Raffaele Francesco Zich

Raffaele Francesco Zich (born 23 June 2006) is an Italian figure skater. He is the 2022 JGP Poland I bronze medalist and 2022 European Youth Olympic silver medalist. He placed 15th at the 2022 World Junior Championships.

Raffaele Francesco Zich
Born (2006-06-23) 23 June 2006
Hanoi, Vietnam
HometownTurin, Italy
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Figure skating career
CountryItaly
CoachEdoardo De Bernardis, Renata Lazzaroni
Skating clubIce Club Torino
Began skating2009

Personal life

Zich was born 23 June 2006 in Hanoi, Vietnam, and resides in Turin, Italy.[1] His grandfather, Rodolfo Zich, is the former rector of the Polytechnic University of Turin.[2]

Career

Early years

Zich began learning to skate in 2009.[1] He became interested in the sport after accompanying his sister, Eleonora, to the ice rink.[2] He competed for two seasons in the advanced novice category, winning the Italian novice men's title in March 2018.[3]

His junior international debut came in October 2019 at the 2019–20 ISU Junior Grand Prix event in Egna, Italy.[3]

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of many international events in the 2020–21 season. In April 2021, Zich won the Italian junior national title.[4]

2021–22 season

Zich competed in both the junior and senior ranks, making his senior international debut in October at the Trophée Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur. He finished fourth in the senior category in December at the Italian Championships.

He was assigned to the 2022 World Junior Championships, which took place in April in Tallinn, Estonia. He was ranked 15th in the short and 13th in the free skate and finished 15th overall.

2022–23 season

In October, Zich competed at consecutive 2022–23 ISU Junior Grand Prix events in Gdańsk, Poland. He won bronze at his first assignment[5] and placed 13th the following week.

Programs
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2022–23
[1]
  • Autumn Moon
    by Eternal Eclipse
2021–22
[6]
  • Piano Concerto Trailerized
    by Michael Afanasyev
2020–21
      2019–20
      [7]

      Competitive highlights

      GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

      International[4]
      Event 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
      CS Cup of Austria19th
      CS Budapest TrophyWD
      CS Denis Ten MemorialWD
      CS Golden Spin21st
      CS Ice Challenge11th
      CS Warsaw Cup18th15th
      Sofia Trophy2nd
      Trophée Nice13th
      International: Junior[4]
      Junior Worlds15th22nd
      JGP ArmeniaWD
      JGP Italy21st
      JGP Poland I3rdWD
      JGP Poland II13th
      JGP Slovenia14th
      JGP ThailandWD
      Challenge Cup7th
      Egna Trophy3rd
      EYOF2nd
      Golden Bear6th
      NRW Trophy2nd
      Skate Celje2nd
      Sofia Trophy6th
      International: Advanced novice[3]
      Challenge Cup5th
      Egna Trophy2nd
      Santa Claus Cup1st
      Skate Helena1st
      Sofia Trophy2nd
      National[4][3]
      Italian Champ.1st N2nd N6th J1st J4th6th
      Levels: N = Novice; J = Junior

      References
      1. "Raffaele Francesco ZICH: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022.
      2. Mecca, Giorgia (7 October 2022). "L'ex rettore Rodolfo Zich e il nipote campione di pattinaggio: «Studiava con me. Al PalaVela»". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 7 October 2022.
      3. "Raffaele ZICH". rinkresults.com.
      4. "Competition Results: Raffaele Francesco ZICH". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022.
      5. Ormezzano, Timothy (2 October 2022). "Zich porta Torino sul podio mondiale con un record". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
      6. "Raffaele Francesco ZICH: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022.
      7. "Raffaele Francesco ZICH: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020.
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