Zingas/Kolesnik Fan Thread - They Have “It”

Long article by Jeff Seidel of Detroit Free Press, reposted by Yahoo at free link below.

Novi ice dancers overcame war, surgeries and a test to make Olympics
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/novi-ice-dancers-overcame-war-100719973.html (Feb 1)​

Accompanying gallery of sixteen photos on freep.com:


On freep.com, Seidel's article itself is behind paywall:
 
Up-and-coming Novi ice dancers eager to rep prolific Team USA at Olympics

www.threads.com

The Detroit News (@detroitnews) on Threads

Emilea Zingas, a Grosse Pointe Farms native, and Vadym Kolesnik, who has lived in Novi since he was 15, will make their Olympics debut.
www.threads.com www.threads.com

I was able to read today's Detroit News article in full by clicking on link in Threads post above.
Author is Tony Paul.

Article is behind paywall here:

ETA:​
Scroll down at link below to see "Team USA Spotlight: Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik," which has answers from both partners to six questions. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Newsletter - Olympic Edition was in my e-mail today.​

ETA:​
Emi/Vadym are the only dancers mentioned in ISU article about Olympic debutants in Milan.
"Ice Dancers Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolsenik (USA) have celebrated a big breakthrough in this Olympic season and qualified in a deep U.S. Ice Dance field for the Olympic Winter Games. Fresh off their first victory at the ISU Four Continents Championships, they are the Ice Dance debutants to watch."
https://isu-skating.com/figure-skating/news/figure-skating-the-olympic-debutants-eager-to-impress/ (Feb 3)​
 
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First practice at the main rink (Feb. 3):
www.instagram.com

vadym____kolesnik on Instagram: "The first practice on the main rink, there was a special feeling of stepping onto the ice with the Olympic rings I can’t even describe in words the feeling of this moment. Eternally grateful to our coaching team, pare

104 likes, 1 comments - vadym____kolesnik on February 2, 2026: "The first practice on the main rink, there was a special feeling of stepping onto the ice with the Olympic rings I can’t even describe in words the feeling of this moment. Eternally grateful to our coaching team, parents, and...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
ice coverage said:
ETA:​
Scroll down at link below to see "Team USA Spotlight: Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik," which has answers from both partners to six questions. U.S. Figure Skating Fan Newsletter - Olympic Edition was in my e-mail today.​
​
Click to expand...
Thank you! Enjoyed this Q&A. I am quite surprised that they coach at least 3x per week! That's a lot of extra hours on top of training, school, etc. I can definitely see them running a school one day... they seem to have the passion for it.
 
Emilea & Vadym in the mixed zone after their first practice in the main rink on Feb. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV3_X9E0xoU

Inside Dance article by Nate Salsman (February 4, 2026):
www.insidedance.com

Less Than One Percent: Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik Are Off To Milan For The 2026 Winter Olympics

A lifelong ice dancing dream has come true for two incredible individuals with challenging paths to their childhood dream. Less Than One Percent: Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik Are Off To Milan
www.insidedance.com
 
After 4 long years, US figure skater reunites with family from war-torn Ukraine at the Olympics

By Dave Skretta
Updated 8:30 AM EST, February 8, 2026

apnews.com

After 4 long years, US figure skater reunites with family from war-torn Ukraine at the Olympics

American figure skater Vadym Kolesnik has reunited with family members from Ukraine after four years apart.
apnews.com apnews.com

Definitely worth reading -- lots of quotes from Vadym and Emi.

Emi's Instastory today shows photos of Emi and Vadym from Milan gathering with both his family and hers. Lovely to see.

 
Last edited:
Emi/Vadym's Olympic RD is one of only four five that NBC Sports has shared on YouTube:

www.youtube.com

Zingas and Kolesnik impress in Olympic rhythm dance debut | Winter Olympics 2026 | NBC Sports

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik soared to high up the results table to 6th place in their Olympic debut on Monday afternoon. Their rhythm dance earned #NBCS...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

(The video is of Z/K, although NBC's thumbnail unfortunately shows the wrong couple.)

ETA:​
Now one of five, after Carreira/Ponomarenko's later was added.​
 
Last edited:
Z/K are just fabulous. They are making a great showing here at the Olympics and it doesn't matter a whit to me where they place, they are the team for the future and soon will be top of the podium all the time. They are that good and will only get better. Especially after the dinosaur teams in world standings retire. Ice dance is same as it ever was in terms of anointing, thankfully the IJS scoring has helped over the years. I say this as a fan of ice dance for 46 years (!), I have the credentials.

Can't wait for their fantastic FD!
 
WOW. I greatly enjoyed watching them live at Nationals, and I appreciated their RD today even more despite it being on a screen. In my opinion, they have it all. They're so impressive, and they would be a reason for me to pay money for an event in the future in a sea of skaters who, this past quad, have not impressed me. Well, I think ice dance is a strong discipline these days compared to the other three, but even within ice dance, there are plenty of teams who have not inspired me this season.

They should be proud of their performance, and I hope they nail the free dance.
 
NBC Sports videos (emphasis in original):

"Zingas and Kolesnik cap INCREDIBLE debut with 5th place finish" | Winter Olympics 2026 | NBC Sports
www.youtube.com

Zingas and Kolesnik cap INCREDIBLE debut with 5th place finish | Winter Olympics 2026 | NBC Sports

Emilea Zinga and Vadym Kolesnik capped an incredible Olympic debut with a stunning 5th place finish in what has been a truly break-out season for the team. #...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
(6:21)

"USA's Emilea Zingas, Vadym Kolesnik warm up ahead of free dance" | Winter Olympics 2026 | NBC Sports
www.youtube.com

USA's Emilea Zingas, Vadym Kolesnik warm up ahead of free dance | Winter Olympics 2026 | NBC Sports

Americans Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik head out to the ice early to get some practice reps in ahead of their free dance routine. #NBCSports #WinterOlympi...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
(3:43)​

Team USA channel also has Olympic FD video:
Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik stun in 5th place finish
www.youtube.com

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik stun in 5th place finish

Emilea Zinga and Vadym Kolesnik capped an incredible Olympic debut with a stunning 5th place finish in what has been a truly break-out season for the team.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Winter Olympics 2026: Ice dance breakout stars Emilea Zingas/Vadym Kolesnik vow to “go for gold” in four years
While Madison Chock and Evan Bates were the USA ice dance team that made the podium at Milano Cortina 2026, two of their young teammates stole the show with a stunning performance – and bold vow – of their own.

ETA:​
Bell Biv DeVoe complimented Emi/Vadym for their Olympic RD!​
" Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik just took Poison and Something In Your Eyes to the ice at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and made it look too easy ⛸️🔥
Who else caught this performance 👀 ... "​
www.instagram.com

Bell Biv DeVoe on Instagram: "Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik just took Poison and Something In Your Eyes to the ice at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and made it look too easy ⛸️🔥 Who else caught this performance 👀 #BellBivDeVoe #BBD #Poison #Olym

1,565 likes, 75 comments - officialbellbivdevoe on February 11, 2026: "Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik just took Poison and Something In Your Eyes to the ice at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and made it look too easy ⛸️🔥 Who else caught this performance 👀 #BellBivDeVoe #BBD #Poison #Olympics...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

ETA:​
Quotes from Zingas, Kolesnik, and Shpilband are in USFS recap of Olympic FD.
https://usfigureskating.org/news/20...l-olympic-medal-with-silver-in-ice-dance.aspx​
 
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Emi and Vadym couldn't have had a better Olympics. Top 5 is mind blowing. Seriously impressed at how composed and consistent they are under the brightest lights and under this kind of pressure. USFS was right to invest in them this year.

They are so having so much fun, which is wonderful to see. Who knew we'd get a ZK and Iliona Maher crossover
 
nuge said:
Isn't this the biggest leap in ID since PC FROM 13 TO 1?
Click to expand...
I dont even think it is measurable in the same way since they never went to Worlds, but I guess so?

It is closer to Klimova & Ponomarenko in Sarajevo but in 5th instead of 3rd. But my money is on a post Worlds medal for Z&K without the retribution 4th that K&P got (B&S were full of major mistakes at 84 worlds, even more than their usual).
 
"We don't even know how to put this into words. If you told us one year ago that we'd be fifth in the world at the Olympic Games, we would have said it was impossible. But, here we are 😭"

What a year they've had! So happy and proud of them. After so many heartaches and scandal in figure skating, their story has been a real bright spot.

 
aprilediv said:
"We don't even know how to put this into words. If you told us one year ago that we'd be fifth in the world at the Olympic Games, we would have said it was impossible. But, here we are 😭"

What a year they've had! So happy and proud of them. After so many heartaches and scandal in figure skating, their story has been a real bright spot.

Click to expand...
I'm so excited for them!!! Such talented, sweet and hilarious people!
 
These two 😍

Pairs throws and now pairs lifts?
I'm trying to imagine the arsenal of skills they're capable of...

Pic: @_martuci on IG

Screenshot-20260216-035206-Instagram.jpg
 
I feel so blessed to have been in the arena for their RD and FD in Milan. They were the bright spots in an otherwise heartbreaking event for me as an 18-year C/B uber (I loved them before they teamed up). They are so dynamic and I hope they continue to find great material to show off their innate spark. Now if I can only find time between work to catch up on all their TikTok and IG content that I missed last week. 😭
 
I was just thinking of a fun cheese fest-five pairs and five ice dance teams have to skate each other’s programs for real judges. I guess it would be too dangerous to do pairs tricks without pairs training, and the pairs could never skate the precise turns and edges that dance requires, but it would be fun to watch.
 
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