For the reigning U.S. pairs figure skating champions, a dream trip to the Winter Olympics has been shattered not by a fall on the ice, but by a bureaucratic hurdle. Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who won the national title on January 7, 2026, will not compete in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games next month due to a delayed passport and citizenship process.
Paperwork Over Performance Ends Olympic Bid
The couple's qualification for the Games was rendered void because Efimova, despite having a green card since 2023, has not yet completed the process to become a U.S. citizen. The International Olympic Committee requires citizenship for participation, a rule that has ultimately barred the team from representing the United States in Italy.
"Yes, we didn't make it, but we don't see that as a failure," Mitrofanov stated at a team send-off event on Wednesday. He reflected on their journey, noting, "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."
A Complex International Background
The situation stems from Efimova's international skating history. She was born in Finland and has previously competed for Russia and Germany at the elite level. After partnering with American-born Mitrofanov, she moved to the United States in 2023. While she received her green card that same year, the standard three-year waiting period for citizenship could not be expedited in time for the February Games.
Their training base, the Skating Club of Boston, collaborated with government officials in a last-ditch effort to fast-track the application. Mitrofanov referred to this as a potential "last-minute miracle," but it was not to be. U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell acknowledged the difficult outcome, simply stating, "there are sometimes rules … and this is not the fun part."
Looking Ahead to 2030 and Beyond
With their Olympic hopes for 2026 extinguished, the pair will now redirect their focus. Their immediate plan is to compete at the Four Continents event in Beijing next week, a competition governed by International Skating Union rules which differ from the IOC's.
Looking further ahead, the couple has not ruled out a run at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. By that time, Efimova would be 30 and Mitrofanov 32. "We're thinking about it," Efimova said. "Four years is a very long time... (If) we make it in four years to the Olympics, I think it would be even more valuable, even more precious. So that's definitely a motivation."
Despite the profound disappointment, the skaters expressed gratitude for the support they received. Mitrofanov emphasized their positive outlook, saying, "Hey, this was an opportunity. It may not have worked out. But so many great things have come from it that we are very happy moving forward."
