Figure skating – Italian ice dancers Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri shake off “toxic” lifestyle and stitch up new attitude ahead of home Olympic Games
The ice dance duo of Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri are looking to bounce back and leave past disappointments behind as they gear up for their final Olympic campaign. The year was meant to propel the talented Italian team, but instead saw them falter and finish off the podium at the 2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, an unexpected result for seasoned athletes with over 15 years of partnership.
Following a frustrating fourth-place finish, Guignard and Fabbri decided it was time to make significant changes and focused on personal growth rather than competition. In a departure from their usual routine, they extended their summer break and stepped back from skating. “Sometimes it becomes toxic,” Fabbri noted, highlighting the pressure elite athletes face year-round. By enjoying time with friends and family, and delaying the start of their training until mid-June, they worked to rejuvenate their spirits.
Their competitive season will kick off with the Grand Prix de France, and early training sessions in Angers indicate a refreshing new approach. “We just want to enjoy the season… without too much pressure,” Guignard stated, while building excitement for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
With Italy harboring hopes of a medal return after a lengthy drought, the couple reflects unity with their skating peers. They have chosen to perform their free program to the soundtrack of “Diamanti”, a film telling the story of seamstresses in 1970s Rome, mirroring their resilience and bolstering community support among Italian figure skaters.
Fabbri expressed, “We feel that there’s a lot of excitement around the Olympic Games… we know that Italy is among the teams that could fight for an Olympic medal in the team event.” Guignard and Fabbri are eager to blend their journey and challenges into a performance that reflects growth and camaraderie as the home games approach.
