Some people are born to be figure skaters – and Carolina Kostner is definitely one of them. This gracious, slender girl, who entered the world of figure skating wearing delicate dresses in autumn colors, with ribbons in her hair, grew up to be one of the biggest stars of the discipline: a beautiful lady with nine (consecutive) European medals, six World medals and a Bronze Olympic medal atop of that, won in Sochi, Russia, this February. 12 years after her Senior debut, Carolina has become that beautiful red butterfly she embodied at the beginning of the Olympic season, when skating on Humoresque by Dvorak. In the meantime, she’s been so many things, played so many parts – the fairy, the Galician dancer, the Diva or the story teller – and every single time her presence on the ice warmed the hearts of the viewers. The competitive arena will surely miss her this season, but, to the delight of her admirers, in an interview for Inside Skating, Carolina says it with a smile: “I guess figure skating won’t get rid of me that soon!”
With that in mind, I invite you to relive some of the chapters in Carolina’s career: the last three years have been nothing but wonderful for this amazing skater who, above all, loves to be on the ice.
Photos by Florentina Tone
2012 Worlds in Nice: La Regina e Carolina
Witnessing Carolina’s triumph in Nice – the Italian skater was finally crowned the queen of the world at her tenth participation in the event – was a marvel, a moment of pure joy. Carolina literally shined in Nice and the gold medal shined too around her neck. And the signs were all there: prior to the Worlds, she had won the gold in Cup of China, the silver at Trophée Eric Bompard, the gold of Grand Prix Final in Quebec and, again, the gold at the Europeans in Sheffield, making this one of the best seasons in her career.
2013 Europeans in Zagreb: Carolina’s own version of the Bolero
After the historical performance of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean in Sarajevo-1984, who would have dared to try and appropriate the famous Bolero? Well, Lori Nichol and Carolina Kostner did – and the result was indeed a masterpiece. In Zagreb, at the Europeans, the audience absolutely adored the routine and I remember very well the large smile of the Croatian lady standing next to me in Dom Sportova arena; looking at Carolina’s face when skating the Bolero, the lady was convinced: “She’s in love!”. One thing is sure: Carolina’s joy was contagious and her own version of the Bolero entered the figure skating’ history. And I do have a confession to make: sometime during this wonderful week in Zagreb, a lucky clover – a small, plushy one – flew to Carolina, for the bouquet of emotions she has given me throughout this edition of the Europeans…
2014 Europeans in Budapest: A Magical Carolina
I’ve said it before and I stick with it: I have rarely lived in a skating arena an emotional experience such as this. Carolina’s short program at the Europeans in Budapest, skated on Ave Maria by Schubert and choreographed by Lori Nichol, was one of those moments when you feel blessed to be alive – alive and living something like this. Dare to contradict me.
INTERVIEW Carolina Kostner: “I had to go back to my roots to find peace in my skating”