2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics - Figure Skating Qualification

[Karen-W]

Love this news for Daria & Michel!!!!

Also, this puts a nail in the USFS' hopes of securing a third spot.

 

[Sylvia]

Today in Rome - Guignard/Fabbri, Conti/Macii, Grassl, Gutmann, Ghilardi/Ambrosini:

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(2nd Italian man still TBD)

 

[Sylvia]

Yu-Hsiang LI (figure skater) and Ying-Chu CHEN (women's long track speed skater): https://www.instagram.com/p/DSi-uA8E-th/

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[eurodance2001]

It's nice to see when a Federation or Olympic committee openly embrace their athletes and their earned Olympic spots as opposed to being stubborn with unrealistic internal qualifying criteria for no reason. The one that still comes to mind is the Swiss Olympic Committee rejecting not just one but two pairs spots in 1994 that were earned by the Monod's at 1993 Worlds. Plus Monod's missing the Olympics by one spot cause they placed 11th at Europeans instead of 10th.. One lousy spot.. That's just stupid..

 

[Sylvia]

France's Olympic Figure Skating Team officially was announced today (Dec. 23, 2025):

Première sélection olympique : le patinage artistique français en route vers Milano Cortina 2026 - FFSG

www.ffsportsdeglace.fr

Dans le cadre de cette première sélection, la FFSG est fière d’annoncer la présence de neuf athlètes en patinage artistique et danse sur glace, qui défendront les couleurs tricolores lors des épreuves individuelles et de la prestigieuse épreuve par équipes.

Messieurs

• Kevin AYMOZ – Épreuve individuelle & épreuve par équipes
• Adam SIAO HIM FA – Épreuve individuelle & épreuve par équipes

Dames

• Lorine SCHILD – Épreuve individuelle & épreuve par équipes

Couples

• Camille KOVALEV / Pavel KOVALEV – Épreuve par équipes [team event only, for now]

Danse sur glace

• Evgeniia LOPAREVA / Geoffrey BRISSAUD – Danse sur glace & épreuve par équipes
• Laurence FOURNIER BEAUDRY / Guillaume CIZERON – Danse sur glace & épreuve par équipes

 

[Sylvia]

OFFICIAL SELECTION MILANO CORTINA 2026
"We are proud to announce our figure skaters who have made it to the Team Belgium delegation for the Winter Olympics!" - photos of Loena Hendrickx and Nina Pinzarrone are in this Dec. 23rd post:

Team Belgium on Instagram: "🚨 OFFICIAL SELECTION MILANO CORTINA 2026 🚨 We are proud to announce our figure skaters who have made it to the Team Belgium delegation for the Winter Olympics! Swipe ⬅️ to meet the athletes. #WeAreTeamBelgium #OfficialS

1,620 likes, 7 comments - teambelgium on December 23, 2025: "🚨 OFFICIAL SELECTION MILANO CORTINA 2026 🚨 We are proud to announce our figure skaters who have made it to the Team Belgium delegation for the Winter Olympics! Swipe ⬅️ to meet the athletes. #WeAreTeamBelgium #OfficialSelection...

www.instagram.com

 

[olympic]

OFFICIAL SELECTION MILANO CORTINA 2026
"We are proud to announce our figure skaters who have made it to the Team Belgium delegation for the Winter Olympics!" - photos of Loena Hendrickx and Nina Pinzarrone are in this Dec. 23rd post:

Team Belgium on Instagram: "🚨 OFFICIAL SELECTION MILANO CORTINA 2026 🚨 We are proud to announce our figure skaters who have made it to the Team Belgium delegation for the Winter Olympics! Swipe ⬅️ to meet the athletes. #WeAreTeamBelgium #OfficialS

1,620 likes, 7 comments - teambelgium on December 23, 2025: "🚨 OFFICIAL SELECTION MILANO CORTINA 2026 🚨 We are proud to announce our figure skaters who have made it to the Team Belgium delegation for the Winter Olympics! Swipe ⬅️ to meet the athletes. #WeAreTeamBelgium #OfficialSelection...

www.instagram.com

So, I figured Loena was on the team, but I was wondering about Nina. She must have passed her fed's monitoring (?) Glad she made it and I hope she's 100% by February.

Now, what about Estonian Nina? I like watching her too

 

[Karen-W]

So, I figured Loena was on the team, but I was wondering about Nina. She must have passed her fed's monitoring (?) Glad she made it and I hope she's 100% by February.

Now, what about Estonian Nina? I like watching her too

Nina competed at Golden Spin a few weeks ago - not the greatest of competitions for her, but she's back on the ice for sure. Same with Niina, who competed at Tallinn Trophy 4 weeks ago. The only major question at this time is Kimmy Repond, who is back on the ice now, but did not compete at Swiss Nationals last weekend.

 

[Sylvia]

Tomás Guarino [Sabate], Asaf Kazimov, Sofia Val, Olivia Smart and Tim Dieck with Spanish fed. president Frank González (next to Olivia) and Alejandro Blanco, the President of Comité Olímpico Español (Dec. 16, 2025): https://www.instagram.com/p/DSVBQAqjE9i/

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[Karen-W]

From the Aussie news thread - Anastasia Golubeva is officially an Australian!

Anastasia Golubeva is officially an Aussie!

ANASTASIA/ on Instagram: "Today is a day I will always remember today I officially became an Australian citizen.🇦🇺🦘 This past year has been one of the hardest of my life, with many challenges both on and off the ice. That’s why this moment means so

I've faced many challenges, but becoming an Australian citizen means so much to me. I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow, fight, and believe in my dreams, and I'm proud to represent Australia in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

3 days ago: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSpQBnMEiUK/

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Yuma Kagiyama
Shun Sato
Kao Miura
Kaori Sakamoto
Ami Nakai
Mone Chiba
Yuna Nagaoka / Sumitada Moriguchi
Riku Miura / Ryuichi Kihara
Utana Yoshida / Masaya Morita [team event, ice dance]

 

[TAHbKA]

According to this article Seniuk doesn't have an israeli passport yet - she would have to spend 36 months out of 60 in Israel in order to receive one. She either has a lesse passe or a temporary passport which is not sufficient for the Olympics. The ministry of internal affairs may grant her a passport, but it's not praticularly interested doing so, the culture and sports ministry may demand a passport for her but well, it's an inner politics. Fortunately there are no new year/christmas holidays in Israel, so they still have about 3 weeks to sort it all out.

 

[Sylvia]

Dec. 15, 2025 Estonian article:

Sheffieldi EM otsustab, kumb vendadest Selevkodest pääseb olümpiale

Milano Cortina taliolümpiamängudel on Eestil iluuisutamises üks koht nii naiste kui ka meeste üksiksõidus. 14. jaanuaril Sheffieldis algaval EM-il selgub, kumb vendadest Selevkodest pääseb olümpiale.

sport.err.ee

Estonia has one place in figure skating in both the women's and men's singles at the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Milan. The European Figure Skating Championships, which begin in Sheffield on January 14, will determine which of the Selevko brothers will qualify for the Olympics.

Jackie Wong posted this yesterday re. Rizzo vs. Memola: "Not confirmed: I’m hearing that they have decided to make Europeans the decider for the second men’s spot. Whoever finishes higher will go"

 

[tony]

Yes, it’s Europeans for the second spot for but if Memola can’t go or isn’t in form there post-injury, then I guess they are handing it to Rizzo by default?

If Memola can’t go, Frangipani has been (quietly) named as the replacement instead of Circelli. The latter is ahead in the points race.

 

[Andrea82]

Yes, it’s Europeans for the second spot for but if Memola can’t go or isn’t in form there post-injury, then I guess they are handing it to Rizzo by default?

If Memola can’t go, Frangipani has been (quietly) named as the replacement instead of Circelli. The latter is ahead in the points race.

Frangipani and Circelli are both entered at Sofia Trophy next week

 

[tony]

Frangipani and Circelli are both entered at Sofia Trophy next week

Italy has sent out an internal communication that Frangipani will be the first alternate in the event of withdrawal, so I’m not sure the results of Sofia Trophy would change anything.

 

[BittyBug]

The European Figure Skating Championships, which begin in Sheffield on January 14, will determine which of the Selevko brothers will qualify for the Olympics.

As in, whoever wins Euros goes to the Olympics?

 

[Andrea82]

Italy has sent out an internal communication that Frangipani will be the first alternate in the event of withdrawal, so I’m not sure the results of Sofia Trophy would change anything.

If so, I would expect to see Frangipani withdrawing from Sofia.
Just like when Paolino/Tuba WD from Lombardia Trophy FD.

 

[Debbie S]

According to this article Seniuk doesn't have an israeli passport yet - she would have to spend 36 months out of 60 in Israel in order to receive one. She either has a lesse passe or a temporary passport which is not sufficient for the Olympics. The ministry of internal affairs may grant her a passport, but it's not praticularly interested doing so, the culture and sports ministry may demand a passport for her but well, it's an inner politics. Fortunately there are no new year/christmas holidays in Israel, so they still have about 3 weeks to sort it all out.

I hope she and the other two can get their passports in time.

 

[Karen-W]

According to this article Seniuk doesn't have an israeli passport yet - she would have to spend 36 months out of 60 in Israel in order to receive one. She either has a lesse passe or a temporary passport which is not sufficient for the Olympics. The ministry of internal affairs may grant her a passport, but it's not praticularly interested doing so, the culture and sports ministry may demand a passport for her but well, it's an inner politics. Fortunately there are no new year/christmas holidays in Israel, so they still have about 3 weeks to sort it all out.

Do any of the other Israeli women with the CTES mins have their passports?

 

[TAHbKA]

Do any of the other Israeli women with the CTES mins have their passports?

Are there any other Israeli women with CTES mins?

 

[Karen-W]

Are there any other Israeli women with CTES mins?

Yes, Elizabet Gervits just has the Euros/4CCs/Oly CTES min of 75.

https://results.isu.org/isujsstat/CTES/cteswjustsen.htm

 

[Sylvia]

And Elizabet Gervits was born in Tel Aviv: https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00111418.htm

 

[TAHbKA]

Then guess the question is whether the Israeli NOC will send her. Tamar Katz was not sent with a much more impressive record.

 

[MsZem]

Also, Gervits trains in Eilat - I'm not sure they have much (if any) political pull.

 

[Andrea82]

The Rizzo vs Memola decision at Europeans is confirmed by La Gazzetta dello Sport (the main sport newspaper in Italy).

 

[Sylvia]

The Rizzo vs Memola decision at Europeans is confirmed by La Gazzetta dello Sport (the main sport newspaper in Italy).

Here's the reporter's X post today: https://x.com/abuongi/status/2005594140197990416

 

[skateblessing]

According to this article Seniuk doesn't have an israeli passport yet - she would have to spend 36 months out of 60 in Israel in order to receive one. She either has a lesse passe or a temporary passport which is not sufficient for the Olympics. The ministry of internal affairs may grant her a passport, but it's not praticularly interested doing so, the culture and sports ministry may demand a passport for her but well, it's an inner politics. Fortunately there are no new year/christmas holidays in Israel, so they still have about 3 weeks to sort it all out.

That was not on by bingo card, I thought every of the women had their citizenship sorted out. I´m also questioning if OC of Israel will send Gervits with her results.

 

[fan]

Also, Gervits trains in Eilat - I'm not sure they have much (if any) political pull.

Does Papa Boris only advocate for those who train with his daughter?

 

[Sylvia]

According to this article Seniuk doesn't have an israeli passport yet - she would have to spend 36 months out of 60 in Israel in order to receive one. She either has a lesse passe or a temporary passport which is not sufficient for the Olympics. The ministry of internal affairs may grant her a passport, but it's not praticularly interested doing so, the culture and sports ministry may demand a passport for her but well, it's an inner politics. Fortunately there are no new year/christmas holidays in Israel, so they still have about 3 weeks to sort it all out.

Article in English (Dec. 31, 2025): https://www.timesofisrael.com/fate-...gation-on-thin-ice-over-bureaucratic-hurdles/

“This is a situation that I don’t think we’ve ever had before,” Yael Arad, the president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, told reporters in a Zoom press briefing on Wednesday. “We feel like our athletes are sort of held hostage” by the law.
Arad said the OCI has been “dealing with this for months” with the relevant government authorities, “asking, explaining, and — I don’t want to say — almost begging, yet we can’t manage to get a signature.”
A spokeswoman for the Population, Immigration and Border Authority told The Times of Israel on Wednesday that the passport issue “is not bureaucracy. It’s an issue that can only be approved by the minister, and there is no [interior] minister.”

But at the moment, Seniuk – who was selected as Israel’s flag-bearer – Kertesz and Firestone all lack the Israeli passport in hand that will enable them to represent Israel in Milano Cortina when the games kick off on February 6, said Israeli Olympic officials.
Gili Lustig, the CEO of the OCI, said Wednesday that it sees great importance in sending a quality delegation to Milano Cortina, and that the issue of the passports is a “huge crisis.”