Team USA ice dancer Vadym Kolesnik starts GoFundMe after revealing money struggles before 2026 Winter Olympics

Vadym Kolesnik is heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the journey is not feeling easy right now. The 24-year-old Team USA ice dancer has launched a GoFundMe page after sharing that he is facing serious money problems while preparing for the Games. Vadym Kolesnik and his partner, Emilea Zingas, recently qualified for the Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The announcement came earlier this month, bringing excitement and also new pressure.

On Sunday, January 11, 2026, U.S. Figure Skating officially named Vadym Kolesnik and Emilea Zingas to the Olympic team. Just days later, Vadym Kolesnik went public with his struggles. He explained that Olympic-level training is expensive and constant. With travel, coaching, ice time, and competition costs adding up fast, he turned to fans for support as he prepares for the biggest event of his life.

Vadym Kolesnik opens up about financial pressure ahead of Milan-Cortina Olympics

Vadym Kolesnik launched his GoFundMe this week with a goal of raising $25,000. In his message, he was honest and direct.

“As I prepare for the Olympics, I am facing significant financial challenges,” he wrote. He shared that elite skating demands heavy spending on coaching, rink time, choreography, travel, and competition fees.

The timing matters. The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

These next months are the most intense part of training. Skaters often travel across the United States and abroad to work with coaches and compete.

For Vadym Kolesnik, that pressure is not only physical, but also financial. He also spoke about something deeply personal. Vadym Kolesnik was born in Ukraine.

His family still lives there. “My greatest personal hope is to be able to bring my family from Ukraine to safely attend the Olympic Games,” he wrote. He said he dreams of seeing them in the stands for the first time in years.

“Skating has been my lifelong dream,” Vadym Kolesnik added. He explained that growing up in Ukraine shaped him, both as a skater and as a person.

With his homeland facing ongoing hardship, being far from family during such an important time has been painful.



“Every contribution, no matter the size, helps,” he wrote, thanking supporters for allowing him to focus on training and honoring both the country that raised him and the country he now represents.

Vadym Kolesnik and Emilea Zingas earned their Olympic place earlier this month after winning silver at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

The national event, held in the United States, brought together the country’s top skaters. Their performance stood out and secured them a spot on Team USA.

U.S. Figure Skating announced the full ice dance team on Sunday, January 11. Vadym Kolesnik and Emilea Zingas joined Madison Chock and Evan Bates, along with Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko.

“For me, it’s a dream of my life to represent the U.S.,” Vadym Kolesnik said in a statement released by U.S. Figure Skating.

He shared that he moved to the United States at age 15 with one goal in mind to skate at the Olympics. “It’s an honor for me,” he said.

U.S. Figure Skating also shared an Instagram video showing the moment the pair learned they made the team. The clip captured hugs, tears, and shock as their Olympic dream became real.





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