USA Ice Dance Duo Zingas & Kolesnik Stun with Top 5 Finish at Milano Cortina 2026
- MILAN, Italy – Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik delivered a performance for the ages on Wednesday, February 11th, securing a stunning fifth-place finish in the ice dance competition...
- Just eight months ago, the prospect of even qualifying for the Games felt distant.
- The pair, who began skating together in 2022, entered the Games with a relatively modest profile on the international stage.
MILAN, Italy – Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik delivered a performance for the ages on Wednesday, February 11th, securing a stunning fifth-place finish in the ice dance competition at the in Milan. The American duo, competing in their first Olympic Games, exceeded all expectations, becoming the highest-placing Olympic debutantes in the event and the youngest competitors to crack the top ten.
Just eight months ago, the prospect of even qualifying for the Games felt distant. “I would say, ‘You’re lying’. I would say, ‘That’s not true! I don’t know who told you that,’” Zingas confessed to Olympics.com, reflecting on what she would have thought had someone predicted this outcome. “I wasn’t thinking it was impossible, but it was near impossible.”
The pair, who began skating together in , entered the Games with a relatively modest profile on the international stage. Their most significant achievement prior to Milan was a fourth-place finish at the Four Continents Championships. However, a remarkable surge in form throughout the Olympic season propelled them into contention. They consistently reached the podium in Grand Prix events, qualified for the prestigious Grand Prix Final, and claimed a Four Continents title – albeit with some of the top competitors absent.
Their performance at the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Wednesday was a culmination of that momentum. Zingas and Kolesnik achieved personal bests in both the rhythm dance (83.53) and the free dance (123.19), culminating in an overall personal best score of 206.72. This result not only secured their fifth-place finish but also marked them as the breakout stars of the Olympic ice dance competition.
The significance of their achievement extends beyond the final standings. Zingas and Kolesnik are the first Olympic debutantes to place within the top five, a testament to their rapid development and composure under pressure. Their youth – Zingas is 23, and Kolesnik is 24 – suggests a promising future for the American ice dance program.
The atmosphere inside the arena clearly fueled their performance. “The score was shocking to us because we’ve had a lot of great performances over this season and I don’t know if this 100 per cent felt like the best and cleanest one, but I think it was the most emotional,” Zingas explained. “I’m really happy that the judges received the emotion that we were bringing and the crowd did, too. The crowd was so encouraging. When we heard them screaming at the end of the program, I was thinking, ‘This is it, let’s go!’”
Kolesnik echoed that sentiment, adding with a smile, “I felt like a rock star for a second.”
The American contingent in the stands was particularly vocal, with family and friends of the skaters providing unwavering support. Kolesnik specifically acknowledged the presence of his aunt and sister-in-law, highlighting the personal connection that added to the emotional weight of the performance.
While Madison Chock and Evan Bates secured a silver medal for the United States in ice dance, the emergence of Zingas and Kolesnik provides a significant boost to the future of the program. Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko, the other American ice dance team competing in Milan, finished in 11th place.
The French pair of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron claimed the gold medal, narrowly edging out Chock and Bates. Their victory capped off a thrilling competition that showcased the artistry and athleticism of the world’s top ice dance teams.
Zingas and Kolesnik’s performance is not just a personal triumph. it’s a signal of a changing landscape in American ice dance. Their rapid ascent and captivating performances have captured the attention of fans and experts alike. As they look ahead to the next Olympic cycle, they have set their sights on even greater achievements. This fifth-place finish isn’t a culmination, but a launchpad.
The duo’s success also comes at a time of growing interest in figure skating within the United States, fueled by the captivating stories and performances unfolding in Milan. Zingas and Kolesnik have undoubtedly added to that momentum, inspiring a new generation of skaters to chase their Olympic dreams.