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Massimo Scali

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Massimo Scali
Faiella/Scali at the 2010 Worlds
Born (1979-12-11) 11 December 1979 (age 44)
Monterotondo
HometownMentana, Province of Rome
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Figure skating career
CountryItaly
PartnerFederica Faiella
Skating clubAgora Skating Team
Retired2011
Medal record
Figure skating
Ice dancing
Representing  Italy
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Turin Ice dancing
European Championships
Silver medal – second place 2010 Tallinn Ice dancing
Silver medal – second place 2009 Helsinki Ice dancing
Junior Grand Prix Final
Bronze medal – third place 1997–1998 Lausanne Ice dancing

Massimo Scali (born 11 December 1979) is an Italian former competitive ice dancer. With partner Federica Faiella, he is the 2010 World bronze medalist, a two-time (20092010) European silver medalist, and a six-time (2003–2005, 2007–2009) Italian national champion. They also won eleven Grand Prix medals together.

Career

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Faiella/Scali perform a reverse lift

Early years

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Massimo Scali began skating at the age of ten.[1] His early ice dance career was with Flavia Ottaviani, with whom he won six medals on the Junior Grand Prix. They were the 1997/1998 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalists. He and Faiella trained at the same rink under the same coach.[2] After his partner quit skating, he briefly partnered with Jennifer Wester.[2]

Partnership with Faiella

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Scali teamed up with Federica Faiella in 2001.[3] Despite skating together for only a brief period of time, they were able to qualify for the 2002 Winter Olympics, where they finished 18th.

In their second season of competition together, Faiella/Scali won Italian nationals for the first time, and placed in the top ten at the European Championships. A year later, they moved into the top ten at Worlds. In the years leading up to the 2006 Winter Olympics, they continued to make steady progress up the ranks. Prior to the 2005-06 Olympic season, Barbara Fusar-Poli / Maurizio Margaglio, who won bronze for Italy at the 2002 Games, returned to the eligible ranks. Faiella/Scali became the second Italian team, and finished outside the top ten at the Olympics after a fall in the original dance.[4]

Following the season, they made a coaching change and relocated to the United States to work with Pasquale Camerlengo and Anjelika Krylova at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[1] They had an up and down season in 2006-07 but enjoyed good results in 2007-08, including a fourth place at the Europeans and a fifth-place finish at Worlds.

In the 2008-09 season, Faiella/Scali finished second at the Trophee Eric Bompard and won their first Grand Prix event, the 2008 NHK Trophy. This qualified them for their first Grand Prix final, where they finished fourth. They won their first European medal, a silver, behind Russians Jana Khokhlova / Sergei Novitski.[5] At the 2009 World Championships, a fall in the original dance ended their hopes of medal contention, and they finished eighth.

Faiella/Scali perform an Italian folk dance at the 2010 World Championships

In the 2009–10 Olympic season, Faiella/Scali began their season with a bronze medal at the 2009 Cup of China. They withdrew from their next Grand Prix event due to Faiella's illness. At the 2010 Europeans, they won both the original dance and the free dance on their way to their second European silver medal. They finished fifth at the Olympics. Faiella fell ill after the Olympics and returned to the ice only four days before the World Championships.[6] The duo won their first world medal, a bronze, in Turin.[7]

At the 2010 World Championships, Faiella/Scali announced that they would return for another season. Their assigned Grand Prix events in 2010-11 were the Cup of China and the Cup of Russia. Visa problems delayed their training in the U.S. and Faiella had recurring back problems.[8] They again finished third at the 2010 Cup of China after Scali tripped on Faiella's skirts in both programs.[9] They withdrew from the 2010 Cup of Russia prior to the free dance due to Scali's back injury.[10] At the 2011 European Championships, they placed ninth in the short dance but moved up to fifth after the free dance.[11]

On 15 March 2011, Scali announced on the team's website that they were retiring from competitive skating and that he would work with coach and choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo's team at the Detroit Skating Club.[12] However, in May 2011, after Faiella's recovery progressed better than expected, they announced through their official website that they would in fact continue to skate competitively.[13] An injury to Faiella ended this comeback attempt, and in 2012 Scali confirmed that they would not return to competitive skating.[14]

Faiella/Scali often performed reverse lifts in competition, in which she lifted him.[1]

Career as a coach and choreographer

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In 2011, Scali began working as a coach and choreographer in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan at the Detroit Skating Club, alongside Camerlengo, Anjelika Krylova, Natalia Annenko-Deller, and Elizabeth Punsalan.[14][15] He has worked with Madison Hubbell / Zachary Donohue,[16] Danielle O'Brien / Gregory Merriman,[17] and Alexandra Paul / Mitchell Islam.[18] Scali was working as a coach and choreographer at the Arctic Edge in Canton, Michigan with Marina Zueva. He coached Maia Shibutani / Alex Shibutani until their retirement in 2018.

In addition to his coaching career he has also choreographed for several skaters. His clients include:

Programs

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Faiella/Scali during their free dance at the 2010 Worlds

(with Faiella)

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2010–2011
[39][40]
My Fair Lady: Manolete
by Pepe Romero:
  • Que se ven desde el conquero
  • De mi vera te fuistes
Original dance
2009–2010
[41][42]
Italian folk:
  • Tammurriata nera
  • Tarantella Pizzicata
2008–2009
[43][44]
By Missy Elliott:
  • Past that Duch
  • The Rain
  • Lose Control
2007–2008
[45][46]
  • Pizzica Salentina
  • Lu Rusciu de lu Mare
  • Santo Poulo
    by Suono Salento
2006–2007
[47][48]
  • Tanguera
    performed by Sexteto Mayor
  • Elisa
2005–2006
[49][50]
  • Cha Cha "Pata Pata"
  • Rhumba
  • Samba
  • The Mission


  • Elisa

2004–2005
[51][52]
  • How Can I Live to Another Day
    by Frank Sinatra
  • Girls, Girls, Girls
By Aretha Franklin:
  • Ice Cube

  • Carmina Burana

2003–2004
[53][54]
  • Libertango
    by Ástor Piazzolla
    Orchestra disco soledad
  • Uno
    (from A Passion for Tango)
  • Libertango
    by Ástor Piazzolla
    Orchestra disco soledad
2002–2003
[55][56]
  • Ayer
    by Gloria Estefan
  • Demasiado
    by Willy Deville
  • Volveras
    by Gloria Estefan
  • Demasiado
    by Willy Deville
  • Big Spender
2001–2002
[57][58]
  • Scott & Fran's Paso Doble
    (from Strictly Ballroom OST)
    by David Hirschfelder & Bogo Pogo Orchestra
  • The Fencing Lesson
    by Marc Anthony
  • Scott & Fran's Paso Doble
    (from Strictly Ballroom OST)
    by David Hirschfelder & Bogo Pogo Orchestra

Competitive highlights

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With Faiella

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Faiella/Scali with their fellow medalists at the 2008 NHK Trophy
Results[59]
International
Event 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11
Olympics 18th 13th 5th
Worlds 16th 11th 9th 9th 8th 9th 5th 8th 3rd
Europeans 12th 8th 6th 5th 7th 6th 4th 2nd 2nd 5th
Grand Prix Final 4th
GP Bompard 5th 3rd 3rd 2nd
GP Cup of China 6th 3rd 3rd 3rd
GP Cup of Russia 5th 5th 3rd WD
GP NHK Trophy 1st
GP Skate America 4th 3rd
GP Skate Canada 7th 5th 3rd
Bofrost Cup 3rd
Karl Schäfer 2nd
Nebelhorn 2nd 1st
National
Italian Champ. 2nd 1st 1st 1st 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st WD
GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew

With Ottaviani

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Results[57]
International
Event 1996–1997 1997–1998 1998–1999 1999–2000
Junior Worlds 22nd 7th 4th
JGP Final 3rd 6th 5th
JGP Bulgaria 1st
JGP China 1st
JGP France 1st
JGP Japan 1st
JGP Slovakia 1st
JGP Slovenia 3rd
Autumn Trophy 10th J.
National
Italian Champ. 2nd J. 2nd J. 1st J.
J. = Junior level; JGP = Junior Grand Prix

References

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  1. ^ a b c Mittan, Barry (3 February 2008). "Faiella and Scali Reach for Top". GoldenSkate.com. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b Kempf, Susanne (2006). "Passion on the ice". AbsoluteSkating.com. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  3. ^ Mittan, Barry (19 December 2004). "Hot Young Italian Dancers Wow Skating Fans". Skate Today.
  4. ^ Judd, Ron (20 February 2006). "Two to tangle: Chaos reigns in flub-filled ice dance competition". Seattle Times. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  5. ^ Kondakova, Anna (24 January 2009). "Khokhlova and Novitski capture European ice dance title". Goldenskate.com. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  6. ^ Bőd, Titanilla (2010). "Torino 2010 – day four: downgrades, mistakes and the story of an unusual friendship". AbsoluteSkating.com. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
  7. ^ Kondakova, Anna (26 March 2010). "Olympic ice dance champs nab first World title". Golden Skate.
  8. ^ Kany, Klaus-Reinhold (28 May 2011). "Different Paths for Federica Faiella & Massimo Scali". IFS Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Cup of China produces mixed results". CBC Sports. 7 November 2010.
  10. ^ Flade, Tatjana (26 January 2011). "Pechalat and Bourzat grab lead in the Short Dance". GoldenSkate.com. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  11. ^ Flade, Tatjana (29 January 2011). "Pechalat and Bourzat dance to first European title". GoldenSkate.com. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  12. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (15 March 2011). "Ice dancers Faiella, Scali announce retirement". icenetwork.com. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  13. ^ "Federica and Massimo... the ice is calling!". May 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-08-16.
  14. ^ a b "Massimo Scali, the challenge continues". Art on Ice. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  15. ^ Kany, Klaus-Reinhold; Rutherford, Lynn (19 August 2011). "Summer Notebook: Rockin' the ice in Detroit". icenetwork. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  16. ^ Rutherford, Lynn (27 July 2011). "Hubbell, Donohue hope to put a spell on judges". icenetwork. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  17. ^ Wheeler, Alice (13 February 2014). "Scali proud of green and gold role". Australian Olympic Committee.
  18. ^ "Alexandra PAUL / Mitchell ISLAM". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2014.
  19. ^ "Karen CHEN: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019.
  20. ^ "Madison Chock / Evan Bates: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 22, 2024.
  21. ^ "ISU Results Bio - Isabella GAMEZ Aleksandr KOROVIN". International Skating Union.
  22. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020.
  23. ^ "Ekaterina KURAKOVA: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Natacha LAGOUGE / Arnaud CAFFA: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Alysa LIU: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 26, 2021.
  26. ^ "Mai MIHARA: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ "Leah NESET / Artem MARKELOV: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023.
  28. ^ "Yuka Orihara / Juho Pirinen: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023.
  29. ^ "Anna PEZZETTA: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Allison Reed / Saulius Ambrulevicus: 2022/2023 season". ISU Results. ISU. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  31. ^ "Matteo RIZZO: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022.
  32. ^ "Kaori SAKAMOTO: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017.
  33. ^ "Maia SHIBUTANI / Alex SHIBUTANI: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  34. ^ "Akiko SUZUKI: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2014.
  35. ^ "Keiji TANAKA: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021.
  36. ^ "Tatsuya TSUBOI: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 15, 2024.
  37. ^ "Juulia TURKKILA / Matthias VERSLUIS: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Utana YOSHIDA / Masaya MORITA: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024.
  39. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011.
  40. ^ "Programs Season 2010/2011". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2012.
  41. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 4 May 2010.
  42. ^ "Programs Season 2009/2010". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2012.
  43. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009.
  44. ^ "Programs Season 2008/2009". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2012.
  45. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008.
  46. ^ "Programs Season 2007/2008". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  47. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 June 2007.
  48. ^ "Programs Season 2006/2007". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  49. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2 July 2006.
  50. ^ "Programs Season 2005/2006". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  51. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 30 August 2005.
  52. ^ "Programs Season 2004/2005". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  53. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 June 2004.
  54. ^ "Programs Season 2003/2004". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  55. ^ "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 April 2003.
  56. ^ "Programs Season 2002/2003". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  57. ^ a b "Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 11 June 2002.
  58. ^ "Programs Season 2001/2002". FaiellaScali.com. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
  59. ^ "Competition Results: Federica FAIELLA / Massimo SCALI". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012.
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Media related to Massimo Scali at Wikimedia Commons