Olympic Figure Skater Oksana Baiul Reveals She’s Been Forced To List $1.2 Million Louisiana Home Amid Money Struggles: ‘My Heart Is Broken’

Olympic figure skater Oksana Baiul has put her Louisiana mansion on the market for $1.2 million after revealing that she is being forced to move back to Las Vegas because she "can't make a living" in Shreveport.

The 47-year-old, who claimed Olympic gold in the ladies' singles at the 1994 Winter Games, where she represented her home country of Ukraine, becoming the nation's first Olympic champion since it was declared independent in 1991.

Soon after achieving glory at the Games in Norway, Baiul relocated to the U.S., where she took up residence in Simsbury, CT, living in a $450,000 home, she revealed to The New York Times in 1998.

However, her Olympic victory soon became tainted as the talented athlete—who was just 16 when she won her gold—grappled with alcohol addition, entering a rehab facility in Connecticut in 1997.

Today, according to her Facebook page, she is two years sober and has been living in a mansion in Shreveport for the last three years, having purchased the property for an undisclosed amount in March 2022, seven months after it was listed for $670,000.

Initially, Baiul said she had hoped to open her own skating school in the city, with the support of her now ex-husband, Carlo Farina.

But she has now revealed that her plans hit a major roadblock, explaining in a Facebook post that her dream of founding her own business "did not come to fruition," adding that she needs to "go where the ice exists" in order to earn money.

"I can’t make a living in Shreveport. Unfortunately, I can’t," she told her followers. "I do love all the people here. I came for a reason, and it did not happen. I came here to create some things, but they did not come to fruition. I have to go where the ice exists."

Baiul officially listed her home with Andy Osborn, of Osborn Hays Real Estate, LLC, on Sept. 20, describing the property as "the most beautiful mansion in all of Shreveport" in another post shared on her Facebook account, in which she could be seen strolling through the dwelling, before showing off a large fountain in the backyard.

Speaking to Louisiana First News, the athlete admitted that her heart was "broken" at the prospect of leaving her home—and Shreveport—behind, stating: "My heart is broken. I have so many friends here. I have met a lot of wonderful and beautiful people here."

Sharing an image of the "for sale" sign outside of her mansion, Baiul reiterated her love of the city that she has called home for the last three years, writing: "Thank you Shreveport !!! House is for sale, [I am] moving back to Las Vegas … I love u all I am sorry it didn’t work out."

Baiul later attempted to lure in potential buyers by showcasing the dwelling in a video posted to her account, noting that the abode would serve as a "great location for a Bed and Breakfast for someone in the market to begin a business."

Meanwhile, the home's listing description pays tribute to Baiul's Olympic legacy, describing the home as being owned by a "golden" family, before noting that the former figure skater and her ex-husband—who shared the news of her divorce in August—had spent three years "painstakingly" restoring the property to its former glory.

"The mansion features seven marble fireplaces, original chandeliers and sconces, a Virginia blue slate roof, copper gutters and downspouts, and a floating spiral staircase that is rumored to be the first in the country," it continues.

"Every corner reveals authentic detail that tells its own story- from the original French doors to the handcrafted archway and copper screens that stand strong a century later."

The property features five bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, and boasts 6,000 square feet of living space on a 1.33-acre parcel.

Historic details maintained inside the home include "original hardwood and marble floors, original breathtaking poured-plaster sculpted ceiling reliefs of nymphs and clam shell starburst by European artisans, cedar built-out closets in every bedroom, original Hunter ceiling fans in the sunroom and library, original bathrooms tile and woodwork, and the original built-in safe."

In addition to the main residence on the property, there is also a "500-square-foot apartment providing private living with its own kitchen, living space, bedroom, and full bath; and an additional restored and unfinished cottage," the listing notes.

The grounds of the property have also been outfitted with "two custom-built treehouses with a drawbridge."

Baiul had initially announced plans to host a large yard sale at the property, but later canceled the event after noting that the demand from prospective buyers far outweighed the number of items that she would have available to sell.

Among the pieces that she had teased on social media were a sewing machine, a steamer, lamps, a "tiny side table," a sequin romper, and a Bergdorf Goodman jacket.

Prices ranged from $5 for a lamp shade to $100 for the vintage sewing machine.

Although Baiul has yet to offload her Louisiana home, she revealed to Louisiana First News that she is currently splitting her time between Shreveport and Las Vegas, where she has secured a job working under the umbrella of NHL team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

The retired figure skater told KSLA that she had lived in Vegas before moving to Louisiana and that her daughter had actually been born in Sin City, revealing: "I came here from Las Vegas. My daughter was born in Las Vegas. She is already there."

She noted that she wants to look at this time in her life as a learning experience, comparing the rocky road ahead of her to her time on the ice.

"I’ve made all of the money in the world, lost all of the money in the world," she shared. "I’ve been married, now I’m divorced. But, if you fall down on the ice, can you imagine how many times I had to fall down and get up?"

As for her divorce, Baiul revealed on Sept. 20, the same day that she listed her home, that she and Farina had finalized their agreement, noting in a social media post that they had reached a quick settlement "for the sake of our child."

"Carlo and I have settled our Divorce. It’s finished ... for the sake of our child we were able like two adults come to a settlement," she wrote.