Christina Carreira

Quick Facts

• Speciality: Ice dance
• Parents Are Carlos and Lyna; has a brother named David
• Began skating at age 3 because her mom was a skating coach
• Currently skates with Anthony Ponomarenko
• Aspires to go to law school
• Her first language is French
• Has a pet dog named Charlie and a pet chinchilla
• Hobbies include reading, drawing and playing with her dog

Biographical Information

Christina Carreira has emerged as one of the premier ice dancers in the United States, competing alongside partner Anthony Ponomarenko since April 2014. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Carreira began skating at age 3, inspired by her mother who worked as a skating coach. French is her first language, reflecting her Canadian roots. The pair first connected at the Lake Placid Ice Dance Championship, where Olympic champion Marina Klimova, Ponomarenko's mother, recognized Carreira's talent and suggested the pairing. 

Carreira and Ponomarenko's junior career established them as rising stars in the sport. They won silver at the 2018 World Junior Championships, bronze at the 2017 World Junior Championships, and claimed the 2018 U.S. junior national title. Their transition to senior competition has been marked by steady progress and breakthrough performances. The duo earned bronze medals at the Four Continents Championships in both 2022 and 2024, and have won consecutive U.S. national silver medals in 2024 and 2025. At the 2025 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, they finished fifth, their highest placement at the event. Their success on the international stage includes four Grand Prix medals and 10 Challenger Series medals throughout their career.

The path to competing for the United States has been particularly challenging for Carreira. After moving to Novi, Michigan, in 2013 to pursue elite training opportunities, she faced a seven-year journey to obtain U.S. citizenship. She received her green card in 2020, but immigration requirements meant she had to maintain U.S. residency while training in Canada after the team moved to the Ice Academy of Montreal in 2021. For four years, Carreira made the hours-long drive from Saint Clair, Michigan, to London, Ontario, five days a week to train with coaches Scott Moir, Madison Hubbell and Adrian Diaz. In November 2025, she finally obtained U.S. citizenship, clearing the final hurdle to compete at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Carreira and Ponomarenko have developed a reputation for their artistic programs and strong technical execution. Their 2024-25 season featured a rhythm dance set to 1950s hits by Little Richard and Etta James, and a free dance to Carmen Suite that showcased their maturity and dynamic quality. Off the ice, Carreira balances her demanding training schedule with her studies at Concordia University, where she maintains her goal of attending law school after her competitive career. She enjoys reading and drawing in her limited free time, and has remained connected to her French Canadian heritage while representing the United States on the world stage.

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – 5th (Ice Dance - Mixed)
• Years of participation: Ice Dance - Mixed 2023, 2024, 2025
• Top finish: 5th – 2025 (Ice Dance - Mixed)