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, New York, United States
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Partner Ilia Tkachenko
Former partner Deividas Stagniūnas, Otar Japaridze
Coach Igor Shpilband, Adrienne Lenda
Former coach Marina Zueva
Choreographer Igor Shpilband
Former choreographer Marina Zueva
Skating club Israel ISF
Former skating club Baltų ainiai
Training locations Novi, Michigan
Former training locations Canton, Michigan
Began skating 1998
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 177.80
2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
Short dance 71.35
2016 CS Tallinn Trophy
Free dance 106.45
2016 CS Tallinn Trophy

Isabella Tobias (born August 23, 1991) is an American-born Israeli ice dancer who competes with Ilia Tkachenko. Together they have won four medals on the ISU Challenger Series.

Earlier in her career, Tobias skated with Otar Japaridze for Georgia and with Deividas Stagniūnas for Lithuania. With Stagniūnas, she won the bronze medal at the 2011 Skate America, placed in the top ten at two European Championships, and represented Lithuania at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Personal life

Isabella Tobias was born August 23, 1991 in New York City.[1] Her family is Jewish.[2] She 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.[3] From 1999 to 2007 she attended the George Balanchine School of American Ballet and performed with the New York City Ballet.[4]

In October 2012, Tobias applied for Lithuanian citizenship.[5] In December, she was interviewed by the Citizenship Commission and passed the Lithuanian language test,[6] however, the application was denied by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė on January 7, 2013.[7][8] It was granted on December 5, 2013.[9][10]

Early career

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.[4]

Tobias returned to skating in September 2007 and teamed up with Otar Japaridze to compete for Georgia.[4] They appeared together on the junior level during the 2007–08 season, placing 14th at the 2008 World Junior Championships.

Partnership with Stagniūnas

In spring 2010, Tobias teamed up with Lithuanian ice dancer Deividas Stagniūnas.[11] They initially trained under Igor Shpilband and Marina Zueva in Canton, Michigan.

2010–11 season

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.

2011–12 season

Tobias/Stagniūnas won bronze at a Grand Prix event, the 2011 Skate America. They finished 9th at the 2012 European Championships and 18th at the 2012 World Championships.

2012–13 season

In June 2012, Tobias/Stagniūnas moved from Canton, Michigan to Novi, Michigan, following coach Igor Shpilband.[12] 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.[5] It was denied on January 7, 2013.[7][8]

Tobias/Stagniūnas withdrew from the 2013 European Championships as a result of Stagniūnas' back problem.[6] By finishing 15th at the 2013 World Championships in London, Ontario, they qualified a spot for Lithuania in the Olympic ice dancing event.

2013–14 season

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.[13]

Partnership with Tkachenko

Tobias and Ilia Tkachenko teamed up in the summer of 2014 to represent Israel. They had skated together for six months in 2008.[2] The two sat out the 2014–15 season in order to become eligible to compete for the following season.[14] They are coached by Igor Shpilband and Adrienne Lenda in Novi, Michigan.[1]

2015–16 season

Tobias/Tkachenko began the 2015–16 season on the Challenger Series (CS), winning silver medals at the Finlandia Trophy and Mordovian Ornament.[14] They placed 10th at the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, and 12th at the 2016 World Championships in Boston, United States.

2016–17 season

Tobias/Tkachenko ranked 4th at the 2016 CS Autumn Classic International in Canada before making their Grand Prix debut as a team. After placing 6th at the 2016 Skate America and 5th at the 2016 Trophée de France, they won silver behind Elena Ilinykh / Ruslan Zhiganshin at the 2016 CS Tallinn Trophy.

The two placed 12th at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Due to their result, Israel qualified a spot in the ice dancing event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Programs

With Tkachenko

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2016–17
[1]
2015–16
[15][16]

With Stagniūnas

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2013–14
[17]
  • Foxtrot: A Fine Romance
    by Marilyn Monroe
  • Quickstep: Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friends
    by Marilyn Monroe
2012–13
[18][19]
2011–12
[20]
2010–11
[21]

With Japaridze

Season Original dance Free dance
2007–08
[22]
  • Two Guitars
    performed by Zoltan and his Gypsy Ensemble
  • Dark Eyes
    performed by Bigrock Balalaikas

Results

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Tkachenko for Israel

International[23]
Event 2015–16 2016–17
World Champ. 12th 12th
European Champ. 10th 4th
GP Skate America 6th
GP Trophée de France 5th
CS Autumn Classic 4th
CS Finlandia Trophy 2nd
CS Mordovian Ornament 2nd
CS Tallinn Trophy 1st 2nd
Lake Placid IDI 1st
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew

With Stagniūnas for Lithuania

International[24]
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[24]
Lithuanian Champ. 1st 1st 1st

With Japaridze for Georgia

International[25]
Event 2007–08
World Junior Championships 14th
JGP Germany 7th
JGP United Kingdom 6th

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Isabella TOBIAS / Ilia TKACHENKO: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 23, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Yofis, Andrey (15 January 2017). "Isabella Tobias and Ilia Tkachenko: "We always push ourselves"". Absolute Skating.
  3. ↑ http://gs.columbia.edu/news-press?article=family-affair-father-daughter-duo-take-ivy-league-2009-08-13
  4. 1 2 3 Mittan, Barry (August 3, 2008). "Georgia on Their Minds". SkateToday.
  5. 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).
  6. 1 2 Elfman, Lois (January 18, 2013). "Tobias, Stagniunas keep up citizenship fight". IceNetwork.com.
  7. 1 2 "Lithuania won't clear Isabella Tobias". Associated Press. ESPN. January 7, 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Lithuanian president denies citizenship to American ice skater". The Baltic Course. January 7, 2013.
  9. ↑ Ištikimybę Lietuvai prisiekusi I. Tobias – ekstazėje (čiuožėjų komentarai, du fotoalbumai) (in Lithuanian)
  10. ↑ I. Tobias: atstovauti JAV būtų didelė garbė, bet čiuožti už Lietuvą – ne mažiau garbinga (in Lithuanian)
  11. ↑ Elfman, Lois (October 12, 2011). "Tobias, Stagniunas find rhythm in partnership". IceNetwork.com. Retrieved October 12, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Lithuanians Tobias, Stagniunas follow Shpilband". Icenetwork. June 14, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Olympic ice skater Stagniūnas ends his professional career". Lithuania Tribune. May 2, 2014.
  14. 1 2 Flade, Tatjana (October 26, 2015). "Tobias and Tkachenko seize second chance". Golden Skate.
  15. ↑ Tobias, Isabella; Tkachenko, Ilya (March 14, 2015). "Programs". Facebook of Isabella Tobias & Ilya Tkachenko. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Ilia TKACHENKO: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 27, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013.
  19. ↑ Flade, Tatjana (August 26, 2012). "Tobias and Stagniunas are ready to challenge". Golden Skate.
  20. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 27, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.
  22. ↑ "Isabella TOBIAS / Otar JAPARIDZE: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008.
  23. ↑ "Competition Results: Isabella TOBIAS / Ilia TKACHENKO". International Skating Union.
  24. 1 2 "Competition Results: Isabella TOBIAS / Deividas STAGNIUNAS". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Competition Results: Isabella TOBIAS / Otar JAPARIDZE". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 16, 2012.
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