Ondřej Hotárek (born 25 January 1984) is a Czech-Italian pair skater and coach who began competing for Italy in 2006. He competed with Valentina Marchei until the end of their partnership in 2018. With former partner Stefania Berton, he is the 2013 European bronze medalist, the 2013 Skate Canada International champion, and a three-time Italian national champion. Berton/Hotárek are the first Italian pair skaters to win European and Grand Prix medals.

Ondřej Hotárek
Hotárek with Berton in 2012
Born (1984-01-25) 25 January 1984 (age 40)
Brno, Czechoslovakia
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Figure skating career
CountryItaly
PartnerValentina Marchei
CoachFranca Bianconi, Bruno Marcotte, Richard Gauthier
Skating clubFiamme Azzurre
Began skating1989
Medal record
Representing  Italy
Figure skating: Pairs
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Zagreb Pairs

Earlier in his career, Hotárek competed as a single skater and pair skater for the Czech Republic.

Personal life edit

Ondřej Hotárek was born 25 January 1984 in Brno, Czechoslovakia.[1][2] He moved from the Czech Republic to Italy in 2005 and became an Italian citizen in September 2010.[3] In January 2012, he became a member of the sports group of the Italian police.[3][4]

Hotárek's engagement to his girlfriend, Italian ice dancer Anna Cappellini, was announced in August 2014.[5] The couple married on June 20, 2015, in Breccia, Italy.[6] Figure skater Michal Březina was the best man at their wedding.[7]

On July 2, 2021, Hotárek and Cappellini's first child, a girl named Diana, was born.[8]

Early career edit

Hotárek began learning to skate in 1989.[1] He competed in men's singles for the Czech Republic. He became the 2003 and 2004 Czech national bronze medalist and appeared in international events.[9]

Hotárek found the jump elements difficult, and believed his skill set would be better suited to pair skating.[10] His first partner was Veronika Havlíčková. In January 2006, he teamed up with Laura Magitteri to compete for Italy.[11] They were the 2007 and 2008 Italian national champions. Their partnership ended in January 2009.[12]

Partnership with Berton edit

 
Berton and Hotárek at the Skate Canada podium.

Hotárek teamed up with Stefania Berton in early 2009.[13] They won the silver medal at 2010 Italian Nationals and were selected to compete at the World Championships. They placed 11th in their debut at the event.

During the 2010–11 season, Berton/Hotárek won silver at the Nebelhorn Trophy and also debuted on the Grand Prix circuit, finishing sixth at Cup of Russia. They won their first Italian national title and were sent to the 2011 European Championships. They placed fourth in the short program and fifth in the free program, setting personal bests in both, and finished fifth overall with their best combined total to date, 164.83 points.

Berton/Hotárek began the 2011–12 season at the 2011 Ondrej Nepela Memorial, where they won the silver medal. In the Grand Prix season, they placed 4th at 2011 NHK Trophy and then won bronze at 2011 Rostelecom Cup, making them the first Italian pair to medal on the Grand Prix circuit.[14] At the 2012 European Championships, they placed 4th, historically the highest Italian result in pairs.[10]

In the 2012–13 season, Berton/Hotárek were assigned to the 2012 Skate Canada International and 2012 Trophée Eric Bompard.[15] After taking bronze at both events, they won bronze at the 2013 European Championships, becoming the first Italian pair skaters to medal at Europeans.[16][17]

Berton/Hotárek started the 2013–14 Grand Prix season at the 2013 Skate America and finished 5th. They won their first GP title at the 2013 Skate Canada and then finished 4th at the 2014 European Championships, behind Vera Bazarova / Yuri Larionov. Berton/Hotárek finished 11th in the pairs event at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.[2]

For the 2014-15 season, Berton/Hotarek were assigned to 2014 Skate America and the 2014 Rostelecom Cup.[18] On 2 July 2014, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that their partnership had ended.[19][20]

Partnership with Marchei edit

On 2 July 2014, La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote that Hotárek and Valentina Marchei, a single skater, were considering a partnership.[19] Bruno Marcotte confirmed on 26 July 2014 that the two were training together.[21] They are coached by Marcotte in Montreal and by Franca Bianconi in Milan.[21]

2014–15 season edit

Marchei/Hotárek began the season by winning the bronze medal at the 2014 CS Warsaw Cup as well as the silver medal at the 2014 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb. They then went on to win the 2015 Italian Championships.

Selected to compete at the European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Marchei/Hotárek finished fourth.

At the World Championships in Shanghai, China, they finished eleventh.[22]

2015–16 season edit

Marchei/Hotárek started the season by winning gold at the 2015 Lombardia Trophy.

Debuting on the Grand Prix series, Marchei/Hotárek competed in the short program at 2015 Skate Canada International but withdrew on the day of the free skate due to Hotárek sustaining a concussion while practicing a triple twist.[23][1] They went on to compete at the 2015 Rostelecom Cup, finishing sixth.

At the Italian Figure Skating Championships, Marchei/Hotárek won the silver medal behind Nicole Della Monica / Matteo Guarise.

Going on to compete at the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, Marchei/Hotárek finished fifth. They went on to compete at the 2015 Hellmut Seibt Memorial, where they won the gold medal.

At the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships in Boston, Massachusetts, Marchei/Hotárek finished fourteenth.[1]

2016–17 season edit

Marchei/Hotárek began the season by winning the silver medal at the 2016 CS Lombardia Trophy.

They then competed on the Grand Prix series, finishing eighth at 2016 Skate America and fourth at the 2016 Rostelecom Cup. They went on to also win the gold medal at the 2016 CS Warsaw Cup.

At the 2017 Italian Championships, Marchei/Hotárek won the silver medal for the second consecutive year.

Selected to compete at the 2017 European Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Marchei/Hotárek finished sixth.

Competing at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, Marchei/Hotárek placed ninth.[24]

2017–18 season edit

Marchei/Hotárek began the season with winning the bronze medal at the 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy.

They then competed on the 2017–18 Grand Prix series, finishing fifth at the 2017 Cup of China and fourth at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup. They also won the gold medal at the 2017 CS Warsaw Cup.

At the 2018 Italian Championships, Marchei/Hotárek won the silver medal for the third year in a row.

Competing at the 2018 European Championships in Moscow, Russia, Marchei/Hotárek finished fifth.

Selected to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics in both the Team and Pair events, Marchei/Hotárek placed second in the free program segment of the team event, helping Team Italy finish in fourth place overall. In the pairs event, Marchei/Hotárek placed seventh in the short program and sixth in the free skate, finishing in sixth place overall.

At the 2018 World Championships in Milan, Italy, Marchei/Hotárek finished in tenth place.[25]

They ended their partnership in September 2018.[26]

Post-competitive career edit

Following his retirement from competitive figure skating, Hotárek became a figure skating coach and currently coaches in Bergamo at the S.S.D. S.r.l. Icelab alongside his former coach, Franca Bianconi.

His current and former students include:

Programs edit

With Marchei edit

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2017–18
[25]
2016–17[24]
2015–16
[34]
2014–15
[35]

With Berton edit

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2013–14
[36]
2012–13
[37][4][38]
  • Dirty Dancing
2011–12
[13]
2010–11
[39]
2009–10
[40]
  • Caos Calmo
    by Buonvino

Single skating edit

Season Short program Free skating
2001–02
[41]

Competitive highlights edit

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Pairs with Marchei for Italy edit

International[42]
Event 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18
Olympics 6th
World Champ. 11th 14th 9th 10th
European Champ. 4th 5th 6th 5th
GP Cup of China 5th
GP Rostelecom Cup 6th 4th 4th
GP Skate America 8th
GP Skate Canada WD
CS Golden Spin 2nd
CS Lombardia Trophy 2nd 3rd
CS Warsaw Cup 3rd WD 1st 1st
Lombardia Trophy 1st
Seibt Memorial 1st
National[42]
Italian Champ. 1st 2nd 2nd 2nd
Team events
Olympics 4th T
2nd P
TBD: Assigned; WD: Withdrew

Pairs with Berton for Italy edit

 
Berton/Hotárek at the 2011 Rostelecom Cup.
 
Berton/Hotárek at the 2010 World Championships.
International[43]
Event 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14
Olympics 11th
Worlds 11th 10th 11th 10th 9th
Europeans 5th 4th 3rd 4th
GP Bompard 3rd
GP NHK Trophy 4th
GP Rostelecom 6th 3rd
GP Skate America 5th
GP Skate Canada 3rd 1st
Cup of Nice 1st
Ice Challenge 3rd
Lombardia Trophy 1st
Nebelhorn Trophy 2nd
Nepela Memorial 2nd 2nd
NRW Trophy 2nd 1st 2nd
National[43]
Italian Champ. 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st
Team events
Olympics 4th T

Pairs with Magitteri for Italy edit

 
Magitteri/Hotárek in 2008
International[44]
Event 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09
World Champ. 16th 13th
European Champ. 9th 11th
GP Cup of Russia 8th
GP NHK Trophy 6th
GP Skate America 6th
Cup of Nice 3rd
Nebelhorn Trophy WD 9th
National[44]
Italian Champ. 1st 1st 3rd
WD: Withdrew

Men's singles for the Czech Republic edit

International[9]
Event 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04
Nepela Memorial 6th
Grand Prize SNP 5th
International: Junior[9]
JGP Czech Rep. 12th
JGP Italy 15th
JGP Serbia 13th
EYOF 7th
Grand Prize SNP 3rd J
National[9]
Czech 4th 3rd 3rd
Czech Junior 4th 3rd 3rd 3rd 2nd
J: Junior level

Detailed results edit

Current personal best scores are highlighted in bold.

With Marchei edit

2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 19–25, 2018 2018 World Championships 8
71.37
8
130.65
10
202.02
February 14–15, 2018 2018 Winter Olympics 7
74.50
6
142.09
6
216.59
February 8–12, 2018 2018 Winter Olympics (Team event)
\
2
138.44

\
January 15–21, 2017 2018 European Championships 4
71.89
5
132.31
5
204.20
December 13–16, 2015 2018 Italian Championships 1
71.64
2
107.15
2
178.79
November 16–19, 2017 2017 CS Warsaw Cup 1
66.70
1
126.44
1
193.14
November 3–5, 2017 2017 Cup of China 5
59.53
4
128.48
5
188.01
October 20–22, 2017 2017 Rostelecom Cup 3
68.48
4
125.15
4
193.63
September 14–17, 2017 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy 3
61.32
3
119.54
3
180.86
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 29–April 2, 2017 2017 World Championships 9
71.04
9
132.88
9
203.92
January 25–29, 2017 2017 European Championships 6
66.53
6
125.40
6
191.93
December 14–17, 2016 2017 Italian Championships 2
66.04
1
127.34
2
193.38
November 17–20, 2016 2016 CS Warsaw Cup 1
67.04
1
122.22
1
189.26
November 4–6, 2016 2016 Rostelecom Cup 3
66.82
5
120.79
4
187.61
October 21–23, 2016 2016 Skate America 6
62.49
8
107.20
8
169.69
September 8–11, 2016 2016 CS Lombardia Trophy 1
59.40
2
120.16
2
179.56
2015–16 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 28–April 3, 2016 2016 World Championships 13
59.76
15
110.97
14
170.73
February 23–27, 2016 2016 Hellmut Seibt Memorial 1
57.78
1
122.42
1
180.20
January 25–31, 2016 2016 European Championships 8
58.47
4
124.14
5
182.61
December 16–19, 2015 2016 Italian Championships 2
63.74
1
118.88
2
184.28
November 20–22, 2015 2015 Rostelecom Cup 4
62.43
6
115.76
6
178.19
November 20–22, 2015 2015 Skate Canada International 6
54.00
WD WD
September 17–20, 2015 2015 Lombardia Trophy 1
63.85
1
113.57
1
179.56
2014–15 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 23–29, 2015 2015 World Championships 9
60.56
11
111.99
11
172.55
January 16–February 1, 2015 2015 European Championships 4
57.95
4
117.44
4
175.39
December 20–21, 2014 2015 Italian Championships 1
58.44
1
115.32
1
173.76
December 4–6, 2014 2014 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb 2
55.18
2
112.00
2
167.18
November 21–24, 2014 2014 CS Warsaw Cup 4
52.32
3
102.28
3
154.60

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Valentina MARCHEI / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Ondrej HOTAREK". Sochi2014.com. Organizing Committee of the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games of 2014 in Sochi. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b Flade, Tatjana (29 April 2012). "Italy's Berton and Hotarek gain ground". Golden Skate.
  4. ^ a b Golinsky, Reut (20 January 2013). "Stefania Berton and Ondřej Hotárek: "You connect with people's hearts and they will remember forever"". Absolute Skating.
  5. ^ Luchianov, Vladislav. "Two disciplines, one skater: Marchei's bold move". Ice Network. Ice Network. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  6. ^ Caso, Emanuele. "Campionessa del mondo e principessa: Anna Cappellini si è sposata a Breccia". Quicomo. Quicomo. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Our Very Best Wishes". Facebook. International Figure Skating. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  8. ^ Cappellini, Anna (July 3, 2021). "2.7.21 Diana Hotarek ❤️" (Instagram). Archived from the original on 2021-12-24.
  9. ^ a b c d "Ondrej HOTAREK". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  10. ^ a b Bőd, Titanilla (22 March 2012). "Ondrej Hotarek: "Pairs' elements are much more suitable for me"". Absolute Skating.
  11. ^ Mittan, Barry (10 March 2008). "Italian Pair Shines". SkateToday. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Magitteri/Hotarek si sono separati" [Magitteri/Hotarek have split]. ArtOnIce.it (in Italian). 30 January 2009.
  13. ^ a b "Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ Kondakova, Anna (26 November 2011). "Savchenko and Szolkowy win Cup of Russia; Italians make history". Golden Skate.
  15. ^ Sciarrillo, Laura (30 November 2012). "Ondrej Hotarek tells us about the Grand Prix competitions and the start of the season". ArtOnIce.it. "Ondrej Hotarek ci racconta le gare del Grand Prix e l'inizio stagione" (in Italian).
  16. ^ Kany, Klaus-Reinhold (24 January 2013). "Volosozhar, Trankov oust rival Germans for gold". IceNetwork.
  17. ^ Bőd, Titanilla (12 March 2013). "Stefania Berton and Ondřej Hotárek: "We always have new goals and we never stop"". Absolute Skating.
  18. ^ "2014 - 2015 Grand Prix Assignments Pairs" (PDF). June 28, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 12, 2014.
  19. ^ a b Buongiovanni, Andrea (2 July 2014). "Ghiaccio, Berton-Hotarek, favola finita; C'è un progetto Marchei-Hotarek" [Ice skating, Berton-Hotarek story over; Marchei-Hotarek may skate together]. La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian).
  20. ^ "Italians Berton, Hotarek end partnership". IceNetwork. 2 July 2014.
  21. ^ a b Rutherford, Lynn (26 July 2014). "Detroit postcards: More pair action off ice than on". IceNetwork.
  22. ^ Bőd, Titanilla (22 March 2015). "Valentina Marchei and Ondřej Hotárek: "The key word is trust"". Absolute Skating.
  23. ^ Marchei, Valentina. "Withdrawal". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  24. ^ a b "Valentina MARCHEI / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Valentina MARCHEI / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Off-season news 2018: Retirements, coaching changes, music selections, and more!". Rocker Skating. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  27. ^ "Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  28. ^ "Frederica SIMIOLO / Alessandro ZARBO". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Annika HOCKE / Robert KUNKEL". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Rebecca GHILARDI / Filippo AMBROSINI". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Milania VAANANEN / Filippo CLERICI". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Kristen SPOURS". International Skating Union. International Skating Union. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  33. ^ ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup 2017 Exhibition (Television production). Match! Arena. 22 October 2017.
  34. ^ Marchei, Valentina (16 September 2015). "We have been waiting a lot To release our musics for The season 2015/2016" (Facebook).
  35. ^ "Valentina MARCHEI / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  36. ^ "Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014.
  37. ^ "Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  38. ^ Sciarrillo, Laura; D'Eredità, Eleonora; Castellaro, Barbara (27 August 2012). "Berton/Hotarek: we are aiming high with our interpretation". ArtOnIce.it. "Berton/Hotarek: una delle qualità su cui puntiamo è l'interpretazione" (in Italian). 20 August 2012.
  39. ^ "Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  40. ^ "Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 16 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  41. ^ "Ondrej HOTAREK: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 12 July 2003.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  42. ^ a b "Competition Results: Valentina MARCHEI / Ondrej HOTAREK". International Skating Union.
  43. ^ a b "Competition Results: Stefania BERTON / Ondrej HOTAREK". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014.
  44. ^ a b "Competition Results: Laura MAGITTERI / Ondrej HOTAREK". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013.

External links edit

  Media related to Ondřej Hotárek at Wikimedia Commons