2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics - Figure Skating Qualification

[Karen-W]

From Camille Kovalev's Instagram - confirmation of what we've known would happen since early September.

Instagram

Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

www.instagram.com

Awesome! And that opens up 2 more additional athlete quota spots for the team event which will be filled by Poland's ice dancers.

 

[Karen-W]

Poland has confirmed they received the 2 additional athlete quota spots freed up by France and will be sending Sofiia Dovhal & Wiktor Kulesza for the team event!

Instagram

Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

www.instagram.com

 

[barbk]

Awesome! And that opens up 2 more additional athlete quota spots for the team event which will be filled by Poland's ice dancers.

I'm confused (nothing new). Why does France sending them to pairs open up 2 slots for Poland?

 

[Sylvia]

Poland has confirmed they received the 2 additional athlete quota spots freed up by France and will be sending Sofiia Dovhal & Wiktor Kulesza for the team event!

Link to their post within the past hour: https://www.instagram.com/p/DT-q6pFFwKJ/

Historic moment - Poland will display its full team during the XXXV Winter Olympics
...
Katię Kurakową [Katia Kurakova]
Wowę Samojłowa [Vladimir Samoilov]
Julia Szczecinina and Michał Woźniaka [Ioulia Chtchetinina & Michal Wozniak]
Sofiję Dowhal i Wiktora Kuleszę [Sofiia Dovhal (born in UKR) & Wiktor Kulesza]

 

[Karen-W]

I'm confused (nothing new). Why does France sending them to pairs open up 2 slots for Poland?

Because France was using 2 of the additional athlete quota spots for the team event until Uzbekistan officially relinquished the spot that Geynish/Chigirev earned in pairs at Worlds last year. Once Uzbekistan released their spot, it went to France who was 1st alternate for the pairs spot. And once France had the pairs spot, they no longer needed the 2 additional athlete quota spots for the team event. Korea doesn't have a pairs team, so they are unable to use the newly released additional athlete quota spots, but Poland does have a dance team, so they are now using those spots in order to field a complete team for the team event.

 

[her grace]

I'm confused (nothing new). Why does France sending them to pairs open up 2 slots for Poland?

France was using 2 additional athlete quota spots solely for the team event. Since the Kovalevs have bumped up to real competitors in the pairs event (and they will also still do the team event), there are now 2 additional quota spots available solely for the team event. Poland was next in line to receive those.

 

[Andrea82]

Official entries (and substitutes for those who named them)

Olympic Winter Games Figure Skating

Find all the information about Figure Skating in the upcoming Olympic Winter Games to be held in Milano Cortina, Italy.

isu-skating.com

 

[Sylvia]

Figure Skating: Who's qualified? (30 Jan 2026): https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/news/figure-skating-whos-qualified/

Making history in Milan
Daria Danilova & Michel Tsiba are the first Pair Skaters to represent the Netherlands on Olympic ice, while Milla Ruud Reitan & Nikolaj Majorov will become the first couple to compete for Sweden in the Ice Dance at the Games. Majorov competed in singles in Beijing in 2022 and is now the first skater to compete in Singles and Ice Dance at the Olympic Winter Games.
Meda Variakojyte is the first Lithuanian Single Skater in the Olympic Figure Skating event, with Lithuania previously only having representation in the Ice Dance. Maria Pavlova & Alexei Sviatchenko are the first Hungarian Pair Skaters to compete at the Olympic Winter Games in 70 years, while Yu-Hsiang Li is the first skater from Chinese Taipei to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games since 1998.

Countries at Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

Country / Number of Participants
USA 16
Canada 12
Japan 12
France 9
Italy 9
Great Britain 8
P.R. China 6
Georgia 6
Germany 6
Republic of Korea 6
Poland 6
Spain 5
Australia 4
Czechia 4
AIN 3
Finland 3
Lithuania 3
Switzerland 3
Sweden 3
Armenia 2
Belgium 2
Estonia 2
Hungary 2
Kazakhstan 2
Latvia 2
Netherlands 2
Austria 1
Azerbaijan 1
Bulgaria 1
Israel 1
Mexico 1
Romania 1
Slovakia 1
Chinese Taipei 1
Ukraine 1

Total participants 147

 

[MsZem]

Majorov competed in singles in Beijing in 2022 and is now the first skater to compete in Singles and Ice Dance at the Olympic Winter Games.

It should have been Takahashi!!!

But good luck to Majorov and to all the skaters who'll be "firsts" in Milano-Cortina

 

[Karen-W]

Two more figure skaters will be flag bearers!

Luka Berulava & Diana Davis have been selected as the opening ceremony flag bearers for Georgia.

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[barbk]

Two more figure skaters will be flag bearers!

Isn't Davis going to do the Team event? How's that going to work?

 

[kwanfan1818]

All of the Georgian skaters have to do both segments of the Team Event. There is only one GEO entry per discipline.

 

[Vagabond]

Isn't Davis going to do the Team event? How's that going to work?

By having them at different times. The skating ends several hours before the ceremony.

 

[barbk]

By having them at different times. The skating ends several hours before the ceremony.

Yes, but...in past Olypics, the teams had to line up long before the ceremony began. Like, hours before.

 

[Karen-W]

Yes, but...in past Olypics, the teams had to line up long before the ceremony began. Like, hours before.

The TE Day 1 is scheduled to end approximately 4.5 hours before the Opening Ceremony starts.

 

[Andrea82]

All the judges nominated by country


Australia (drawn for Pairs and Ice Dance panels)
Leah Bates * Olympic debut
Patricia Moritz (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut

Austria (drawn for Women panel)
Adrienn Schadenbauer * Olympic debut

Azerbajian (drawn for Men panel)
Yury Klushnikov * already judged in Olympics 2006 (for Ukraine) and 2022

Bulgaria (Women)
Vassela Popova * Olympic debut

Canada (Men, Pairs, Ice Dance)
Leanna Caron * already judged in Olympics 2018
Karen Howard * * already judged in Olympics 2014
Leslie Keen (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut

China (Men, Pairs, Ice Dance)
Weiguang Chen * judged at Olympics 2018 and got suspended for her score and banned from judging in 2022 OG
Feng Huang (Ice Dance) *judged at Olympics 2018 and got suspended and then he was the TC in Beijing 2022
Hailan Jiang * already judged in Olympics 2018

Czechia (Ice Dance)
Richard Kosina * already judged in Olympics 2018

Spain (Men, Ice Dance)
Daniel Delfa * already judged in Olympics 2014 and 2018
Marta Olozagarre (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2018 and 2022

Finland (Ice Dance)
Virpi Kunnas-Helminen * Olympic debut

France (Men, Women, Ice Dance)
Helene Cucuphat * already judged in Olympics 2010 and 2014
Jezabel Dabouis (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Richard Leroy * already judged in Olympics 2 * already judged in Olympics 2014, 2018 and 2022

Georgia (Men, Pairs, Ice Dance)
Salome Chigogidze * Olympic debut (because in 2021 she was suspended before the Games)
Nadezhda Fiodorova * switched from Belarus this summer * Olympic debut
Elena Khmyzenko * switched from Russia this summer * Olympic debut

Great Britain (Women, Pairs, Ice Dance)
Ann Findley * Olympic debut
Richard Grainge * Olympic debut
Nicholas Russell (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2022

Germany (Pairs, Ice Dance)
Christian Baumann (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Kerstin Kimmunus * already judged in Olympics 2018

Hungary (Pairs)
Attila Soos * Olympic debut

Israel (Women)
Anna Kantor * already judged in Olympics 2018 and 022

Italy (Men, Pairs, Ice Dance)
Isabella Micheli (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2010. She participated as athlete in 1984 Olympics
Gloria Morandi * already judged in Olympics 2006
Tiziana Morandi * Olympic debut

Japan (Women, Pairs)
Ritsuko Horiuchi * Olympic debut
Ayumi Ono * already judged in Olympics 2018

Kazakhstan(Men, Women)
Nadezhda Paretskaia * Olympic debut

Lithuania (Women)
Laimute Krauziene * already judged in Olympics 2010, 2014 and 2022 (in Ice Dance)

Netherlands (Pairs)
Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas * Olympic debut

Poland (Women, Pairs)
Aniela Hebel-Skmak * already judged in Olympics 2010,
Magdalena Rusiecka * Olympic debut

Romania (Women)
Marina Beschea * Olympic debut

Latvia (Men)
Abele Agita * already judged in Olympics 2018

South Korea (Women, Men, Ice Dance)
Young Kyung Han * Olympic debut
Jung Sue Lee * already judged in Olympics 2022
Chihee Rhee (Ice Dance) * already judged in Olympics 2010 and served as referee in 2018

Switzerland (Men, Women)
Christine Blanc * Olympic debut
Alice Walder * Olympic debut

Sweden (Men)
Laila Davidson* Olympic debut

USA (Men, Women, Pairs, Ice Dance)
Janis Engel (Ice Dance) * Olympic debut
Peggy Graham * already judged in Olympics 2022
Kristina Lundgren * already judged in Olympics 2022
Kevin Rosenstein * Olympic debut

Uzabekhstan (Pairs)
Saodat Numanova * already judged in Olympics 2018

Source: https://wmr-static-assets.scd.dgpla...K-------------------------------__C35_1.0.pdf

 

[Andrea82]

@tony has revealed on The Skating Session's IG account the tech panels for the Olympics. As he notes on the posts, these have not been officially published or announced by the ISU, but as far as he is aware, the information is correct as of today. Tech panels call both the individual events and the team event for the disciplines.

Men - Leena Laskonen FIN, Clarence Ong AUS, Raoul LeBlanc CAN (called the 2025 Skate Canada Men & Women's competitions)
Women - Jeroen Prins NED, Claudia Unger GER, Zsofia Tokaji-Kulcsar HUN (called the 2025 Finlandia Trophy Men & Women's competitions)
Pairs - Susan Lynch AUS, Veronique Fleury FRA, Whitney Gaynor USA (called the 2025 Worlds Pairs competition)
Ice Dance - Marcin Kozubek POL, Ayako Higashino JPN, Tae-hwa Yang KOR (rumored to be the 2025 GPF Ice Dance panel)

Referee are

TAUCHMANOVA Vera (Czechia)
LOCATELLI Raffaella (Italy)
SANCHO Saioa (Spain)
PIPOH Rolf (Germany)

 

[Andrea82]

And last but not least...the mugshots

https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/hubs/individuals/athletes?showAll=true&discipline=FSK&perPage=50

 

[Karen-W]

Akopova & Rakhmanin will also be flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony!

There really aren't a lot of winter sports athletes in the Caucus Mountain nations, so two more get to be flag bearers for the Opening Ceremonies - Karina Akopova & Nikita Rakhmanin for Armenia!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017654714406440975

 

[Karen-W]

Alexandra Feigin has been selected as a flag bearer for Bulgaria!

Alexandra Feigin on Instagram: "Dreams don’t stop at one Olympics.🇧🇬✨ За втори път ще имам честта да участвам на Зимни олимпийски игри-Милано, Кортина 2026 и да представям България. А този път – с още по-голяма отговорност и гордост, като знаменосец.

1,219 likes, 41 comments - alexandra_feigin on February 2, 2026: "Dreams don’t stop at one Olympics.🇧🇬✨ За втори път ще имам честта да участвам на Зимни олимпийски игри-Милано, Кортина 2026 и да представям България. А този път – с още по-голяма отговорност и гордост, като знаменосец. Мечта...

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

And Reed/Ambrulevicius will be the flag bearers for Lithuania!

Instagram

Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

Lilah Fear has been named as one of Team GB's flag bearers!

https://x.com/i/status/2019037112105136206

 

[Karen-W]

And Litvintsev will be Azerbaijan's flag bearer!

https://x.com/i/status/2019051600665313373

 

[Vagabond]

And Litvintsev will be Azerbaijan's flag bearer!

https://x.com/i/status/2019051600665313373

Azerbaijan has only two athletes at the Games, one of whom will be the flag bearer at the closing ceremony. I wonder how they decided to divide the duties. Coin toss?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Azerbaijan has only two athletes at the Games, one of whom will be the flag bearer at the closing ceremony. I wonder how they decided to divide the duties. Coin toss?

Maybe timing of their events?

 

[Sylvia]

Milano Cortina 2026 Flagbearers [FIGURE SKATERS representing 12 countries]
List updated on 6 February: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...amed-for-milano-cortina-2026-opening-ceremony

Armenia
Karina Akopova (figure skating)
Nikita Rakhmanin (figure skating)

Azerbaijan
Vladimir Litvintsev (figure skating)

Bulgaria
Alexandra Feigin (figure skating)

Chinese Taipei
Li Yu-Hsiang (figure skating)

Georgia
Diana Davis (figure skating)
Luka Berulava (figure skating)

Great Britain
Lilah Fear (figure skating)

Israel
Mariia Seniuk (figure skating)

Lithuania
Allison Reed (figure skating)
Saulius Ambrulevičius (figure skating)

Mexico
Donovan Carrillo (figure skating)

Republic of Korea
Cha Junhwan (figure skating)

Romania
Julia Sauter (figure skating)

Spain
Olivia Smart (figure skating)

USOPC press release (Feb. 20): https://www.usopc.org/news/2026/feb...-for-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-2026

Five-time Olympians Hilary Knight and Evan Bates were selected to lead the 2026 U.S. Olympic Team into the Closing Ceremony as flag bearers on Sunday, Feb. 22 at Verona Olympic Arena. The Closing Ceremony will begin at 8:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. ET/PT) in Verona, Italy [...]
The 2026 Olympic champions, Knight and Bates were chosen by a vote of fellow Team USA athletes through a process led by the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, which serves as the representative group and voice of Team USA athletes. They are the first winter duo to share the honor of leading the delegation into the Closing Ceremony, which serves as the official close to the Olympic Winter Games.

Becoming the first American figure skater in any event to compete in five Olympic Winter Games, Bates added two medals in Milan, bringing his career total to three. Bates won gold in the team event and silver in the ice dance competition with partner and wife Madison Chock. In the team event, Team USA secured a one-point victory and became the first nation to successfully defend Olympic gold in the event. He began his Olympic career at Vancouver 2010 and earned his first medal at the Beijing 2022 Games, where he also won gold in the team event. He now sits tied for sixth in men’s all-time Olympic Winter Games medals. He becomes the first U.S. figure skater to carry the flag into an Olympic Opening or Closing Ceremony since Scott Hamilton in 1980, also joining Tim Wood who held the closing honor in 1968.
“I’m deeply grateful to be selected as flag bearer and to represent both the United States and the sport of figure skating in this way,” said Bates. “To share this honor with Hilary makes it even more meaningful. My experience at the Milano Cortina Games has truly been incredible in so many ways, and I’m filled with appreciation for everyone who helped make it possible.”

@ice coverage has posted the link to the page for the Official list of flagbearers for closing ceremony (many TBA): https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...amed-for-milano-cortina-2026-closing-ceremony

 

[Karen-W]

And Kaori Sakamoto has been selected as one of Japan's flag bearers for the closing ceremony!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025226874234802428

 

[Karen-W]

And Iida Karhunen has been selected as one of Finland's flag bearers for the closing ceremony!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025231477709889702

As will Hungary's Pavlova & Sviatchenko!

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025232702291521551

 

[Karen-W]

@ice coverage has posted the link to the page for the Official list of flagbearers for closing ceremony (many TBA): https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-...amed-for-milano-cortina-2026-closing-ceremony

Niina Petrokina - Estonia & Meda Variakojyte - Lithuania - are the female flag bearers for their respective countries.

Mikhail Shaidorov will be Kazakhstan's closing ceremony flag bearer!

Luka Berulava - Georgia, Donovan Carrillo - Mexico & Julia Sauter - Romania - all pulling double duty for both opening & closing ceremony flag bearer honors!

Countries still to be confirmed - Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland - not sure how many of those countries would choose a figure skater but it may also be dependent upon who is still in northern Italy right now & able to get to Verona for the closing ceremony.

 

[Karen-W]

Hmmmm - looks like Hungary made a last minute switch from yesterday to today and PavSvia are no longer their closing ceremony flag bearers.