Samuel Contesti (born 4 March 1983) is a French-Italian former competitive figure skater. He originally competed for France, then switched to Italy after the 2006–07 season. He is the 2009 European silver medalist and a five-time Italian national champion (2008–12).
Personal life Samuel Contesti's father, Yves, was a professional football player in Ligue 1. He has two older sisters.
Contesti married Géraldine Zulini in February 2007 and their son, Ennio, was born in June 2009. Their second child was born in 2012.
Career Contesti initially competed for France, placing ninth at the 2005 European Championships and 26th at Worlds the same year. The next season, he placed 5th at Trophée Eric Bompard and 2nd at French Nationals but did not compete at Europeans or Worlds. In autumn 2006, Contesti was assigned to compete at Skate America, however, the French skating federation decided to withdraw his name. In 2007, he won bronze at French Nationals.
Having married an Italian, Contesti began competing for Italy in March 2008. In spring of 2008, he moved to Courmayeur, Italy. By capturing silver at the 2009 European Championships, Contesti became the first male single skater to win a medal for Italy at the event in 55 years, since Carlo Fassi's gold in 1954. At the 2009 World Championships, Contesti placed 5th, his career-best finish at the event.
Contesti confirmed his retirement from competition on 15 June 2012.
Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2011–12 Au son de gitare Tarantella Napoletana
Hungarian March La gazza ladra 1812 Overture "La Vie en rose" Ca gaze La Valse à mille temps 2010–11 Hungarian March La gazza ladra 1812 Overture Sikuriadas Wara Bolivian Cacharapaya 2009–10 Wish Me Well Whammer Jammer Once Upon a Time in the West "Cotton-Eyed Joe" 2008–09 J'envoie valser La Valse des monstres Once Upon a Time in the West Cotton-Eyed Joe "I Won't Dance" 2007–08 Homevid Once Upon a Time in the West 2006–07 "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" 2005–06 Schindler's List Mazel 2004–05 Le Phare 2003–04 Summer of '42 Le jour d'avant
Competitive highlights GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
For Italy International Event 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 Olympics 18th Worlds 5th 7th 18th 10th Europeans 2nd 5th 6th 7th Cup of China 4th 6th Cup of Russia 4th NHK Trophy 4th Skate America 8th Skate Canada 5th Challenge Cup 2nd 1st 3rd Finlandia Trophy 3rd Golden Spin 2nd Mont Blanc Trophy 1st 1st Nepela Memorial 3rd NRW Trophy 2nd 2nd 4th 1st Schäfer Memorial 2nd National Italian Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st Team events World Team Trophy 6th T (9th P) Japan Open 1st T (5th P) T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.
For France International Event 01–02 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 Worlds 26th Europeans 9th Bompard 9th 5th Bofrost Cup on Ice 4th Copenhagen Trophy 1st Crystal Skate 3rd Gardena 3rd Schäfer Memorial 5th National French Champ. 11th 6th 3rd 2nd 3rd
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