Margarita Aleksandrovna Drobiazko (; born 21 December 1971) is a Russian retired ice dancer. She began competing for Lithuania in 1992 when she teamed up with Povilas Vanagas. With Vanagas, she 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 Drobiazko began skating at age six – she became interested after seeing children learning to skate at an outdoor rink. She convinced her mother, who wanted her to become a ballerina, to let her try skating. At age 12, she took up ice dancing and was coached first by Natalia Linichuk and then Natalia Dubova. She initially competed with Oleg Granionov for Russia.

Drobiazko was paired with Lithuanian skater Povilas Vanagas by Tatiana Tarasova 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.

Television She appeared in the 1-7 seasons of ice show contest Ice Age.

Personal life Drobiazko was born in Moscow, but lived in Magadan, the Russian far north-east, until the age of six. Since the Olympics require citizenship of the country represented, Drobiazko obtained Lithuanian citizenship in 1993. She has been married to Vanagas since June 2000.

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

On 15 September 2023, Lithuania's president Gitanas Nausėda signed a decree stripping Margarita Drobiazko of her Lithuanian citizenship due to her "public support for the Russian Federation during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine".

Programs (with Povilas Vanagas)

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 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 Rodríguez performed by Orchestra Tango Cafe Jazz medley: Mick's Blessings by The Style Council Moanin' by The Jazz Messengers Watermelon Man by Mongo Santamaría Dropping Bombs on the White House by The Style Council Bram Stoker's Dracula The Brides by Wojciech Kilar 1995–1996 Paso Doble: España Cani Wild at Heart by Angelo Badalamenti 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 Povilas Vanagas)

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.

References

External links

Drobiazko & Vanagas – Official website

Care to Ice Dance? – Drobiazko & Vanagas