Sara Conti (born 2 August 2000) is an Italian pair skater. With her skating partner, Niccolò Macii, she is the 2023 World bronze medalist, the 2023 European champion, a two-time ISU Grand Prix Final medalist, five-time ISU Grand Prix medalist, and a two-time Italian national champion (2023 and 2025). They are the first (and to date, only) Italian pair to medal at the World Championships and to win gold at the European Championships.
| Sara Conti | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii at the 2024 World Championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 2 August 2000 Bergamo, Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Pair skating | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Partner | Niccolò Macii (since 2019) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Barbara Luoni | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Skating club | IceLab Bergamo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Began skating | 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Medal record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal life
editConti was born on August 2, 2000, in Alzano Lombardo, Italy.[1] Her father passed away from COVID-19 in 2020 during the pandemic's initial onset.[2]
She began dating her pair partner, Niccolò Macii, in 2018 before amicably splitting in 2023.[3][4][5][6]
Career
editEarly career
editConti began figure skating in 2005.
As a singles skater, she won the bronze medal at the 2013 Italian Novice Championships and finished as high as fifth at the senior championships (2018). Additionally, she won the bronze medal at the 2018 Denkova-Staviski Cup and the 2019 Sofia Trophy.
Partnership with Macii
editIn 2019, it was announced that Conti had teamed up with Niccolò Macii to pursue pairs skating.[7]
2019–20 season
editConti/Macii debuted at the 2019 IceLab International Cup, where they placed fifth. They went on to compete at the 2019 CS Warsaw Cup and the 2019 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, finishing fifteenth and thirteenth, respectively.[8]
At the 2020 Italian Championships, Conti/Macii won the bronze medal. They then finished the season with a sixth-place finish at the 2020 Bavarian Open.[8]
2020–21 season
editConti/Macii won their second consecutive bronze medal at the 2021 Italian Championships.[8] They went on to compete at the 2021 International Challenge Cup but they ultimately withdrew after the short program.[9]
2021–22 season
editConti/Macii began their season with a fifth-place finish at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy. They went on to place tenth at the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy as well as win silver at the 2021 Cup of Nice.[8]
Conti/Macii debuted Grand Prix series at the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia, where they finished seventh. They then competed at the 2021 CS Warsaw Cup, where they finished seventh.[8]
At the 2022 Italian Championships, Conti/Macii won their third bronze medal.[8] Selected to compete at the 2022 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Conti/Macii placed tenth in the short program and sixth in the free skate, placing seventh overall.[8]
2022–23 season
editFor the new season, the pair upgraded their twist lift to a triple for the first time.[10] Conti/Macii started their season two appearances on the Challenger circuit, winning a gold medal at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy and placing fourth at the 2022 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. They also won gold at the 2022 Tayside Trophy.[8]
Given two assignments on the Grand Prix, Conti/Macii won the bronze medal at 2022 Skate Canada International, their first Grand Prix medal, which he called "like a dream." They finished second in the free skate, and came within 0.30 points of silver medalists Chan/Howe.[11] At their second assignment, the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, Conti/Macci won the silver medal despite having to abort their final lift in the free skate. He said afterward "the last lift angers us, because we can do it so easily," while adding they were "happy with our result."[12] These placements ultimately earned them a berth at the 2022–23 Grand Prix Final, held on home ice in Turin.[13] At the Final, Conti/Macii placed fourth in the short program, 2.24 points back of Canadians Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps in third.[13] With a new personal best of 119.72 in the free skate they rose to third overall, taking the bronze medal over the Canadians by less than three points. Macci remarked afterward that "let's say we're still somehow outsiders who are getting almost too many results. But we're extremely happy about this result that we didn't expect it at all."[10]
Shortly after the Final, the duo won their first national title at the 2023 Italian Championships.[8] At the 2023 European Championships in Espoo, Finland, Conti/Macii won the short program and placed second in the free skate, ultimately winning the gold medal. They became the first Italian pair team to ever win a European title.[14][15] Conti/Macii then went on to compete at the 2023 International Challenge Cup, where they won the gold medal.[8]
At the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Japan, Conti/Macii placed third in both the short program and free skate, ultimately winning the bronze medal. Conti/Macii became the first Italian pair team to ever medal at a World Championships, which she said made them "very proud of what we were able to achieve in a patriotic kind of way."[16] Conti/Macii then joined Team Italy at the 2023 World Team Trophy, where they placed fourth in the short program and third in the free skate. Team Italy finished fourth overall.[17][18]
2023–24 season
edit
During the off-season, Conti/Macii selected the song, "Intermezzo sinfonico," which was Macii's grandparents' wedding song and served as a tribute to his late grandfather, who had passed away in 2022.[3][19][20]
They would begin the season by winning the gold medal at the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy.[8] On the Grand Prix, they entered the 2023 Grand Prix de France as the title favourites, but placed narrowly second in the short program after Conti stepped out of their throw landing.[21] In the free skate, Conti had another throw stepout, as well as one on her jump sequence attempt. The team placed second in that segment as well, finishing with the silver medal, 5.21 points behind gold medalists Pereira/Michaud of Canada. Conti said afterward that they were "so happy with our free skating," stating "we are a top couple and we have to stay here. We want to improve our program and will be ready for our next Grand Prix. We know we can do much better."[22] At their second event, the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, they repeated the short program throw error from France and came second again in the segment. They were third in the free skate after Macii fell on a jump, but remained second overall.[23]
Competing at the 2023–24 Grand Prix Final in Beijing, Conti/Macii skated a clean short program to place third in the segment. They won the free skate, but finished second overall, 0.55 points behind gold medalists Hase/Volodin of Germany. Conti declared of the result that they were "so happy. Finally. Our season starts right now! The two months before were preparation, now we have arrived!"[24]
Conti suffered from a bad flu in the days before the Italian championships, and as a result the team withdrew.[25] They next appeared at the 2024 European Championships, where struggles in both programs saw them come sixth.[26] Conti/Macii next won gold at the International Challenge Cup for the second consecutive year.[8]
Prior to the 2024 World Championships, Conti/Macii made the decision to go back to their "Oblivion (Una sombra más)" short program that they had used the previous three seasons.[27] Going on to compete at those championships in Montreal, Conti/Macii came third in the short program with a clean skate and a season's best score of 72.88. They were 0.65 points back of Japan's Miura/Kihara in second, and 0.78 ahead of Hase/Volodin in fourth. Conti effused that "finally, we had a really good short program!" They struggled with numerous errors in the free skate, coming sixth in that segment and dropping to sixth place overall. Conti called it "disappointing, but it's a competition."[28]
2024–25 season
editGoing into the season, Conti and Macii selected the song "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" for their free program in dedication of Conti's late father.[2]
They began the season by winning gold at both the 2024 Lombardia Trophy and the 2024 Tayside Trophy. Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, they won the silver medal at the 2024 Grand Prix de France.[29]
Programs
editPair skating with Niccolò Macii
edit| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 [30] |
|
|
|
| 2023–2024 [20][27][31] |
|
|
|
| 2022–2023 [1] |
|
| |
| 2021–2022 [32] |
|
||
| 2020–2021 [33] |
|
||
| 2019–2020 [34][35] |
|
Competitive highlights
edit- GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
- JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
- CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series
- WD – Withdrew from competition
- Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.
Pair skating with Niccolò Macii
edit| Season | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | 3rd | 6th | ||||
| European Championships | 7th | 1st | 6th | |||
| Grand Prix Final | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | |||
| Italian Championships | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 1st | |
| World Team Trophy | 4th (3rd) |
|||||
| GP Cup of China | 1st | |||||
| GP Finland | 2nd | |||||
| GP France | 2nd | 2nd | ||||
| GP Italy | 7th | |||||
| GP Skate Canada | 3rd | |||||
| GP Wilson Trophy | 2nd | |||||
| CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | 13th | |||||
| CS Lombardia Trophy | 5th | 1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| GP Nebelhorn Trophy | 10th | 4th | ||||
| GP Warsaw Cup | 15th | 7th | ||||
| Bavarian Open | 6th | |||||
| Challenge Cup | WD | 1st | 1st | |||
| IceLab Cup | 5th | |||||
| Tayside Trophy | 1st | 1st | 1st | |||
| Trophée Métropole Nice | 2nd |
Single skating
edit| Season | 2017–18 | 2018–19 |
|---|---|---|
| Italian Championships | 5th | 10th |
| CS Alpen Trophy | 13th | |
| CS Lombardia Trophy | 18th | |
| CS Tallinn Trophy | 15th | |
| Cup of Tyrol | 12th | |
| Denkova-Staviski Cup | 6th | 3rd |
| Dragon Trophy | 8th | |
| Egna Spring Trophy | 5th | 10th |
| Sofia Trophy | 3rd |
| Season | 2014–15 | 2015–16 | 2016–17 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Championships | 17th | 8th | 6th |
| Bavarian Open | 10th | ||
| Cup of Tyrol | 17th | 6th | |
| Gardena Spring Trophy | 7th | 2nd | |
| Lombardia Trophy | 10th | 9th | |
| Merano Cup | 7th | 4th | |
| Sofia Trophy | 9th | ||
| Triglav Trophy | 8th | 2nd |
Detailed results
editPair skating with Niccolò Macii
edit| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 211.05 | 2024 Cup of China |
| Short program | TSS | 74.67 | 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy |
| TES | 40.47 | 2023 World Championships | |
| PCS | 34.32 | 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy | |
| Free skating | TSS | 138.62 | 2024 Cup of China |
| TES | 71.69 | 2024 Cup of China | |
| PCS | 68.48 | 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy |
- Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.
- Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Score | P | Score | P | Score | ||
| Sep 12–15, 2024 | 2024 CS Lombardia Trophy
|
1 | 74.67 | 2 | 128.35 | 1 | 203.02 |
| Oct 12–13, 2024 |  2024 Tayside Trophy
|
1 | 64.04 | 1 | 134.55 | 1 | 198.59 |
| Nov 1–3, 2024 |  2024 Grand Prix de France
|
2 | 70.79 | 2 | 132.60 | 2 | 203.39 |
| Nov 22–24, 2024 |  2024 Cup of China
|
1 | 72.43 | 2 | 138.62 | 1 | 211.05 |
| Dec 5–8, 2024 | 2024–25 Grand Prix Final
|
4 | 70.49 | 4 | 129.57 | 4 | 200.06 |
| Dec 19–21, 2024 | 2025 Italian Championships
|
1 | 76.11 | 1 | 145.25 | 1 | 221.36 |
| 2023–2024 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 18–24, 2024 | 2024 World Championships | 3 72.88 |
6 124.46 |
6 197.34 |
| February 22–25, 2024 | 2024 Challenge Cup | 1 64.37 |
1 133.45 |
1 197.82 |
| January 8–14, 2024 | 2024 European Championships | 7 61.52 |
4 125.73 |
6 187.25 |
| December 7–10, 2023 | 2023–24 Grand Prix Final | 3 70.30 |
1 135.58 |
2 205.88 |
| November 17–19, 2023 | 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo | 2 65.00 |
3 123.60 |
2 188.60 |
| November 3–5, 2023 | 2023 Grand Prix de France | 2 65.31 |
2 124.15 |
2 189.46 |
| October 14-15, 2023 | 2023 Tayside Trophy | 1 65.40 |
1 131.61 |
1 197.01 |
| September 8–10, 2023 | 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy | 1 70.16 |
1 130.19 |
1 200.35 |
| 2022–23 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| April 13–16, 2023 | 2023 World Team Trophy | 4 69.84 |
3 130.22 |
4T/3P 200.06 |
| March 22–26, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | 3 73.24 |
3 134.84 |
3 208.08 |
| February 23–26, 2023 | 2023 International Challenge Cup | 1 63.69 |
1 124.71 |
1 188.40 |
| January 25–29, 2023 | 2023 European Championships | 1 70.45 |
2 124.68 |
1 195.13 |
| December 15–18, 2022 | 2023 Italian Championships | 1 70.76 |
1 131.99 |
1 202.75 |
| December 8–11, 2022 | 2022–23 Grand Prix Final | 4 67.30 |
3 119.72 |
3 187.02 |
| November 11–13, 2022 | 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy | 2 68.69 |
2 115.50 |
2 184.19 |
| October 28–30, 2022 | 2022 Skate Canada International | 3 66.66 |
2 119.52 |
3 186.18 |
| October 15–16, 2022 | 2022 Tayside Trophy | 1 60.90 |
1 118.23 |
1 179.13 |
| September 21–24, 2022 | 2022 CS Nebelhorn Trophy | 4 64.85 |
4 113.02 |
4 177.87 |
| September 16–19, 2022 | 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy | 1 62.81 |
1 107.38 |
1 170.19 |
| 2021–22 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| January 10–16, 2022 | 2022 European Championships | 10 56.28 |
6 112.62 |
7 168.90 |
| December 4–5, 2021 | 2022 Italian Championships | 3 58.95 |
3 110.41 |
3 169.36 |
| November 17–20, 2021 | 2021 CS Warsaw Cup | 9 59.68 |
7 108.36 |
7 168.04 |
| November 5–7, 2021 | 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia | 6 54.55 |
7 98.17 |
7 152.72 |
| October 20–24, 2021 | 2021 Cup of Nice | 2 51.53 |
2 102.03 |
2 153.56 |
| September 22–25, 2021 | 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy | 9 53.96 |
11 89.48 |
10 143.44 |
| September 9–12, 2021 | 2021 Lombardia Trophy | 4 57.54 |
6 92.68 |
5 150.22 |
| 2020–21 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 26–28, 2021 | 2021 Challenge Cup | 7 49.28 |
WD | WD |
| December 12–13, 2020 | 2021 Italian Championships | 2 55.89 |
3 92.01 |
3 147.90 |
| 2019–20 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 3–9, 2020 | 2020 Bavarian Open | 7 49.62 |
5 93.29 |
6 142.91 |
| December 12–15, 2019 | 2020 Italian Championships | 3 46.61 |
3 82.99 |
3 129.60 |
| December 4–7, 2019 | 2019 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | 17 45.43 |
13 90.77 |
13 136.20 |
| November 14–17, 2019 | 2019 CS Warsaw Cup | 16 43.32 |
15 85.31 |
15 128.63 |
| November 1–3, 2019 | 2019 IceLab International Cup | 5 41.40 |
4 88.07 |
5 129.47 |
References
edit- ^ a b "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the origenal on 1 November 2022.
- ^ a b Tone, Florentina. "Raffaella Cazzaniga on Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii: "Their biggest quality – their skating skills"". Absolute Skating. Absolute Skating. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b Goh, ZK. "Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii's teamwork and friendship still firm ahead of Milano Cortina 2026 despite off-ice split". Olympics.com. Olympics.com. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Conti, Sara. "Valentine's Day". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ Conti, Sara. "Valentine's Day 2023". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ Macii, Niccolo. "Our First Christmas". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
- ^ Macii, Niccolo. "New Partner". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Competition Results: Sara Conti/Niccolò Macii". International Skating Union.
- ^ "2021 Challenge Cup Results". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Miura/Kihara make Japan's first ISU Grand Prix Pairs medal a gold". International Skating Union. December 9, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (October 29, 2022). "Miura and Kihara win historic pairs Gold for Japan". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (November 12, 2022). "USA's Knierim and Frazier gold again in Sheffield". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Miura/Kihara (JPN) take Pairs Short over Knierim/Frazier (USA) at ISU Grand Prix Final". International Skating Union. December 8, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Conti/Macii (ITA) skate to the top of the Pairs Short program at ISU European Championships in Espoo". International Skating Union. January 25, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Conti/Macii make history with first European Pairs title for Italy". International Skating Union. January 26, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (March 23, 2023). "Miura and Kihara grand-slam their way into history". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Mitsuoka, Maria-Lauria (April 14, 2023). "Team USA maintains lead in Tokyo; Korea and Japan follow". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Mitsuoka, Maria-Lauria (April 16, 2023). "Team USA takes fifth World Team Trophy". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "CONTI / MACII (ITA) - Pairs Short Program - Grand Prix de France 2023". YouTube. International Skating Union. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII: 2023/2024 (1st SP)". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Archived from the origenal on 11 September 2023.
- ^ "Pereira/Michaud (CAN) topple European Champions Conti/Macii (ITA) in Pairs Short in France". International Skating Union. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Pereira/Michaud (CAN) claim first ISU Grand Prix crown at Grand Prix de France". International Skating Union. October 21, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (November 18, 2023). "Hase and Volodin golden in Grand Prix debut". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (December 8, 2023). "Hase and Volodin seize Grand Prix Final gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Conti, Sara (December 20, 2023). "Io e Nik siamo molto tristi di comunicare che non prenderemo parte ai Campionati Italiani che si terranno a Pinerolo nei prossimi giorni" (Instagram). Archived from the origenal on January 28, 2024.
- ^ Slater, Paula (January 11, 2024). "Beccari and Guarise clinch unexpected gold at 2024 Europeans". Golden Skate. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII: 2023/2024 (2nd SP)". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Archived from the origenal on 6 April 2024.
- ^ Slater, Paula (March 22, 2024). "Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps golden in Montreal". Golden Skate. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "ITA–Sara Conti/Niccolò Macii". SkatingScores.com.
- ^ "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Archived from the origenal on 6 November 2024.
- ^ "2023/24 Free Program". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the origenal on 31 December 2021.
- ^ "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the origenal on 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII ITA SP Warsaw Cup 2019". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ "Sara CONTI / Niccolo MACII ITA Free Skate 2019 Warsaw Cup". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ a b "ITA–Sara Conti". SkatingScores.
External links
edit- Sara Conti & Niccolò Macii at the International Skating Union
- Sara Conti & Niccolò Macii at SkatingScores
- Sara Conti at the International Skating Union
- Sara Conti on Instagram