# Povilas Vanagas

Povilas Vanagas (Lithuanian pronunciation:; 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.

## Career

Vanagas began skating at age three. His mother, Lilija Vanagiene, was Lithuania's national skating coach. Vanagas won six national titles in men's singles. At age 18, he was drafted into the Soviet Union army and sent to Moscow, Russian SFSR. Given a choice between becoming a soldier or skating full-time, Vanagas chose to become an ice dancer.
Tatiana Tarasova paired Vanagas with Russian ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko in Moscow. 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." They moved to Kaunas, Lithuania and began training with Elena Maslennikova. In 1995, they began working also in England with Betty Callaway, Jayne Torvill, and Christopher Dean.
In 1999, Drobiazko and Vanagas began spending time with Elena Tchaikovskaia in Moscow, while continuing to work with Maslennikova in Kaunas. They were also coached by Lilija Vanagiene and Anatoliy Petukhov. Drobiazko and Vanagas retired from competition following the 2001–2002 Olympic season, but returned to competition in 2005 to compete at their fifth Olympics. 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. 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, Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, Elena Tchaikovskaia, Tatiana Pomerantseva, Elena Kholina, Yuri Puzakov, Vasily Kleimenov, and Gintaras Svistunavicius.
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.
He appeared in the first seven seasons of ice show contest Ice Age.

## Personal life

Vanagas is fluent in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish, and English. While competing, he was a caregiver for an elderly woman. Vanagas has been married to Drobiazko since June 2000.
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.
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 to her "public support for the Russian federation" during its invasion of Ukraine.

## Programs

(with Margarita Drobiazko)
| Season | Original dance | Free dance | Exhibition |
| 2006–present | | | Saudades do Brasil em Portugal by Carminho Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven In the Mood For Love (Yumeji's Theme) by Shigeru Umebayashi Valse Triste by Jean Sibelius Exogenesis, part 2 by Muse Moon River by Henry Mancini Je Suis Malade by Dalida Belyi Kon ("White Horse") by Alexander Malinin Yeah by Usher Let Me Fall by Josh Groban Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona Hey You by Pink Floyd The Matrix Revolutions by Don Davis |
| 2005–2006 | 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 | | | The Shadows of the Storm by Maxime Rodriguez Poeta en la Mar by Vicente Amigo My Baby by LeAnn Rimes Possession by Ayman & Hisham |
| 2001–2002 | Spanish: Paso Doble Karida by S. Millington, T. Mercer Wilo Rose Light Symphony Orchestra Flamenco Tacon by Cuadro Flamenco | Quelques Cris by Johnny Hallyday | Sang Pour Sang by Johnny Hallyday |
| 2000–2001 | Quickstep and Charleston: Yes Sir, That's My Baby by Briquet, Kahn & Donaldson Dancing Fool by Gary Wilmot | Spente Le Stelle by Emma Shapplin Tango medley: Tanguera by Sexteto Mayor Tus Ojos de Cielo by Lisandro Adrover | "The Thread of Ariadna" Adagio (var. 1990) by Eleni Karaindrou |
| 1999–2000 | Latin: Historia de un Amor by Carlos Almaran Ritmo de Bom Bom by Jubaba | Spente Le Stelle by Emma Shapplin | Torquay (From Dusk Till Dawn) by George Tomsco, The Leftovers |
| 1998–1999 | Waltz: Valse Triste by Jean Sibelius | Sunrise at Alcatraz by Deep Forest | Torquay (From Dusk Till Dawn) by George Tomsco, The Leftovers |
| 1997–1998 | Jive: Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis | Songs from the Victorious City by Anne Dudley, Jaz Coleman Habebe Endless Festival | |
| 1996–1997 | Tango: La cumparsita by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez performed by Orchestra Tango Cafe | Jazz medley: Mick's Blessings by The Style Council Moanin' by Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers Watermelon Man by Mongo Santamaria Dropping Bombs on the White House by The Style Council | Bram Stoker's Dracula The Brides by Anton Coppola |
| 1995–1996 | Paso Doble: España Cani | Wild at Heart by Angelo Badalamenti | Bram Stoker's Dracula The Brides by Anton Coppola |
| 1994–1995 | Quickstep: Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima | Stepping Out Soapdish Vamos A Bailar by Gipsy Kings | Fantasia by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart I Put a Spell on You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins |
| 1993–1994 | Rhumba: Besame Mucho | Happy Feet by Christopher Gunning La Vie en Rose by Louis Armstrong, Édith Piaf | |
| 1992–1993 | Waltz | Tango by Astor Piazzolla | |
| 1991–1992 | Polka | Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev | |

## Competitive highlights

(ice dance with Margarita Drobiazko)
Results :
| 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 Olympics | 16th | | 12th | | | | 8th | | | | 5th | | 7th |
| World Championships | 17th | 13th | 9th | 12th | 8th | 10th | 8th | 6th | 3rd | 5th | 4th | | 4th |
| European Championships | 15th | 11th | 11th | 11th | 6th | 8th | 6th | 5th | 3rd | 4th | 4th | | 3rd |
| Grand Prix Final | | | | | | | | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | | |
| GP Nations/Sparkassen | | | | 2nd | 5th | 5th | | | | 2nd | | | |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | 6th | 5th | 4th | | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | | |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 3rd | | |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | 2nd | 8th | 4th | 4th | 2nd | 1st | | | | |
| GP Troph. France/Lalique | | | | 4th | | | | 3rd | 3rd | | 3rd | | |
| Karl Schäfer Memorial | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st |
| Nebelhorn Trophy | | 2nd | 3rd | | | | | | | | | | 2nd |
| Skate Israel | | | | | 1st | 1st | | | | | | | |
| Piruetten | | 5th | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Winter Universiade | | 2nd | | | | | | | | | | | |
| National ||||||||||||||
| Lithuanian Champ. | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| Events marked GP became part of the Champions Series in 1995, renamed Grand Prix in 1998. ||||||||||||||