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

Nagano, JAPAN - 2002 World Figure Skating Championships, Ice Dancing, Free Dance - Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas of Lithuania were stunned and upset when they were placed in 4th in this dance which then dropped them from 3rd to 4th Place overall. The Lithuanian Skating Federation would file a protest which was denied by the ISU. Ironically, the Lithuanians tend to be a favorite with the judges from North American and Western Europe. When you look at this panel of judges, you knew they would be scored irrationally. Because of this snub, 38 of the ice dancers signed a petition protesting the results and had it delivered to the referees of the event. This would be the last straw to break the camel's back with this beloved 6.0 scoring system, and a new interim scoring system would be introduced next season, leading to the implementation of the IJS system, that we know of today, in 2004.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Drobiazko
• Vanagas
• 2002
• figure
• skating

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[intldawn]

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

[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]

@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*

[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

[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!