“I can’t make a living in Shreveport,” the 1994 figure skating champion said, as her dream of building a skating school in Louisiana collapsed.

For Olympic icon Oksana Baiul, the ice has run thin.

Three decades after winning gold and captivating the world at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, the Ukrainian-born skater is being forced to sell her $1.2 million Louisiana mansion — the latest heartbreak in a life defined by both triumph and resilience.

Baiul, 47, announced the news in an emotional Facebook post, revealing that she is leaving Shreveport and returning to Las Vegas, where she’s accepted a position with the Vegas Golden Knights organization.

“Thank you, Shreveport!!! House is for sale, moving back to Las Vegas… I love you all. I am sorry it didn’t work out,” she wrote.

Her plan to open a skating academy in Louisiana — a dream she’d nurtured for years — fell apart amid financial struggles and a lack of opportunity.

“I can’t make a living in Shreveport,” Baiul confessed in another post. “I came here to create some things, but they did not come to fruition. I have to go where the ice exists.”

From Olympic Glory to Uncertain Ground

At just 16, Baiul made history when she edged out Nancy Kerrigan and Chen Lu to capture Ukraine’s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in figure skating. Her artistry, emotion, and perseverance turned her into a global sensation known as the “Swan of Ukraine.”

But the years that followed were far less graceful. After touring professionally, Baiul faced legal battles, financial troubles, and personal hardship. She’s spoken openly about her struggles with addiction — and her determination to overcome them.

After moving to the U.S., she bounced between states before settling in Shreveport in 2022 with her husband Carlo Farina. They bought a 1925 Georgian-Italianate mansion for $600,000, restoring it to its former grandeur with the dream of transforming it into a skating hub for the South.

That dream never materialized.

A Mansion and a Farewell

The property, designed by architect Edward F. Neild, spans 1.3 acres and features seven fireplaces, six garages, and a grand fountain — the kind of Southern charm that Baiul once described as “the most beautiful home in all of Shreveport.”

Now, it’s up for sale for $1.195 million, a symbol of her bittersweet chapter in Louisiana.

“I’ve made all of the money in the world, lost all of the money in the world,” she told KSLA-TV. “If you fall down on the ice, can you imagine how many times I had to fall down and get up? That’s how I live my life.”

Heartbreak and Hope

The move also follows Baiul’s divorce from Farina after a decade of marriage. The couple shares a 10-year-old daughter, now back in Las Vegas, where Baiul plans to start anew.

It’s not the first time Baiul has faced a difficult comeback. In 2014, she lost two massive lawsuits — one for $45 million against NBC and another for $400 million alleging her former agents stole her earnings. Despite the setbacks, she’s continued to push forward, marking two years of sobriety this fall.

Returning to Las Vegas, Baiul says she’s ready to rebuild — this time on solid ice.

“I enjoy taking risks,” she reflected. “I never learn from success — only from tougher situations. I’m blessed and grateful for everything. I will miss Shreveport a lot.”

For the girl who once made the world believe in miracles on ice, this move isn’t the end. It’s another graceful turn — one more rise after the fall.