| Vadym Kolesnik | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Kolesnik at the2023 Skate Canada International | |||||||||||
| Native name | Вадим Колесник | ||||||||||
| Born | (2001-10-27)October 27, 2001 (age 23) Kharkiv, Ukraine | ||||||||||
| Hometown | Novi, Michigan, United States | ||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||
| Figure skating career | |||||||||||
| Country |  United States | ||||||||||
| Partner | Emilea Zingas (since 2022) Avonley Nguyen (2017–20) | ||||||||||
| Coach | Igor Shpilband Natalia Deller Adrienne Lenda Pasquale Camerlengo | ||||||||||
| Skating club | Skating Club of New York | ||||||||||
| Began skating | 2006 | ||||||||||
| Medal record | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Vadym Kolesnik[a] (born October 27, 2001) is an Americanice dancer. With his skating partner,Emilea Zingas, he is the2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb bronze medalist and2023,2025 U.S. national pewter medalist.
With his former partner,Avonley Nguyen, he is the2020 World Junior champion, the2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final silver medalist, and the2020 U.S. junior national champion. He has also won four medals on theISU Junior Grand Prix series, including three golds, and qualified to the2018–19 Junior Grand Prix Final.
Kolesnik was born on October 27, 2001, inKharkiv,Ukraine.[1] He moved to the United States in spring 2017.[2]
Kolesnik began learning to skate as a four-year-old after his grandmother took him to a local rink.[2] The coaches at the rink did not wish to take him due to his weight, but he kept returning until one accepted him.[2] In the 2015–2016 season, he appeared internationally with Zlata Iefymenko for Ukraine. Competing in advanced novice ice dancing, they placed ninth at the 2015Ice Star and then fourth at the 2015NRW Trophy.[3]
In autumn 2016, Kolesnik andAvonley Nguyen of the United States had a three-week tryout inNovi, Michigan, following which he returned to Ukraine for a few months.[2] They began their partnership in February 2017.[4]
Nguyen/Kolesnik received their firstISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) assignments in the2017–2018 season. They placed fifth atJGP Belarus and sixth atJGP Italy. After taking gold in junior ice dancing atMidwestern Sectionals, they qualified to the2018 U.S. Championships, where they would finish fifth.
Nguyen/Kolesnik won the silver medal at2018 JGP Lithuania, behind Russia'sUshakova/Nekrasov, and the gold at2018 JGP Slovenia to qualify for their firstJGP Final. They placed fifth overall at the2018–19 Junior Grand Prix Final after placing fifth in the rhythm dance and fifth in the free dance.
At the2019 U.S. Championships, they won the silver medal behindGreen/Green after placing second in the rhythm dance and winning the free dance.
At the2019 World Junior Championships, Nguyen/Kolesnik placed fifth in the rhythm dance but moved up to fourth overall after placing third in the free dance. They were awarded a small bronze medal for the free, where they had the highest technical base value of any of the competing teams and the second-highest technical score overall.[5]
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Nguyen/Kolesnik began theirJunior Grand Prix season at the2019 JGP United States, where they placed first in both segments with personal best scores and won the gold medal. At2019 JGP Poland, they again set personal best scores in both segments to take the title and qualify for the2019–20 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final. Competing at the Final, Nguyen/Kolesnik narrowly lost the gold medal by only 0.16 points behindKazakova/Reviya ofGeorgia at the JGP Final.[6] She commented "we're a little disappointed right now, but we’ll continue to keep on working. All our competitors were really strong. We were only a fourth of a point behind, and we felt we could push and get to the next level, but it didn’t work out."[7]
At the2020 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Nguyen/Kolesnik scored 184.38 total points to take the gold medal by more than 22 points. Their free dance, set to Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 2," featured all positive grades of execution and eight Level 4 elements, earning 109.89 points.[8]
At the2020 Bavarian Open, they placed first in both the rhythm dance and free dance to win the gold medal. They concluded the season at the2020 World Junior Championships inTallinn,Estonia, where they entered as one of the favorites for the title. Nguyen/Kolesnik placed third in the rhythm dance behindShanaeva/Naryzhnyy and Kazakova/Reviya, after Nguyen stepped out of her twizzle sequence. She remarked they had "left a few points on the table, but now we'll focus on the free dance."[9] They won the free dance, setting a new junior world record and taking the Junior World title over Kazakova/Reviya. Nguyen said afterward, "I've dreamed about this moment for so long and to know that our work finally paid off, it just feels great!" Kolesnik indicated that they had not decided whether to move up to senior competition or remain at the junior level for another season.[10]
At the end of June, Nguyen announced that the two had split. She said she had "many happy memories" of their partnership and wished him the best as they "pursued different paths."[11] Within minutes, Kolesnik's announcement post followed. He thanked Nguyen "for all you have done for our partnership," expressed his admiration for her, and wished her all the best.[12]
After many months of searching for a new permanent partnership in the midst of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Kolesnik tried out withCypriot-American singles skaterEmilea Zingas.[13] Kolesnik would later say that "the first time I skated with Emilea I felt something special. I felt like I can be myself. She opens up in the way that I want to skate and that's how it comes out — freedom."[14] On May 15, 2022, Zingas officially announced that the two would compete together representing the United States.[15]
Zingas/Kolesnik made their international debut in December 2022 at2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, where they won the bronze medal.[13]
After winning gold in November 2022 at theU.S. Ice Dance Final to qualify for the2023 U.S. Championships, the team entered a dance field more open than normal due to presumptive national silver medalistsHawayek/Baker being absent due to health issues. Zingas/Kolesnik unexpectedly placed third in the rhythm dance, less than a point ahead of Zagreb gold medalistsCarreira/Ponomarenko, who had erred on their twizzles.[14] After the free dance, Carreira/Ponomarenko had squeaked ahead overall by 0.32, but Zingas/Kolesnik stood on the podium as pewter medalists, a noteworthy achievement in a team's first season. Kolesnik said of the new partnership "I think we've got a match."[16]
For their free dance, Zingas proposed skating toAlan Menken'sBeauty and the Beast film score, which Kolesnik was persuaded of after a "watch party."[17]
Beginning the season on theChallenger circuit, Zingas/Kolesnik finished fourth at the2023 CS Nepela Memorial.[18] They were invited to make theirGrand Prix debut at2023 Skate Canada International, where they placed fifth, despite a rhythm dance twizzle error.[19][17] They were fifth as well at the2023 Grand Prix of Espoo.[20] Zingas/Kolesnik finished out the fall season at the2023 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, where they won the silver medal.[18]
In advance of the2024 U.S. Championships, Zingas/Kolesnik were named as first alternates for the American team for the2024 Four Continents Championships inShanghai.[21]
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They finished only sixth at the national championships, but were notified while driving home that national championsChock/Bates had withdrawn from the Four Continents Championships due to illness, and they were to fly toShanghai the following morning.[22][23] They were fourth in both segments of the competition, coming fourth overall, 1.07 points back of bronze medalistsCarreira/Ponomarenko. Zingas called the event "a great bonus."[23]
Zingas/Kolesnik started the season by winning bronze at the2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy.[18] Beginning the2024–25 Grand Prix series at2024 Skate Canada International, they came fourth in the rhythm dance, 1.13 points behind third-place French teamLopareva/Brissaud. Both partners received low levels on their twizzles in the free dance, and they dropped to fifth overall, which Kolesnik called "very disappointing."[24] They followed this up by finishing fifth at the2024 Finlandia Trophy.[18]
| Season | Rhythm dance | Free dance | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 [25] |
|
| |
| 2023–24 [26] |
|
| |
| 2024–25 [27] |
|
| Season | Short dance | Free dance | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 [28] |
| ||
| Rhythm dance | Free dance | Exhibition | |
| 2018–19 [1] |
|
|
|
| 2019–20 [29] |
|
| Season | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four Continents Championships | 4th | 5th | |
| U.S. Championships | 4th | 6th | 4th |
| GPFinland | 5th | 5th | |
| GPSkate Canada | 5th | 5th | |
| CSGolden Spin | 3rd | 2nd | |
| CSNebelhorn Trophy | 3rd | ||
| CSNepela Memorial | 4th | ||
| CSWarsaw Cup | 2nd |
| Season | 2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Junior Championships | 4th | 1st | |
| Junior Grand Prix Final | 5th | 2nd | |
| U.S. Championships | 5th | 2nd | 1st |
| JGPBelarus | 5th | ||
| JGPItaly | 6th | ||
| JGPLithuania | 2nd | ||
| JGPPoland | 1st | ||
| JGPSlovenia | 1st | ||
| JGPUnited States | 1st | ||
| Bavarian Open | 1st |
| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 196.07 | 2024 CS Warsaw Cup |
| Rhythm dance | TSS | 78.23 | 2023 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb |
| TES | 45.04 | 2023 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | |
| PCS | 33.84 | 2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy | |
| Free dance | TSS | 118.87 | 2024 CS Warsaw Cup |
| TES | 67.07 | 2024 CS Warsaw Cup | |
| PCS | 51.80 | 2024 CS Warsaw Cup |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Dec 7–10, 2022 |  2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | 3 | 73.14 | 3 | 110.96 | 3 | 184.10 |
| Jan 23–29, 2023 |  2023 U.S. Championships | 3 | 78.18 | 4 | 119.95 | 4 | 198.13 |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Sep 28–30, 2023 |  2023 CS Nepela Memorial | 3 | 75.61 | 3 | 111.67 | 4 | 187.28 |
| Oct 27–29, 2023 |  2023 Skate Canada International | 5 | 72.25 | 5 | 112.71 | 5 | 184.96 |
| Nov 17–19, 2023 |  2023 Grand Prix of Espoo | 5 | 72.13 | 5 | 111.65 | 5 | 183.78 |
| Dec 6–9, 2023 | 2023 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | 2 | 78.23 | 3 | 105.09 | 3 | 183.32 |
| Jan 22–28, 2024 | 2024 U.S. Championships | 5 | 77.59 | 8 | 104.11 | 6 | 181.70 |
| Jan 30 – Feb 4, 2024 |  2024 Four Continents Championships | 4 | 75.76 | 4 | 117.31 | 4 | 193.07 |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Sep 18–21, 2024 |  2024 CS Nebelhorn Trophy | 3 | 77.47 | 3 | 116.87 | 3 | 194.34 |
| Oct 25–27, 2024 | 2024 Skate Canada International | 4 | 75.63 | 5 | 113.78 | 5 | 189.41 |
| Nov 15–17, 2024 | 2024 Finlandia Trophy | 6 | 72.72 | 3 | 116.76 | 5 | 189.48 |
| Nov 20–24, 2024 |  2024 CS Warsaw Cup | 2 | 77.20 | 2 | 118.87 | 2 | 196.07 |
| Jan 20–26, 2025 | 2025 U.S. Championships | 3 | 82.13 | 4 | 122.04 | 4 | 204.17 |
| Feb 19–23, 2025 |  2025 Four Continents Championships | 5 | 74.63 | 5 | 113.92 | 5 | 188.55 |
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| Date | Event | SD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Sep 20–23, 2017 |  2017 JGP Belarus | 5 | 50.37 | 6 | 64.52 | 5 | 114.89 |
| Oct 11–14, 2017 |  2017 JGP Italy | 6 | 52.84 | 6 | 72.46 | 6 | 125.30 |
| Dec 28, 2017 – Jan 7, 2018 | 2018 U.S. Championships (Junior) | 7 | 54.02 | 4 | 80.29 | 5 | 134.31 |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Sep 5–9, 2018 |  2018 JGP Lithuania | 2 | 63.40 | 2 | 98.44 | 2 | 161.84 |
| Oct 3–6, 2018 |  2018 JGP Slovenia | 1 | 65.41 | 1 | 100.22 | 1 | 165.63 |
| Dec 7–12, 2018 | 2018–19 Junior Grand Prix Final | 5 | 63.73 | 5 | 94.74 | 5 | 158.47 |
| Jan 18–27, 2019 | 2019 U.S. Championships (Junior) | 2 | 65.92 | 1 | 105.14 | 2 | 171.06 |
| Mar 4–10, 2019 | 2019 World Junior Championships | 5 | 65.18 | 3 | 102.72 | 4 | 167.90 |
| Date | Event | RD | FD | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Aug 28–31, 2019 | 2019 JGP United States | 1 | 66.17 | 1 | 104.63 | 1 | 170.80 |
| Sep 18–21, 2019 | 2019 JGP Poland | 1 | 69.20 | 1 | 105.48 | 1 | 174.68 |
| Dec 5–8, 2019 | 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final | 2 | 68.72 | 2 | 106.02 | 2 | 174.74 |
| Jan 20–26, 2020 | 2020 U.S. Championships (junior) | 1 | 74.49 | 1 | 109.89 | 1 | 184.38 |
| Feb 3–9, 2020 | 2020 Bavarian Open | 1 | 64.13 | 1 | 101.33 | 1 | 165.46 |
| Mar 2–8, 2020 |  2020 World Junior Championships | 3 | 68.27 | 1 | 108.91 | 1 | 177.18 |
