Emilea Zingas, Vadym Kolesnik eager to carry on U.S. ice dance tradition at World Championships

Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik went into the Olympics with no expectations. Barely a month later, as Zingas and Kolesnik ready to compete in their first World Championships together this week in Prague, they have become the standard bearer for U. S.

ice dancing, which over the past 22 seasons has flown its flag in awards ceremonies at six straight Olympics and 19 of the last 21 worlds. This has happened so fast for Zingas and Kolesnik. The 2026 Winter Games in Milan were the first global championship appearance for them as a couple (Zingas also finished 36th in singles at 2021 Worlds for Cyprus).

She had taken up ice dance only four years ago after having spent more than a decade in singles. All the Olympic attention and pressure was on their U. S.

teammates, three-time reigning world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Zingas and Kolesnik’s coach, Igor Shpilband, still heard a buzz about his team at the rink where they train in suburban Detroit. People told the couple they had a shot at a medal in Italy.