Alisa Efimova wore an American flag on her warm-up jacket, yet it was absent on her passport, which was really what mattered.
The two-time national pairs champion, along with her partner and husband Misha Mitrofanov, is set to compete overseas, but won’t be going to Milan for the Olympics.
Despite skating well enough at last weekend’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships to qualify for the Winter Olympics, she won’t participate due to her lack of U.S. citizenship.
Mitrofanov shared his thoughts during a farewell party for three Olympic athletes at the Boston Skating Club. Among them were U.S. bronze medalist Max Naumov, and pair skaters Emily Chan and Spencer Howe.
“This was an opportunity,” Mitrofanov remarked. “It may not have turned out as we hoped, but we’re really excited about what lies ahead since we’ve gained so much from this experience.”
While Mitrofanov is a U.S. citizen by birth, Efimova hails from Finland and has represented both Russia and Germany in international competitions.
She made the move to the U.S. in 2023 and obtained her green card that same year, but there’s this lengthy three-year wait for citizenship.
The couple’s home rink collaborated with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey to expedite her citizenship process, hoping for what Mitrofanov referred to as a “last-minute miracle” as they entered the competition.
Unfortunately, the bureaucratic hurdles couldn’t be overcome in time, so by the time the Olympic rosters were finalized, they were already back home after the competition.
The U.S. pairs spots for Milan went to Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea, who earned silver at the All Japan championships, along with fourth-place finishers Chan and Howe. “Sometimes rules are just rules, and it’s not exactly fun,” U.S. Figure Skating CEO Matt Farrell stated after announcing the roster without the duo.
Even without Efimova and Mitrofanov, the Americans are still expected to defend their gold medal in the team event, which kicks off the figure skating program, though it won’t be as robust.
The U.S. team isn’t predicted to contend for any specific medals in pairs.
Instead, Efimova and Mitrofanov will travel to Beijing for the upcoming Four Continents Championships, featuring a mostly non-Olympic field, followed by preparations for the World Championships in Prague.
Interestingly, while the International Skating Union’s rules differ from those of the International Olympic Committee, Efimova doesn’t need citizenship to compete for the U.S. under the ISU’s regulations.
“Initially, we weren’t sure if we’d even qualify for the Olympics. We knew it would be a challenge given all the paperwork,” Mitrofanov explained. “As I progressed in my skating career, the possibility felt more attainable.”
“We received a lot of messages and support from people,” he added. “That’s something we truly appreciate.”
There’s still hope for the future: the Olympics might just occur in the French Alps in 2030. Efimova will be 30, and Mitrofanov will be 32 by then.
“It’s on our minds,” she mentioned. “Four years is a long time, though. Right now, we’re focusing on our approach for the next season, especially after this situation and the national championship left us with this hunger to succeed.”
“If I could go to the Olympics in four years, it would feel even more meaningful and valuable,” Efimova shared. “That certainly keeps us motivated.”
