Deividas Stagniūnas

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Deividas Stagniūnas
Tobias and Stagniūnas in 2011.
Born (1985-04-28) 28 April 1985 (age 38)
Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Figure skating career
CountryLithuania
Skating clubBaltų ainiai
Began skating1990
Retired2 May 2014

Deividas Stagniūnas (born 28 April 1985) is a Lithuanian former ice dancer. With Isabella Tobias, he is the 2011 Skate America bronze medalist and placed in the top ten at two European Championships. They represented Lithuania at the 2014 Winter Olympics, where Stagniūnas was the flagbearer.

Career[edit]

Early years[edit]

Stagniūnas began skating at age five.[1][2] He moved to the United States at age 15 to skate with a partner.[2]

Early in his career, Stagniūnas was coached by Walter Wielunski and Natalia Dubova, who trained him in ice dancing. They trained in Darien, Illinois, where he lived with his partner, Laura Whipple. He and Whipple won the senior bronze medal at the Lake Placid ice dancing competition, representing Lithuania. In the 2003–2004 season, Stagniūnas began skating with Kayla Nicole Frey. They competed internationally on the junior level and were three-time (2004–2006) Lithuanian silver medalists.[3]

Partnership with Copely[edit]

In 2006, Stagniūnas formed a partnership with American Katherine Copely. They became the 2007 Lithuanian national champions and 2006 and 2007 Golden Spin of Zagreb bronze medalists. The duo qualified an entry for the 2010 Winter Olympics in the ice dancing event when they placed 14th at the 2009 World Championships.[4] According to IOC rules, competitors must have citizenship of the country they are representing; however, Copely's special request for citizenship was denied by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė.[5] The spot was left unfilled. Copely retired from competition due to an injury which was subsequently treated arthroscopically, followed by a complete recovery. She is currently attending medical school in the U.S.[1]

Partnership with Tobias[edit]

In spring 2010, Stagniūnas teamed up with American ice dancer Isabella Tobias.[6] They initially trained under Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva in Canton, Michigan. Tobias/Stagniūnas made their debut at the 2010 Nebelhorn Trophy, where they placed 11th, and won their first international medal, bronze, at the 2010 NRW Trophy. At their first European and World Championships, they placed 12th and 14th, respectively.

Tobias/Stagniūnas won bronze at a Grand Prix event, the 2011 Skate America. In June 2012, they moved from Canton, Michigan to Novi, Michigan, following coach Igor Shpilband.[7] According to IOC rules, Olympic competitors must be citizens of the country they are representing. In order to allow the team to compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Tobias submitted an application for Lithuanian citizenship in October 2012.[8] It was denied on 7 January 2013.[9][10]

Tobias/Stagniūnas withdrew from the 2013 European Championships as a result of Stagniūnas' back problem.[11] By finishing 15th at the 2013 World Championships in London, Ontario, they qualified a spot for Lithuania in the Olympic ice dancing event. Tobias was granted Lithuanian citizenship in December 2013. Tobias/Stagniūnas placed ninth at the 2014 European Championships in January in Budapest, 17th at the 2014 Winter Olympics in February in Sochi, and then 15th at the 2014 World Championships in March in Saitama. On 2 May 2014 Stagniūnas announced his competitive retirement due to recurring injuries.[12]

Programs[edit]

With Tobias[edit]

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2013–14
[13]
  • Foxtrot: A Fine Romance
    by Marilyn Monroe
  • Quickstep: Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friends
    by Marilyn Monroe
2012–13
[1][14]
2011–12
[15]
2010–11
[16]

With Copely[edit]

Season Original dance Free dance
2009–10
[17]
  • Lithuanian Polka
2008–09
[18]
2007–08
[19]
2006–07
[20]
  • Tango
    by Jaime Wilensky
  • Kalinka

Results[edit]

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Tobias[edit]

International[21]
Event 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14
Winter Olympics 17th
World Champ. 14th 18th 15th 15th
European Champ. 12th 9th 9th
GP Skate America 3rd
GP Cup of Russia 5th
Nebelhorn Trophy 11th 5th
Golden Spin 4th
NRW Trophy 3rd
National[21]
Lithuanian Champ. 1st 1st 1st

With Copely[edit]

International[22]
Event 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
World Champ. 23rd 14th 14th
European Champ. 18th 12th 10th
GP Cup of Russia 5th 6th 8th
GP Skate America 8th
Golden Spin 3rd 3rd
Nebelhorn Trophy 6th 3rd
National[22]
Lithuanian Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st

With Frey[edit]

International[23]
Event 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06
World Junior Champ. 19th
JGP Croatia 7th
JGP United States 10th
International Ice Dance Cup 1st
National[23]
Lithuanian Championships 2nd 2nd 2nd

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Flade, Tatjana (August 26, 2012). "Tobias and Stagniunas are ready to challenge". Golden Skate.
  2. ^ a b "Depresiją įveikęs D.Stagniūnas baigęs čiuožėjo karjerą tikisi tapti TV laidų vedėju arba verslininku (interviu su sportininku)" [Skater Stagniūnas has beat depression and aims for a career in television or to become an entrepreneur]. Delfi (in Lithuanian). October 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "Kayla Nicole FREY / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006.
  4. ^ "NEBELHORN TROPHY – Obertsdorf, Germany". Ice-dance.com. Archived from the original on 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  5. ^ "Granting Lithuanian citizenship to Katherine Copely would be in violation of the Constitution". Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania. November 6, 2009. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011.
  6. ^ Elfman, Lois (October 12, 2011). "Tobias, Stagniunas find rhythm in partnership". Icenetwork. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  7. ^ "Lithuanians Tobias, Stagniunas follow Shpilband". Icenetwork. June 14, 2012. Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  8. ^ Augustis, Mindaugas (October 5, 2012). "Į Lietuvą pirmąkart atvykusi šokėja ant ledo I.Tobias prašo prezidentės malonės" [Tobias appealed to the president]. Delfi (in Lithuanian). Augustis, Mindaugas (October 5, 2012). Впервые приехавшая в Литву Тобиас обратилась за милостью к президенту [Tobias appealed to the president]. Delfi (Russian version) (in Russian).
  9. ^ "Lithuania won't clear Isabella Tobias". Associated Press. ESPN. January 7, 2013.
  10. ^ "Lithuanian president denies citizenship to American ice skater". The Baltic Course. January 7, 2013.
  11. ^ Elfman, Lois (January 18, 2013). "Tobias, Stagniunas keep up citizenship fight". IceNetwork.
  12. ^ "Olympic ice skater Stagniūnas ends his professional career". Lithuania Tribune. May 2, 2014. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014.
  13. ^ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013.
  15. ^ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012.
  16. ^ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.
  17. ^ "Katherine COPELY / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012.
  18. ^ "Katherine COPELY / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009.
  19. ^ "Katherine COPELY / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 9, 2008.
  20. ^ "Katherine COPELY / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007.
  21. ^ a b "Competition Results: Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014.
  22. ^ a b "Competition Results: Katherine COPELY / Deividas STAGNIUNAS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Kayla Nicole FREY / Deividas STAGNIUNAS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deividas Stagniūnas.
Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for  Lithuania
Sochi 2014 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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