Winter Olympics 2026: Ice Dance Breakout Stars Emilea Zingas/Vadym Kolesnik Vow to “Go for Gold” in Four Years
Eight months ago, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik had one dream: to compete in the Olympic Games. Not only did they achieve that, but they also amazed the audience by finishing fifth in the intense competition at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Reflecting on their unexpected status as breakout stars, Zingas, 23, remarked, “If you told me we would be here, I wouldn’t believe it. This moment was near impossible but became our reality.” The duo made history by being the only Olympic debutantes to rank among the top five teams at this event, simultaneously becoming the youngest competitors to finish in the top ten.
Zingas and Kolesnik, both seasoned in figure skating circles, only began their partnership in 2022. Before the winter season of 2026, their crowning achievement was a respectable fourth place at the 2024 Four Continents Championships. However, Olympic fever elevated their performances during the Grand Prix season, culminating in personal bests at the Olympic venue.
On February 11, they achieved their all-time high score of 206.72, including an emotional performance that garnered an exhilarating reaction from the crowd. “When we heard them scream at the end, I thought, ‘This is it, let’s go!’ ” Zingas exclaimed, capturing the surge of excitement both could feel in the arena.
As cheers from American fans filled the stands, Kolesnik’s heart was also full. His family, having traveled from Kharkiv through a determined fundraising effort, provided immense emotional support. “Seeing them here meant everything to me, and it contributed greatly to my performance,” he shared.
Despite their success in Milano Cortina, the ice dance duo believes this is just the beginning. “Our journey is far from over,” Kolesnik affirmed, with Zingas adding, “We’re striving for gold. You heard it here first!” With determination in their eyes, the pair is gearing up for their next four years of competition, leaving the world eager to see their rise in professional figure skating.
