Oksana Baiul isn’t letting losing custody of her daughter — or a recent alleged run-in with the police — damper her spirits.
“Hey everybody. [It’s] 4:46, I’m at Starbucks. I was just being stopped by the police officer,” Baiul, 48, said in a video shared via Instagram on Wednesday, January 7, claiming she was pulled over by law enforcement.
“What a nice, nice, nice gentleman this guy is,” she continued in the footage, which was apparently captured from inside her vehicle.
The Olympic gold medalist addressed why she claims the cops stopped her in the caption, writing, “I know all of you are like why police ? I have Louisiana plates still on my 2020 Mercedes 😂.”
Olympian Oksana Baiul Gives Up Custody of 11-Year-Old Daughter in Divorce
In addition to talking about her positive run in with the law, Baiul appeared to address her recent legal news after Us Weekly exclusively reported earlier this month that her ex-husband Carlo Farina was granted sole custody of their 11-year-old daughter, Sophia. (The couple were married 13 years before finalizing their divorce late last year.)
“I ask myself a question. It’s a very interesting question — probably it’s something that I have been struggling with for so many years,” she said in the social media video. “If I don’t believe in myself, nobody else will believe in me. Believe in yourself, people.”
The professional ice skater also reminded her followers in the caption that “dreams do come [true],” adding, “Thank you everyone for your support…… 💕.”
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Hours later, Baiul shared a separate message about how “many divorces are tumultuous and painful, often leaving lingering feelings of hurt, resentment, and regret.”
She noted that as a mother she wants “nothing more than to protect my daughter from the negativity and speculation that often accompanies it,” referring to news surrounding her and Farina’s split.
“I can only act in her best interest and beseech you for the grace to move forward in a positive manner and the understanding that any choices I made were in her best interests at that moment in time,” Baiul continued, seemingly talking about the court granting her ex full custody of their child earlier this month. “Out of respect for her, I will not address the individual assertions and allegations posed regarding my divorce in a public forum. I am so very grateful for your compassion and understanding.”
Us exclusively reported on Monday, January 5, that Farina was awarded sole custody of their daughter as part of the former couple’s divorce settlement.
The news came after Baiul and Farina informed the court in October 2025 that they reached a deal covering custody, support and division of their property, two months after Baiul announced they had separated. (According to Farina’s divorce filing, the pair actually split in 2022 but didn’t go public with the breakup until summer 2025.)
According to the agreement, Farina was granted the ability to move from Louisiana to Las Vegas, where his company has an office, with Sophia. The docs, obtained by Us, noted that if Baiul wants to see their child — and Sophia agrees to it — Farina is in charge of setting it up.
The exes, who tied the knot in 2012, agreed to forgo spousal and child support. However, Farina stated he would pay Baiul a $100,000 lump sum and another $150,000 paid out over five years. If she relocated to Nevada — which according to social media she has now done — he agreed to give her a 2020 Mercedes. (The Mercedes she was driving when pulled over on Wednesday.)
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Farina also agreed to forgive $194,000 in loans his business provided to Baiul and the pair split $108,000 in an investment account, per the deal.
While Baiul and Farina’s divorce was contentious at times — Baiul accused Farina of harassment and manipulation before they reached a settlement, which Farina did not comment on before their settlement was finalized in October 2025 — she has since chosen not to speak negatively about her ex, as stipulated in their divorce agreement.
Baiul, however, did break her silence on the matter of custody on Monday, writing via Facebook, “As I’m sure anyone who has ever been through a separation or divorce knows, it is a lengthy and often devastating journey.”
She added: “Divorce is hard enough, but when there is a child involved they must be the priority. As a mother, I ask that you please respect our privacy at this time as we move forward building our new future…..”
