Niccolò Macii

Niccolò Macii (born 18 October 1995) is an Italian pair skater. With his skating partner, Sara Conti, he is a 2026 Olympic Games team event bronze medalist, a two-time World bronze medalist (2023, 2025), the 2023 European champion, 2025 European silver medalist, a three-time ISU Grand Prix Final medalist, eight-time ISU Grand Prix medalist, and a two-time Italian national champion (2023, 2025–26). They are the first (and as of 2025, only) Italian pair to medal at the World Championships and to win gold at the European Championships.

With his former skating partner, Bianca Manacorda, he won silver at an ISU Challenger Series event, the 2014 Lombardia Trophy. They also competed at three World Junior Championships and a European Championships.

Macii was part of the Italian figure skating team to win a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Personal life

Macii was born on October 18, 1995, in Milan, Italy.

He began dating his pair partner, Sara Conti, in 2018 before amicably splitting in 2023.

Career

Early career

Inspired from watching the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, Macii began figure skating that same year at the age of eleven. Macii's first pair partner was Sonia Manfredi.

He ultimately teamed up with Bianca Manacorda prior to the 2011–12 figure skating season.

On the junior level, Manacorda/Macii won the 2014 Bavarian Open as well as the 2014 Italian Junior Championships. They also competed at three World Junior Championships (2012, 2014, 2015), finishing as high as sixth.

On the senior level, Manacorda/Macii won silver at the 2014 CS Lombardia Trophy, bronze at the 2016 Italian Championships, and bronze at the 2016 Bavarian Open. Additionally, they competed at the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, where they placed twelfth. Their partnership dissolved following the 2015–16 figure skating season.

Following his split with Manacorda, Macii briefly skated pairs with Anastasiia Revenko and Damiana Alessandra Celi, before ultimately teaming up with singles skater, Sara Conti, in 2019.

Partnership with Conti

2019–20 season

Conti/Macii debuted at the 2019 IceLab International Cup, where they placed fifth. They went on to compete at the 2019 CS Warsaw Cup and the 2019 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb, finishing fifteenth and thirteenth, respectively.

At the 2020 Italian Championships, Conti/Macii won the bronze medal. They then finished the season with a sixth-place finish at the 2020 Bavarian Open.

2020–21 season

Conti/Macii won their second consecutive bronze medal at the 2021 Italian Championships. They went on to compete at the 2021 International Challenge Cup but they ultimately withdrew after the short program.

2021–22 season

Conti/Macii began their season with a fifth-place finish at the 2021 CS Lombardia Trophy. They went on to place tenth at the 2021 CS Nebelhorn Trophy as well as win silver at the 2021 Cup of Nice.

Conti/Macii debuted Grand Prix series at the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia, where they finished seventh. They then competed at the 2021 CS Warsaw Cup, where they finished seventh.

At the 2022 Italian Championships, Conti/Macii won their third bronze medal. Selected to compete at the 2022 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Conti/Macii placed tenth in the short program and sixth in the free skate, placing seventh overall.

2022–23 season: European champions, World bronze medalists, and Grand Prix Final bronze medalists

For the new season, the pair upgraded their twist lift to a triple for the first time. Conti/Macii started their season two appearances on the Challenger circuit, winning a gold medal at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy and placing fourth at the 2022 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. They also won gold at the 2022 Tayside Trophy.

Given two assignments on the Grand Prix, Conti/Macii won the bronze medal at 2022 Skate Canada International, their first Grand Prix medal, which he called "like a dream." They finished second in the free skate, and came within 0.30 points of silver medalists Chan/Howe. At their second assignment, the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, Conti/Macci won the silver medal despite having to abort their final lift in the free skate. He said afterward "the last lift angers us, because we can do it so easily," while adding they were "happy with our result." These placements ultimately earned them a berth at the 2022–23 Grand Prix Final, held on home ice in Turin. At the Final, Conti/Macii placed fourth in the short program, 2.24 points back of Canadians Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps in third. With a new personal best of 119.72 in the free skate they rose to third overall, taking the bronze medal over the Canadians by less than three points. Macci remarked afterward that "let's say we're still somehow outsiders who are getting almost too many results. But we're extremely happy about this result that we didn't expect it at all."

Shortly after the Final, the duo won their first national title at the 2023 Italian Championships. At the 2023 European Championships in Espoo, Finland, Conti/Macii won the short program and placed second in the free skate, ultimately winning the gold medal. They became the first Italian pair team to ever win a European title. Conti/Macii then went on to compete at the 2023 International Challenge Cup, where they won the gold medal.

At the 2023 World Championships in Saitama, Japan, Conti/Macii placed third in both the short program and free skate, ultimately winning the bronze medal. Conti/Macii became the first Italian pair team to ever medal at a World Championships, which she said made them "very proud of what we were able to achieve in a patriotic kind of way." Conti/Macii then joined Team Italy at the 2023 World Team Trophy, where they placed fourth in the short program and third in the free skate. Team Italy finished fourth overall.

2023–24 season: Grand Prix Final silver medalists

During the off-season, Conti/Macii selected the song, "Intermezzo sinfonico," which was Macii's grandparents' wedding song and served as a tribute to his late grandfather, who had died in 2022.

They would begin the season by winning the gold medal at the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy. On the Grand Prix, they entered the 2023 Grand Prix de France as the title favourites, but placed narrowly second in the short program after Conti stepped out of their throw landing. In the free skate, Conti had another throw stepout, as well as one on her jump sequence attempt. The team placed second in that segment as well, finishing with the silver medal, 5.21 points behind gold medalists Pereira/Michaud of Canada. Conti said afterward that they were "so happy with our free skating," stating "we are a top couple and we have to stay here. We want to improve our program and will be ready for our next Grand Prix. We know we can do much better." At their second event, the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, they repeated the short program throw error from France and came second again in the segment. They were third in the free skate after Macii fell on a jump, but remained second overall.

Competing at the 2023–24 Grand Prix Final in Beijing, Conti/Macii skated a clean short program to place third in the segment. They won the free skate, but finished second overall, 0.55 points behind gold medalists Hase/Volodin of Germany. Conti declared of the result that they were "so happy. Finally. Our season starts right now! The two months before were preparation, now we have arrived!"

Conti suffered from a bad flu in the days before the Italian championships, and as a result the team withdrew. They next appeared at the 2024 European Championships, where struggles in both programs saw them come sixth. Conti/Macii next won gold at the International Challenge Cup for the second consecutive year.

Prior to the 2024 World Championships, Conti/Macii made the decision to go back to their "Oblivion (Una sombra más)" short program that they had used the previous three seasons. Going on to compete at those championships in Montreal, Conti/Macii came third in the short program with a clean skate and a season's best score of 72.88. They were 0.65 points back of Japan's Miura/Kihara in second, and 0.78 ahead of Hase/Volodin in fourth. Conti effused that "finally, we had a really good short program!" They struggled with numerous errors in the free skate, coming sixth in that segment and dropping to sixth place overall. Conti called it "disappointing, but it's a competition."

2024–25 season: European silver medalists and World bronze medalists

Going into the season, Conti and Macii selected the song "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" for their free program in dedication of Conti's late father.

They began the season by winning gold at both the 2024 Lombardia Trophy and the 2024 Tayside Trophy. Going on to compete on the 2024–25 Grand Prix circuit, they won the silver medal at the 2024 Grand Prix de France. They shared that they were happy with their first "big" event. “It is a much different silver medal here compared to last season," said Macii. "Last year, we skated poorly and lost the gold. This year it feels like we won the silver.” The team went on to win the gold medal at the 2024 Cup of China. “We’re so excited, this is our first gold medal on the Grand Prix!” said Conti.

Qualifying for the 2024–25 Grand Prix Final in Grenoble, France, the pair finished in fourth place. "The tension was so high because we know we can be on the podium or fall back, but it’s ok, it’s another competition," Conti said later.

At the 2025 Italian Championships, Conti/Macii won their second national title.

Going on to compete at the 2025 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Conti/Macii placed second in both the short and free program segments, winning the silver medal overall behind Hase/Volodin. In an interview following the event, Macii shared, "This silver means a lot. Last year’s Europeans were the biggest disappointment of our career, and we wanted to redeem ourselves. The podium was the goal. We knew the other teams were very strong. We are very happy we found our connection again. Last year wasn’t the same because our relationship has changed, but today it felt like two years ago again. We really felt the connection."

The following month, Conti/Macii competed at the 2025 World Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The pair placed second in the short program and third in the free skate, winning the bronze medal overall behind Miura/Kihara and Hase/Volodin. Delighted with the result, Conti shared in an interview after the event, "We’re so happy to be back on the world’s podium. There were some small mistakes today. It was actually quite hard to go out there today after such an incredible performance like the one from Minerva and Nikita."

Selected to compete for Team Italy at the 2025 World Team Trophy, Conti/Macii placed second in all segments of the pair's event, aiding Team Italy in winning the bronze medal overall. “It’s a beautiful start for the next season,” said Conti. She added that they would be using Italian music for the Olympic season.

2025–26 season

Conti/Macii opened the season by winning gold at the 2025 Lombardia Trophy and the 2025 Tayside Trophy.

They subsequently competed on the 2025–26 Grand Prix series, winning the silver medal at the 2025 Cup of China. “I think we did a pretty good free skate today,” Macii commented. “It really wasn’t easy skating after the Olympic champions."

Two weeks later, Conti/Macii took gold at 2025 NHK Trophy. “It was a very big competition, like tension was so high today,” noted Conti after the free skate. “I feel it in all the elements, but I’m happy because every element was a very good fight."

The following month, they competed at the 2025–26 Grand Prix Final where they finished second overall for their third Grand Prix Final medal. "We are really happy!" said Conti, after the free skate. "We controlled everything, and I'm so happy that we are really all together on the ice. I feel like we are one person on the ice." Conti/Macii followed this up by winning their third national title at the 2026 Italian Championships and were subsequently named to the 2026 Winter Olympic team.

Following the Italian Championships, Conti sustained a knee injury and as a result, the pair withdrew from the 2026 European Championships. Due to this, Conti had to wear a knee brace upon returning to training and opted to wear one at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

On February 6, Conti/Macii competed at the 2026 Winter Olympics Figure Skating Team Event where they placed third in the Short Program. “I can’t really explain what we’re feeling right now,” said Conti. “We’re just so happy that we came here and were able to show what we can do. Most of all, we’re happy to show that we are back.” Two days later, after the Men's Free Skate, Team Italy took third place resulting in a bronze medal for Conti and Macii.

Conti and Macii went on to place sixth overall in the individual Pairs event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. “We will remember this for a lifetime,” said Macii of their Olympic debut on home ice.

Programs

Pair skating with Sara Conti

Pair skating with Bianca Manacorda

Competitive highlights

• GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series
• JGP – Event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix Series
• CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series
• TBD – Assigned
• WD – Withdrew from competition
• Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.

Pair skating with Sara Conti

With Manacorda

Detailed results

Pair skating with Sara Conti

• Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.
• Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.

External links

• at the International Skating Union
• at Skating Scores
• at the International Skating Union
• at Skating Scores
• at the International Skating Union
• at Skating Scores
• at Skating Scores
• at Milano Cortina 2026
• at Olympics.com
• at Olympedia
• at InterSportStats
• at the Comitato Olimpico Nazionale Italiano (in Italian)
• on Instagram