The Fall of Maurizio Margaglio and Barbara Fusar Poli at the 2002 Winter Olympics

If you were a fan of the Italian ice dancers Maurizio Margaglio and Barbara Fusar Poli, you probably know they were one of the most successful pairs in their country’s history. The duo has won numerous national championships in their native land, and they also performed well at international level competitions. In fact, they were the first Italians to win a World title in any discipline.

In addition to winning the title of world champions, they took home several Grand Prix medals in their first few years of competition. Their success attained through years of hard work and dedication was rewarded with a bronze medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was their third medal at the Olympics. However, the couple was not the only pair to make it to the podium. They were joined in the fold by local favorites Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who were helped by a glut of falling skaters.

The competition was an enthralling affair, as the top five pairs were all vying for a gold medal. A number of notable falls were on display, including the ones of the two Americans who finished last. Among the contenders were Tatiana Navka and Roman Kostomarov, who performed the most impressive rhumba, and Patrice Lauzon and Marie-France Dubreuil, who fell on their way to the free skate. One of the most famous falls of all, however, was the one involving a fellow Italian.

There was a moment during their tussle with the Belarusian team of Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas that had the local crowd chanting “Italia! Italia!” after a particularly egregious tumble. Although the fall didn’t lead to any real damage, the incident did lead to a protest from the Lithuanian team.

However, the fall involving the Fusar-Poli-Margaglio duo did show off some of the newer features of the Olympic ice skating arena. For example, it was the first time the event was held under a standardized scoring system, and it marked the debut of the gif-worthy “Kiss and Cry” section, which is a large circular rink at the center of the arena where spectators can look out on the skating rink. This section is designed to give viewers a quick glimpse at the action, and it’s a nice perk if you’re a fan of figure skating.

The other major highlight was the new scoreboard based scoring system. The system was not only able to score the newest and shizziest moves, it was able to detect when a performer was attempting a small-but-smart feat. Specifically, the “Kiss and Cry” area displayed a special scoreboard to indicate when a skater was attempting a dazzling and albeit unorthodox move. As a result, the competition was a bit more exciting, and the audience was treated to some of the most exciting ice dancing of 2006. With the scoreboard showing its worth and the competitors out of the arena, the duo of Maurizio Margaglio and his partner, Barbara Fusar Poli, were able to claim the top spot in the ice dancing competition.