Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik | Page 13 | Golden Skate

Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik

They mentioned on social media a local press event they went to right before leaving for Milan, and in searching for any interviews from that, I found this piece from about ten days ago. I don't think it's been posted here:

Thanks for this! The article is full of typos lol but the video is really good, with a couple of interviews I haven't seen before. The Zingas family seems really nice. I know her parents were disappointed at first when Emi decided to switch to ice dance instead of going to Boston University... but now they're their biggest supporters. I also laughed out loud when Emi said that Igor was a little crazy to ask her 😂 What a nice story!
 
Sharing this great, thorough article on Emi and Vadym. The Detroit Free Press had it behind a paywall, but this is free to read. It has quotes from their send-off at Novi and includes words from Igor.

“There are a lot of things that are very, very special about them,” Shpilband said. “I think they are both extremely driven and extremely talented. This is a quality that is very hard to find. I've been teaching for 35 years, I see a lot of talented skaters, but to see talented skaters, with that much drive and dedication, you're not seeing it that often."

Really good read!

Novi ice dancers overcame war, surgeries and a test to make Olympics
 
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Sharing this great, thorough article on Emi and Vadym. The Detroit Free Press had it behind a paywall, but this is free to read. It has quotes from their send-off at Novi and includes words from Igor.

“There are a lot of things that are very, very special about them,” Shpilband said. “I think they are both extremely driven and extremely talented. This is a quality that is very hard to find. I've been teaching for 35 years, I see a lot of talented skaters, but to see talented skaters, with that much drive and dedication, you're not seeing it that often."

Really good read!

Novi ice dancers overcame war, surgeries and a test to make Olympics
Thanks for posting this for everyone to read. This is local territory for me - I spent a lot of time training in Saint Clair Shores after work. So nice to to see our local girl getting some attention at home. Hopefully they get on the local radar more as they look poised to be a force for the next Olympic cycle with their fresh faces, endless energy and talent. Go Emi & Vadim!
 
True confessions -- I was holding out hope that Emi and Vadym would be called on to do the free in the Team Event. I wonder if they are on "stand by" just in case Evan is having back issues. (Not wishing any back problems on Evan, of course!!!!).
 
I spotted Vadym during the opening ceremony! Vadym and Emilea are making their Olympic debut tomorrow. Best wishes for this memorable day!

Although I have appreciated their skating in the past, last season I did not expect them to make the team this time. I won't lie; there is another team that I expected and wanted to go instead. However, I cannot resent Emi & Vadym for what they have fairly earned and it was exciting to see them become THE breakout stars of 2025. Their skating was already fast and intricate, but this season they achieved a clarity that enhances and refines those qualities. I like their Benoit Romeo & Juliet much more than their Benoit freelance of the previous season as well.
 
Emilea and Vadym will be making their Olympic debut today in Assago, Italy.

The Senior Short Dance is due to start at 19:20:00 CET (13:20:00 EST / 18:20:00 GMT / 20:20:00 EET). So 10 hours from now.

Emilea and Vadym will be the 16th partnership to start. So, third and middle partnership to go in Group 4 (and third partnership to go after the second resurfacing).

The Group 4 Warm-Up is due to start at 21:34:45 CET (15:34:45 EST / 20:34:45 GMT / 22:34:45 EET). So 12h 14m from now.

Emilea and Vadym are due to start at 21:54:30 CET (15:54:30 EST / 20:54:30 GMT / 22:54:30 EET). So 12h 34m from now.

But, those times may change if somebody that is due on before them withdraws.

More information in the event forum:
https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/categories/1057

Hope this helps

:cheer: ALL THE BEST!!! :cheer:

CaroLiza_fan
 
The Athlete Bios on the IOC website have the a button which, when you press it, plays a recording of the athlete saying their own name! They first say it normal speed, and then break it down into syllables.

So, we finally have the definitive answer on how to pronounce their names! :cheer: :clap: :rock: :party2: :points: :hb:

I actually discovered this a few days ago, but it took me a very long time to work out how to extract the addresses of the recordings. But, I got there in the end, and can now post the links.

Emilea's Bio: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/24772
Emilea Saying Her Name: https://wmr-static-assets.scd.dgplatform.net/wmr/static/_AUDIO/OWG2026/DT_AUDIO/24772_1.mp3

Vadym's Bio: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/athlete-details/24821
Vadym Saying His Name: https://wmr-static-assets.scd.dgplatform.net/wmr/static/_AUDIO/OWG2026/DT_AUDIO/24821_1.mp3

Please be aware that, for some unknown reason, when you play them in Firefox, it misses the first second of the recordings. But, they play in their entirity in Chrome, Edge and Opera.

Hope this helps

CaroLiza_fan
 
Olympic Games Short Dance: Results; Protocols

No video uploaded yet 😞

Emilea and Vadym finished 6th out of 23 in the Short Dance, with a score of 83.53.

Here is what I wrote in the competition thread during the Warm-Up:


Here is what I wrote when they were being introduced:


And here is what I wrote about their programme:


I'm not actually sure whether Polish member @Karoltyna's post was a show of support for Emilea and Vadym when they were coming on, or if it was a reaction to the scores for Marjorie LAJOIE / Zachary LAGHA (CAN) on before them:


But the first post that was definitely about them came from German member @Sabsi, who simply said:


Sorry, but I hate that portmanteau!

After they finished, @freedomlover commented:


While @museksk8r was relieved about one particular element that was causing problems for a lot of the previous partnerships:


A member who is usually extremely critical of Emilea said:


To which american member @cheerknithanson replied:


@figureskatingandrainbows was doing Play By Plays:


@Sabsi came back with a proclamation:


My Norwegian friend, @norwegianfairytale, said what I was thinking but didn't want to risk saying out loud:


Netherlands based American @tulosai was complimentary, but added that she was on the same wavelength as me with regards the programme itself:


@GGFan was also complimentary, but felt differently about the programme:


@museksk8r was impressed:


@freedomlover used that horrible portmanteau, and looking forwards:


A bit early to be making predictions for Senior Worlds. We don't know yet who will be there.

@auser loved the energy:


@Karoltyna came back with a string of emoticons:


@Paulipau was being a bit ironic and tongue in cheek with their comment:


@Rikku posted the numbers:


Our bastion of positivity, @Jeanie19, was on form:


@LeReveur, who posted a thread linking to their photo album from Nationals, commented:


@Demandred thought they were good:


Not-the-band @cocteautwin was full of praise for them:


When the scores were announced, @Sabsi commented about the numbers:


While @tulosai commented about Emilea's reaction:


@cheerknithanson enjoyed them:


As did a whole Nigerian family:


Sabsi was a bit cheeky about the running saga of the season:


To which museksk8r replied:


And NanaPat replied:


museksk8r wasn't expecting that size of a score:


I'm not sure how to take GGFan's next comment:


Finally, British based member @LadyB commented about their coach:


Looking at the Protocols, there were no issues at all. The GOE ranged from +1.78 for the penultimate element, the Roller Lift, to +3.35 for the third element, the Pattern Step Sequence. Apart from a +1 from Judge 3 for the aforementioned Pattern Step Sequence and two +2's (one of which was from Judge 5 for the Pattern Step Sequence, and the other was from Judge 3 for the second element, the Midline Step Sequence), all the Judges marks were in the +3 to +5 range.

It should also be noted that their Total Technical Elements Score was higher than the host country partnership that finished directly ahead of them. But their Programme Components Score was 1.19 points lower.

Emilea and Vadym are currently 0.75 points behind 5th position, Charlène GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI (ITA), and 0.58 points ahead of 7th position, Allison REED / Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS (LTU). Emilea and Vadym are part of a group of 6 partnerships covered by 3.93 points, stretching from Piper GILLES / Paul POIRIER (CAN) in 3rd position, 2.65 points ahead of Emilea and Vadym, down to Evgeniia LOPAREVA / Geoffrey BRISSAUD (FRA) in 9th position, 1.28 points behind Emilea and Vadym.

With being in the middle of a tight group, this could go either way. Depending how they skate compared to the others in the group, they could get onto the podium, or they could drop down to near the bottom of the Top 10. So, they really do need a good Free Dance to maximise the chances of things going their way.

So, let's hope they have a good Free Dance and can move up.

:cheer: WELL DONE!!! :cheer:



The Senior Free Dance is due to start at 19:30:00 CET (13:30:00 EST / 18:30:00 GMT / 20:30:00 EET). So 10 hours from now.

Emilea and Vadym will be the 15th partnership to start. So, fifth and final partnership to go in Group 3.

The Group 3 Warm-Up is due to start at 21:17:20 CET (15:17:20 EST / 20:17:20 GMT / 22:17:20 EET). So 11h 47m from now.

Emilea and Vadym are due to start at 21:55:40 CET (15:55:40 EST / 20:55:40 GMT / 22:55:40 EET). So 12h 25m from now.

But, those times may change if somebody that is due on before them withdraws.

More information in the event forum:
https://www.goldenskate.com/forum/forums/1057

Hope this helps

:cheer: ALL THE BEST!!! :cheer:

CaroLiza_fan
 
Thrilled for Emi and Vadym's 5th place finish! I was thinking it would be wonderful if they placed in the top 10 and terrific if they placed top 5. I had them 5th in my predictions, thinking I was maybe doing some wishful thinking. So glad they proved me right! This team is going places! Weren't their families adorable?!
 
Olympic Games Senior Free Dance: Results; Protocols
Olympic Games Senior Ice Dance: Results

No video uploaded yet 😞

Emilea and Vadym finished 5th out of 20 in the FD, with a score of 123.19. This meant that they climbed to 5th position overall, with a score of 206.72.

Here is what I wrote in the competition thread during the Warm-Up:


Here is what I wrote when they were being introduced:


Here is what I wrote about the programme:


When Milla Ruud REITAN / Nikolaj MAJOROV (SWE) skated in Group 1, Hungarian member @sissy7 started a "Romeo & Juliette" count, and commented:


That would be Milla Ruud REITAN / Nikolaj MAJOROV (SWE), Phebe BEKKER / James HERNANDEZ (GBR), and Emilea and Vadym. And I would thoroughly back that proposal! Or, at least, have all of them in the Gala! ;)

There was quite a lot of talk about them during the Warm-Up. The first to mention them was German member @Sabsi, who proclaimed:


To which our resident video archive list compiler @labgoat replied:


To which @Sabsi answered:


It's maybe better that they didn't say who it was, because I really do not like that name!

In reply to a comment from another member, @moonvine said:


To which @Dreamer57 replied:


To which @ramurphy2005 replied:


And, although not a formal reply to any of the posts, @Chantilly added what former British skater turned top Ice Dance coach in Canada Carol Lane had said about them while commentating on CBC:


And in reply to @Dreamer57's post, moonvine explained:


Using moonvine's initial comment, @Cindy1983 asked:


To which I answered:


When it was finally their turn to skate, @Sabsi was again the first to comment, proclaiming when they were about to start:


Next @sissy7 completed their count of the "Romeo & Juliette" programmes:


@shan22044 got excited about one of the pieces being used:


This totally went over my head, but I just looked it up and apparently "Dance Of The Knights" was used in an advert for a perfume of that name.

During the programme. @LeReveur was puzzled with the level given for an element:


To which @16Olympics replied:


@16Olympics also commented:


After they finished, @Sabsi commented:


@figureskatingandrainbows was doing Play By Plays:


@shan22044 posted something else that went over my head:


My Norwegian frield @norwegianfairytale enjoyed them:


Netherlands based American member @tulosai was really impressed:


As was @GGFan:


I think Polish member @Karoltyna was referring to the subject matter of the programme when she said:


GS member from the start @yelyoh was first to declare their position... before it was even announced:


@auser loved what they did:


Not-the-band @cocteautwin was impressed:


As was @museksk8r:


@LeReveur returned to make a very bold statement:


And @GGFan returned to make another:


@museksk8r returned to post the scores:


British based member @LadyB was again eyeing up their coach:


And British member @Ruthypegs was impressed with the skills of both of them:


@lileychristie in Australia was impressed, but concerned with the colour of the boxes on the TES graphic:


@moonvine then confirmed the position:


@chepe liked them, but not the music:


@Chantilly did a very detailed post which hit all the keypoints:


@Dreamer57 asked a question:


But didn't get an answer.

And @16Olympics thought they were Berlin:


If you know, you know!

@Demandred was looking ahead to the final group:


Polish member @Ares was impressed with a particular element:


@Blades of Passion likes to make bold statements, and this was no exception:


Looking at the Protocols, as ever, there were no issues at all.

The GOE ranged from +1.92 for the sixth element, the Curved Lift, to +3.79 for the final element, the Choreographic Character Step Sequence. But because the latter had the joint lowest Base Value of the programme, it only rose to become the third lowest scoring element of the programme.

Apart from three +2's (two of which were for the penultimate element, the Diagonal Step Sequence, and two of which were from Judge 3),all the Judges marks were in the +3 to +5 range.

Emilea and Vadym finished the Free Dance 2.11 points behind 4th position, Charlène GUIGNARD / Marco FABBRI (ITA), and 0.23 points ahead of 6th position, Olivia SMART / Tim DIECK (ESP). Emilea and Vadym were at the head of a group of 9 partnerships covered by 7.23 points, stretching down to Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS (FIN) in 13th position.

Overall, Emilea and Vadym finished 2.86 points behind 4th position, Guignard / Fabbri, and 2.06 points ahead of 6th position, Allison REED / Saulius AMBRULEVICIUS (LTU).

Top 5 in their first Olympics. What an achievement!

And with their second highest ever scores in the SD, FD, and overall. Only surpassed by what they got at Nationals barely a month ago.

:cheer: :clap: :rock: :party2: :points: :hb:

I'm so proud of them!

Now roll on Senior Worlds!

:cheer: WELL DONE!!! :cheer:

CaroLiza_fan
 

Unfortunately, those videos are geo-blocked here in the UK. And I suspect they are in the rest of Europe as well, because TNT Sports / Eurosport have pan-European broadcasting rights for the Olympics.

It is next to impossible for us to be able to get our hands on videos from recent Olympics. 😞

CaroLiza_fan
 
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