Anna Pezzetta won bronze with Italy at the World Team Trophy. © APA/afp / PHILIP FONG

South Tyrolean figure skaters end season with a bang

Daniel Grassl made an impressive comeback after the World Championship disappointment, winning a historic medal with Italy at the World Team Trophy in Tokyo, Japan. Anna Pezzetta of Bolzano also had great reason to celebrate.

19 April 2025

From: leo

The 23-year-old Grassl had already made his final appearance of the season on Friday. As part of the World Team Trophy, which is the final international event of the season each year and for which the six best nations in the world qualify, the South Tyrolean performed the third-best free skate in the men's competition. Among other things, he landed a quadruple Salchow, a quadruple Rittberger, and seven other triple jumps.

Grassl thus played a major role in Italy's medal berth for the first time in the competition's history going into the final day. The women's competition, with Anna Pezzetta from Bolzano, and the pairs brought the final performances. Although the 18-year-old only finished 11th, it was still enough for Italy to place among the top three. The second Azzurra, Lara Naki Gutmann, who has South Tyrolean roots and trains in Trento, finished sixth. Sara Conti and Niccolò Maci secured the podium, taking second place in the pairs.

Not an easy season for Grassl

For Grassl, who celebrated his 23rd birthday a few days ago, it was anything but an easy season. After a year-long suspension from training and competition, the reigning Italian champion made a strong comeback with two Grand Prix medals, his fifth Italian title overall, and a top-ten finish at the European Championships in January. The fatigue of this long season was particularly noticeable at the World Championships in Boston, where he finished 13th overall.

Daniel Grassl already delivered a great performance on Friday. © APA/afp / PHILIP FONG

Pezzetta, on the other hand, crowned herself Italian champion for the first time at the age of 18 and took a strong 5th place at the European Championships. Now, like Grassl, she has finished the season on a high note. Both are now focused on the future, as the Olympic Games in their home country are on the agenda next season.