Former Olympic figure skater Oksana Baiul and ex-husband Carlo Farina finalized their divorce settlement on Monday, with Farina receiving primary custody of their 10-year-old daughter Sophia.
The agreement allows Farina to relocate from Louisiana to Las Vegas with Sophia. Court documents obtained by PEOPLE detailed the custody arrangement that concluded the former couple’s 13-year marriage.
Baiul, 48, addressed the settlement in a Facebook post Monday evening.
“As I’m sure anyone who has ever been through a separation or divorce knows, it is a lengthy and often devastating journey,” she wrote. “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.”
The 1994 Olympic gold medalist posted the statement alongside a photo of herself and Sophia at an ice rink.
Visitation and Sobriety Requirements
The settlement includes specific terms for Baiul’s contact with Sophia. If the former skater wants to see her daughter and Sophia agrees, Farina must make good-faith efforts to arrange visits.
Baiul agreed to additional requirements including anger management classes and regular drug and alcohol testing to ensure continued sobriety.
On Christmas Day, Baiul shared a Facebook video showing one of her sobriety chips, calling it a “gift.”
Financial and Property Arrangements
Neither parent will pay child support or spousal support under the agreement. The former couple must sell their Louisiana home, while Baiul may continue living in another property they owned together temporarily.
The housing arrangement follows Baiul’s October announcement that she was selling her Louisiana home and moving out of state due to difficulty finding work.
Baiul announced their divorce in August on Facebook, writing: “My husband and I are divorcing. I am asking for prayers, and I am praying for @sophiabaiulfarina. #sobriety, in Gods hands know thank you for this lesson.”
According to CBS affiliate KSLA-TV in Shreveport, the couple began divorce proceedings over the summer. They welcomed Sophia in June 2015, celebrating her birth in a Facebook post that marked her ninth birthday last year.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
