Oksana Baiul

Oksana Baiul (oksanastyle.com)

Oksana Baiul is a very amazing person. She has gone through many problems in her life, yet she is so successful! Oksana is a professional figure skater who has accomplished so much, and has overcome many difficulties. Oksana inspires me to persevere, hope, and have faith in myself.

Oksana as a child. (oksanastyle.com)

Oksana was born February 26, 1977 in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. She became interested in figure skating when she was three years old. Her grandfather gave her her first pair of skates to make up for the fact that she was too young to take ballet lessons. Little did anyone know that she would go on to win many competitions by the age of seven, despite her tragedy-filled childhood. When Oksana was only two years-old, her father abandoned her and her mother. By age thirteen Oksana became an orphan when her mother died of ovarian cancer, and three years before that, her grandparents died as well. Soon after her mother’s death, her coach immigrated to Canada and she was left totally alone. After the Olympics, she moved to the United States and skated in professional tours while battling a drinking problem. Oksana was involved in a car crash due to her addiction. In 1997 she entered a rehab program and returned to professional skating.

Oksana in a beilmen (oksanastyle.com)

Oksana has accomplished many things throughout her lifetime. In 1993, she won both the Ukrainian National Championship and the World Championship. Oksana also beat Nancy Kerrigan in the 1994 Olympics. She has participated in Champions on Ice, Stars on Ice, CBS Sports Ice Wars, CBS Sports Olympic Winter Fest, Goodwill Games, and much more. Oksana has published two books as well: Secrets of Skating/ Oksana Baiul and Oksana: My Own Story. After Oksana moved to the United States, Barbara Walters named her “One of the 10 Most Fascinating Personalities of 1994.” On top of all that, she also owns her own line of clothing called The Oksana Baiul Collection (figure skating clothes designed by her).

Oksana Baiul (oksanastyle.com)

Oksana is my hero because of the way she perseveres and sticks with her dreams. Today, Oksana resides in New Jersey and can be found touring with Stars on Ice. Oksana is thirty years old and is currently training with Coach Valentin Nikolayev.

Oksana Baiul really inspires me. She inspires me to follow my dreams. Oksana has faced many difficulties in life, yet she is very successful and a great skater! I love figure skating, and she inspires me to be a better skater. I have learned from Oksana that if I work hard, I can accomplish goals, no matter what difficulties come my way. Oksana has added a new style to figure skating with her gracefulness and sense of fun.