Silvia Fontana

Silvia Fontana (born December 3, 1976) is a former figure skater who represented Italy twice at the Winter Olympics.

For the Spanish swimmer, see Silvia Fontana (swimmer).
Silvia Fontana
Born (1976-12-03) December 3, 1976
Staten Island, New York
Height1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Figure skating career
CountryItaly
Began skating1980
Retired2006

Career

Fontana began skating at age four.[1] She began representing Italy in the 1993-94 season international competition. During her career, she won five national titles. She finished as high as 7th at the European Championships and 8th at Worlds. She finished 10th at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Following 2002, Fontana left competitive skating. She made a comeback in the 2005-06 season, hoping to skate at the Olympics in her home country of Italy.[2][3] Her 2nd-place finish at the Italian Nationals qualified her for Italy's Olympic team. She placed 22nd in her final competitive event.

Following the Olympics, Fontana performed in ice shows around the world, as well as a skating competition on Italian TV.[2] She coaches at TGH Ice Plex in Brandon, Florida with John Zimmerman.[4] Their students include Haven Denney / Brandon Frazier.[4] and currently Vanessa James / Morgan Ciprès.

SafeSport investigation

In December 2019, Fontana and Zimmerman, were named and accused in a United States Center for SafeSport investigation of covering up alleged sexual abuse committed by Ciprès via intimidation tactics.[5] Fontana received six months of probation, according to the person with knowledge of the investigation.[6]

Personal life

Fontana was born on Staten Island, New York, raised in Rome, and trained during her career in Hackensack, New Jersey.[7]

Fontana married American pair skater John Zimmerman on August 28, 2003.[8] The two coach together, and have served as ambassadors for Right to Play.[9] The couple also have a line of sportswear, Karisma, which Fontana founded in 2009.[8][10] They have representatives selling the clothing line in the United States, especially in the Midwest. Their daughter, Sofia Zimmerman, was born on April 2, 2012, at Northwest Medical Center in Coconut Creek, Florida.[11] Their second daughter, Eva Zimmerman, was born on June 2, 2013, followed by their son Jack Zimmerman born in August 2016.[12]

Programs
Season Short program Free skating
2005–2006
[13]
  • Blues
    by C. Brown
2001–2002
[14]
  • Histoire d'Amour
    by Carlos Almaran
  • Another Cha Cha
    by Santa Esmeralda
  • Mexico con Amor
2000–2001
[15]
  • Flamenco
    by Otmar Liebert
  • Time to Say Goodbye
    by Andrea Boccelli

Results
Results[13][14][15]
International
Event 1993–94 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2005–06
Olympics10th22nd
Worlds25th24th18th16th19th10th10th
Europeans22nd20th18th13th8th11th7th
GP Cup of Russia11th9th9th
GP Lalique10th7th
GP Skate America10th
GP Skate Canada7th5th
GP Sparkassen7th
Universiade3rd
Golden Spin of Zagreb3rd
Italian Champ.1st1st3rd2nd1st1st2nd1st2nd
GP = Grand Prix

References
  1. Mittan, J. Barry (1998) [1995]. "A Passion to Skate". Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  2. Elfman, Lois (May 8, 2008). "Behind the scenes of figure skating - May 8: Silvia Fontana experiences a career explosion". IceNetwork.
  3. "For Italian Skater, Podium is an Afterthought". Associated Press. NBC Sports. February 18, 2006. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  4. Rutherford, Lynn (May 17, 2013). "Change of scenery serves Denney, Frazier well". IceNetwork. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  5. Brennan, Christine (December 10, 2019). "Olympic figure skater, coaches being investigated for sexual abuse allegations". USA Today.
  6. Brennan, Christine. "Former Olympic skater John Zimmerman suspended following accusation of sex abuse cover-up". USA TODAY.
  7. Wojnarowski, Adrian (February 21, 2006). "Fontana fulfilling dream in Italy". The Record (Bergen County). Retrieved December 11, 2007. Figure skater Silvia Fontana, right, a resident of Hackensack, enjoying a break from training with her coach, Robin Wagner.
  8. "Five favorite things with Fontana and Zimmerman". Ice Network. November 1, 2011.
  9. "Official Stars on Ice U.S. Website". www.starsonice.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
  10. Rosewater, Amy (March 8, 2011). "Ina and Zimmerman return to the ice". IceNetwork.
  11. Brannen, Sarah S.; Meekins, Drew (April 11, 2012). "The Inside Edge: Toth models for Marc Jacobs". IceNetwork.
  12. David Baden [@DavidBaden] (3 June 2013). "Congrats #SilviaFontana & @skaterzimmerman on birth of Eva Zimmerman Born 6/2/13 7p 6oz All healthy/happy! @icenetwork @usfigureskating" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. "Silvia FONTANA: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 18 October 2006.
  14. "Silvia FONTANA: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2002.
  15. "Silvia FONTANA: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 17, 2001.
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