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Michigan star Vladislav Goldin reunites with parents after five years: 'It felt like they've always been here'

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•about 19 hours•

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Vladislav Goldin
Michigan Wolverines basketball center Vladislav Goldin scored 22 points against Illinois. (Photo by Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines basketball graduate center Vladislav Goldin hadn’t seen his parents — Marina and Alexandra — since 2020 until Friday night, when he carried flowers into Detroit Metro Airport and met them upon their arrival from Russia.

His mother wrapped her arms around the 7-foot-1 big man, giving him a big hug, before he and his father embraced.

“To be honest, it’s hard to put it into words, because when I saw them, I was speechless for a good amount of time,” the Michigan standout said. “But then we started talking, and it felt like they’ve always been here. It probably shows that I take pride in that, how great of a relationship we have with each other, because they’ve always supported me — no matter win or lose.”

Goldin has played college basketball at three schools in between face-to-face interactions with his parents — Texas Tech (2020-21), Florida Atlantic (2021-24) and Michigan (2024-25). But the family kept in close contact throughout.

“FaceTimes all the time,” Goldin said. “There are specific hours I can call them, so just FaceTime multiple times a day.”

Marina and Alexandra had a meeting regarding their travel visas Feb. 21. Days later, Goldin was informed his parents were approved and headed to the United States. His parents will stay with him in Ann Arbor until March 10, the day after Michigan’s regular season wraps up with a road clash at Michigan State.

“That was as touching as any win that I’ve ever had or been a part of as a coach,” Michigan head coach Dusty May said of Goldin reuniting with his parents. We chase opportunitie, we make sacrifices — we all do. You guys are all here because you’ve made sacrifices. The coaches have made sacrifices.

“Vlad, for five years, hasn’t seen his family. I don’t know of a bigger sacrifice you could have as a great human being like he is. So to see them and how proud they are of him was a touching moment. 

“There was a lot of work from a lot of people. Our administration, our staff put a lot of man hours to figure out a way to help Vlad get his family here, so we’re very grateful for all that. That was a special moment. And just to see a mother’s pride in her son was a really cool moment.”

Goldin’s parents made it to the country just in time for senior day at Michigan. They accompanied Goldin for a pregame ceremony on the court before the clash against Illinois Sunday afternoon. Goldin’s fiancée, Camryn Vogler, a former Florida Atlantic volleyball player from Tampa, Fla., and her parents, Matt and Dawn, joined them.

“They actually communicated pretty great,” a smiling Goldin said of the sets of parents. “My dad speaks Russian to them so confidently. They don’t really understand each other, but I try to translate it as best as I can.”

Michigan fell to Illinois, 93-73, in the team’s second home loss of the season.

“It hurts,” Goldin admitted. “I’ll be honest, it hurts, especially because I always wanted them to see my team play. When we lose by 20, it’s disappointing.”

Goldin showed out individually, however, scoring 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field.

“Just try to keep the game simple and take what the game gives us,” Goldin said of his performance. “As soon as we try to create something that wasn’t supposed to go that way, it’s not gonna work out. The game appreciates the simpleness, so just staying the right way and if I’m open, shoot. If I’m not open, don’t shoot.”

He’ll have two more cracks at playing in front of his parents before they depart March 10 — versus Maryland and at Michigan State. Goldin and the Wolverines are in a Big Ten championship hunt ahead of the postseason, with plenty to play for despite falling on Sunday.

“We have two ways we can go right now,” Goldin said of May’s postgame message to the group. “One way is fall apart and be bad teammates. And another way is to get even closer together, fight for each other and play for the right thing. I’m sure this team is going to respond the right way.”

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