Isabella Tobias

Isabella Tobias

Tobias and Stagniūnas in 2011
Personal information
Country represented Israel
Former country(ies) represented Georgia, Lithuania
Born (1991-08-23) August 23, 1991
New York City, United States
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Partner Ilia Tkachenko
Former partner Deividas Stagniūnas, Otar Japaridze
Coach Igor Shpilband
Former coach Marina Zueva
Choreographer Igor Shpilband
Former choreographer Marina Zueva
Skating club Baltų ainiai
Training locations Novi, Michigan
Former training locations Canton, Michigan
Began skating 1998
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 160.98
2015 Mordovian Ornament
Short dance 65.28
2015 Mordovian Ornament
Free dance 98.94
2015 Tallinn Trophy

Isabella Tobias (born August 23, 1991) is an American-born Israeli ice dancer. With Deividas Stagniūnas, she 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 in Sochi.

Personal life

Tobias, a New York City native, is the daughter of Stephen Tobias, president and co-founder of I.A. Englander & Co., one of the largest institutional equity derivatives brokers on the American Stock Exchange. After completing high school, she briefly attended Columbia University's School of General Studies.[1] From 1999 to 2007 she attended the George Balanchine School of American Ballet and performed with the New York City Ballet.[2]

In October 2012, Tobias applied for Lithuanian citizenship.[3] In December, she was interviewed by the Citizenship Commission and passed the Lithuanian language test,[4] however, the application was denied by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė on January 7, 2013.[5][6] It was granted on December 5, 2013.[7][8]

Skating career

Early years

Isabella Tobias started skating in 1998 at the age of seven. She took up ice dancing at age 10 and competed with Kurt Lingenfelter on the intermediate level and with James Warren in novice. In 2003, she decided to leave skating to focus on ballet.[2] Tobias returned to skating in September 2007 and teamed up with Otar Japaridze to compete for Georgia.[2] They competed together on the junior level during the 2007–2008 season. They placed 14th at the 2008 World Junior Championships.

Partnership with Stagniūnas

In spring 2010, Tobias teamed up with Lithuanian ice dancer Deividas Stagniūnas.[9] 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.[10] 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.[3] It was denied on January 7, 2013.[5][6]

Tobias/Stagniūnas withdrew from the 2013 European Championships as a result of Stagniūnas' back problem.[4] 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. In early May 2014, Stagniūnas announced his competitive retirement due to recurring injuries.[11]

Partnership with Tkachenko

Tobias and Ilia Tkachenko teamed up in the summer of 2014 and hope to represent Israel for the upcoming 2018 Olympics. They had to sit out the 2014-15 season in order to become eligible to compete for the following season.[12]

They kicked off the 2015-16 season with a second placed finish at 2015 Finlandia Trophy and 2015 Mordovian Ornament.[12]

Programs

With Tkachenko

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2015–2016
[13][14]

With Stagniūnas

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2013–2014
[15]
  • Foxtrot: A Fine Romance
    by Marilyn Monroe
  • Quickstep: Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friends
    by Marilyn Monroe
2012–2013
[16][17]
2011–2012
[18]
2010–2011
[19]

With Japaridze

Season Original dance Free dance
2007–2008
[20]
  • Two Guitars
    performed by Zoltan and his Gypsy Ensemble
  • Dark Eyes
    performed by Bigrock Balalaikas

Results

With Tkachenko for Israel

Results
International[21]
Event 2015–16
European Champ. 10th
CS Finlandia Trophy 2nd
CS Mordovian Ornament 2nd
CS Tallinn Trophy 1st
CS = Challenger Series

With Stagniūnas for Lithuania

Results[22]
International
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 of Zagreb 4th
NRW Trophy 3rd
National
Lithuanian Champ. 1st
GP = Grand Prix

With Japaridze for Georgia

Results[23]
International
Event 2007–2008
World Junior Championships 14th
Junior Grand Prix, Germany 7th
Junior Grand Prix, Great Britain 6th

References

  1. ↑ http://gs.columbia.edu/news-press?article=family-affair-father-daughter-duo-take-ivy-league-2009-08-13
  2. 1 2 3 Mittan, Barry (August 3, 2008). "Georgia on Their Minds". SkateToday.
  3. 1 2 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).
  4. 1 2 Elfman, Lois (January 18, 2013). "Tobias, Stagniunas keep up citizenship fight". IceNetwork.
  5. 1 2 "Lithuania won't clear Isabella Tobias". Associated Press (ESPN). January 7, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Lithuanian president denies citizenship to American ice skater". The Baltic Course. January 7, 2013.
  7. ↑ Ištikimybę Lietuvai prisiekusi I. Tobias – ekstazėje (čiuožėjų komentarai, du fotoalbumai) (Lithuanian)
  8. ↑ I. Tobias: atstovauti JAV būtų didelė garbė, bet čiuožti už Lietuvą – ne mažiau garbinga (Lithuanian)
  9. ↑ Elfman, Lois (October 12, 2011). "Tobias, Stagniunas find rhythm in partnership". Icenetwork. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Lithuanians Tobias, Stagniunas follow Shpilband". Icenetwork. June 14, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Olympic ice skater Stagniūnas ends his professional career". Lithuania Tribune. May 2, 2014.
  12. 1 2 Flade, Tatjana (26 October 2015). "Tobias and Tkachenko seize second chance". Golden Skate.
  13. ↑ Tobias, Isabella; Tkachenko, Ilya (March 14, 2015). "Programs". Facebook of Isabella Tobias & Ilya Tkachenko. Retrieved May 16, 2015. line feed character in |work= at position 13 (help)
  14. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Ilia TKACHENKO: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 27, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013.
  17. ↑ Flade, Tatjana (August 26, 2012). "Tobias and Stagniunas are ready to challenge". Golden Skate.
  18. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Otar JAPARIDZE: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 30, 2009.
  21. ↑ "Competition Results: Isabella TOBIAS / Ilia TKACHENKO". International Skating Union.
  22. ↑ "Competition Results: Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Competition Results: Isabella TOBIAS / Otar JAPARIDZE". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 15, 2012.

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