What is Oksana Baiul's Net Worth?
Oksana Baiul is a retired Ukrainian figure skater with a net worth of $20 million. She achieved global recognition by winning gold medals at the 1993 World Figure Skating Championships and the 1994 Winter Olympics. Notably, Baiul became the first and only skater representing Ukraine to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. After her competitive success, Baiul transitioned to television appearances, participated in multiple ice skating tours in the US, and authored two books in 1997.
Early Life
Born on November 16, 1977, in Dnipro, Ukrainian SSR (then part of the Soviet Union), Oksana Baiul faced early family challenges. Her parents, Sergey and Marina, divorced when she was two, and her father disappeared soon after. Raised by her mother and maternal grandparents, Baiul initially trained in ballet before switching to skating by the age of five under prominent coach Stanislav Koritek. In the late 80s, she faced further hardship with the passing of her grandparents and later her mother in 1991. Baiul then lived with her coach's wife and moved to Odesa in 1992.
Championships and Winter Olympics Success
Baiul's competitive career took off at the 1993 European Championships in Helsinki, where she earned the silver behind Surya Bonaly. Despite an injury during practice, she won gold at the 1993 World Championships in Prague. Her success continued in 1994 with another silver at the European Championships. At the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, despite a wrenched lower back and a cut shin from a collision, Baiul won the free skate and claimed the gold medal. The US's Nancy Kerrigan took silver, while China's Chen Lu earned bronze. Baiul's victory made her the first and only skater from Ukraine to win Winter Olympic gold and the first Olympic champion for independent Ukraine.
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Career in the US
Following the 1994 Winter Olympics, Baiul moved to the United States due to inadequate skating infrastructure in Ukraine. Her coach, Galina Zmievskaya, secured her a contract with William Morris Endeavor to tour the US, boosting her financial stability. Baiul competed in the US Outdoor Skating Challenge, starred in CBS productions of "The Nutcracker on Ice" and "The Wizard of Oz on Ice," and joined the Tom Collins World Champions Tour. She also led the coaching staff at the International Skating Center in Simsbury, Connecticut. Baiul continued to perform non-competitively into the 21st century, including a role in the 2007 stage musical "Cold as Ice" and annual performances at the Kate Wollman Skating Rink in New York City. She additionally appeared on television game shows like Bravo's "Celebrity Poker Showdown" and ABC's "Master of Champions."
Drinking Problems
In early 1997, Baiul was arrested for driving under the influence after crashing her car in Connecticut. After completing an alcohol education program and adhering to probation terms, her charges were dropped. However, her alcohol issues persisted, leading her to enter a rehabilitation program for several months. By 2004, Baiul reported having been sober for six years in an interview.
Personal Life and Charity
Baiul married her manager, Carlo Farina, in early 2015. They have a daughter named Sophia and live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Baiul is involved in various charitable activities. She supports the Tikva Children's Home Charity, aiding Jewish children in Odesa, and is a member of the International Museum of Women, which focuses on global women's issues.
