Olympic figure skater Oksana Baiul has reached a divorce settlement with her ex-husband, Carlo Farina, granting him primary custody of their 11-year-old daughter, Sophia. According to documents filed in court, the couple informed the court of their agreement on October 6, 2023, marking a significant development in their contentious divorce proceedings.
The settlement, which concludes their marriage after 13 years, includes stipulations regarding custody, financial support, and the division of property. Farina has been awarded sole custody of Sophia, allowing him to relocate from Louisiana to Las Vegas with their daughter. Baiul will have the opportunity to visit Sophia, contingent upon the child’s consent and arrangements made by Farina.
Under the terms of the agreement, Baiul has committed to enrolling in anger management classes and will undergo testing for alcohol and drugs to confirm her sobriety. The settlement also stipulates that Farina must list their home in Louisiana for sale, providing Baiul with $550,000 from the net proceeds, while they will share the remainder of the sale.
Baiul retains all rights to her earnings from SAG-AFTRA, including residuals and royalties from her published works during the marriage. Additionally, she will keep an extensive collection of designer items, while Farina has agreed to forgive $194,000 in loans his business had extended to her. The couple will split an investment account valued at $108,000.
Farina is also set to pay Baiul a lump sum of $100,000, with an additional $150,000 to be disbursed over five years, along with a 2020 Mercedes once she relocates to Nevada.
The divorce proceedings began when Farina filed for divorce on June 26, 2023, citing their marriage date as July 7, 2012. In his petition, he claimed they had been living separately since November 22, 2022, and requested sole custody due to alleged abusive behavior by Baiul. Farina characterized Baiul’s actions as “extreme physical, emotional, mental, and verbal abuse,” claiming that incidents were captured on surveillance cameras in their home. He alleged that their daughter had expressed fear towards her mother.
Baiul, in her response filed on August 1, 2023, denied all accusations and contested Farina’s request for sole custody. She asserted that they had actually separated on June 12, 2025, and sought joint custody instead. Baiul countered Farina’s claims by suggesting that the videos he presented depicted his own abusive behavior towards her.
The divorce has drawn considerable media attention, particularly due to Baiul’s status as an accomplished athlete. She won a gold medal for Ukraine at the 1994 Olympics and later established a successful career in the United States, featuring in various ice skating tours and reality television shows.
As both parties move forward with their lives post-divorce, the focus remains on their daughter and the arrangements that have been made for her care and upbringing.
