News & fluff via social media (figure skating focus)

[Sylvia]

Here's a thread to share any news or fun "fluff stuff" from skaters in Italy via the figure skaters' social media channels.

Today (Jan. 29) Danny O'Shea has shared an Instagram story photo of him, Ellie, Maxim, Emily & Spencer posing in front of Olympic Rings at night (at the airport or somewhere else?). As already has been mentioned elsewhere on FSU, Team USA will be sharing unofficial practice ice at IceLab in Bergamo with the Italian skaters based there. Jacob Sanchez posted an Insta story from there yesterday - I have heard that he and the other 3 Junior Worlds singles skaters - Lucius Kazanecki, Sophie Joline von Felten and Angela Shao - will get the opportunity to train in Bergamo and attend the Team Event in person! ).

ETA: I will start a separate thread for mainstream press coverage (articles, photos, clips) soon.

 

[Sylvia]

The first 5 Team Japan figure skaters have departed for Italy (Kaori, Yuma, Shun, Utana Yoshida/Masaya Morita): https://www.instagram.com/p/DUE6_Ysk0Cc/

ETA - and they have arrived in Milan! https://x.com/mainichiphoto/status/2016826064010641701
Airport arrival photos, linked from the X post: https://mainichi.jp/graphs/20260129/mpj/00m/050/042000f/20260129mpj00m050034000p

 

[Rob]

Here's a thread to share any news or fun "fluff stuff" from skaters in Italy via the figure skaters' social media channels.

Today (Jan. 29) Danny O'Shea has shared an Instagram story photo of him, Ellie, Maxim, Emily & Spencer posing in front of Olympic Rings at night (at the airport or somewhere else?). As already has been mentioned elsewhere on FSU, Team USA will be sharing unofficial practice ice at IceLab in Bergamo with the Italian skaters based there. Jacob Sanchez posted an Insta story from there yesterday - I have heard that he and the other 3 Junior Worlds singles skaters - Lucius Kazanecki, Sophie Joline von Felten and Angela Shao - will get the opportunity to train in Bergamo and attend the Team Event in person! ).

I was hoping Max was there already with quite a bit of press about the plane crash hearing on the news back here. Not that it’s ever out of his mind, but maybe not in his face while he focuses on his Olympic experience.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Decided to take the long way around after picking up my groceries through Simsbury, CT. Found in the middle of town a huge sign with, "Good Luck, MAX"! i LOVE IT!

 

[skatfan]

Lisa McKinnon posted that a costume she made for an Olympian is stuck in the main FedEx facility.

Lisa McKinnon on Instagram: "Dear @fedex , We’re heartbroken and so incredibly disappointed with you! We really really need you to come through for us right now!! We have an Olympic costume that has allegedly been ”stuck” at the memphis fedex facilit

1,424 likes, 108 comments - lisamckinnon90210 on January 29, 2026: "Dear @fedex , We’re heartbroken and so incredibly disappointed with you! We really really need you to come through for us right now!! We have an Olympic costume that has allegedly been ”stuck” at the memphis fedex facility since...

www.instagram.com

I hope it’s not Alysa’s new MacArthur Park costume.

 

[Sylvia]

Christina just posted an Insta story - it's hers : https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ed-a-cheer-thread.104452/page-51#post-6879774

 

[Karen-W]

Lisa McKinnon posted that a costume she made for an Olympian is stuck in the main FedEx facility.

Lisa McKinnon on Instagram: "Dear @fedex , We’re heartbroken and so incredibly disappointed with you! We really really need you to come through for us right now!! We have an Olympic costume that has allegedly been ”stuck” at the memphis fedex facilit

1,424 likes, 108 comments - lisamckinnon90210 on January 29, 2026: "Dear @fedex , We’re heartbroken and so incredibly disappointed with you! We really really need you to come through for us right now!! We have an Olympic costume that has allegedly been ”stuck” at the memphis fedex facility since...

www.instagram.com

I hope it’s not Alysa’s new MacArthur Park costume.

Possibly Christina Carreira?

She reposted on her IG story with "FedEx please help" and crying emojis.

Instagram

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

www.instagram.com

 

[skatfan]

Possibly Christina Carreira?

She reposted on her IG story with "FedEx please help" and crying emojis.

Instagram

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

www.instagram.com

Possibly… it could also be for a friend of hers

 

[Debbie S]

That FedEx facility must be a total cluster right now. My company shipped a bunch of boxes overnight on Tuesday to Las Vegas for a trade show starting Monday. Boxes are apparently stuck in Memphis, no tracking updates and my boss is in a panic. Our planning meeting this morning was developing contingency plans. But we'll be fine. I hope someone can get Christina's dress to her!

 

[Rukia]

Possibly… it could also be for a friend of hers

It's hers. She posted on tiktok too. She says Scott is coming later and can bring them (as long as they get delivered lol).

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7600871768387095838

 

[skatfan]

The Skating Lesson is saying definitively on Facebook that it is Alysa’s costume despite evidence to the contrary.

 

[Wyliefan]

The Skating Lesson is saying definitively on Facebook that it is Alysa’s costume despite evidence to the contrary.

Typical.

 

[Karen-W]

The Skating Lesson is saying definitively on Facebook that it is Alysa’s costume despite evidence to the contrary.

People out there making all sorts of assumptions today about whose costume it was before Christina confirmed it was hers. I get it because we heard at Nats that Alysa was getting a new dress for her Donna Summer FS, but the facts never added up - Alysa is in the Bay Area, surely FedEx would have just put the package on a truck to make the overnight trip from LA to Oakland, or if it was flown, no way would it have gone to Memphis just to fly back to the West Coast.

 

[skatfan]

People out there making all sorts of assumptions today about whose costume it was before Christina confirmed it was hers. I get it because we heard at Nats that Alysa was getting a new dress for her Donna Summer FS, but the facts never added up - Alysa is in the Bay Area, surely FedEx would have just put the package on a truck to make the overnight trip from LA to Oakland, or if it was flown, no way would it have gone to Memphis just to fly back to the West Coast.

I had the old model of FedEx in my brain. They used to fly ALL packages to TN, everything would be sorted and the planes would all fly back to where they came from. I’m guessing they don’t do that anymore.

 

[MacMadame]

If they still do, a lot more people than Christina are screwed.

 

[tony]

The Skating Session by Tony Wheeler on Instagram: "EXCLUSIVE look inside the arena for the 2026 Olympic Games. The boards are up!"

548 likes, 13 comments - theskatingsession on January 30, 2026: "EXCLUSIVE look inside the arena for the 2026 Olympic Games. The boards are up!".

www.instagram.com

Here’s an exclusive look inside the arena with the boards having been completed overnight. I received permission from the organizers to pass this along.

 

[Firedancer]

Video of Zingas and Kolesnik traveling and arriving in Milan:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Debbie S]

Christina posted on her IG story a few hours ago that her dress was found and delivered, so I assume Scott will be able to bring it with him.

 

[Karen-W]

Christina posted on her IG story a few hours ago that her dress was found and delivered, so I assume Scott will be able to bring it with him.

Not quite. She posted that the package had been found. She didn't state that it had been delivered to Scott yet.

 

[Debbie S]

Not quite. She posted that the package had been found. She didn't state that it had been delivered to Scott yet.

I assume it has to have landed where someone could take a photo and send it to her....I doubt FedEx would be taking and sending photos while it is en route? In any event, Christina sounds happy so she must be confident it will get to her.

 

[4rkidz]

The Skating Session by Tony Wheeler on Instagram: "EXCLUSIVE look inside the arena for the 2026 Olympic Games. The boards are up!"

548 likes, 13 comments - theskatingsession on January 30, 2026: "EXCLUSIVE look inside the arena for the 2026 Olympic Games. The boards are up!".

www.instagram.com

Here’s an exclusive look inside the arena with the boards having been completed overnight. I received permission from the organizers to pass this along.

My fellow volunteers are there and one was at worlds in 2018 when we were and said that they have upgraded a lot of it. I just hope the washroom situation has been resolved, we actually took over the men’s at worlds and shared them with us women LOL.. we used the stalls they used the urinals and we averted our eyes LOL.. I will see for myself in a couple of days and report back.

 

[Sylvia]

Video of Zingas and Kolesnik traveling and arriving in Milan:

They traveled with Carreira/Ponomarenko and Andrew Torgashev - the video ends with all 5 of them being filmed at night in front of the Olympic Rings (likely at the airport, where the first group of USA skaters had been).

Video of Team USA processing in Milan:

Team USA on Instagram: "When it officially feels real. 🇺🇸 A first look at the Team USA Welcome Experience in Milan. #WinterOlympics"

8,689 likes, 81 comments - teamusa on January 29, 2026: "When it officially feels real. 🇺🇸 A first look at the Team USA Welcome Experience in Milan. #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

 

[TanithandBenFan]

The Blade Angels have arrived!

Team USA on Instagram: "The Blade Angels have made it 🪽 #WinterOlympics"

625 likes, 16 comments - teamusa on January 30, 2026: "The Blade Angels have made it 🪽 #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

 

[Karen-W]

The Blade Angels have arrived at the Team USA processing center in Milano!

Team USA on Instagram: "The Blade Angels have made it 🪽 #WinterOlympics"

634 likes, 16 comments - teamusa on January 30, 2026: "The Blade Angels have made it 🪽 #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

 

[Sylvia]

Anthony & Andrew :

Team USA on Instagram: "Absolutely serving in these Skims 💅 #WinterOlympics"

6,011 likes, 42 comments - teamusa on January 30, 2026: "Absolutely serving in these Skims 💅 #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

More from USA team processing:

Team USA on Instagram: "Stay tuned 🤫 #WinterOlympics"

31K likes, 99 comments - teamusa on January 30, 2026: "Stay tuned 🤫 #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

Ashley Cain & Polina Edmunds will be in Milan ("We’ll be capturing it all along the way, let us know what content you would like to see from us while we are there."): https://www.instagram.com/p/DUI-5J9Ebv_/

So will Kaitlin Hawayek: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUI95znDmZx/

During the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, I’m honored to represent the @olympicmuseum’s Olympian Artists Program at the LA28 Olympic Hospitality Launch in Milan, Italy. As an Olympian working at the intersection of sport, music, and culture, I’m excited to participate as a DJ with a curated playlist inspired by the diverse sounds of Los Angeles.

 

[tony]

The Skating Session by Tony Wheeler on Instagram: "2026 Olympic technical panels CONFIRMED and full list of judges."

3 likes, 0 comments - theskatingsession on January 30, 2026: "2026 Olympic technical panels CONFIRMED and full list of judges.".

www.instagram.com

Tech panel list I published a few months ago, confirmed here along with all judges.

 

[tony]

For those interested, I’ve listed the full judging and technical panels for both the team event and individual competition:

The Skating Session by Tony Wheeler on Instagram: "Full technical and judging panels for the Olympic team event"

117 likes, 9 comments - theskatingsession on January 30, 2026: "Full technical and judging panels for the Olympic team event".

www.instagram.com

The Skating Session by Tony Wheeler on Instagram: "Full list of technical and judging panels for the individual events at the Olympics!"

51 likes, 1 comments - theskatingsession on January 30, 2026: "Full list of technical and judging panels for the individual events at the Olympics!".

www.instagram.com

 

[BittyBug]

The Skating Session by Tony Wheeler on Instagram: "EXCLUSIVE look inside the arena for the 2026 Olympic Games. The boards are up!"

548 likes, 13 comments - theskatingsession on January 30, 2026: "EXCLUSIVE look inside the arena for the 2026 Olympic Games. The boards are up!".

www.instagram.com

Here’s an exclusive look inside the arena with the boards having been completed overnight. I received permission from the organizers to pass this along.

It’s so nice to see a normal looking arena (vs. the bowl that was Salt Lake and others).

 

[Sylvia]

Link to Team USA Athletes’ Commission's Instagram story (re-posting here from the Trash Can thread):

Instastory below shows most of the U.S. figure skaters as they make their way to the top of the stairs together before entering Team USA welcome experience/team processing. Love their beaming smiles and the applause for them.
(I see: Naumov, Torgashev, Zingas/Kolesnik, Carreira/Ponomarenko, Chan/Howe, Kam/O'Shea, Glenn, Liu, Levito.)

https://www.instagram.com/stories/teamusa_ac/3821685695568583638/​

Emily Chan's short video ("Bostonians’ mini-trip to Milan " with Spencer & Max):

Emily Chan | Olympian and Pairs Figure Skater on Instagram: "Bostonians’ mini-trip to Milan 🇮🇹 #milanocortina2026 #olympics #milan #figureskating"

602 likes, 21 comments - chopstickspin on January 30, 2026: "Bostonians’ mini-trip to Milan 🇮🇹 #milanocortina2026 #olympics #milan #figureskating".

www.instagram.com

More USA team processing moments from today (cross-posting here from the Trash Can thread):

Danny O'Shea (photo #6 with Maxim):

Danny O'Shea on Instagram: "Some first looks from the @teamusa Welcome Experience! So blessed!!"

6,209 likes, 102 comments - dannyoshea213 on January 30, 2026: "Some first looks from the @teamusa Welcome Experience! So blessed!!".

www.instagram.com

Ellie Kam:

Ellie Kam on Instagram: "Happy @teamusa kit day 🇺🇸🦅 @usfigureskating #teamusa #olympics #leaveyourmark #milan Haul coming 🔜 Follow my TikTok for more #behindthescenes Link in my Linktree 💞 Thanks to all the volunteers and workers we met today!

elliekam.w on January 30, 2026: "Happy @teamusa kit day 🇺🇸🦅 @usfigureskating #teamusa #olympics #leaveyourmark #milan Haul coming 🔜 Follow my TikTok for more #behindthescenes Link in my Linktree 💞 Thanks to all the volunteers and workers we met today! Made this experience unforgettable 🤍...

www.instagram.com

Vadym Kolesnik has started to unpack in his room in the Village and mentioned in his latest Insta stories that tomorrow morning they're going to Bergamo to train for a few days: https://www.instagram.com/vadym____kolesnik/

 

[Firedancer]

Emilea Zingas pictures from team processing:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram