News & fluff via social media (figure skating focus)

[YukiNieve]

A volunteer posted the photos of inside the arena on her IG:

Dana Sabatini-Speciale 🇨🇦🇮🇹 on Instagram: "Officially a 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Volunteer for Figure Skating!! 💙💛🖤💚❤️ Let the Games begin!!! #milanocortina2026 #figureskating #ice #milan #olympics"

428 likes, 59 comments - dana_loves_skating on January 29, 2026: "Officially a 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Volunteer for Figure Skating!! 💙💛🖤💚❤️ Let the Games begin!!! #milanocortina2026 #figureskating #ice #milan #olympics".

www.instagram.com

Part of the 2nd floor seats seems to be covered?

 

[Karen-W]

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

For those who aren't interested in clicking over to or do not have IG -

Team Event - Men -
Referee - Ms. Vera Tauchmanova CZE
Technical Controller - Ms. Leena Laaksonen FIN
Technical Specialist - Mr. Clarence Ong AUS
Technical Specialist - Mr. Raoul Leblanc CAN
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Christine Blanc SUI
Ms. Laila Davidsson SWE
Mr. Daniel Delfa ESP
Ms. Ann Findlay GBR
Ms. Karen Howard CAN
Ms. Hailan Jiang CHN
Mr. Anthony Leroy FRA
Ms. Gloria Morandi ITA
Mr. Attila Soos HUN

Team Event - Women -
Referee - Ms. Saioa Sancho ESP

@tony - can you double check the TE Women's Referee? Sancho is the Pairs/TE Pairs Referee while Raffaella Locatelli is the Women's Referee - the rest of the TE Referee/TC/TS/Data & Replay Operators match the Individual Events, so I'm wondering if there's an error here????

Technical Controller - Mr. Jeroen Prins NED
Technical Specialist - Ms. Claudia Unger GER
Technical Specialist - Ms. Zsofia Tokaji-Kulcsar HUN
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Ms. Leah Bates AUS
Ms. Weiguang Chen CHN
Ms. Anna Kantor ISR
Ms. Laimute Krauziene LTU
Ms. Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas NED
Ms. Saodat Numanova UZB
Mr. Kevin Rosenstein USA
Ms. Adrienn Schadenbauer AUT
Ms. Alice Walder SUI

Team Event - Pairs -
Referee - Ms. Saioa Sancho ESP
Technical Controller - Ms. Susan Lynch AUS
Technical Specialist - Ms. Veronique Fleury FRA
Technical Specialist - Ms. Whitney Gaynor USA
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Leah Bates AUS
Ms. Weiguang Chen CHN
Ms. Ann Findlay GBR
Ms. Karen Howard CAN
Ms. Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas NED
Ms. Gloria Morandi ITA
Ms. Saodat Numanova UZB
Ms. Ayumi Ono JPN
Mr. Attila Soos HUN

Team Event - Ice Dance -
Referee - Mr. Rolf Pipoh GER
Technical Controller - Mr. Marcin Kozubek POL
Technical Specialist - Ms. Ayako Higashino JPN
Technical Specialist - Ms. Taehwa Yang KOR
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Mr. Christian Baumann GER
Mr. Feng Huang CHN
Ms. Leslie Keen CAN
Ms. Elena Khmyzenko GEO
Mr. Richard Kosina CZE
Ms. Patricia Moritz AUS
Ms. Marta Olozagarre ESP
Ms. Chihee Rhee KOR
Mr. Nicholas Russell GBR

Men -
Referee - Ms. Vera Tauchmanova CZE
Technical Controller - Ms. Leena Laaksonen FIN
Technical Specialist - Mr. Clarence Ong AUS
Technical Specialist - Mr. Raoul Leblanc CAN
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Agita Abele LAT
Ms. Christine Blanc SUI
Ms. Leanna Caron CAN
Ms. Laila Davidsson SWE
Mr. Daniel Delfa ESP
Ms. Nadezhda Fiodorova GEO
Ms. Hailan Jiang CHN
Mr. Yury Kliushnikov AZE
Ms. Jung Sue Lee KOR
Mr. Anthony Leroy FRA
Ms. Kristina Lundgren USA
Ms. Tiziana Morandi ITA
Ms. Nadezhda Paretskaia KAZ

Women -
Referee - Ms. Raffaella Locatelli ITA
Technical Controller - Mr. Jeroen Prins NED
Technical Specialist - Ms. Claudia Unger GER
Technical Specialist - Ms. Zsofia Tokaji-Kulcsar HUN
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Ms. Marina Beschea ROU
Ms. Helene Cucuphat FRA
Mr. Richard Grainge GBR
Ms. Young Kyung Han KOR
Ms. Ritsuko Horiuchi JPN
Ms. Anna Kantor ISR
Ms. Laimute Krauziene LTU
Ms. Nadezhda Paretskaia KAZ
Ms. Vessela Popova BUL
Mr. Kevin Rosenstein USA
Ms. Magdalena Rusiecka POL
Ms. Adrienn Schadenbauer AUT
Ms. Alice Walder SUI

Pairs -
Referee - Ms. Saioa Sancho ESP
Technical Controller - Ms. Susan Lynch AUS
Technical Specialist - Ms. Veronique Fleury FRA
Technical Specialist - Ms. Whitney Gaynor USA
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Leah Bates AUS
Ms. Weiguang Chen CHN
Ms. Salome Chigogidze GEO
Ms. Ann Findlay GBR
Ms. Peggy Graham USA
Ms. Aniela Hebel-Szmak POL
Ms. Karen Howard CAN
Ms. Kerstin Kimminus GER
Ms. Nicole Van Gerwen-Maas NED
Ms. Gloria Morandi ITA
Ms. Saodat Numanova UZB
Ms. Ayumi Ono JPN
Mr. Attila Soos HUN

Ice Dance -
Referee - Mr. Rolf Pipoh GER
Technical Controller - Mr. Marcin Kozubek POL
Technical Specialist - Ms. Ayako Higashino JPN
Technical Specialist - Ms. Taehwa Yang KOR
Data Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Replay Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Judges -
Mr. Christian Baumann GER
Ms. Jezabel Dabouis FRA
Ms. Janis Engel USA
Mr. Feng Huang CHN
Ms. Leslie Keen CAN
Ms. Elena Khmyzenko GEO
Mr. Richard Kosina CZE
Ms. Virpi Kunnas-Helminen FIN
Ms. Isabella Micheli ITA
Ms. Patricia Moritz AUS
Ms. Marta Olozagarre ESP
Ms. Chihee Rhee KOR
Mr. Nicholas Russell GBR

 

[tony]

For those who aren't interested in clicking over to or do not have IG -


@tony - can you double check the TE Women's Referee? Sancho is the Pairs/TE Pairs Referee while Raffaella Locatelli is the Women's Referee - the rest of the TE Referee/TC/TS/Data & Replay Operators match the Individual Events, so I'm wondering if there's an error here????

The first slide I published today was a supplemental material probably created several weeks ago. The lists on the latter posts are the most current referee situation. Not sure why they split.

 

[Karen-W]

The first slide I published today was a supplemental material probably created several weeks ago. The lists on the latter posts are the most current referee situation. Not sure why they split.

I was using your most recent two posts - the ones with the white background & black font. I'm not doubting the credibility of your sources, just found it strange that Sancho is going to be serving as Referee for two different segments of the Team Event (Women & Pairs, as well as the Pairs Referee) while Locatelli is only serving as Referee for the Women's event.

 

[tony]

I was using your most recent two posts - the ones with the white background & black font. I'm not doubting the credibility of your sources, just found it strange that Sancho is going to be serving as Referee for two different segments of the Team Event (Women & Pairs, as well as the Pairs Referee) while Locatelli is only serving as Referee for the Women's event.

This is officially published material available to skaters, coaches, and officials via the ISU. Maybe Locatelli will not be available yet for whatever reason.

 

[MacMadame]

For those of us who don't pay attention to judges and TS, are there any in this list that are worth commenting on? Are the appointed TS ones who tend to be easy or hard on levels and under-rotations?

 

[Karen-W]

For those of us who don't pay attention to judges and TS, are there any in this list that are worth commenting on? Are the appointed TS ones who tend to be easy or hard on levels and under-rotations?

Men's Panel - Called SCI
Women's Panel - Called Finlandia
Pairs Panel - Called Worlds 2025
Dance Panel - Called GPF

 

[Sylvia]

Instastory [by Team USA Athletes’ Commission] ... 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.)

For posterity this clip has been re-posted via this fan account of Amber's:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2017317718370766864

"Our @usfigureskating athletes reacting to surprise messages from home is so wholesome. ":

Team USA on Instagram: "The strength behind the skate. 🇺🇸 Our @usfigureskating athletes reacting to surprise messages from home is so wholesome. 🥹 #WinterOlympics"

4,157 likes, 26 comments - teamusa on January 30, 2026: "The strength behind the skate. 🇺🇸 Our @usfigureskating athletes reacting to surprise messages from home is so wholesome. 🥹 #WinterOlympics".

www.instagram.com

I've posted links to Getty Images photos from Team USA Processing yesterday in the various skaters' fan threads in the Trash Can.

Is it worth starting a separate thread for the Judging & Technical Panels? ETA that Andrea82 (not subscribed to Kiss & Cry section) has posted about the Ice Dance panels here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...twice-thats-amore.112942/page-60#post-6880283

 

[Wyliefan]

As the skaters are posting pics of their rooms, I keep seeing what look like framed drawings of them above their beds. That's so nice! I wonder who did the drawings?

 

[BittyBug]

The monogramming is a nice touch too.

 

[Sylvia]

Is it worth starting a separate thread for the Judging & Technical Panels? ETA that Andrea82 (not subscribed to Kiss & Cry section) has posted about the Ice Dance panels here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...twice-thats-amore.112942/page-60#post-6880283

Just saw that Andrea82 has posted the names of all the the judges by country in the Olympics Qualification GSD thread so there's no need for a separate thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...ing-qualification.111830/page-21#post-6880276

Olympic Village U.S. roommates that we know about so far:

Emily Chan & Emilea Zingas - from the Z/K fan thread yesterday:

one of his following [Vadym's Instagram story] videos shows Emi’s room and judging from the EC on the boxes, she’s sharing with Emily Chan.

You can hear her in the background saying it’s good Vadym has his own so she can store stuff in his

Isabeau Levito & Christina Carreira (Christina's latest Insta stories show them outside at the Village last night and her & Emilea at the Bergamo rink today)

Madi & Evan (ETA) who now have arrived in Milan: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DULUm87iGR_/

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I saw a video a Canadian athlete posted of their room in the Village and it was completely bare. Team Canada needs to step it up!

 

[4rkidz]

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

We don’t need them we just need to follow your posts lol

 

[4rkidz]

As the skaters are posting pics of their rooms, I keep seeing what look like framed drawings of them above their beds. That's so nice! I wonder who did the drawings?

When I was interviewing one of the skaters going her advice to the newbies was to bring posters and personalize their rooms.
ETA .. any Canadians in Milan DM so I can give you the info on the “unofficial” Canada house in Milano.

 

[MacMadame]

Men's Panel - Called SCI
Women's Panel - Called Finlandia
Pairs Panel - Called Worlds 2025
Dance Panel - Called GPF

This cracks me up because for people like you and Tony, this says a lot. For people like me who have decided to respond to the toxicity of figure skating by engaging mostly in the skating and ignoring a lot of the rest, it means nothing because I don't remember which competition had which judging issues. [Except wasn't it Finlandia where the tech panel was so weird about levels in Dance?]

And thanks for this, as it has gotten me thinking... and I have many, many questions and thoughts so I think I will start a new thread.

 

[Sylvia]

And thanks for this, as it has gotten me thinking... and I have many, many questions and thoughts so I think I will start a new thread.

I recommend starting your thread in GSD (or the Trash Can) so more people can discuss judging & related issues, etc.

 

[MacMadame]

I recommend starting your thread in GSD (or the Trash Can) so more people can discuss judging & related issues, etc.

Thread 'Judging panels and implications - 2026 Olympics'

Jan 31, 2026

The judging and technical panels for figure skating at the Olympics have been announced. Let the speculation and kibbitzing begin!

Panels
Team Event - Men -
Referee - Ms. Vera Tauchmanova CZE
Technical Controller - Ms. Leena Laaksonen FIN
Technical Specialist - Mr. Clarence Ong AUS
Technical Specialist - Mr. Raoul Leblanc CAN
Data Operator - Mr. Lionel Avot FRA
Replay Operator - Ms. Anne Fagerstrom FIN
Judges -
Ms. Christine Blanc SUI
Ms. Laila Davidsson SWE
Mr. Daniel Delfa ESP
Ms. Ann Findlay GBR
Ms. Karen Howard CAN
Ms. Hailan Jiang CHN
Mr. Anthony Leroy FRA
Ms. Gloria Morandi ITA
Mr...

• MacMadame
• Replies: 35
• Forum: Great Skate Debate

• 

But if it gets moved here, it wasn't me.

 

[Rukia]

Christina showing off her Skims haul (plus you can see the drawing mentioned above which is beautiful and i want it)

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7601576177471393054

 

[BittyBug]

The plastic waste is disheartening.

 

[Rukia]

The plastic waste is disheartening.

I don't know about what skims uses, but they look similar to the bags from places I shop that are made from plant material and are recyclable. But also I wouldn't put it past Kim K. to not care about that so .

 

[BittyBug]

I don't know about what skims uses, but they look similar to the bags from places I shop that are made from plant material and are recyclable. But also I wouldn't put it past Kim K. to not care about that so .

If it’s compostable, that’s great, but the truth about plastic is that very little of it (less than 10% globally) is actually recycled. But Europe, and Italy, is far better at recycling than the U.S., so I’ll hope that Italy is properly managing the waste stream being generated by the Olympics.

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting-worse

Back to the Olympic bubble....

 

[Garden Kitty]

Scott Hamilton posted that his flight from Atlanta got cancelled and he was rebooked through NY, and ended up running into Ilia and his Dad at the airport

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HAB9tqKWEAASjCH?format=jpg&name=small

 

[Jammers]

What the heck is Skims?

 

[Karen-W]

What the heck is Skims?

From Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skims

Skims is an American shapewear and clothing brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian, Emma Grede, and Jens Grede.[1] Skims emphasizes body positivity and inclusivity, offering a full range of inclusive sizing.[2] The company was valued at over $4 billion in July 2023.[3]

 

[Sylvia]

Luke Digby (GBR) has arrived in Olympic Village!

Luke Digby on Instagram: "Travel day to the Olympics with the first few moments in the Olympic Village 😍"

328 likes, 14 comments - luke_digby on January 31, 2026: "Travel day to the Olympics with the first few moments in the Olympic Village 😍".

www.instagram.com

 

[YukiNieve]

According to this article, the practice rink was built temporarily right next to the main rink.

The ceiling appears to be quite low.

ミラノ五輪フィギュア会場で公式練習開始　日本勢は開幕直前に現地へ | 毎日新聞

ミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピック（2月6日開幕）のフィギュアスケートは31日、競技会場であるミラノ・アイススケートアリーナでの公式練習が始まった。 　午前中から会場の隣に設置された仮設の練習用リンクで、各カテゴリーの練習時間が設けられた。開幕まで約1週間あることから、リンクに姿を見せる選手は限ら

mainichi.jp

Alysa, Isabeau and Amber were practicing here (Photos No.8 and 9) today (Jan. 31).
Vadym said they were going back to Bergamo to train. So women remained here?

フィギュアスケート公式練習スタート　ミラノ五輪 ［写真特集8/16］ | 毎日新聞

フィギュアスケートとショートトラックが行われるミラノ・アイススケートアリーナへ向かう電車内に表示される案内＝ミラノで2026年1月31日、猪飼健史撮影

mainichi.jp

 

[Karen-W]

According to this article, the practice rink was built temporarily right next to the main rink.

The ceiling appears to be quite low.

ミラノ五輪フィギュア会場で公式練習開始　日本勢は開幕直前に現地へ | 毎日新聞

ミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピック（2月6日開幕）のフィギュアスケートは31日、競技会場であるミラノ・アイススケートアリーナでの公式練習が始まった。 　午前中から会場の隣に設置された仮設の練習用リンクで、各カテゴリーの練習時間が設けられた。開幕まで約1週間あることから、リンクに姿を見せる選手は限ら

mainichi.jp

I don't think the ceiling is all that low for a temporary venue. Based off the height of the people standing next to the boards in the distance, I'd guess the ceiling starts at about 20 feet in height and reaches at least twice that at the pinnacle.

 

[YukiNieve]

Ilia arrived at the airport.(the article has a photo).

Loading…

news.yahoo.co.jp

 

[Firedancer]

Ilia made it to team processing:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/t...rce=ig_story_item_share&igsh=aHJrc2dxMzZlM2Jw

 

[Sylvia]

As the skaters are posting pics of their rooms, I keep seeing what look like framed drawings of them above their beds. That's so nice! I wonder who did the drawings?

Christina showing off her Skims haul (plus you can see the drawing mentioned above which is beautiful and i want it)

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7601576177471393054

Sonja Hilmer! Her video just now: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUN6KMmgD41/

ETA - glad to see this impressive feat originally was posted in GSD! https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/u-s-women-8-meet-me-in-st-louis.112905/page-30#post-6880672