001–2002
[3][13]		 Spanish:
  • Paso Doble Karida
    by S. Millington, T. Mercer
    Wilo Rose Light Symphony Orchestra
  • Flamenco Tacon
    by Cuadro Flamenco
2000–2001
[13][14]		 Quickstep and Charleston:
  • Yes Sir, That's My Baby
    by Briquet, Kahn & Donaldson
  • Dancing Fool
    by Gary Wilmot

Tango medley:

  • Tanguera
    by Sexteto Mayor
  • Tus Ojos de Cielo
    by Lisandro Adrover
"The Thread of Ariadna"
1999–2000
[1][13]		 Latin:
  • Historia de un Amor
    by Carlos Almaran
  • Ritmo de Bom Bom
    by Jubaba
1998–1999
[13]		 Waltz:
1997–1998
[13]		 Jive: Songs from the Victorious City
by Anne Dudley, Jaz Coleman
  • Habebe
  • Endless Festival
1996–1997
[13]		 Tango: Jazz medley:

Bram Stoker's Dracula

1995–1996
[13]		 Paso Doble:
  • España Cani

Bram Stoker's Dracula

1994–1995
[13]		 Quickstep:
1993–1994
[13]		 Rhumba:
  • Besame Mucho
1992–1993
[13]
  • Waltz
1991–1992
[13]
  • Polka

Competitive highlights

(ice dance with Margarita Drobiazko)

Results[3][6]
International
Event 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2004–05 2005–06
Winter Olympics16th12th8th5th7th
World Championships17th13th9th12th8th10th8th6th3rd5th4th4th
European Championships15th11th11th11th6th8th6th5th3rd4th4th3rd
Grand Prix Final4th3rd3rd3rd
GP Nations/Sparkassen2nd5th5th2nd
GP NHK Trophy6th5th4th2nd3rd2nd2nd
GP Skate America2nd3rd
GP Skate Canada2nd8th4th4th2nd1st
GP Troph. France/Lalique4th3rd3rd3rd
Karl Schäfer Memorial1st
Nebelhorn Trophy2nd3rd2nd
Skate Israel1st1st
Piruetten5th
Winter Universiade2nd
National
Lithuanian Champ.1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st1st
Events marked GP became part of the Champions Series in 1995, renamed Grand Prix in 1998.

References
  1. Mittan, J. Barry (2000) [1995]. "Lithuanian Skaters Finally Achieve Success". Archived from the original on 14 May 2012.
  2. Castellaro, Barbara (14 November 2012). "Un incontro con Margarita Drobiazko e Povilas Vanagas" [A meeting with Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas]. ArtOnIce.it (in Italian).
  3. "Margarita DROBIAZKO / Povilas VANAGAS: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 October 2002.
  4. "Basic Facts". Official website of Margarita Drobiazko & Povilas Vanagas. Archived from the original on 7 July 2010.
  5. Mittan, Barry (15 November 2005). "Lithuania's Drobiazko and Vanagas Return for Fifth Olympics". Skate Today.
  6. "Margarita DROBIAZKO / Povilas VANAGAS: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 August 2006.
  7. "Lithuanian Figure Skaters Lose State Award After Taking Part In Event In Russia". 10 August 2022.
  8. Zverko, Natalia (15 November 2010). Дробязко и Ванагас: если верить прессе, у нас гарем [Drobiazko and Vanagas: If you believe the press, we have a harem] (in Russian). ru.delfi.lt. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
  9. "Lithuania strips citizenship from retired Olympic ice skater for support for Russia".
  10. "President strips Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship".
  11. "Prezidentas atėmė išimties tvarka suteiktą Lietuvos pilietybę iš Drobiazko". tv3.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  12. "Фигуристку Маргариту Дробязко лишили гражданства Литвы. Спортсменка принимает участие в ледовых шоу Татьяны Навки Дробязко пять раз выступала за Литву на Олимпиадах — и 13 раз становилась чемпионкой страны" [The ice skater Margarita Drobiazko has been stripped of Lithuanian citizenship. The athlete is participating in the ice shows of Tatyana Navka | Drobiazko represented Lithuania at the Olympic Games 5 times - and was the champion of Lithuania 13 times]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  13. "Programs". Official website of Margarita Drobiazko & Povilas Vanagas. Archived from the original on 8 July 2010.
  14. "Margarita DROBIAZKO / Povilas VANAGAS: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 April 2001.
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