Figure Skating: Georgian ice dancer Diana Davis opens up about her struggles with hearing loss
The Georgian Olympian Diana Davis recently decided to pivot from the typical flow of choreography videos, program clips, and lifestyle photos to address a deeply personal topic. In a heartfelt social media post on Friday, December 12, Davis opened up about her journey with a hidden disability ahead of the upcoming Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
“I’ve been wanting to talk about a personal issue for a long time, one very few people know about,” she disclosed, revealing that she has bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of grade 3. Davis elaborated on her condition, explaining its significant impact on speech clarity and overall hearing. This debilitating ailment began when she was just two years old, following what she described as an “incorrect dosage of antibiotics.”
The challenges prompted a drastic shift in her childhood behavior: “I became a completely different child – I stopped talking, stopped responding to things around me, and became quiet and withdrawn,” she shared. Her experience emphasizes the complexity of living with hearing loss, as it’s not just a matter of sound, but also affects cognitive processing. “When you live with something like this, your brain works differently: information reaches you later than it does for most people,” Davis remarked.
Despite these challenges, Diana continues to perform alongside her longtime partner and husband, Gleb Smolkin. “I can hear music well (except for certain frequencies), but I often can’t understand the words,” she explained. While she may struggle with the clarity of lyrics, she maintains an emotional connection to the music; “I can hear the intonation and feel the emotion.”
This unprecedented openness about her struggles was not something she initially planned to share, but as the 22-year-old began to realize the power of her public platform, she chose to break her silence. “I want people who have the same condition not to feel ashamed or withdraw into themselves,” Davis asserted. Her goal is clear: inspire those facing similar issues to persist in their pursuits regardless of limitations.
Davis’s post quickly gained traction, sparking mass support across the figure skating community. Olympians such as Madison Chock, Donovan Carrillo, and Tim Koleto showered her with encouragement, while Lithuania’s Allison Reed celebrated her spirit by saying, “You are perfect and gorgeous in every way!!” Davis has not just shared her story; she’s become a beacon of hope for many in the sports community.
