Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik continued their amazing breakthrough season, dancing off with gold at the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026 and leading team USA to their first medal sweep in the Ice Dance at this competition in more than two decades. 

‘Big dogs’ Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik ‘in heaven’ with maiden victory 

Up-and-coming Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik (main picture) led their teammates Caroline Green & Michael Parsons and Oona Brown & Gage Brown to the second podium sweep of US Ice Dance couples in Four Continents history. The first and so far only other occasion was in 2005.

Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik (USA), the 2026 ISU Four Continents Ice Dance champions in Beijing, China © ISU

Zingas & Kolesnik proved again they are on the rise. The young couple put out a dramatic performance to “Romeo and Juliet” that featured level-four twizzles, spin and lifts. The ISU Grand Prix Finalists posted a new personal best of 122.89 points in the Free Dance and totaled 202.86 points for the victory. It was their first medal at the ISU Four Continents Championships after coming fourth and fifth in the past two years. 

“I think it’s another step in the right direction overall,” Zingas said. “Obviously, this is our first international gold, and for it to be at the Four Continents Championships feels really good. We’re really excited, and (it) gives us a lot of confidence going into the Olympic Games,” she added.

“I am so happy I’m probably in heaven right now,” Kolesnik sad. “This is a dream coming true and I’m speechless. 

“(In) past seasons we were like the biggest underdogs and now going into the next season and going into Olympics I don’t feel that way anymore,” he continued. “It’s time to learn how to be a big dog, not the underdog.”

Emilea Zingas & Vadym Kolesnik (USA) on their way to winning the gold medal at the 2026 ISU Four Continents Championships in Beijing, China © ISU

Green & Parsons impressed with their sophisticated dance to “Escalate” and “Son of Nyx”, completing difficult footwork and interesting lifts. The 2022 ISU Four Continents champions scored a season’s best 116.06 points, for 194.72 in total. They returned to the Four Continents podium for the first time since winning the title four years ago. 

“We’re really happy with our skate,” Parsons said. “I would say it’s a gutsy skate. I don’t think either of us felt the best as we got on the ice, but we fought through it and we did the best that we could today.

“Every year, every season that we have is different in many ways, and we’ve had some ups and downs since the last Olympic Games,” he said. “To be in a very similar position, where we’re alternates with the Games and successful at Four Continents, is bittersweet. It’s a huge honor, and it’s a mixture of pride for the work that we’ve done and pride for the team that we have here, and pride for the team that’s going to represent our country in the Olympics. It hurts a little bit to not be part of the team, but it’s fuel. We’re going to keep fighting and keep working.”

Silver medalists Caroline Green & Michael Parsons (USA) at the 2026 ISU Four Continents Championships in Beijing, China © ISU

Dancing to “The Godfather” Brown & Brown put out another strong performance for a personal best score of 116.54 points. They were ranked second in the Free Dance but in third place overall, on 190.78 points. The siblings, who were World Junior Champions in 2022 and making their Four Continents debut in Beijing, claimed their first senior ISU championship medal. 

“We felt like we were very happy for our first Four Continents to have a place on the podium and we’re really proud of the two programs that we put out,” Oona Brown told the press. “Going into Free Dance we were a little nervous but we fought through that and so we’re super happy with the result.”

Her brother agreed: “We’re really excited and proud of our season, our progress, our material. This is how we close out the season. We’re beyond happy about that.”

Oona Brown & Gage Brown completed the Ice Dance podium sweep for the USA in Beijing, China © ISU

Alicia Fabbri & Paul Ayer (CAN) came fourth with a smooth performance to “Leave a Light on” at 183.49 points. Holly Harris & Jason Chan (AUS) were fifth with their interpretation of “Clair de Lune” (177.08 points) while Hannah Lim & Ye Quan (KOR) moved up one spot to finish sixth with 176.97 points.

What and when 

The schedule of the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026 is as follows:

Thursday, January 22: Women’s Short Program, Rhythm Dance, Pairs Short Program
 Friday, January 23: Free Dance & Women’s Short Program 
 Saturday, January 24: Men’s Short Program & Pairs Free Skating
 Sunday, January 25: Men’s Free Skating & Exhibition Gala

For more information, full entry lists and results, visit the ISU event page of the ISU Figure Skating Four Continents Championships 2026. Find comments of the skaters and the press conference highlights on the ISU event website in the “For Media” section. For more information also see the Facts & Figures.

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