Anna Valesi
Country
(since 2025)
(2016–25)
Birth date9 June 2002 (age 24)
Birth placeComo, Italy
HometownCassina Rizzardi, Italy
Height1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
PartnerMartin Bidař (since 2025)
Manuel Piazza (2021–24)
Filippo Clerici (2020–21)
DisciplinePair skating
Skating clubASGA Como
Beganskating2006

Anna Valesi (born 9 June 2002) is an Italian pair skater. With her current partner, Martin Bidař, she is the 2026 Czech National champion. With her former partner, Manuel Piazza, she is the 2024 Italian national bronze medalist and has won seven senior international medals, including silver at the 2022 Bavarian Open.

Career

Early years

Valesi began learning to skate in 2006.[1] As a singles skater, she competed internationally in the junior ranks from March 2018 through March 2019.[2]

Skating in partnership with Filippo Clerici, she took silver in the pairs event at the Italian Junior Championships in April 2021.[2]

Partnership with Manuel Piazza for Italy

2021–22 season: Debut of Valesi/Piazza

In the 2021–22 season, Valesi began competing in the senior ranks with Manuel Piazza. Making their international debut, Valesi/Piazza took bronze at the Tayside Trophy in November 2021. The following month, they placed fourth at the Italian Championships.[3]

In January 2022, Valesi/Piazza were awarded silver medals at two events – the Icelab International Cup and Bavarian Open.[3]

2022–23 season: Grand Prix debut

In September 2022, Valesi/Piazza won bronze at the Lombardia Trophy and placed seventh at the 2022 CS Nebelhorn Trophy.[3] In October, they were invited to their first Grand Prix event, the 2022 Skate America, where they finished fifth.[4] They were seventh at the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo.[3]

2023–24 season: End of Valesi/Piazza

Beginning the international season at the John Nicks Pairs Challenge, where they won the silver.[3] They next competed at the 2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, Valesi/Piazza finished ninth. They next competed at the 2023 Diamond Spin, where they won the bronze.[3]

On the Grand Prix, they came sixth at their lone initial assignment, the 2023 Grand Prix de France.[5] They were subsequently invited to the 2023 Cup of China, following the withdrawal of Americans Chan/Howe.[6][7] They were sixth at that event as well.[8]

Valesi/Piazza continued to the 2024 Italian Figure Skating Championships, where they won the bronze medal.[3] They were assigned to the 2024 Bavarian Open, but withdrew prior to the competition. It June, it was confirmed that the pair had split.[9]

Partnership with Martin Bidař for the Czech Republic

2024–25 season: Debut of Valesi/Bidař

In January 2025, it was announced that Valesi had teamed up with Czech pair skater, Martin Bidař, and that they would represent the Czech Republic.[10] Valesi/Bidař made their debut as a pair at the 2025 Merano Ice Trophy in mid-February, where they won the silver medal.[11]

2025–26 season: European and World Championships debut

Valesi/Bidař opened their season by winning bronze at the 2025 Lombardia Trophy. They then went on to finish seventh at the ISU Skate to Milano, winning silver at the 2025 Tayside Trophy, and winning gold at the 2025 Cup of Innsbruck.[11]

In December, Valesi/Bidař finished fifth at the 2025 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb and winning silver at the 2026 Four National Championships. The following month, they competed at the 2026 European Championships in Sheffield, England, United Kingdom. The pair placed twelfth in the short program and seventh in the free skate, moving up to ninth place overall. "I don’t know what to say right now and how I’m feeling," shared Valesi following their free skate. "I am feeling super emotional. Like me and Martin, we know how much work we put into it, how much we believed in it, and always tried to have a good feeling between each other. So today was like amazing overall. The public, the feeling between us, the coaches, the support from everybody, we feel very, very good." Bidař added, "For me, it’s a really important part is that even in a hard time, we really stay together. We are very happy that it paid off today and we really enjoyed it from the morning on the whole day."[12]

Programs

With Bidař

SeasonShort programFree skating
2025–26
[13]
2024–25
[14]

With Piazza

SeasonShort programFree skating
2023–24
[15]
2022–23
[1]

Competitive highlights

*GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series

Single skating

International: Junior[16][2]
Event2016–172017–182018–19
Bavarian Open10th II
Coppa Europa6th
Egna Trophy14th
Tallinn Trophy9th
International: Advanced novice[2]
Coupe du Printemps15th
Egna Trophy4th
National[16][2]
Italian Championships17th J6th J
J = Junior level

References

  1. ^ "Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Anna VALESI". rinkresults.com
  3. ^ "Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA: Competition Results". International Skating Union. Archived December 10, 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ Slater, Paula (October 23, 2022). "Knierim and Frazier reclaim Skate America pairs’ title". Golden Skate
  5. ^ "Figura, bel secondo posto per Beccari-Guarise al Nebelhorn Trophy!" [Look, nice second place for Beccari-Guarise at the Nebelhorn Trophy!]. Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio. September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  6. ^ AnythingGOEs (October 19, 2023). "🇺🇸 Emily Chan / Spencer Akira Howe have withdrawn from Cup of China". No. 1714945636313772320. Archived October 21, 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ AnythingGOEs (October 23, 2023). "🇮🇹 Anna Valesi / Manuel Piazza have been assigned to Cup of China". No. 1716438085079068830. Archived October 29, 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ Slater, Paula (November 11, 2023). "Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps score another victory in China". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ^ "🇮🇹 Anna Valesi / Manuel Piazza have confirmed the end of their partnership". No. 1799172860298334713. June 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "We are excited to announce...". Instagram. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  11. ^ "Anna Valesi / Martin Bidar". Skating Scores. Skating Scores. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Anna VALESI / Martin BIDAR 🇨🇿 PB 113.62 / 167.42". Instagram. Golden Skate. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Anna VALESI / Martin BIDAR: 2025/2026". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 20 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Anna VALESI / Martin BIDAR: 2024/2025". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 28 March 2025.
  15. ^ "Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023.
  16. ^ "Anna VALESI: Competition Results". International Skating Union. Archived 11 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine.