Freshman brings home four world medals

By Isabella Fernandez De Cueto and Abraham Velasquez

When Karyna Mykhalina, freshman business management major, was 14 years old, attended her uncle’s wedding in Ukraine, where she was born, she was unaware that it was here where her life’s passion would be ignited.

“There was a challenge for all the wedding guests. Whoever did the coolest trick, any kind of trick, got a prize,” Mykhalina said.

She then watched in awe as one of the guests did an aerial stunt on a pole.

“I saw her do this amazing trick and told myself I want to do the same thing,” Mykhalina said.

Mykhalina would go on to win four medals with Team USA at the 2023 World Pole & Aerial Championships.

When Mykhalina started doing aero gymnastics and pole sports at 14, she had no intention of attending competitions.

“I did not want to compete at first. Two months after I started, though, I went to my first competition and got last place, so I told myself this is just for fun,” Mykhalina said.

Mykhalina was born and raised in Ukraine but has grown to love the United States and embrace it as her home.

She lived in Boston during the fall of 2021 and Miami during the summer of 2022. She stayed with host families and attended school to learn English.

“I enjoyed this country when I lived in Boston. Then I went to Miami and loved it, and decided I wanted to go to college here,” Mykhalina said.

Following her summer in Florida, she returned to Ukraine for six months. In this time, she and her family were forced to flee due to the war with Russia. Mykhalina found a new home in South Florida.

“I really wanted to live in Miami because I love the culture here. We had to move somewhere when the war started, and my family and I decided to move here,” Mykhalina said.

During all the traveling she did, Mykhalina was still training every day and working hard on her craft.

“I was training every day, no matter what. During COVID, I couldn’t go to my studio, so I ordered a pole to my house so I could continue training at home,” Mykhalina said.

Mykhalina’s dedication led her to attend the 2021 US Pole & Aerial Championships, but she did not qualify for the World Championships. The following year, she qualified but was unable to attend.

Finally, in 2023, Mykhalina qualified for six categories: Pole sports, pole sports double, aerial hoop double, aerial hoop sports, aerial pole sports, and artistic aerial pole.

“I trained every day before the World Championships for about four to five hours a day. I went to every studio in Miami to prepare,” Mykhalina said.

Mykhalina relied on her work ethic and determination, which she credits to her coach Kristina Ganatauskaite.

“I love to train because of my coach. I’ve had so many coaches throughout the years, but none as great as her,” Mykhalina said.

The World Pole and Aerial Championships took place in Kielse, Poland in October 2023. She won first place in the artistic aerial pole and pole sports double categories, second place in the aerial pole sports category, and third place in the aerial hoop sports category.

“I wasn’t expecting to do as good as I did. I was shocked but happy every time my name was called,” Mykhalina said.

Despite her Ukranian roots, Mykhalina was proud to be a part of Team USA.

“I was so happy to be representing the United States, and even happier to say I was able to bring home medals for this country,” Mykhalina said.

Mykhalina is now preparing for the next U.S. Pole & Aerial Championships in July, looking to qualify again for the World Championships.