Vadym Kolesnik breaks silence after raising $20,000 as Team USA ice dancer fights to bring family to Olympics

Vadym Kolesnik, a Team USA ice dancer, has shared an emotional update after raising more than $20,000 to help his family attend the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 24-year-old athlete thanked fans and supporters after his GoFundMe campaign crossed $20,211, helping ease his financial stress ahead of the Games. Kolesnik, who will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, said the money will allow at least two family members from Ukraine to be there in person. He shared the update on the fundraiser page on Friday, January 23, calling the support overwhelming and life-changing. “Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and supported me. I am beyond grateful,” Kolesnik wrote on GoFundMe. For the ice dancer, this support means more than money. It means family, strength, and peace during one of the biggest moments of his life.Vadym Kolesnik and Emilea Zingas qualify for 2026 Winter Olympics while facing financial pressureVadym Kolesnik qualified for the Olympics with his ice dance partner Emilea Zingas, a Michigan native. While their Olympic dream came true, the journey has not been easy.Because of the donations, Kolesnik confirmed that his family can now travel from Ukraine.“Because of your incredible generosity, I can now confirm that at least two of my family members are coming from Ukraine to support me at the Olympic Games,” he wrote. “This would not have been possible without the outpouring of love and kindness from all of you.”Kolesnik explained that sharing this moment with his family means everything to him.“Having my loved ones there means more to me than I can express. Knowing I have this support gives me strength every day,” he added.Earlier this month, Kolesnik launched the GoFundMe with a goal of $25,000 to cover training costs, travel, ice time, coaching, and choreography. He also hoped to reunite with his family after years apart due to the war in Ukraine.“While I train and compete, my family remains in Ukraine, and being apart during such a big moment has been very hard,” Kolesnik wrote.He has lived in Novi, Michigan, since 2017 and trained at the Novi Ice Arena for nine years. He ended his message with heartfelt thanks.“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for believing in me and helping make this dream come true.”