Drobiazko & Vanagas (LTU) - 2002 World Figure Skating Championships, Ice Dancing, Free Dance

[ChristineTheHippie]

I felt so bad for this team, they were always undermarked, except for 2000, where they won bronze. They should have won bronze in the Olympics and here, bronze at least. The controversy here, combined with the controversy at the Olympics, was why the old system had to be changed, there was way too much controversy, people may complain about the sport losing its artistry (I don't think it has), but a sport can never afford to lose credibility, which skating was in jeopardy of doing after this.

[Haley452]

After all these years I still seriously wanna smash something everytime I think of this. And after all these years my heart still breaks for them over and over again. This is probably the most riddiculous judging I've seen my entire life. No words.

[Anonnynonny]

@GiselleCarmen

The female commentator in question is Susie Wynne, and the male commentator is Terry Gannon. Together, they were FANTASTIC. I miss this awesome team also. They shouldn't be separated.

[Marta28083]

They had to be world champions in 2002!

[intldawn]

This, unfortunately, is the perfect microcosm of their career--constantly being underscored and cheated out of better results. I can't blame Rita for being so upset and not hiding her disappoint for the benefit of the cameras. There is no way to justify the Israelis beating them in the free dance and moving up to bronze. If there is a silver lining, I'm proud that so many of their competitors recognized the injustice and stood up for their friends.

[ChachouMiaou]

I couldn't agree more. For all it's worth, it pleases me very much to hear the commentators say that they have the best spins (I always felt they had), and that they would have put them in 1st position.

[Anonnynonny]

@intldawn

"If there is a silver lining, I'm proud that so many of their competitors recognized the injustice and stood up for their friends."

Yes, that helped to calm me down a bit.

But I am still pretty bitter over the whole thing.

I suppose I always will be. Absolute travesty!!!!!

D & V = the SEXIEST ice dancers EVER

[intldawn]

@Anonnynonny No arguments here. I will always be very bitter about this and their 5th place finish at the Olympics when two teams ahead of them FELL! I will never understand that. They should have gotten bronze here and at Salt Lake City and I still can find no legitimate reason why they didn't. I feel bad for the Israeli team, too, because it's not their fault. They didn't do anything wrong. This is squarely on the judges. *sigh*

[3Axel1996]

@intldawn There was speculation that Galit's father was involved with trying to bribe and persuade judges to place the Israelis in medal contention.

[intldawn]

@3Axel1996 No kidding? I didn't realize that. Still, judges should know better.

[Kevindl1985]

@3Axel1996 It was more than speculation. Galit's father had just became president of the Isreali skating federation shortly before words. He had some very high up friends in the ISU and their victory was a "congratulations" to her father for his election.

[3Axel1996]

@Kevindl1985 I had to say it's "speculation," because that's what I heard from others as well. I just cannot make any direct accusations of what I do not know for a fact... but thank you for your input.