Zingas/Kolesnik Fan Thread - They Have “It”

[Icetalavista]

I read in a post on some thread (sorry can't find it) that the hope of one ZingKol fan is that the top five teams will retire. I wouldn't mind that at all! But my question is: has anyone heard anything about Fear & Gibson's plans re competition after 2026 Olympics and Worlds?

 

[aprilediv]

I read in a post on some thread (sorry can't find it) that the hope of one ZingKol fan is that the top five teams will retire. I wouldn't mind that at all! But my question is: has anyone heard anything about Fear & Gibson's plans re competition after 2026 Olympics and Worlds?

I am pretty sure Fear and Gibson will continue on. They are only 26/31 and seem healthy.

 

[Icetalavista]

I am pretty sure Fear and Gibson will continue on. They are only 26/31 and seem healthy.

Will be so interesting to see the 6th thru 8th places at Oly dance. I assume FbCiz, ChoBat, GuiFab, GilPoir and FearGib are top five but who knows? Dogfight below that!

 

[Tinycities]

Emi reposting starsonice’s post with . Guessing they’ll be on a few dates.

 

[Debbie S]

Emi reposting starsonice’s post with . Guessing they’ll be on a few dates.

Hopefully my show is one of them!

 

[aprilediv]

Emi reposting starsonice’s post with . Guessing they’ll be on a few dates.

I really hope that's the case. They'll be fabulous additions to the cast!

 

[Sylvia]

Ty Steele News tonight: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT_62PyiG6Y/

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ETA:

Special send-off honors 2 Michigan skaters on their road to the 2026 Winter Olympics
Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV (Jan 26, 2026): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPNawjns7z4
A special send-off for two Michigan skaters headed to the world’s biggest stage, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Ty Steele joins us live with a very special night for some Olympic-bound ice dancers from Metro Detroit.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT_-PmyAlYZ/

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[ice coverage]

Must-see homage to Wes Anderson from Emi and Vadym:

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They nailed it! I can't stop watching and laughing ...

 

[Sylvia]

"Greek City Times, is a leading media platform dedicated to promoting Hellenism and serving the global Greek diaspora and Philhellenes. With a focus on Greek news, culture, lifestyle, and events, it keeps readers connected to Greece and Cyprus" - 1/27/26 article:

Cypriot-American Ice Dancer Emilea Zingas Qualifies for 2026 Winter Olympics with Team USA Greek City Times

Emilea Zingas, the 23-year-old Cypriot-American figure skater from Michigan, has earned her place on Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Paired with boyfriend and ice-dance partner Vadym Kolesnik, the duo claimed silver at the U.S. Championships and will make their Olympic...

greekcitytimes.com

 

[annie_mg]

If these two ever win a world medal I can see the Cypriot newspapers covering it. We never have any high-level athletes with very few exceptions, but we love to say that George Michael(the singer) was Cypriot, etc.

 

[teraytan]

Must-see homage to Wes Anderson from Emi and Vadym:

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They nailed it! I can't stop watching and laughing ...

OMG this is HILARIOUS! It's so very well done! Athletes often act awkward in ads, but I think they absolutely nailed it!

 

[ice coverage]

Ty Steele News tonight: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT_62PyiG6Y/

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ETA:

Special send-off honors 2 Michigan skaters on their road to the 2026 Winter Olympics
Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV (Jan 26, 2026): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPNawjns7z4
A special send-off for two Michigan skaters headed to the world’s biggest stage, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Ty Steele joins us live with a very special night for some Olympic-bound ice dancers from Metro Detroit.

I'm glad that the prolific Ty Steele of WDIV will be traveling to Milan -- I look forward to more of his coverage of Emi and Vadym.

His third report on yesterday's Novi meet-and-greet has some previously unseen footage:

Olympic dreams take shape in Novi as Team USA Ice Dancers head to Italy​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAx5mAxcHA8 (2:46, published Jan 27)​

ETA:​

Us Weekly's Jan 27 follow-up on the GoFundMe for Vadym and his family:

Ice Dancer Vadym Kolesnik Shares Update After Raising $20K on GoFundMe

Team USA ice dancer Vadym Kolesnik thanks supporters after he raised $20,211 on GoFundMe to bring family from Ukraine to the 2026 Olympics

www.usmagazine.com

(No original reporting, but nice that a magazine/site is again bringing Vadym to the attention of their mainstream readers.)​

 

[aprilediv]

TikTok - Make Your Day

In this latest Tiktok video, you can see that Emi and Vadym have a gorgeous new banner put up at Novi in their honor . They join the other greats who made it to the Olympics from that school.

 

[Icetalavista]

OMG this is HILARIOUS! It's so very well done! Athletes often act awkward in ads, but I think they absolutely nailed it!

They do deadpan very well. Love Vadym standing sideways in elevator

 

[aprilediv]

Emi and Vadym are on their way to Milan

 

[ice coverage]

In-depth article from NBC Olympics:

Vadym Kolesnik pursues the Olympic dream with help from family, friends, and donors
Jan. 29, 2026

Vadym Kolesnik pursues the Olympic dream with help from family, friends, and donors

Ukrainian American ice dancer Vadym Kolesnik is Olympics bound after years of pursuing his ice dance career in the United States despite the tribulations he and his family have faced during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

www.nbcolympics.com

Excerpt:

The 24-year-old launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to bring his family safely from Ukraine to the Olympics. As of January 23, Kolesnik has raised enough money to bring two of his family members to see him compete in Milan. With his father taking care of his family in Kharkiv and his mother unable to travel for her own safety due to her visa, Kolesnik will be bringing his aunt and sister-in-law from Ukraine.​

ETA:​

I just happened to check the GoFundMe page ... and the goal amount has been reached!!!​

 

[Tinycities]

In-depth article from NBC Olympics:

Vadym Kolesnik pursues the Olympic dream with help from family, friends, and donors​

Jan. 29, 2026​

Vadym Kolesnik pursues the Olympic dream with help from family, friends, and donors

Ukrainian American ice dancer Vadym Kolesnik is Olympics bound after years of pursuing his ice dance career in the United States despite the tribulations he and his family have faced during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

www.nbcolympics.com

Excerpt:

The 24-year-old launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to bring his family safely from Ukraine to the Olympics. As of January 23, Kolesnik has raised enough money to bring two of his family members to see him compete in Milan. With his father taking care of his family in Kharkiv and his mother unable to travel for her own safety due to her visa, Kolesnik will be bringing his aunt and sister-in-law from Ukraine.​

The line about his mother being too scared to leave because of her visa is horrible and an unfortunate sign of the current state of the US.

 

[cheryllib]

Zingnik shared their journey to Milan and the happiness is contagious! Everyone seems so excited (except the dog) and that makes my heart soar for them.

I'm surprised Delta doesn't fly the athletes in business class at least?

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[Debbie S]

I'm surprised Delta doesn't fly the athletes in business class at least?

The plane from Atlanta to Milan is a special "Team USA" plane. There are some posts on IG about it (was it the NBC Olympics site?) but essentially, the whole plane is sort of a business class design, with seats that lie back. For their first flight from Detroit to Atlanta, it's presumably a regular plane, but it appears Delta gave all the athletes Sky Lounge access, so that was a perk.

 

[aprilediv]

Zingnik shared their journey to Milan and the happiness is contagious! Everyone seems so excited (except the dog) and that makes my heart soar for them.

I'm surprised Delta doesn't fly the athletes in business class at least?

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This is the content I live for They seem so excited and you can't help but smile. I wish Delta could have sponsored more of the current Olympians. No shade on the Shibs, who earned their fame from 2018. But skaters have grueling schedules and deserve a bit of travel luxury.

P.S. Vadym's choices of Delta and Costco are actually highly practical and relatable

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Vadym just posted IG stories from his room in the Village! I love all the personal touches Team USA puts in their rooms. It looks like each person will have their own room/bathroom. Didn’t people have to share sometimes in the past?

 

[kwanette]

Vadym just posted IG stories from his room in the Village! I love all the personal touches Team USA puts in their rooms. It looks like each person will have their own room/bathroom. Didn’t people have to share sometimes in the past?

Didn't Tanith and Johnny share?

 

[Tinycities]

Vadym just posted IG stories from his room in the Village! I love all the personal touches Team USA puts in their rooms. It looks like each person will have their own room/bathroom. Didn’t people have to share sometimes in the past?

one of his following 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

 

[kwanette]

Vadym just posted IG stories from his room in the Village! I love all the personal touches Team USA puts in their rooms. It looks like each person will have their own room/bathroom. Didn’t people have to share sometimes in the past?

I just watched.

 

[BittyBug]

Vadym just posted IG stories from his room in the Village! I love all the personal touches Team USA puts in their rooms. It looks like each person will have their own room/bathroom. Didn’t people have to share sometimes in the past?

Didn't Tanith and Johnny share?

Yes. And Johnny and Evan Bates were roommates for 2010.

 

[Debbie S]

Yes. And Johnny and Evan Bates were roommates for 2010.

I'm pretty sure 2010 was when Johnny and Tanith were roommates?

 

[Sylvia]

Vadym mentioned in one of the Insta stories from his room in the Village that tomorrow morning they're going to Bergamo to train for a few days.

Getty Images (12 photos featuring Vadym at Team USA Processing today)

Getty Images (9 photos featuring Emi at Team USA Processing today - misspelled 'Emilia' in the captions)