2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics - Figure Skating Qualification

[Belsornia]

According to this BIS article, British judges in Milano will be Nick Russell (ice dance) and Ann Findlay (unclear if she’ll be doing women and pairs or if there will be a third judge going too).

Russell was on the panel at the GPF/JGPF, NHK and Trialeti Trophy this season, and did Euros last year, 4CC in 2024 and Junior Worlds in 2023 among other events. He also did the RD in Beijing.

Findlay hasn’t judged as frequently - she’s more often a technical controller - but she did pairs at Euros 2025, Women at Junior Worlds 2024, and men at Worlds 2023. I don’t think she’s previously been at the Olympics in either capacity.

 

[Kelvster]

Woohooo! The Swiss OC and Swiss Ice Skating fed relented on their score minimum for the women, so Livia Kaiser has officially been named to the team!

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Absolutely wonderful news. Livia’s skating is beautiful and she overcame so much to earn the Olympic spot / earn the last minute nod from the Swiss Olympic Committee. Her programmes this year are also wonderful - just realize that Shae Lyne Bourne choreographed (full of lovely details).

 

[Badams]

With the confirmation of Kaiser, here's what we're waiting to hear officially -

Estonia's man - should be Aleksandr Selevko, but haven't seen an official announcement yet
Israel's woman - waiting on confirmation that Seniuk has received her passport & has been named by the Israeli OC to the team
Uzbekistan pairs - waiting for official relinquishment & reallocation to France, which will then allow Poland to send a dance team for the Team Event

𝐎𝐥𝐠𝐚 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐯𝐚 & 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐤𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐯 on Instagram: "Congratulations Sasha for qualifying for the 2026 Olympic Games !!! @aleksandrselevko A two-time Olympian, a remarkable skater, and a genuinely kind and inspiring athlete . • • follow @olgalexcoaching f

174 likes, 4 comments - olgalexcoaching on January 20, 2026: "Congratulations Sasha for qualifying for the 2026 Olympic Games !!! @aleksandrselevko A two-time Olympian, a remarkable skater, and a genuinely kind and inspiring athlete . • • follow @olgalexcoaching for more! • #figureskating...

www.instagram.com

 

[MsZem]

Israel's woman - waiting on confirmation that Seniuk has received her passport & has been named by the Israeli OC to the team

The passport issues have been sorted out (in Hebrew), and Seniuk was also chosen as flagbearer a weeks ago.

Unrelated, but IL has qualified a bobsled team for the first time ever!

 

[Karen-W]

The passport issues have been sorted out (in Hebrew), and Seniuk was also chosen as flagbearer a weeks ago.

Unrelated, but IL has qualified a bobsled team for the first time ever!

Fabulous news all around for Team Israel!

 

[Vagabond]

Is it wrong to be more excited about the bobsled team than the skater?

 

[MsZem]

Is it wrong to be more excited about the bobsled team than the skater?

Nuff people say they know they can't believe
Israel we have a bobsled team

In first, Israel's bobsled team will compete in the Winter Olympics

Israeli delegation to Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina id expanded from five athletes to nine after the bobsled team qualified by finishing fifth in the North American Cup; Team is made up of athletes from other disciplines who committed to making switch to bobsled

www.ynetnews.com

 

[Aceon6]

Israel is the new Jamaica!

 

[Karen-W]

Meda Variakojyte has been confirmed as Lithuania's woman for the Olympics!

LTOK & LTeam on Instagram: "Būdama 17-os metų Meda Variakojytė pasaulio čempionate pateko į istorinį finalą, iškovojo Lietuvai istorinį kelialapį į olimpines žaidynes, vėliau laimėjo nacionalinę atranką ir Milane įsirašys savo pavardę į Lietuvos spor

99 likes, 0 comments - lteam_official on January 22, 2026: "Būdama 17-os metų Meda Variakojytė pasaulio čempionate pateko į istorinį finalą, iškovojo Lietuvai istorinį kelialapį į olimpines žaidynes, vėliau laimėjo nacionalinę atranką ir Milane įsirašys savo pavardę į Lietuvos sporto istoriją –...

www.instagram.com

 

[Vagabond]

Meda Variakojyte has been confirmed as Lithuania's woman for the Olympics!

Chris Howarth, if you are reading this, please start practicing the correct pronunciation  now. Lithuanian names are not your strongest suit.

 

[MsZem]

Chris Howarth, if you are reading this, please start practicing the correct pronunciation  now. Lithuanian names are not your strongest suit.

Are any names his strongest suit?

 

[Aceon6]

Are any names his strongest suit?

He can mangle anything.

 

[tangerine dream]

He can mangle anything.

I like to imagine that over the years different people have sat him down and tried to teach him how to pronounce names in different languages, but it just turns out like Phoebe teaching Joey French in Friends and everything that comes out of his mouth is jibberish.

 

[Sylvia]

AFAIK, Belinda Noonan will return as the world feed figure skating commentator for OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services).

 

[Andrea82]

According to this BIS article, British judges in Milano will be Nick Russell (ice dance) and Ann Findlay (unclear if she’ll be doing women and pairs or if there will be a third judge going too).

Russell was on the panel at the GPF/JGPF, NHK and Trialeti Trophy this season, and did Euros last year, 4CC in 2024 and Junior Worlds in 2023 among other events. He also did the RD in Beijing.

Findlay hasn’t judged as frequently - she’s more often a technical controller - but she did pairs at Euros 2025, Women at Junior Worlds 2024, and men at Worlds 2023. I don’t think she’s previously been at the Olympics in either capacity.

No, Russell, noooo!
Findley is indeed at her first Olympic experience.
Theoretically she can do both events. In ISU Championships it is not allowed but it is allowed at Olympic level.
However, given the pool of GBR judges (not so large, but not small either) and that Milano is quite accessible, I would be surprised if they have not found anybody else willing to have an Olympic "experience" (especially as the British judge of the women event does not have to serve for the Team Event and so he/she would not be obliged to stay in Milano longer).

_____

Spain judge for Ice Dance will be Marta Olozagarre (she judged Ice Dance at Pyeongchang 2018 and Pairs at Beijing 2022).
In Ice Dance, she judged Senior Worlds in 2022 and 2018; Europeans in 2023, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

 

[Vagabond]

Are any names his strongest suit?

He has pronounced "Disturbed" and "Muse" correctly.

 

[Wyliefan]

As I catch up with last night's RD, he also appears to have no clue what "on the up and up" means.

 

[Hedwig]

AFAIK, Belinda Noonan will return as the world feed figure skating commentator for OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services).

i loved her together with Mark. True love for the sport shining through!

 

[Kelvster]

Belinda's love for the sport and use of terminology (e.g. "saltoe") has made a lasting impression on fans worldwide indeed.

 

[Sylvia]

With the confirmation of Kaiser, here's what we're waiting to hear officially -

Estonia's man - should be Aleksandr Selevko, but haven't seen an official announcement yet

AnythingGOEs posted this link today:

Milano 2026 — Eesti Olümpiakomitee

Eesti spordi katusorganisatsiooni ametlik koduleht

www.eok.ee

Iluuisutamine [Figure Skating]
Niina Petrõkina
Aleksandr Selevko

 

[skatingguy]

It looks like it's down to Finland's women's entry, and Uzbekistan's pairs entry left to be confirmed, or relinquished as the case may be.

 

[Andrea82]

The official nomination for Mrazeks and Taschlers by Czechia Olympic Committee

Český olympijský tým 🇨🇿 on Instagram: "Krasobrusleni má v Česku dlouhou tradici. A na ta nejlepší léta se v Miláně pokusí navázat dva taneční páry. Shodou okolností oba sourozenecké. 🫶 Mrázkovi a Taschlerovi v poslední letech pronikli mezi evro

1,939 likes, 6 comments - olympijskytym on January 22, 2026: "Krasobrusleni má v Česku dlouhou tradici. A na ta nejlepší léta se v Miláně pokusí navázat dva taneční páry. Shodou okolností oba sourozenecké. 🫶 Mrázkovi a Taschlerovi v poslední letech pronikli mezi evropskou i světovou špičku a...

www.instagram.com

 

[Andrea82]

It looks like it's down to Finland's women's entry, and Uzbekistan's pairs entry left to be confirmed, or relinquished as the case may be.

Iida Karhunen is confirmed today by Finnish Olympic Committee (last pic):

Suomen Olympiajoukkue on Instagram: "Olympiajoukkue täydentyi 37 urheilijalla.✨ Yhteensä 102 urheilijaa edustaa Suomea Milano-Cortinan talviolympialaisissa.❄️ 📍Milano-Cortinan talviolympialaiset kilpaillaan Italiassa 6.-22.2.2026. #MilanoCortin

1,565 likes, 5 comments - olympicteamfinland on January 23, 2026: "Olympiajoukkue täydentyi 37 urheilijalla.✨ Yhteensä 102 urheilijaa edustaa Suomea Milano-Cortinan talviolympialaisissa.❄️ 📍Milano-Cortinan talviolympialaiset kilpaillaan Italiassa 6.-22.2.2026. #MilanoCortina2026".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Finnish federation’s press release today (Jan. 23):

Suomen Olympiakomitea on nimennyt Iida Karhusen talviolympialaisiin I SkatingFinland

17-vuotias Iida Karhunen kertoo valmistautuvansa Milano–Cortinan olympialaisiin samalla tutulla rutiinilla kuin muihinkin tärkeisiin kilpailuihin.

www.skatingfinland.fi

Auto-translation:

Iida Karhunen has been selected to represent Finland in women's figure skating at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics. The Olympic Committee announced the remaining nominations today.

The Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics will be held in Italy from 6 to 22 June 2026. For Karhunen, the Olympics are the first of her career. The Lappeenranta native was only able to try out adult competitions this season after the International Skating Federation raised the minimum age limit for the senior series to 17. However, Karhunen immediately captured both the Finnish championship and tenth place in the European championships in her debut season.

“The choice feels really great and meaningful.”

Finland is allowed to send one representative to the women's competition in Milan–Cortina. The skater who has achieved the highest sum of the two best overall results will be presented to the Finnish Olympic Committee for selection as an Olympic athlete. Karhunen was followed in the statistics by Finnish Championship silver medalist Olivia Lisko until the last meters.

– The choice feels really great and meaningful. My goal is to show the best possible performances, IIda Karhunen comments.

The 17-year-old Karhunen has gained experience in competitive events not only at the Sheffield European Championships but also in the junior series, where she has represented Finland three times at the World Championships. Marina Shirshova [note: mother of Alisa Efimova] will also coach the three-time Finnish junior champion from 2022–2024.

"I prepare for the games with the same familiar routine as I do for other important competitions."

Iida Karhunen is leaving for Milan with great enthusiasm. She says she wants to enjoy the entire event to the fullest and focus on her own work. The women's short and free skates will be skated at the Milan Figure Skating Arena towards the end of the Olympics on February 17 and 19. There are no plans to perform miracles in the month leading up to the competition.

– I prepare for the Games with the same familiar routine as I do for other important competitions. I focus on basic training and recovery, and I bring familiar equipment, Karhunen says about her preparation for the Olympics.

Finnish figure skating will also be represented at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics by the ice dance pair Juulia Turkkila and Matthias Versluis . Their competition begins on February 9.

 

[Sylvia]

AFAIK, Belinda Noonan will return as the world feed figure skating commentator for OBS (Olympic Broadcasting Services).

Jan. 25th: https://x.com/OllyHogben/status/2015532066876629089
"A week until I depart for my 9th Games for Olympic Broadcasting Services, and my third-consecutive Olympic Winter Games. I am overjoyed to be heading to Milano Cortina to once again commentate all of the figure skating alongside the incomparable Belinda Noonan. Cannot wait!"

About Olly | Olly Hogben

www.ollyhogben.com