Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik set a new personal best to spearhead a Team USA podium sweep in the ice dance competition at the ISU Four Continents Championships 2026 in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, on Friday (23 January).
The U.S. figure skaters were in dominant form in both the rhythm and free dance portions of the competition, walking away with a combined winning score of 202.86 points.
Running away with the competition, Zingas and Kolesnik threw down the gauntlet in the rhythm dance section on Thursday, falling just short of their personal best with a score of 79.97 points.
The pair edged out Caroline Green and Michael Parsons into second place and enjoyed a handsome lead over former winners Oona Brown and Gage Brown for a Team USA clean sweep on the ice after the rhythm dance section.
Zingas and Kolesnik then upped the ante in the free dance segment on Friday, improving on their previous best with a near-flawless routine, scoring 122.89 to claim their first podium finish on their third attempt. The result is a major shot in the arm for the duo as they head* into their maiden Winter Olympics at Milano Cortina 2026.
Green and Parsons finished the free dance section in third place but claimed second overall with a total score of 194.72. Rounding out the podium, the Brown brother-sister duo would be delighted with their effort, producing a personal best in both segments for a total score of 190.78.
“I am really proud of our entire U.S. team today, we are so happy to be in Beijing,” Zingas said afterwards.
“As for the Olympics, it was a huge step for us to make it there, and this win definitely gives us confidence going into the next few weeks.”
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes’ participation at the Milano Cortina Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Milano Cortina 2026.