At a Glance
- Two-time U.S. pairs champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov won’t compete in Milan Olympics
- Efimova’s citizenship paperwork couldn’t be completed before Saturday’s roster deadline
- The pair will instead compete at Four Continents in Beijing and World Championships in Prague
- Why it matters: Their absence weakens America’s gold medal defense in team competition
Two-time U.S. pairs figure skating champions Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov delivered a stellar performance at last weekend’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships, earning them Olympic qualification. Yet they’ll watch the Winter Games from home, not from the ice in Milan.
The reason? Efimova lacks American citizenship.
Citizenship Hurdle Blocks Olympic Berth
Despite winning their second consecutive national title, the husband-and-wife team faces an insurmountable bureaucratic obstacle. Efimova, born in Finland, has represented Russia and Germany internationally before partnering with Mitrofanov. She relocated to the United States full-time in 2023 and received a green card that year.
The citizenship process requires a three-year waiting period. Their home rink enlisted help from U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to accelerate the timeline, hoping for what Mitrofanov termed “a last-minute miracle.” The miracle never materialized.
“Yes, we didn’t make it, but we don’t see that as a failure,” Mitrofanov said Wednesday at a Skating Club of Boston send-off for three Olympians from the rink.
The Final Weekend
The skaters competed at nationals still holding hope for expedited citizenship processing. When the Olympic roster submission deadline arrived Saturday, their paperwork remained incomplete. By Sunday’s gala celebration, they had already departed.
U.S. Figure Skating awarded the two pairs spots to:
- Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea – silver medalists at nationals
- Emily Chan and Spencer Howe – fourth-place finishers
CEO Matt Farrell acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, stating after the team announcement that “there are sometimes rules … and this is not the fun part.”
Impact on Team USA
Without Efimova and Mitrofanov, America’s figure skating team faces reduced odds in defending their gold medal in the team competition that opens the program. However, the U.S. was not projected to contend for a pairs medal regardless of their participation.
The pair’s absence creates a notable gap in the American lineup, particularly given their recent dominance at nationals. Their back-to-back championships established them as the country’s top pairs team heading into Olympic qualifying.
Looking Forward
Rather than dwelling on their Olympic disappointment, Efimova and Mitrofanov have redirected their focus to upcoming competitions. Their next destination is Beijing for next week’s Four Continents championship, featuring primarily non-Olympians.
Following Four Continents, they’ll prepare for the World Championships in Prague. International Skating Union regulations differ from International Olympic Committee requirements, meaning Efimova can represent the United States without citizenship at Worlds.
“Hey, this was an opportunity,” Mitrofanov reflected. “It may not have worked out. But so many great things have come from it that we are very happy moving forward.”
The pair maintains perspective about their journey together. “Whenever we first started as a team, we didn’t know whether or not the Olympics is even a possibility. We knew it was a long shot because of the paperwork,” Mitrofanov explained.
Community Support
Throughout their citizenship struggle, the skating community rallied behind them. Mitrofanov expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support they received during this challenging period.
“There were so many people who messaged us and reached out to us wanting to support us,” he said. “So, for us, we’re very grateful.”
This grassroots backing provided emotional sustenance as they navigated the complex intersection of immigration law and Olympic dreams.
Future Prospects
While Milan 2026 proved unattainable, the pair hasn’t abandoned Olympic aspirations. They’ve already set their sights on the 2030 Games in the French Alps. At that time, Efimova will be 30 and Mitrofanov 32 – ages that many elite skaters have competed at successfully.
“We’re thinking about it,” Efimova confirmed. “Four years is a very long time. For now, I think we’re just thinking of how to approach the next season, because this situation, and after these nationals, it left us with some kind of hunger to make it.”
She views their current setback as potential motivation for future success. “(If) we make it in four years to the Olympics, I think it would be even more valuable, even more precious,” Efimova said. “So that’s definitely a motivation.”
Key Takeaways
- Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov won their second straight U.S. pairs title but missed Olympic qualification due to citizenship requirements
- Citizenship processing delays prevented Efimova, originally from Finland, from obtaining American citizenship before the roster deadline
- Ellie Kam/Danny O’Shea and Emily Chan/Spencer Howe will represent the U.S. in pairs at Milan instead
- The pair will compete at Four Continents in Beijing and World Championships in Prague as their season continues
- They’ve targeted the 2030 French Alps Olympics as their next Olympic opportunity
Jonathan P. Miller reported this story for News Of Losangeles. AP Sports Writer David Skretta contributed from Kansas and Missouri.
