Grassl and his teammates are hoping for a medal.

The USA, two-time Olympic champions in the team event, and Japan, two-time bronze medalists, are once again considered clear favorites. Italy, Canada, Georgia, France, Great Britain, South Korea, China, and Poland have also qualified for the event, with Italy currently ranked third among the ten participants and thus having a realistic chance of winning a medal.

The competition, which was first held as an Olympic discipline at the 2018 Sochi Games, spans three days. It begins today with the ice dancers, as well as the ladies and pairs, followed by the men's short program on Saturday and the first free skate for the ice dancers. The final decision regarding the medals in the team competition will be made on Sunday with the free skates of the ladies, pairs, and finally the men. Daniel Grassl has impressed so far this season. At the heart of the Italian team is Daniel Grassl. For the skater from Merano, this is his second Olympic appearance – and also a home competition with particular significance. The season of the seventh-place finisher at the 2022 Beijing Olympics was at a high level until the European Championships in Sheffield in January of this year: six national titles, several Grand Prix podium finishes, a historic fourth place at the Grand Prix Final in Nagoya, and an Italian record in the free skate.

In Sheffield, Grassl had a dip in form and finished outside the top ten at a European Championship for the first time. In the final weeks before the Olympics, Grassl worked with his coach Edoardo De Bernardis on his consistency, technique, and expression. The 23-year-old speaks openly about the unique situation of having the games in his own country.

Even though he is one of the top contenders in the men's field, he feels less pressure regarding the individual competition and more like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After difficult periods in recent years, he has found new peace in Turin, both on and off the ice. Yoga helps him stay mentally balanced, and he hopes his meticulous work will now pay off in the team event.

Grassl has established himself among the world's best. © APA / JAMIE SQUIRE

“I see the Olympics as a unique opportunity,” the Merano native said in an interview with the platform “Olympics.com” at the end of December. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of the team: a medal is only possible if everyone contributes. His experience from the team event in Beijing 2022 showed him how special this format is – you don't just run for yourself, but for the entire team. He will compete on Saturday.

Lara Naki-Gutmann competes with European Championship bronze. Lara Naki-Gutmann carries a significant share of the responsibility for the women's team. The 23-year-old from Trento, with South Tyrolean roots, arrives with a sensational European Championship bronze medal and has impressed this season with consistency and growing confidence. Her calm demeanor and confident presence make her a key factor in the team competition.

Strong pair skating axis and ice dance formation The Italian team is completed by Matteo Rizzo in the men's competition, the strong pair skating axis Sara Conti/Niccolò Macii and the internationally established ice dance formation Charlène Guignard/Marco Fabbri – a combination that makes Italy competitive in all disciplines.

The team event is more than just the opening event: it's both a benchmark and an opportunity. If the Azzurri get off to a strong start, the podium isn't just a dream, but a tangible chance. For Grassl and Naki-Gutmann, it's the perfect opportunity to translate their impressive season performance into Olympic points – and to make a strong statement right at the beginning of the Games.

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Grassl and his teammates are hoping for a medal.

It's starting. On Friday, the team figure skating event begins at the Olympic Games in Milan – marking the first showdown between the world's best figure skating nations. A total of ten nations will compete for medals in the short and free programs for ladies, men, pairs, and ice dance.

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