She is also the first Olympic champion of independent Ukraine in any sport.

After winning the gold medal in 1994, Baiul decided to move to the United States and participate in professional ice skating tours and shows. She followed one of her coaches to Connecticut. Later, she also became involved in a variety of TV appearances, and benefit skates. She has lived in the United States since 1994. In 1997, she published two books, a memoir about her life and one on skating.

Early life and education

Baiul was born on 16 November 1977 in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, Her parents divorced when she was two years old,

Prior to the 1993 World Championships in Prague, Baiul had crashed into the boards and displaced disks in her back and neck. She won the Olympic gold medal at the age of 16 years and 101 days, becoming one of the youngest figure skating Olympic champions. Kerrigan placed second and Chen Lu from China placed third. A full stage version of Cold As Ice was produced and presented by the Gateway Playhouse in May 2007.

On 8 March 2009, and again on 14 March 2010, Baiul made guest appearances at the Kate Wollman Skating Rink at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, as part of its annual show. She also took part in meet-and-greet sessions with skating students after each performance.

Baiul has her own line of clothing and jewelry. In 2025, Farina filed for divorce from Baiul. Baiul subsequently put her Shreveport home up for sale and announced she was moving back to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Representation in other media

  • A Promise Kept (1994) is a CBS-produced TV movie made about Baiul.
  • Baiul is mentioned in the Family Guy TV series episode, "Wasted Talent" (season 2, episode 20), during brewmaster Pawtucket Pat's song about his brewery, in a reference to her DUI. She was also noted in the TV series episode,"The Griffin Winter Talent" (Season 17, episode 7).
  • The song, "Oksana", by Hawksley Workman, appears on the songwriter's album, Median Age Wasteland. It is about Baiul.
  • In the film I, Tonya (2017), she is played by actress Cassidy Balkcom (in an uncredited role), winning the gold medal in the 1994 Winter Olympics against American competitor Nancy Kerrigan (played by Caitlin Carver).
  • In the film Blades of Glory (2007), Chazz Michael Michaels (played by Will Ferrell) claims to have been her one-time lover. As a possible reference to her nerves of steel, Chazz exclaims she's colder than ice, colder than dry ice: "Wait, what's colder than dry ice? I'll tell you what is. Oksana..."
  • In the opening of Kimberly Akimbo’s “Skater Planet,” Martin, part of the teen quartet, retorts, “Like you’re Oksana Baiul out there!” in response to Teresa's teasing.

Charitable involvements

On 27 March 2010, Baiul skated at a figure skating exhibition for One Step Closer HIV AIDS. Directed and produced by Tim David, the benefit was for the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. Baiul performed her signature Swan Lake program and was part of the meet-and-greet after the show.

Baiul supports the Tikva Children's Home Charity, which works to aid the Jewish children of Odesa.

Further reading

  • Baiul, Oksana. (1997). Oksana: My Own Story. Random House Books. .
  • Baiul, Oksana. (1997). Secrets of Skating. Universe / Rizzoli. .