Michel Tsiba

Michel Tsiba (born 21 December 1997) is a Dutch pair skater. With his skating partner, Daria Danilova, he is a three-time Dutch national champion (2020, 2022, 2025), the 2024 Bavarian Open champion, the 2022 NRW Trophy champion, and a two-time International Challenge Cup silver medalist (2022, 2025). They competed in the final segment three European Championships and four World Championships. They are also the first Dutch pair to qualify for the World Championships.

In 2026, Danilova and Tsiba became the first Dutch pair skating team to qualify for a Winter Olympic Games.

Personal life Tsiba was born on 21 December 1997 in Groningen to a Russian father and a Ukrainian mother. He has an older sister, Irina Tsiba.

Following this, skating fans began a Change.org petition, requesting that Danilova/Tsiba be awarded the Olympic spot. Additionally, the KNSB (Royal Dutch Skating Federation) submitted a request to the NOC*NSF to allow the pair to citing that the pair had a fourteenth-place world ranking and otherwise met all ISU requirements to compete at the upcoming Olympics.

On 22 December, Danilova/Tsiba shared via their Instagram that the NOC*NSF had ultimately decided to allow them to have the Olympic spot, making them the first Dutch figure skating pair team to qualify for an Olympic Games. Tsiba later thanked those that started and signed the petition, saying, "We were so surprised to see who all supported us. Especially the other skaters. They know what it takes. They understand that the Olympic situation in figure skating is maybe even more important than in other sports. And when you feel that support, you know everybody just wants you to go. The love I felt then was amazing. So another big thank you to everyone." On July 31, Danilova announced on her Instagram that they would be taking the 2026-27 season off to "focus on our health, strength, and improving various aspects of our skating." Thus, they would be withdrawing from both of their GP events.

Programs With Danilova Season Short program Free skating 2025–26 Take Back the Power Stairway to Heaven 2024–25