Over the last year, I have been investigating how to grow interest in pairs skating. In this second part of the series, I talked to skaters and coaches about what motivates them, and the barriers that hamper the growth of the discipline.
Ondrej Hotarek shared his thoughts on what makes a successful pair team, the keys for success this season, and his hopes for the sport.
I’ve been concerned for a while about the future of pairs skating. The end of the 2021/2022 season marked a low point for the discipline, with only fourteen teams competing at the World Championships. I want to know why.
So, throughout the 2022/23 season, I asked athletes and coaches what it will take to grow interest in pairs, among both skaters and audiences.
It was a moment that capped a wildly successful European Championship for Bianconi, who is best known as a pairs coach. Teams that Bianconi works with secured all three spots on the podium, and her long-time student Matteo Rizzo won silver in the men’s event.
In this moment of triumph, Bianconi reflected on her journey as a coach, and the opportunities provided by the upcoming Milano-Cortina Olympics in 2026.
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