Born in Merano on April 4th 2002, Daniel is currently Italy’s top-ranked men’s figure skater and is ranked eighth in the ISU world rankings. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games, Daniel won his first Olympic medal – a magnificent Bronze in the Team event. It was a historic achievement for Italy, marking the country’s first Olympic podium finish in figure skating in 12 years. In the men’s individual event, he also confirmed his place among the world’s elite with an outstanding performance in the short program. We chatted with Daniel about competing at his five consecutive World Figure Skating Championships, winning Bronze at the 2026 Winter Olympics in front of a home crowd, winning his sixth national title at the 2026 Italian Championships and competing among the world’s top six skaters at the Grand Prix Final.
How was your experience in Prague, Czech Republic for the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in March for your final major competition of the 2025/26 figure skating season, and what was it like finishing in the top 10, having placed 8th overall?
After the Olympics, it was quite difficult to prepare for the World Championships. However, I’m very happy with how I fought throughout the competition. I felt confident in my skating and well prepared, and one of my main goals was to secure two spots for Italy at next year’s World Championships. Being able to achieve that and finish in the top 10, in 8th place overall, was very satisfying. It was a positive way to end the season, and I’m proud of how I handled the situation after such an intense Olympic year.
Having competed at five consecutive senior World Championships, what do you enjoy most about this competition and how is it returning each year?
The World Championships are always a very special event because they bring together the best skaters from around the world. To be honest, I feel that I haven’t shown my best skating abilities at a World Championship yet. That’s one of the things that motivates me the most for the next Olympic cycle. Over the next four years, I want to keep improving and eventually deliver the kind of performance at Worlds that truly reflects what I’m capable of.
In 2022, you made your Olympic debut for Team Italy at the Beijing Winter Olympics; what was it like competing at an Olympic Games during the COVID pandemic restrictions and how did you feel making your Olympic debut?
Making my Olympic debut in Beijing was an incredible experience, even though it was very different from a normal Olympic Games. There were many COVID restrictions, and there was no crowd in the arena. Nonetheless, I really tried to enjoy every moment of those Olympics and, despite all the restrictions, it was still an unforgettable experience and something I will always remember.
How different did you find competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan to the Games in 2022, and how was it representing Italy in front of a home crowd?
In Italy, the atmosphere was incredible. Having the crowd there and feeling their energy and support made the experience so much more emotional and special. Representing Italy at the Olympic Games held in my own country was such an honour, and it was amazing to skate in front of so many Italian fans.
You skated your short program in the Team event this year, where you won Bronze alongside your Italian teammates Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri (ice dance), Sara Conti and Niccolò Macii (pairs), Lara Naki Gutmann (women’s singles) and Matteo Rizzo (men’s singles – free skate); what is it like competing in Team events and what was it like reaching the podium and being awarded your Olympic medal?
The Team event was an amazing experience, but also a very stressful one. When you compete individually, the responsibility is only on yourself, but in a Team event you know that your performance affects everyone. The short program was especially important because it helped put Italy in a strong position to qualify for the final phase of the event.
We all fought for every point and delivered strong performances, so to see all that hard work rewarded with an Olympic Bronze medal was incredibly emotional. Standing on the podium with my teammates is something I will never forget. An Olympic medal represents years of sacrifices, hard work, challenges and setbacks. It was a very special moment for all of us, and we were absolutely thrilled to share that success together.
What are some of your favourite memories from competing at the Olympics in both 2022 and 2026, and how is it staying in the athletes village?
The athletes village is always a unique experience. You meet athletes from all over the world, exchange pins, spend time together and really feel the spirit of the Olympic Games. There are always activities and opportunities to meet people from different sports and countries, which makes it very special.
My favourite memory from Milano Cortina is definitely winning the Bronze medal. That moment will stay with me forever. From Beijing, one of my favourite memories is my free skate. I did the 4th best free skate, and I was very proud of that performance.
After this year’s Winter Olympics, you were invited to meet Pope Leo XIV alongside other Olympians and Paralympians; how was this?
It was a very special experience. I had recently skated my Conclave program, and I heard that Pope Leo XIV had seen it, which made me very happy. I come from a religious family, so having the opportunity to meet him in person was a real honour.
You most recently competed at the European Figure Skating Championships in January in Sheffield, can you tell us about competing at these Championships over the years, and what was it like coming away with the Silver medal at the 2022 competition in Tallinn, Estonia?
Sheffield is a place that brings back good memories for me because it was there that I won my first Grand Prix title. It was also the first Gold medal for Italy in the men’s event at a senior Grand Prix competition.
Unfortunately, the European Championships in Sheffield did not go the way I had hoped. Looking back at my European Championships over the years, my Silver medal in Tallinn in 2022 remains my best result and one of my favourite performances. I was able to skate at a very high level and finish second, which was a very emotional moment for me.
In the years since then, I have often started the season very strongly, but the second half of the season has not always gone as I wanted. One of my goals for this next Olympic cycle is to change that and become more consistent throughout the entire season.
How was it winning your sixth senior national title at the 2026 Italian Championships (held in December 2025) and retaining your title from last year?
Winning my sixth Italian national title was very special. To become a six-time Italian champion is something I am extremely proud of, and it reflects many years of hard work and consistency.
The Italian Championships are always very important because they play a major role in selecting athletes for the European Championships, World Championships and, in Olympic years, even the Olympic Games. There is always pressure because you want to perform well and secure your place on the international team.
With the top six skaters of the season being invited to compete at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, you have competed as a senior in 2022-23, 2024-25 and 2025-26; what is it like preparing for this event and how does the atmosphere compare to other competitions?
The Grand Prix Final is a very unique competition because only the top six skaters in each discipline qualify.
I am very proud to have qualified for the Grand Prix Final three times as a senior. Being the only Italian male skater to reach the Grand Prix Final is an achievement that makes me very proud.
This season’s Final was particularly emotional for me. I was able to deliver one of the best performances of my career and improve my personal best score by almost ten points. Of course, I would have loved to finish on the podium, but I was incredibly happy with the way I skated. My free skate was probably the best performance of my career, and it remains one of the most emotional competitions I have ever experienced.
At the 2025 ISU World Team Trophy in Tokyo, you won Bronze with the rest of the Italian team, how was this?
Winning the Bronze medal at the World Team Trophy was an amazing experience. Competing as a team is always very special because we support and cheer for each other so much.
The World Team Trophy is also a challenging competition because it comes at the very end of a long season, after the European and World Championships. Many athletes are physically and mentally tired by that point, so it takes a lot of determination to perform well.
Can you tell us about some of your stand-out highlights from your time as a junior figure skater, which saw you win Silver at the 2017 European Youth Olympic Festival and Bronze at the 2019 World Junior Figure Skating Championships?
My junior years were very important for my development. Looking back, I sometimes feel I could have achieved even more, but those experiences helped me grow and prepared me for my senior career.
One of my biggest highlights was winning the Bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in 2019. It came as a surprise because I did not arrive expecting to win a medal.
Another special memory was competing at the European Youth Olympic Festival. It felt like a small version of the Olympic Games because athletes from many different sports were there. I was never able to compete at the Youth Olympic Games due to my age, so the EYOF was the closest experience as a junior I had, and it remains a very special memory.
How did you get into figure skating and did you always know you wanted to skate at major competitions around the world?
When I was around seven years old, I watched a figure skating competition with my mother and immediately became fascinated by it. I asked if I could try skating, and from the moment I stepped onto the ice, I felt completely free.
I spent a lot of time in Cortina, which is where my father is from, and many of my childhood memories are connected to skating there: jumping, falling and simply having fun on the ice.
Do you have a favourite aspect of being a figure skater and representing Italy?
What I love most about figure skating is that every athlete has their own artistic identity. Everyone expresses themselves in a different way, and every performance is a form of art. Creativity is one of the things that makes our sport so unique.
Representing Italy is also a great honour. Italy has a strong sporting tradition, and every time I wear the Italian colours, I feel proud to represent my country on the international stage.
What does your typical training day look like?
My training day usually starts early in the morning. Most days, I usually spend three hours on the ice – with breaks between the sessions – and after that, we have an hour off ice: gym training, pilates, dance classes or postural training, depending on the day.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Over the last few years, I have learned how important it is to find a balance between skating and life outside the rink. Spending time with friends helps me relax and recharge mentally.
Since moving to Turin, I have realised even more how important it is to be happy in your environment. When you are happy, you train better and perform your best. I have an amazing team around me, and they have helped me enormously throughout the last few years.
Outside of skating, I love going to the cinema. I recently graduated in cinematography with E-campus, so films are one of my biggest passions. Most of my free time is spent either with friends or watching movies.
Were there any figure skaters or other athletes that inspired you when starting out in the sport, and do you have any favourite sports to watch?
I come from a tennis family, as both my father and my sister play tennis. When I was younger, I practiced both figure skating and tennis for one year, but when my mom told me that I had to choose one, I decided on figure skating and left tennis behind.
Even today, I still have a great passion for tennis. Whenever I have some free time, especially during the summer, I enjoy playing with my sister.
Growing up, some of my biggest inspirations in figure skating were Yuzuru Hanyu and Patrick Chan. I admired not only their technical abilities but also the way they performed and expressed themselves on the ice.
Outside of skating, one athlete I always looked up to was Serena Williams. I’ve always been inspired by her determination, strength and competitive spirit.
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