Irvine Figure Skating Pair Ineligible for 2026 Olympics

Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman unable to compete due to Parkman's immigration status

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A figure skating pairs team that trains out of Irvine's Great Park Ice, Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman, won bronze at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January, but they were not eligible to represent Team USA at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics due to Parkman's citizenship status. While McBeath is a U.S. citizen, Parkman is still a citizen of Georgia despite having moved to the U.S. several years ago in hopes of competing for the U.S. national team.

Why it matters

The International Olympic Committee's rules state that athletes must have the host country's passport to compete for that team. This case highlights the challenges immigrant athletes can face in achieving their Olympic dreams, even after finding success at the national level.

The details

Parkman was recently approved for his Green Card, but securing U.S. citizenship could take years. The pair's coach, Jenni Meno, said they knew it was a possibility Parkman would not get his passport in time for this Olympics. However, McBeath and Parkman are not letting this year's disappointment derail their destiny, and they have their eyes set on the 2030 Winter Olympics, hoping Parkman will be able to receive his U.S. passport by then.

  • In January 2026, McBeath and Parkman won bronze at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
  • The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place in February 2026.

The players

Katie McBeath

A U.S. citizen from Ohio who is part of the figure skating pairs team that trains out of Irvine's Great Park Ice.

Daniil Parkman

A citizen of Georgia who has moved to the U.S. several years ago in hopes of representing Team USA, but is still not a U.S. citizen.

Jenni Meno

The coach of the figure skating pairs team of Katie McBeath and Daniil Parkman.

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What they’re saying

“The reason why we are not able to represent the U.S. national team in Milan right now is because I'm not a citizen, unfortunately.”

— Daniil Parkman (NBC Los Angeles)

“When they started together, we knew it was a possibility he would not get his passport in time for this Olympics.”

— Jenni Meno, Coach (NBC Los Angeles)

“Hopefully, one day we do get to go to the Olympics. And hopefully, that's somewhere along our journey. Things we get to experience together on that path will be truly amazing.”

— Katie McBeath (NBC Los Angeles)

“We really hope that we will be in a different shoes in this case for 2030.”

— Daniil Parkman (NBC Los Angeles)

What’s next

Parkman is currently in the process of securing his U.S. citizenship, which could take years. The pair will represent the United States at the World Championships in March 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges immigrant athletes can face in achieving their Olympic dreams, even after finding success at the national level. The International Olympic Committee's rules requiring athletes to have the host country's passport create barriers for some athletes, underscoring the need for more inclusive policies to support diverse athletic talent.