Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik

litenkyckling · Sep 9, 2018

Avonley Nguyen and Vadym Kolesnik are Ice Dancers who represented the USA. The team broke up at the end of the 2019-20 season. Following the break up, Avonley retired from skating. Vadym formed a new team with Emilea Zingas.

Avonley Nguyen was born on 22nd November 2002 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Vadym Kolesnik was born on 27th October 2001 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

They were coached in Novi, MI, by Igor Shpilband and Pasquale Camerlengo.

Nguyen and Kolesnik were the first qualifiers for the 2019-20 Junior Grand Prix Final, having won both the JGP events with high scores, and are the 2019-20 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalists, the 2020 US Junior champions, and the 2020 World Junior Champions!

In an interview, Igor Shpilband said that they were one of the best junior teams he’s coached since Davis & White and Virtue & Moir.

How Vadym and Avonley pronounce their names!

Vadym's previous partner, was Zlata Iefymenko. They skatied for Ukraine.

Avonley's previous partner was Maxwell Gart. They represented the US.

Biographical Information

ISU Team Biography:

USFSA Fanzone Team bio:

Ice-Dance.com Team Biography:

Avonley's Wikipedia:

Vadym's Wikipedia:

Social Media

All team social media were taken off line when the team broke up.

Musical Programs

2019-20
RD: Swing: Aladdin (soundtrack) by Alan Menken; Foxtrot: Aladdin (soundtrack) by Alan Menken; Swing: Aladdin (soundtrack) by Alan Menken; choreo by Igor Shpilband & Pasquale Camerlengo
FD: Piano Concerto #2 by Rachmaninov; choreo by Igor Shpilband & Pasquale Camerlengo

2018-19
RD: "Vuelvo al Sur" performed by Amelita Baltar, "Building the Bullet" by Luis Bacalov
FD: "Demons" by Imagine Dragons, cover by Jasmine Thompson and Boyce Ave, "Experience" by Ludovico Einaudi

2017-18
SD: “Ereds Todo En Mi” by Ana Gabriel, “Mambo Jambo” by Perez Prado
FD: Music from West Side Story soundtrack

Personal Bests

Type	Score	Event	Level
Total	177.18	ISU World Junior Championships 2020	Junior
RD	69.20	ISU JGP Baltic Cup 2019	Junior
RD Technical	37.71	ISU JGP Baltic Cup 2019	Junior
RD Component	32.09	ISU Junior Grand Prix Final 2019/20	Junior
FD	108.91	ISU World Junior Championships 2020	Junior
FD Technical	58.64	ISU World Junior Championships 2020	Junior
FD Component	50.27	ISU World Junior Championships 2020	Junior

Competitive History

Competition	SD	FD	Final
Season 2019 - 2020
2020 World Junior Figure Skating Championships	3 (68.27)	1 (108.91)	1 (177.18)
2020 Junior Bavarian Open	1 (64.13)	1 (101.33)	1 (165.46)
2020 US Junior Nationals	1 (74.49)	1 (109.89)	1 (184.38)
2019-20 Junior Grand Prix Final	2 (68.72)	2 (106.02)	2 (174.74)
2019 JGP Baltic Cup	1 (69.20)	1 (105.48)	1 (174.68)
2019 JGP Lake Placid	1 (66.17)	1 (104.63)	1 (170.80)
Season 2018 - 2019
2019 World Junior Championships	5 (65.18)	3 (102.72)	4 (167.90)
2019 US National Championships	2 (65.92)	1 (105.14)	2 (171.06)
2019 Junior Grand Prix Final	5 (63.73)	5 (94.74)	5 (158.47)
2018 JGP Ljubljana Cup	1 (65.41)	1 (100.22)	1 (165.63)
2018 JGP Amber Cup	2 (63.40)	2 (98.44)	2 (161.84)
Season 2017 - 2018
2018 US Nationals (Juniors)	7 (54.02)	4 (80.29)	5 (134.31)
2018 Midwestern Sectionals (Juniors)	1 (55.18)	1 (79.63)	1 (134.81)
2017 JGP Egna/Neumarkt	6 (52.84)	6 (72.46)	6 (125.30)
2017 JGP Minsk Arena Cup	5 (50.37)	6 (64.52)	5 (114.89)

Articles and Interviewx

May 21, 2020 - "Nguyen and Kolesnik Floating on Cloud Nine After World Juniors Win," by Paige Mara Feigenbaum
https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...ng-on-cloud-nine-after-world-juniors-win.aspx

Mar 1, 2019 - "Nguyen Kolesnik: Golden Ambitions" by Elvin Walker ©IFS
https://web.archive.org/web/20190303014156/https://www.ifsmagazine.com/nguyen-kolesnik/

Jan. 2019 Interview USA Fan Zone
https://usfigureskatingfanzone.com/...d-vadym-kolesniks-bright-eyes-and-future.aspx

Interview with Ted Barton after their win at JGP Ljubljana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1I3j92TLak&feature=youtu.be

Avonley' s blog from JGP Minsk 2017
https://www.ice-dance.com/site/2017-minsk-arena-cup-blog-by-avonley-nguyen/

July 2017 - ice-dance.com interview - "Getting to Know Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik
https://www.ice-dance.com/site/getting-to-know-avonley-nguyen-vadym-kolesnik/

ice coverage · Sep 9, 2018

litenkyckling said:
… They had an amazing free dance at JGP Kaunas and so it seemed like a good time to start a thread. ...

Strongly agree on both counts. The link to their absolutely breath-taking FD:

https://youtu.be/Q82NOG86dP0 (Sep 8, 8 minutes)

I like watching dance, but usually without really knowing why.
Vadym gave me a better understanding of what dance is all about. Thanks to him, I had a lot of eureka moments when the meaning of "making the most of every movement" really hit home. For one thing, he gave a master class in the impact of full extension. Plus the simplicity of his costume showcased his elegance, precision, sharpness.

2018 JGP Lithuania

This not-new article gives some background on the partnership:

https://www.ice-dance.com/site/getting-to-know-avonley-nguyen-vadym-kolesnik/ (2017 Jul)

Go, Avonley and Vadym.

ETA (on Mar 7, 2021, Avonley/Vadym's anniversary of becoming World Junior Champions, and on Mar 9):

For posterity, links to Fan Zone video (full event video) of Avonley/Vadym's USFS competitions:

2018 Midwestern Sectionals in Bloomington, MN

SD video:

- five-minute warmups are not shown (in other words, are edited out)
- Avonley/Vadym's program (second in first group [couples #1, 2, 3]) starts at approx. 5:11

FD video (misfiled under 2019 Midwestern Sectionals):

- five-minute warmups mostly are not shown (in other words, mostly are edited out)
- second group is announced for five-minute warm-up at approx. 11:10
- Avonley/Vadym's program (third in second group [couples #4, 5, 6]) starts at approx. 27:25

2018 Nats in San Jose

SD video:

- five-minute warm-up for second group starts at approx. 19:05
- Avonley/Vadym's program (second in second group [couples #5, 6, 7, 8]) starts at approx. 27:26

FD video:

- five-minute warmups are not shown (in other words, are edited out)
- Avonley/Vadym's program (first in second group [couples #5, 6, 7, 8]) starts at approx. 24:04

2019 Nats in Detroit

RD video:

- video begins with first group's last minute of five-minute warmup
- Avonley/Vadym's program (third in first group [couples #1, 2, 3, 4]) starts at approx. 11:56

(FD video not available on Fan Zone)

2020 Nats in Greensboro, NC

RD video (mislabeled as FD):

- intros for first group start at top of video; followed by five-minute warmup
- Avonley/Vadym's program (fourth in first group [couples #1, 2, 3, 4]) starts at approx. 25:55

FD video (correctly labeled as FD):

- intros for final group start at approx. 1:30:05; followed by five-minute warmup
- Avonley/Vadym's program (first in final group [couples #10, 11, 12, 13, 14]) starts at approx. 1:36:25

litenkyckling · Sep 9, 2018

yes definitely! He almost reminds me of Anthony Ponomarenko in that he's quite strong and has great skating skills, but is still actually quite young. I'll add these to the master post

chameleon · Sep 9, 2018

I had my eye on them since last season, where they were already so good. I hope Avonley continues to grow a little more(their first season she was such a teensy spitfire!), but they do have stunning lifts. And their FD was just fantastic.

ice coverage · Sep 10, 2018

Instagram story alert:

@andrewtorg29 has fun photos of Vadym and Avonley posing with the Team Lithuania mascot after their medal ceremonies.

litenkyckling said:
… I'll add these to the master post

Thanks for adding lotsa stuff to the OP.

Will mention also that I enjoyed seeing AvonDym (

) at their first JGP medal ceremony. They were adorable, sweet, funny.

https://youtu.be/x9bNsHl4BOA

dorispulaski · Sep 10, 2018

Thanks so much @ice coverage for the ice-dance.com interview link!

I particularly loved their answers to the question about their skating journey:

IDC: Can you share with us your individual skating journeys:

Nguyen: I started ice dancing when I was 12 and was drawn in by the lifts. At the time, I thought that one of the best things about skating with a partner was getting to do fun lifts – kind of like having my one personal roller coaster. As time went on, being able to dance with a partner meant more to me. I think that one is the best things is that I would have a good friend to improve with and learn from, and that as we grow as a team, we will be able to tell more stories about who we are as people through our performances. I think right now, I have been really interested in how to express an emotion through movement.

Kolesnik: My grandmother took me to the ice rink when I was four years old. I was really fat and the coaches in Kharkiv did not want to take me. But I kept coming and one coach finally said yes. Even at four years old, I really liked to skate and I like it even more today.

And especial thanks to @litenkyckling for starting this thread for this exciting new team, and doing a great OP, and adding to it!!

:clap:

:luv17:

Here is another early performance of theirs:

Their Winning FD from 2017 Midwestern Sectionals:
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6aio8x

And a video of Vadym with his previous partner, Zlata Iefymenko, skating the Rocker Foxtrot in Adv. Novices for Ukraine in Nov. 2015.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i_46knM1A4

And Zlata & Vadym' s FD from Dec. 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CjIfK_oYns

Avonley and Vadym have a good chance to medal or maybe even win at US. Nationals in Juniors this season if they skate as they did here!

statmam · Sep 10, 2018

Count me among those newly enchanted by this team. That FD performance was something special! Thanks, everyone, for the information contributed in this thread.

chameleon · Sep 10, 2018

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Sy0GENoJpbE

Avonley's 2016 FD with her former partner Maxwell Gart, with whom she was national intermediate silver medalist. Such a performer even then!

elbkup · Sep 10, 2018

Oh my goodness they were enchanting... loved both RD and FD, but the timing in that free was beautiful.. so smooth and graceful. I remember thinking she must have hollow bones, she looked so light to lift and he is just gorgeous!!

BrentWolgamott · Sep 12, 2018

They were just stunning. That rotation lift in the FD literally made me gasp -- it was like she was literally floating. It didn't look like he was holding or straining to keep her up. And yes, Vadym's extension out to his fingertips is SO NICE TO SEE from such a young man. And Avonley has a bit of 'diva' to her that I love, that I think is required of ANY championship female ice dancer -- you've got to have a little bit of diva in you. She has command of her presence on the ice, and even their welcome when they are introduced, there is already a tension between them. I'm just so in love with their FD. A few commented that they love both songs but not really together as much. I disagree -- I thought the two songs went really well together, where i didn't even notice when one ended and another began. Just all around awesomeness, and I can't WAIT to see the future of these two.

Maybe someone can tell me -- what are the rules for when a team like this, as far as when they would turn senior? Right now he is 17 and she is 15.

Also, does anyone have an idea of Vadym's citizenship for USA? Will it be a long wait to get one? I hope sooner for them! <3 2022 and 2026 and beyond!!

chameleon · Sep 12, 2018

I thought the two pieces of music went together pretty well, although maybe I was just wowed at the incredible rotational on the change of music.

They are age eligible for seniors if they wish to compete at that level. I would kind of expect them to stay junior another season but we'll see how this season goes. Vadym can't apply for US citizenship until he's 18, so October of next year. As its only his second year in the US as of now, I wouldn't expect him to get it before 2022(although hey, cross your fingers!) but 2026 is definitely possible.

Colonel Green · Sep 12, 2018

If he was actually in a position to make the Olympic team in 2022 he'd probably get Tanith Belbin'd into citizenship early. But given how dense the US ice dance field is right now, it's probably more realistic to see 2022 as a trip to Four Continents and possibly a post-Olympic Worlds.

daphenaxa · Sep 23, 2018

i know i'm late but just watched their FD from junior GP and WOW they are so amazing (though i thought the song wasn't on par with their talent)

elbkup · Oct 5, 2018

They are first after the short in Ljubljana!!! Best of luck in the FD! Look forward to seeing it again..

zebobes · Oct 5, 2018

I'm jumping in the fan bandwagon while they are still relatively unknown. I can't believe how good they are after only two years together.

Noxchild · Oct 6, 2018

All I've seen of this young pair was their free skate in Ljubljana (literally 5 minutes ago) and WOW... they are astonishing to watch. What an exquisite performance... and if Ted is right, I'm gonna see them in December eeee!!

hanyuufan5 · Oct 6, 2018

zebobes said:
I'm jumping in the fan bandwagon while they are still relatively unknown. I can't believe how good they are after only two years together.

SAME! They're amazing.

litenkyckling · Oct 6, 2018

Thank you for everyone's input earlier in the thread - I've finally got around to updating the OP! Sorry it took so long.

I was blown away by Avonley and Vadym this weekend and I'm so thrilled for them that they are going to Vancouver :yahoo:

ice coverage · Oct 6, 2018

The sheer beauty of Avonley and Vadym's FD made me cry :sad4: today.

Their gold medal is very sweet icing on the cake.
They skated last in both the RD and FD, and won both with the pressure of the JGPF slot on the line. Молодцы. I am ecstatic for them. :dance2:

:bm: 2018 JGP Slovenia

litenkyckling said:
… LPID 2017 FD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QncwAYNSYYw …

zebobes said:
I'm jumping in the fan bandwagon while they are still relatively unknown. I can't believe how good they are after only two years together.

As a friendly response to zebobes :ghug:

:

They already are so incredibly :agree: good after only approx. one-and-a-half years together, which is all the more remarkable.

Per Avonley in last year's ice-dance.com article, they started training together in spring 2017 (other than three weeks during the preceding autumn).

I believe the partnership's first competition ever might have been Cannon Texas Open in early July 2017.
They finished fifth out of five; fourth in the FD.

ETA:

I see now that they competed their FD slightly earlier -- late June 2017 -- at Chesapeake Open, where they placed third.

They are wonderful :luv17: in the LPIDC FD video from late July 2017 -- bursting with talent and charm, and already very skilled.

ETA:

2017 LPIDC SD video: https://youtu.be/VQH6w0Q9PmI?t=919 (N/K program starts at approx. 17:00; they take the ice at approx. 15:20)

They placed fourth at 2017 Lake Placid in both SD and FD.

Barely a year later, I think they have made quantum leaps in refinement and maturity of presentation. Mind-boggling.

BillNeal · Oct 6, 2018

Congrats on their first JGP win! Reposting my reaction to their free dance from the competition thread:

Nguyen/Kolesnik have amazed me once again, not just from the seamless integration of their free dance but also because they have improved by adding more depth to it. The first half is beautiful and flowing but the second half is now more dramatic and passionate. Watching the previous outings of the dance, the first half tended to overshadow the second half but their improved execution of it here shows that it's an integral part to bring out the needed contrast. Some noticeable improvements in the elements themselves including the speed in which they enter their camel spin and the smoother drop-like exit that makes their rotational lift look even more impressive. He is a strong partner and she is alluring, both of them consistently portraying the character of their free dance confidently and authentically. At their rate of improvement, I think they have become legitimate contenders for the WJC title.

ETA: Their circular step sequence achieved a level 4. If I'm not mistaken, they are the first team this season to do so on the in hold/not touching step sequence.

Avonley Nguyen & Vadym Kolesnik

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