From Montreal to Milan: Christina Carreira’s journey to US citizenship and the Winter Olympics

Christina Carreira’s journey across the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron, Michigan, and Sarnia, Canada, became so routine that border officials greeted her by name, often inquiring about her ice dancing career. This daily commute was more than just part of her training regimen—it was a critical component of her path to U.S. citizenship.

In November, Carreira’s persistence finally paid off when she became an American citizen, clearing the final hurdle for her to represent the United States at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.

“The process of becoming an American was pretty tough, and it took forever,” Carreira explained. “It was very, very stressful.”

The citizenship requirement for Olympic athletes is straightforward: the International Olympic Committee mandates that competitors must be citizens of the nations they represent. While many countries facilitate expedited citizenship for talented athletes—a practice known as “sports migration”—the United States rarely makes exceptions, requiring athletes to navigate the same lengthy process as other immigrants.

This stringent approach has consequences. Pairs skater Alisa Efimova, despite being the reigning national champion with partner Misha Mitrofanov, will miss the Olympics because her passport didn’t arrive in time, despite advocacy from U.S. Figure Skating, the Skating Club of Boston, and even Massachusetts senators.

“We were waiting for a last-minute miracle to make it happen,” Mitrofanov lamented.

Unwilling to leave her Olympic dreams to chance, Carreira committed to her daily two-hour commute between Canada and the U.S., sometimes longer when faced with bridge closures or road construction. During these drives, she would pass time with podcasts, music, and episodes of “Dance Moms.”

The figure skating world is replete with athletes representing countries other than their birthplaces. Laurence Fournier Beaudry, like Carreira, was born in Montreal but now represents France with partner Guillaume Cizeron after receiving French citizenship last November. The IOC approved her nationality change the following month.

The list continues: Moscow-born Anastasia Golubeva competes for Australia, Ukrainian-born Olga Mikutina has represented Austria for nearly a decade, Israeli-born Alexandra Feigin skates for Bulgaria, and Chicago native Deanna Stellato-Dudek represents Canada.

These nationality switches occur across Olympic sports, from American hockey players joining less competitive national teams to San Francisco’s Eileen Gu choosing to represent China in freestyle skiing. However, the movement from other nations to the United States remains relatively uncommon due to the complex naturalization process.

Vadym Kolesnik, born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, understands this journey intimately. Having lived in America for nearly a decade, he received his citizenship last summer and will represent the U.S. with partner Emilea Zingas at the Milan Olympics.

“I have a car. I have a house. I have a dog. I feel very honored to represent the U.S. at such a high level,” Kolesnik said.

His partner Zingas added, “He represents the American dream very well. When he got here he didn’t speak the language; he learned the language. He works here, he puts so much into representing the United States well. It is very special.”

These newly minted American citizens are mindful that they’ve obtained citizenship during a politically charged era. With various controversial policies in recent years affecting international relations, particularly with European nations hosting the upcoming Olympics, these athletes are uncertain about their reception when they perform at the Milano Ice Skating Arena next week.

Despite these concerns, Carreira remains steadfast in her pride: “No matter what, it’s an honor for me to represent the U.S. I’ve lived here for half of my life. I really consider it my home.”

The Milan Cortina Winter Olympics will showcase these athletes whose personal journeys across borders reflect the increasingly complex intersection of national identity, athletic ambition, and the Olympic spirit.