Moving to a different country presents opportunities, but is never easy. For skater Vadym Kolesnik, the ties to his original homeland of Ukraine are especially poignant. He moved to the United States eight years ago, but his family is in Ukraine–and Ukraine has been at war since Russia attacked it in February 2022. The ongoing conflict continues to deeply affect him and his family. Fortunately, Kolesnik’s thriving ice dance career with partner Emilea Zingas offers respite from his worries, as well as hope for the future. Kolesnik, 23, and Zingas, 22, teamed up in March 2022, and train in Novi, Michigan, with renowned ice dance coach Igor Shpilband. The duo have ambitious goals.

In early 2023, Zingas and Kolesnik impressed by winning a 4th-place pewter medal at their first U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The following year, the couple was sixth at U.S. Nationals and fourth at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. 

This season, Zingas and Kolesnik continue to build momentum, notching two Challenger Series medals and two 5th-place finishes on the Grand Prix. Their goal at the upcoming 2025 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, Kansas, is to earn a spot on the U.S. team for the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, in March. If they make the team, Zingas and Kolesnik will proudly represent the United States, a feat they hope to repeat at next year’s 2026 Winter Olympics. 

Despite Kolesnik’s devotion to skating, his thoughts turn frequently to Ukraine. He grew up in Kharkiv, a city less than 20 miles from the border with Russia.  Russia has repeatedly attacked and bombed Kharkiv since the war began. With much of Kolesnik’s family still living in Kharkiv, it’s a constant source of concern.  

In October at Skate Canada, I spoke with Zingas and Kolesnik about his family’s situation and the duo’s background, partnership, and programs.

Ukraine: Always on his mind

Q:  Vadym, what brought you to the United States? 

Kolesnik:  Originally, when I was 14, turning 15, I came for a tryout with Igor Shpilband. He really liked me as an athlete, and asked if I wanted to join his team. I packed my stuff and came to the U.S. with my mom. Everything was going great. She put me in public school, and I had a tourist visa at that moment. Then I went home to Ukraine for my birthday, and I came back to the U.S., and they said, “No, you can’t do that.” They deported me and my mom. All of our clothes and our car were left in the U.S. I didn’t know if I was going to get a visa to come back. For the next four months, I was like, “What’s going to happen? Is this the end of my dream to go to the U.S. and skate with Igor?” By a miracle, I got a [longer-term] visa, and I came back. Unfortunately, my mom didn’t get the visa. 

Q:  So you were alone–on your own–in the U.S. as a young teenager?

Kolesnik:  Yes. It was difficult to adjust, because I was a pampered boy. Everything was done for me–cooking, cleaning. Everything was prepared whenever I got home. And the language barrier. When I came to the U.S., my English was minimal. Igor spoke Russian, so it was easier. I’ve been in the U.S. for eight years, and I’ve learned how to speak English. 

Q:  Did you finish school in the U.S.?

Kolesnik:  After I got deported, I went back to my school in Ukraine. Then I went to the Ukrainian university of physical education. I got my master’s degree last winter in sports psychology. For now, I’m focusing on skating and preparing myself to see whether we make it to the 2026 Olympics. We’re here for the long run anyway. If we’re not going to make it this Olympic cycle, we’re staying for another one. And then another one. Until we win.

Q:  Do you still have family in Kharkiv?

Kolesnik:  Yes. It’s very close to the border. Kharkiv is practically destroyed by this time. My dad, my grandmothers, and my aunt are in Kharkiv. My brother Igor is serving in the Ukrainian army. He started serving from day one, and got a medal for his service. I’m super-proud of him. 

Q:  And your mom?

Kolesnik:  My mom went to Poland first. Then she and my cousin were able to come to the U.S. through Uniting for Ukraine. [This is a program run by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.]

Zingas:  We applied for the visa for his mom right when the war started. She’s been here over two years; it’s been a big adjustment.

Kolesnik:  It’s very difficult for her without my dad. She is always nervous for my brother Igor and my brother’s son, who’s eight years old. But I’m very, very happy that my mom is here with me in the U.S.

Q:  Is it possible for your dad to come? 

Kolesnik:  He could, but he said:  “Nobody’s going to take care of your grandmothers. Nobody’s going to take care of the house over there. So I’m going to stay, support your brother, and take care of the older ones.”

Q:  How has the war affected you personally?

Kolesnik:  It’s very difficult. The first few months, I would try to call them, and sometimes they didn’t have mobile service. They would get bombed, and there would be no electricity. There might be a whole week when they could not speak with me. So I’m freaking out, not knowing what’s going on. A lot of my friends have died already, because of the war.

Zingas:  The stress of the situation, and being so far removed, but so connected to it, is just indescribable. Yet Vadym has been able to focus and continue to train and stay strong. It’s a hard thing to go through, especially because it’s ongoing, and we don’t know what will happen. 

Zingas: From singles to ice dance

Q:  Emilia, you started as a singles skater. I first saw you at 2018 Cranberry Open, and noticed that you had a lot of speed and great footwork. So when I heard you had taken up ice dance, it was a surprise, but not completely. 

Zingas:  I skated by myself for many years. The thing I loved most was connecting with the music–not so much the jumping part. When Igor proposed that I try ice dance, I didn’t initially have a desperate desire to try it. But I fell in love with it. Igor was a huge help in getting me adjusted, because it is a different language of skating. Everything is different. There are things I still need to work on, to adjust to being an ice dancer. 

Q:  How did your early coaches influence your career and skating skills? 

Zingas:  My two main coaches were Brooke Castile O’Keefe [2007 U.S. National pairs champion] and Lindsay O’Donoghue [two-time U.S. Nationals competitor]. Brooke is the reason that I am most of how I am now. She really helped foster the creativity and passion for skating. She always asked me, when we were making programs: “Why do you want to do this program? What’s the story?” Which is something we focus a lot on in ice dance, and a lot of singles [skaters] don’t really think about. I was her first student ever; I was seven years old [when their lessons started]. Having Brooke along for my whole journey was really instrumental. 

Q:  For a while, you represented Cyprus. What’s your connection to Cyprus?

Zingas:  I’m a dual citizen. My whole family are citizens of Cyprus, and my dad was born there. We have family and a property there, so it’s nice to go back. I haven’t been back in four or five years, because we don’t get a break that often. I felt very honored to represent Cyprus. It gave me a lot of opportunities that maybe I wouldn’t have had if I had continued to represent the U.S. [in singles]. The Cypriot federation was super-supportive, even with my switch to ice dance.

Coming together as a team

Q:  Vadym, in 2020, you won the World Junior ice dance title with Avonley Nguyen. Then you were between partners. What was happening? 

Kolesnik:  I was trying to find the right person for me. We were in search [mode] with Igor. I had some options and tryouts, but none really felt right. I wanted it to be a perfect fit. Then we found Emi, and from day one, I thought she was the perfect fit. I knew she was a little bit inexperienced in ice dance, but she had all the qualities I needed. She was an amazing dancer, and I saw a lot of potential in her skating. From day one, I felt the connection.

Zingas:  The same goes for me. We’ll watch videos of our first tryout, and in every video, Igor will say, “It’s a start!” We didn’t know what we were doing. It’s funny, looking back on those videos, because they’re not very good. It didn’t look very promising! 

Q:  But once you teamed up, you had immediate success, which doesn’t always happen in ice dance. What are your hopes this season?

Kolesnik:  Our main goal is the same as the season before that, and the season before that: To make the World team, go to Four Continents, and medal at Four Continents. 

Zingas:  We were very close last year. 

Kolesnik:  Hoping to medal at Worlds, and just enjoy skating. Last season, we were really focused on results, because we did so well at our first Nationals. I was just thinking, result, result, result; I really want that medal. For this season, I realized the less you think about it, the better you’re actually going to do. You’ve got to trust the process and enjoy the moment; that’s what I’m trying to focus on. So far, it’s a lot less stress.

Zingas:  Last year, we were really hoping to be on the World team. It was a really big letdown not to be included. As Vadym said, we got in our heads about the results and placements. This year, we’ve taken a different approach and tried to focus on ourselves and the programs, which mean a lot to us. I think we’ll find more success doing that. We want to continue to improve our scores and our standing within the U.S.  

Kolesnik:  You don’t know what’s going to happen. The goal is to be consistent and go for it.

Zingas:  Showing ourselves and the programs is our most important goal. Sometimes we forget we haven’t been together that long, especially compared to many teams we compete against.

Kolesnik:  But I think with the competitions we’ve done and the pressures we’ve been through, we have enough leverage to–

Zingas:  –To push ourselves there. We want to be comparable with the best.

Kolesnik:  If we skate the way we practice, we have a good chance.

Q:  The practice vs. competition question comes up frequently. Some ice dance teams really like competition; others enjoy practice more. Where would you put yourself?

Kolesnik:  Between the two goals.

Zingas:  I love competing. I love getting ready, I love wearing costumes. 

Kolesnik:  Okay, I don’t like that.  [Laughs]

Zingas:  It’s fun for me–this adrenaline–I really like it. But I also get nervous, and that makes my legs work not quite as well. So I tend to make more mistakes in competition. 

Kolesnik:  I love practicing. I love pushing myself to absolute limits at practice–so that it’s difficult in training, and easy in competition. I’m a little nervous to go out there, but then I realize, deep inside, I really want to compete. I want to feel something, I want to feel alive. I absolutely love the time before I’m about to start skating, because this is where I’m most nervous. This is where I get this adrenaline rush. And I love the kiss-and-cry. Because usually, I’m happy.

Zingas:  Normally. [Smiles]  After you finish, it’s the best feeling.

Programs: Past and present

Q:  Your 1970s BeeGees rhythm dance is very high-energy. How did you choose it?

Kolesnik:  Igor picked the music, and we loved it right away. I think this is my favorite rhythm dance ever.

Zingas:  For me, disco is really natural. It’s a super-enjoyable style to skate. Every day, I look forward to doing the rhythm dance.

Kolesnik:  Yes, Emi really feels comfortable in it. For me, it was a bit of a struggle to get to the level she was at, with dancing, having fun, feeling the music, doing the right style. I worked really hard on it, and I think I’m catching up. 

Q:  Your free dance is dramatic and modern, choreographed by Benoit Richaud. How did you decide to work with Benoit?

Zingas:  Actually, last season, Benoit asked Igor if he could work with us, as he liked our skating and our look. So we went to New York to work with him on our Beauty and the Beast free dance [2023-24 season]. He gave us some really amazing material; I really liked what he did. But unfortunately, we weren’t able to keep a lot, because Igor had a different vision for the program. 

Kolesnik:  Yes. The music was similar for both versions. (Although we had 39 different versions [cuts] of the music last season.) But the concepts were totally different. Igor saw it more as portraying the characters. Benoit saw it as portraying the feeling. Benoit wanted to do Beauty and the Beast more modern; Igor wanted to do it more traditional. So we mixed it up, but it wasn’t either Benoit or Igor. It was just a hot mess. 

Zingas:  This year, we knew we wanted to work with Benoit. 

Kolesnik:  And Igor really wanted us to.

Zingas:  But Benoit said: “If we do, I want full creative control.” He wanted control over the music, costumes, choreography, look, and intention.

Kolesnik:  The only thing he left for Igor was the step sequence and the one-foot sequence. 

Zingas:  For me, this program is more challenging than our previous programs. At least it was at the start, because it is more controlled and contemporary. I really enjoy playing the emotions. The subtlety and rawness of the program is special.

Kolesnik:  Last season, the Beauty and the Beast free dance was just boom, from the beginning. We were going as hard as we could in the first section. Then we had a little calmdown; then it kept building. 

Zingas:  There were like seven crescendos [high points in music].

Kolesnik:  It was a lot. It was like, we’ve got people there … then we continue. We get people there … and we continue. It was physically demanding. That program was perfect for us last year, because it really improved our skills and speed. For this season, we decided to create a more mature look.

Zingas:  Yes. This is a good program for this season.

Q:  Is Igor satisfied with this program? 

Kolesnik:  Absolutely. He loved the concept. Benoit gave us the musics he liked, and we chose the opening “Epilogue” piece with Igor. 

Q:  What was it like working with Benoit?

Kolesnik:  It was a great experience. Adam Siao Him Fa was also there. It was insane.

Zingas:  Adam does crazy stuff. He’s back-flipping, front-flipping, side-flipping.

Kolesnik:  But I’ve got to say, everything Adam’s capable of doing, Benoit was able to do. Except crazy jumps. 

Zingas:  Yes. Benoit does the whole program next to Adam. And Benoit would do the first 30 seconds [of our program] with me. He would take Vadym’s place, and show Vadym exactly what to do. Or he would step into my spot, and show me what I had to do.

Kolesnik:  Benoit’s memory is crazy. We were sending videos [of the free dance] back and forth. We added a little different movement, because I was trying to put in a bit of my creativity. He said: “This is not the way that it was. It’s terrible–why are you doing this?! Put it back, do what I said!” [Laughs]

Q:  What does skating mean to you, at this stage of your career?

Kolesnik:  It would be great if we can inspire some kid, one day, to go into figure skating and do what we do right now. 

Zingas:  Skating is such a big part of the person I am. It’s taught me to persevere–to get up, when you’re down. I think a lot of kids could learn life lessons from figure skating. We both coach, and we love it.

Kolesnik:  This is a message for every kid and every adult, too: Try figure skating. It’s fun. And it’s not that difficult.

Bonus Bits

• The correct pronunciation for Emilea Zingas’s first name is “Emma-lee-ah” (not “Emily” or
  “E-meel-ia”).
• Vadym Kolesnik posted his thoughts about the proposed return of Russian “neutral” athletes to Olympic competition on Instagram.
• Zingas and Kolesnik enjoy meeting fans. “Don’t be shy in coming toward us. We would love to take a photo,” Kolesnik offered.
• The duo say their rivalry with other U.S. ice dance teams is friendly. They like being with U.S. teams at competitions. “It’s nice and fun in the locker room,” Kolesnik said. “It keeps your mind away from the competition itself. You’re just having fun with your friends.”
• On weekends, they often get together with Emily Bratti & Ian Somerville, another U.S. ice dance team who train in the Detroit area, but in a different group. “Emily and Ian are our favorite people in the skating world. We’re very close with them,” Zingas said.