Oksana Baiul he has experienced many ups and downs throughout his life.
The world was introduced to the Ukrainian figure skater at the 1994 Winter Olympics, when she took home the gold medal in women’s singles figure skating. After becoming a champion, Baiul moved to the United States and began performing on professional ice skating tours and shows.
After his success on the court, Baiul faced a series of public struggles. In 1977, she was arrested for a DUI and later checked into a rehab program. Baiul later revealed that his drinking problem began when he began performing on ice skating tours.
“Except for me, almost all the figure skaters on the bus were older, and it was full of alcohol. Most of the skaters were Russian and American, and they were all drinking,” Baiul told the tribune in 2015. “That’s when I tried it. I was very young, with no one to teach me the law. I thought it was the norm, because as a teenager you don’t want to break with the majority.”
Reaching the Olympic Games is a feat that many athletes dream of all their lives. After years of blood, sweat and tears, taking part in the most prestigious athletic event in the world is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Some athletes compete once in the Olympics and hang up their hats, gracefully entering retirement. (…)
After her substance abuse treatment, Baiul married her manager, Carlo Farinain 2012. The couple welcomed daughter Sophia three years later. In 2025, Baiul and Farina separated after 13 years of marriage. The following year, I exclusively reported that Farina was granted primary custody from Sofia
Keep scrolling to see Baiul’s highs and lows over the years.
1979
When Baiul was 2 years old, his parents divorced. After the separation, Baiul’s father left the family and she did not see him for years.
1991
Baiul’s mother died suddenly of ovarian cancer when the athlete was 13 years old. Baiul’s father attended the funeral, but she wanted nothing to do with him, according to the Chicago Tribune. After the death of his mother, Baiul lived with several of his coaches.
1993
Baiul won her first gold medal when she took home the women’s individual ice skating prize during the World Championships in Prague.
1994
A year after his big win at the World Championship, Baiul won Nancy Kerrigan for gold at the Olympic Games. After his win in Norway, Baiul moved to the United States and began performing on ice skating tours.
1997
Earlier this year, Baiul was arrested for DUI after crashing her car into a tree in Bloomfield, Connecticut. The charges were later dropped after Baiul served the terms of his probation and completed an alcohol education program.
In May 1997, Baiul was abandoned Champions on ice tour due to concerns about his drinking. That same month, Baiul entered an alcohol rehabilitation program for two and a half months.
2003
After seeing his father for the last time at his mother’s funeral, Baiul regretted not having him in his life. According to the Chicago TribuneBaiul was reunited with his father in Ukraine thanks to the help of the manager at his old training ground.
2004
Baiul achieved six years of sobriety, calling the milestone “more important than Olympic gold.” Chicago Tribune.
2012
Baiul married Farina in Pennsylvania.
2015
The couple welcomed Sofia.
2025
Farina filed for divorce from Baiul after 13 years of marriage. According to court documents obtained by weFarina claimed that he and Baiul separated in 2022.
2026
we exclusively reported in January 2026 that Farina was granted sole custody of Sophia by an agreement made between him and Baiul. Baiul agreed to enroll in anger management classes and take a breathalyzer and drug test to “make sure she stays sober,” according to the documents.