AthleteUkrainian-American1977 – present
Oksana Baiul
1994 Olympic figure skating gold medalist
Biography
Oksana Baiul is a Ukrainian-American figure skater who won the Olympic gold medal in women's singles at the 1994 Winter Olympics. She was the first independent Ukrainian to win Olympic gold after the Soviet Union's dissolution.
Quick Facts
Category
Athlete
Nationality
Ukrainian-American
Born
1977
Thinking about the name
Oksana
Greek origin
“Derived from Greek 'xenia' (hospitality), meaning 'hospitable' or 'welcoming.' Popular throughout Slavic countries, Oksana has a luminous, elegant quality with a touch of Eastern European sophistication. The name gained international recognition through figure skater Oksana Kazakova and has maintained steady appeal for its lyrical sound and gracious meaning.”