Zingas/Kolesnik Fan Thread - They Have “It”

[tangerine dream]

New GoFundMe (created one day ago):

Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream​

Donate to Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream, organized by Vadym Kolesnik

Hello all, My name is Vadym Kolesnik, and I am a Ukrainian-born figure skater… Vadym Kolesnik needs your support for Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream

www.gofundme.com

Excerpts from Vadym's heartfelt message:

My name is Vadym Kolesnik, and I am a Ukrainian-born figure skater proudly representing Team USA in ice dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. .... Growing up in Ukraine shaped who I am, both as an athlete and as a person. In recent years, my journey has carried extra weight as my homeland continues to face unimaginable hardship. While I train and compete internationally, my family remains in Ukraine, and being separated from them during such a pivotal moment in my career has been incredibly difficult.​

​

As I prepare for the Olympics, I am facing significant financial challenges. Elite-level training requires extensive resources, including coaching fees, ice time, choreography, travel, and competition expenses. In addition, my greatest personal hope is to be able to bring my family from Ukraine to safely attend the Olympic Games—to finally have them in the stands after years apart, witnessing the dream we’ve all sacrificed for together.​

​

Your support will go directly toward:​

• Coaching and training expenses as I prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics​

• Travel and logistics related to elite international competition​

• Helping my family travel safely from Ukraine to be with me at the Games​

​

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps relieve the financial burden and allows me to focus fully on training, competing, and honoring both the country that raised me and the country I now represent. Thank you for believing in my journey, for supporting Olympic dreams, and for helping turn this once-in-a-lifetime moment into something I can share with my family. Your generosity means more than words can express​

​

With great thanks,​

Vadym​

Thanks for sharing. Posters seemed so shocked that they were going to 4CCs. Well, he is struggling financially and the prize money for first place is $30,000.

 

[Flip Jump]

My mom and I gave him a congratulations on becoming a US citizen card at nationals. We enclosed $50 cash as we know he needs it. We will now be making a larger donation.

 

[PRlady]

Donated, thanks for letting us know.

 

[rachakin]

Thanks for sharing. Posters seemed so shocked that they were going to 4CCs. Well, he is struggling financially and the prize money for first place is $30,000.

Just donated!!!!!

 

[kwanette]

New GoFundMe (created one day ago):

Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream​

Donate to Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream, organized by Vadym Kolesnik

Hello all, My name is Vadym Kolesnik, and I am a Ukrainian-born figure skater… Vadym Kolesnik needs your support for Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream

www.gofundme.com

Excerpts from Vadym's heartfelt message:

My name is Vadym Kolesnik, and I am a Ukrainian-born figure skater proudly representing Team USA in ice dance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. .... Growing up in Ukraine shaped who I am, both as an athlete and as a person. In recent years, my journey has carried extra weight as my homeland continues to face unimaginable hardship. While I train and compete internationally, my family remains in Ukraine, and being separated from them during such a pivotal moment in my career has been incredibly difficult.​

​

As I prepare for the Olympics, I am facing significant financial challenges. Elite-level training requires extensive resources, including coaching fees, ice time, choreography, travel, and competition expenses. In addition, my greatest personal hope is to be able to bring my family from Ukraine to safely attend the Olympic Games—to finally have them in the stands after years apart, witnessing the dream we’ve all sacrificed for together.​

​

Your support will go directly toward:​

• Coaching and training expenses as I prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics​

• Travel and logistics related to elite international competition​

• Helping my family travel safely from Ukraine to be with me at the Games​

​

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps relieve the financial burden and allows me to focus fully on training, competing, and honoring both the country that raised me and the country I now represent. Thank you for believing in my journey, for supporting Olympic dreams, and for helping turn this once-in-a-lifetime moment into something I can share with my family. Your generosity means more than words can express​

​

With great thanks,​

Vadym​

TY for posting this..I gave to the "old" one after Vadym got citizenship..I will make another donation.

 

[tangerine dream]

It would be nice if USFS or another reporter did an article on this. I think a lot of people would be moved to give a few dollars after learning that his greatest hope is to bring his family from Ukraine to Milan to live their dream of the Olympics together.

ETA: Now that I think about it, you'd think NBC could fund his family's travel if only so they can make endless segments about them.

 

[Sylvia]

In case this WOOD TV8 article/video report by Lainey Gerber was not posted before Nationals (Jan. 7; updated Jan. 9, 2026): https://www.woodtv.com/sports/italy...as-and-kolesnik-find-strength-in-partnership/

Emilea's highlights from Nationals, part 1:

Emilea Zingas on Instagram: "We’re going to Milan!! A life long dream realized. I am so grateful to be representing the United States of America at the 2026 Olympic Games. I’ve had this dream since I can remember and I am overwhelmed with joy and g

2,347 likes, 244 comments - emileazingas on January 12, 2026: "We’re going to Milan!! A life long dream realized. I am so grateful to be representing the United States of America at the 2026 Olympic Games. I’ve had this dream since I can remember and I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude...

www.instagram.com

Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTd9V2ADw0k/

Vadym's highlights, part 1:

vadym____kolesnik on Instagram: "Some of the best memories of my life happened last week at US Nationals 2026. A huge thank you and congratulations to our coaching team and everyone who supported us on this journey to Milan. We did it, guys. We made

1,443 likes, 43 comments - vadym____kolesnik on January 12, 2026: "Some of the best memories of my life happened last week at US Nationals 2026. A huge thank you and congratulations to our coaching team and everyone who supported us on this journey to Milan. We did it, guys. We made dreams come...

www.instagram.com

Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTb-q9LDk-i/

 

[Spikefan]

ETA: Now that I think about it, you'd think NBC could fund his family's travel if only so they can make endless segments about them.

This was exactly my thought. Granted, he still needs money for training. But come on NBC, family from Ukraine is way more heart tugging than “look, they are married”. Married Olympians are a dime a dozen. We also need to highlight what is still happening there (of course their overlords might not want that).

 

[ice coverage]

From @teamusa account today:

Built on trust ​

Figure skating duo @vadym____kolesnik and @emileazingas sit down with @apoloohno to reflect on the trust and perspective behind their performances as they head to the #WinterOlympics.​

Watch this week’s episode on Team USA TV at 8pm & 11pm ET, link in bio.​

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTjPhkjDLQN/ (promo post)​

I was able to watch some of the enjoyable interview with Emi and Vadym during the 8:00 pm airing at:

https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/playback/live/7787958841156836117 (Team USA channel)​

(The interview with Emi and Vadym is preceded by a report looking back at Legacy On Ice, narrated by Boitano.)

Note: Peacock says that next airing of "Making Team USA" is scheduled for 10:32 pm ET.

ETA: Sorry, 10:32 pm episode is about short track. Peacock also has an episode at 11:00 pm, which I now get should be the one with Emi and Vadym.​

Peacock apparently is not the only way to watch.

https://www.teamusa.com/tv#How_to_Watch_Team_USA_TV_cs69​

I hope the interview will be archived on Team USA's YouTube playlist for "Making Team USA":

Making Team USA presented by Xfinity, with host Apolo Ohno

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

 

[aprilediv]

Next airing of "Making Team USA" is scheduled for 10:32 pm ET.​

(The interview with Emi and Vadym is preceded by a report looking back on Legacy On Ice.)

I was able to watch some of the enjoyable interview with Emi and Vadym during the 8:00 pm airing at:

https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/playback/live/7787958841156836117​

Peacock apparently is not the only way to watch.

https://www.teamusa.com/tv#How_to_Watch_Team_USA_TV_cs69​

I hope the interview will be archived on Team USA's YouTube playlist for "Making Team USA":

Making Team USA presented by Xfinity, with host Apolo Ohno

Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

www.youtube.com

Thanks! I enjoyed that. It struck me that one of the first things they did when they started their partnership was to study ballroom dancing. I would love to see more of that. I bet they'll kill it.

 

[ice coverage]

From @teamusa account today:

Built on trust ​

Figure skating duo @vadym____kolesnik and @emileazingas sit down with @apoloohno to reflect on the trust and perspective behind their performances as they head to the #WinterOlympics.​

Watch this week’s episode on Team USA TV at 8pm & 11pm ET, link in bio.​

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTjPhkjDLQN/ (promo post)​

Team USA's YouTube channel now has a 21-minute version of Apolo Ohno's interview with Emi and Vadym.
(A somewhat different version from what I saw on Peacock last night.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINppmPan0o&t=360s​

The interview begins at approx. the six-minute mark, after the retrospective on Legacy on Ice (also worth watching).

It was very nice to see an iconic Olympic champion fully engaged with Emi and Vadym.
The interview was conducted remotely, but Apolo easily established rapport with them. Good energy, good questions and answers, and good humor all around as they listened intently to each other.

(Compared to what I saw on Peacock, one of the differences is that the longer YouTube version has additional comments from supportive Apolo about experiences from speed skating and from DWTS that help him relate to Emi and Vadym as fellow athletes and as ice dancers. Additional remarks as well from Emi and Vadym, both of whom are so articulate.
p.s. Happy to say that the YouTube version does not have the Peacock version's frequent/extended interludes for Team USA promos and other stuff.)

 

[Icetalavista]

Potentially Olys placement?
After FB/Ciz, ChoBat, FearGib,GilPoir, GuigFab, but then?

Will be interesting to see how they stack up against Reed/Amb and LopBri

 

[ice coverage]

It would be nice if USFS or another reporter did an article on this. I think a lot of people would be moved to give a few dollars after learning that his greatest hope is to bring his family from Ukraine to Milan to live their dream of the Olympics together. ...

Us Weekly article:

Team USA Ice Dancer Sets Up GoFundMe Amid ‘Significant Financial Challenges’ Ahead of 2026 Olympics

Team USA Ice Dancer Sets Up GoFundMe Amid ‘Financial Challenges’

Vadym Kolesnik, who was named to Team USA earlier this month, is asking for donations before heading to Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics

www.usmagazine.com

(Jan 16)​

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I never had any desire to download TikTok until I saw Emi and Vadym’s videos, and now they’ve become what I look forward to most after a stressful workday Vadym’s GRWM had me I love seeing all the merch they’re getting and they haven’t even left for Milan yet!

 

[Sylvia]

Is this their main account? https://www.tiktok.com/@zingaskolesnik33

 

[tangerine dream]

Us Weekly article:

Team USA Ice Dancer Sets Up GoFundMe Amid ‘Significant Financial Challenges’ Ahead of 2026 Olympics​

​

Team USA Ice Dancer Sets Up GoFundMe Amid ‘Financial Challenges’

Vadym Kolesnik, who was named to Team USA earlier this month, is asking for donations before heading to Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics

www.usmagazine.com

(Jan 16)​

Yay! Thanks for sharing.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Is this their main account? https://www.tiktok.com/@zingaskolesnik33

Yep!

 

[PRlady]

Potentially Olys placement?
After FB/Ciz, ChoBat, FearGib,GilPoir, GuigFab, but then?

Will be interesting to see how they stack up against Reed/Amb and LopBri

Even Top Ten is an accomplishment. I figure they’ll be behind LaLa and LopBri, close to Car/Pon who are looking much better and hopefully ahead of R/A and T/V. I just hope they’re realistic that Oly judging can be very different from GPs.

 

[aprilediv]

I never had any desire to download TikTok until I saw Emi and Vadym’s videos, and now they’ve become what I look forward to most after a stressful workday Vadym’s GRWM had me I love seeing all the merch they’re getting and they haven’t even left for Milan yet!

Seriously, Vadym had me in stitches while talking about how much he loved the "exquisite" and "FANtastic" Lulu haul they got in St Louis. Love that their Tiktok feels spontaneous and uncurated. A far cry from the PR-polished social media of others...

 

[Sylvia]

GFM update as of today 1/19/26 - $16,255 raised of 25K 295 donations:

Donate to Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream, organized by Vadym Kolesnik

Hello all, My name is Vadym Kolesnik, and I am a Ukrainian-born figure skater… Vadym Kolesnik needs your support for Support Vadym’s Olympic Dream

www.gofundme.com

They're off to Beijing for 4CC:

Emilea Zingas on Instagram: "One more stop before Milan, see you soon Beijing 🇨🇳 We are so excited to compete in the Four Continents Championships this week 💪🤞🫶 #roadtomilanocortina2026 #teamusa 📸: @mheaneyphoto @usfigureskating"

792 likes, 28 comments - emileazingas on January 19, 2026: "One more stop before Milan, see you soon Beijing 🇨🇳 We are so excited to compete in the Four Continents Championships this week 💪🤞🫶 #roadtomilanocortina2026 #teamusa 📸: @mheaneyphoto @usfigureskating".

www.instagram.com

 

[Icetalavista]

Will donate to GFM. I do hope the prize money at 4CC is worth the disruption to training. Travel expenses add up. Hope they can earn $$ touring this year.

 

[Sylvia]

"Back The Team" video (Emilea):

Back The Team on Instagram: "Take the risk. “You should always have the courage to take a chance on yourself if you believe and you know you can do something.” - @emileazingas Team USA ice dancers @emileazingas & @vadym____kolesnik are making the

157 likes, 19 comments - backtheteam on January 20, 2026: "Take the risk. “You should always have the courage to take a chance on yourself if you believe and you know you can do something.” - @emileazingas Team USA ice dancers @emileazingas & @vadym____kolesnik are making their Olympic debut...

www.instagram.com

Article with quotes from both:

Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik — Back The Team

Built on trust, fueled by grit, and anchored in belief, Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik ’s Olympic journey is a story of partnership, perseverance, and betting on yourself. The Team USA ice dance duo has a message to pass along to young athletes: have the courage to take a chance on yourself.

backtheteam.org

ETA the link to Emilea's TikTok video 11 hours ago in Beijing: https://www.tiktok.com/@zingaskolesnik33/video/7597689433453759774
Here's the 20-second part where she talks about why they elected to compete at 4CC: https://x.com/ZingnikFanAcc/status/2013861237235368312

 

[Tinycities]

If the team podiums I’m guessing they’ll have to stay for the gala? It’s on the 25th and technically the free dance is over the afternoon of the 23rd.

With the Olympics, those 2 extra days would probably be very beneficial for them.

 

[Sylvia]

If the team podiums I’m guessing they’ll have to stay for the gala?

Or they may be able to leave early if they pay a fine to the ISU?

 

[Tinycities]

Or they may be able to leave early if they pay a fine to the ISU?

Is it just a fine? If so that sounds worth it.
The rule book ( 104, paragraph 17a ) states this:

“
The exhibition at the conclusion of an ISU Event, the Olympic Winter Games and Winter Youth Olympic Games if included in the program of such Games, is part of the same Event. ISU Members, when entering their Skaters, undertake a commitment that their Skaters will take part in such exhibitions.

In the event that such commitment is not complied with, the ISU Member will not permit the Skaters concerned to participate in any kind of event for a period of 60 days following the date of such exhibition. ”

 

[Sylvia]

I doubt the ISU would prevent Z/K from participating in the Olympics... I'm sure a compromise could be reached if needed.

 

[ice coverage]

I am just not one to wring my hands over possible "misfortunes" for favorite skaters.
My take would be that maybe Z/K themselves would have no desire to avoid the Four Continents gala?
They're no dummies. As Sylvia referenced above, Emi said that they elected to compete at Four Continents. And I think that they would have taken the gala into consideration when they were looking ahead to Milan.
Olympic team processing is on Jan 29, per Justin Dillon. If(????) they were to skate in team event, official practices for team event start on Jan 31. Official practices for individual dance competition start on Feb 3. I think Z/K will be fine.

 

[Tinycities]

I am not one to wring my hands over possible "misfortunes" for favorite skaters.
My take would be that maybe Z/K themselves would have no desire to avoid the Four Continents gala?
They're no dummies. As Sylvia referenced above, they elected to compete at Four Continents. And I think they they would have taken the gala into consideration when they were looking ahead to Milan.
Olympic team processing is on Jan 29, per Justin Dillon. If(????) they were to skate in team event, official practices for team event start on Jan 31. Official practices for individual dance competition start on Feb 3. I think Z/K will be fine.

I think they’ll be fine regardless, but if they’re flying back to Michigan before Milan, 2 extra days helps. They posted previously on TikTok that they planned to be in Milan around Jan 29th.

 

[tangerine dream]

I think they’ll be fine regardless, but if they’re flying back to Michigan before Milan, 2 extra days helps. They posted previously on TikTok that they planned to be in Milan around Jan 29th.

I don't see any reason why they would go back to Michigan in between. There are plenty of other Olympic skaters competing at 4CC (Cha, Shaidorov, Miura, Jin, Nakai, Chiba, Shin, Samodelkina, Sui/Han, Nagaoka/Moriguchi, Wang/Liu, Lim/Kwon, Harris/Chan, etc.) and I would expect all of them to go directly to Milan after the competition ends. They'll still get there more than a week before the team event begins should they be chosen to compete in it.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I don't see any reason why they would go back to Michigan in between. There are plenty of other Olympic skaters competing at 4CC (Cha, Shaidorov, Miura, Jin, Nakai, Chiba, Shin, Samodelkina, Sui/Han, Nagaoka/Moriguchi, Wang/Liu, Lim/Kwon, Harris/Chan, etc.) and I would expect all of them to go directly to Milan after the competition ends. They'll still get there more than a week before the team event begins should they be chosen to compete in it.

It didn’t sound like they were packing for both 4CC and the Olympics from their TikTok videos, but I could have interpreted wrong.