Oksana Baiul

Oksana Baiul stands as Ukraine’s sole skater to secure Winter Olympics gold, marking her not only as the first Olympic champion of independent Ukraine in any sport but also as a historical trailblazer. Rising to prominence with a remarkable victory at the 1993 World Championships at a mere 15 years old, she propelled her success further by claiming the gold at the 1994 Winter Olympics by the age of 16, triumphing over Nancy Kerrigan. This Olympic achievement positioned her among the youngest figure skating Olympic champions, etching her name in the annals of history. Subsequently, Baiul opted to embrace a professional trajectory, embarking on tours across the U.S. to cultivate a skating career.

Amidst being the solitary teenager on the tour, challenges weighed heavily on the young skater. She sought solace in excessive drinking and grappled with numerous physical ailments that impacted her skating prowess and ability to execute jumps. Post her professional skating endeavors after the 1994 Olympics, Baiul remained engaged in performances and appearances, participating in productions like “Cold as Ice” and “Master of Champions.” A fleeting portrayal of her can be glimpsed in the 2017 film “I, Tonya,” embodied by Cassidy Balkcom, as she claims the gold against Caitlin Carver’s rendition of Nancy Kerrigan.