{{Short description|Italian-Czech pair skater (born 2002)}} {{Infobox figure skater | name = Anna Valesi | image = | imagesize = | caption = | fullname = | altname = | country = {{CZE}}<br>(since 2025)<br>{{ITA}} (2016–25) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|6|9|df=yes}} | birth_place = Como, Italy | hometown = Cassina Rizzardi, Italy | height = {{height|m=1.58}} | partner = Martin Bidař (since 2025)<br>Manuel Piazza (2021–24)<br>Filippo Clerici (2020–21) | discipline = Pair skating | coach = Ondřej Hotárek | skating club = ASGA Como | beganskating = 2006 | retired = | medalrecord = {{Figure skating infobox medals|nationals=Czech|country={{CZE}} |NC={{FS medal|g|NC|nationals=Czech|2026|Presov|p}} }} {{Figure skating infobox medals|nationals=Italian|country={{ITA}} |NC={{FS medal|b|NC|nationals=Italian|2024|Pinerolo|p}} }} }}

'''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.<ref name=ISU-2223/> As a singles skater, she competed internationally in the junior ranks from March 2018 through March 2019.<ref name=RR-AV/>

Skating in partnership with Filippo Clerici, she took silver in the pairs event at the Italian Junior Championships in April 2021.<ref name=RR-AV/>

=== 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.<ref name=ISU-AVMP/>

In January 2022, Valesi/Piazza were awarded silver medals at two events – the Icelab International Cup and Bavarian Open.<ref name=ISU-AVMP/>

==== 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.<ref name=ISU-AVMP/> In October, they were invited to their first Grand Prix event, the 2022 Skate America, where they finished fifth.<ref name=GS221023/> They were seventh at the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo.<ref name=ISU-AVMP/>

==== 2023–24 season: End of Valesi/Piazza ==== Beginning the international season at the John Nicks Pairs Challenge, where they won the silver.<ref name=ISU-AVMP /> 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.<ref name=ISU-AVMP />

On the Grand Prix, they came sixth at their lone initial assignment, the 2023 Grand Prix de France.<ref name=FISG230922/> They were subsequently invited to the 2023 Cup of China, following the withdrawal of Americans Chan/Howe.<ref name=COCwithdrew/><ref name=COCadd/> They were sixth at that event as well.<ref name=GS231111/>

Valesi/Piazza continued to the 2024 Italian Figure Skating Championships, where they won the bronze medal.<ref name=ISU-AVMP /> They were assigned to the 2024 Bavarian Open, but withdrew prior to the competition. It June, it was confirmed that the pair had split.<ref name=valpia>{{cite tweet |user=AnythingGOE |date=June 7, 2024 |title=🇮🇹 Anna Valesi / Manuel Piazza have confirmed the end of their partnership |number=1799172860298334713 |access-date=June 7, 2024}}</ref>

=== 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DExcNDZqUL3/?igsh=bzZxdTNuMGJrYTlo |access-date=January 14, 2025 |publisher= Instagram |title= We are excited to announce...}}</ref> Valesi/Bidař made their debut as a pair at the 2025 Merano Ice Trophy in mid-February, where they won the silver medal.<ref name=SS-AVMB/>

==== 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.<ref name=SS-AVMB/>

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."<ref>{{cite web |title=Anna VALESI / Martin BIDAR 🇨🇿 PB 113.62 / 167.42 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DTi1Xd7jC33/ |website=Instagram |publisher=Golden Skate |access-date=29 January 2026}}</ref>

== Programs == === With Bidař === {|class=wikitable style=text-align:center ! Season ! Short program ! Free skating |- ! 2025–26 <br> <ref name=ISU-2526/> | rowspan=2 | * Suite bergamasque, L. 75: III. Clair de lune <br> {{small| by Claude Debussy <br> performed by Philippe Entremont }} | rowspan=2 | * ''Notre-Dame de Paris'' <br> {{small| by Luc Plamondon, Riccardo Cocciante, Jannick Top, & Serge Perathoner }} ** Le temps des cathédrales <br> {{small| performed by Bruno Pelletier }} ** Danse mon Esmeralda <br> {{small| performed by Garou }} |- ! 2024–25 <br> <ref name=ISU-2425/> |}

=== With Piazza === {|class=wikitable style=text-align:center ! Season ! Short program ! Free skating |- ! 2023–24 <br> <ref name=ISU-2324/> | * The Loneliest <br> {{small| by Måneskin <br> choreo. by Luca Lanotte }} | rowspan=2 | * Chasing Cars <br>{{small| by Snow Patrol <br>performed by Sleeping At Last, Tommee Profitt, & Fleurie <br> choreo. by Anna Cappellini, Luca Lanotte }} |- ! 2022–23 <br> <ref name=ISU-2223/> | * La La Land <br>{{small| by Justin Hurwitz <br> choreo. by Anna Cappellini, Luca Lanotte }} |}

== Competitive highlights == {{smalldiv| *GP – Event of the ISU Grand Prix Series *CS – Event of the ISU Challenger Series *WD – Withdrew from competition }}

=== Pair skating with Martin Bidař (for Czech Republic) === {{Figure skating competitive highlights |level=senior|ref={{r|ISU-AVMB}}{{r|SS-AVMB}} |season1=2024–25|season2=2025–26 |{{FS placements|2|World Championships|p2=15th}} |{{FS placements|2|European Championships|p2=9th}} |{{FS placements|2|Czech Championships|p2=1st}} |{{FS placements|2|{{nowrap|Four Nationals Championships}}|p2=2nd}} |{{FS placements|2|{{nowrap|{{small|CS}} Golden Spin of Zagreb}}|p2=5th}} |{{FS placements|2|Cup of Innsbruck|p2=1st}} |{{FS placements|2|Lombardia Trophy|p2=3rd}} |{{FS placements|2|Merano Ice Trophy|p1=2nd}} |{{FS placements|2|Skate to Milano|p2=7th}} |{{FS placements|2|Tayside Trophy|p2=2nd}} }}

=== Pair skating with Manuel Piazza (for Italy) === {{Figure skating competitive highlights |level=senior|ref={{r|SS-AVMP}} |season1=2021–22|season2=2022–23|season3=2023–24 |{{FS placements|3|Italian Championships|p1=4th|p3=3rd}} |{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} Cup of China|p3=6th}} |{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} Finland|p2=7th}} |{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} France|p3=6th}} |{{FS placements|3|{{small|GP}} Skate America|p2=5th}} |{{FS placements|3|{{small|CS}} Nebelhorn Trophy|p2=7th|p3=9th}} |{{FS placements|3|{{small|CS}} Warsaw Cup|p2=5th}} |{{FS placements|3|Bavarian Open|p1=2nd}} |{{FS placements|3|Challenge Cup|p2=8th}} |{{FS placements|3|Diamond Spin|p3=3rd}} |{{FS placements|3|IceLab Cup|p1=2nd}} |{{FS placements|3|John Nicks Pairs|p3=2nd}} |{{FS placements|3|Lombardia Trophy|p2=3rd}} |{{FS placements|3|Tayside Trophy|p1=3rd|p2=3rd}} }}

=== Pair skating with Clerici (for Italy) === {{Figure skating competitive highlights |level=junior|ref={{r|RR-AV}} |season1=2020-21 |{{FS placements|1|Italian Championships|p1=2nd}} }}

=== Single skating === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! colspan=4 align=center style="background-color: #ffdead; " | International: Junior<ref name=ISU-AV/><ref name=RR-AV/> |- ! Event ! 2016–17 ! 2017–18 ! 2018–19 |- | align=left | Bavarian Open || || || 10th II |- | align=left | Coppa Europa || || 6th || |- | align=left | Egna Trophy || || || 14th |- | align=left | Tallinn Trophy || || || 9th |- ! colspan=4 align=center style="background-color: #ffdead; " | International: Advanced novice<ref name=RR-AV/> |- | align=left | Coupe du Printemps || 15th || || |- | align=left | Egna Trophy || 4th || || |- ! colspan=4 align=center style="background-color: #ffdead; " | National<ref name=ISU-AV/><ref name=RR-AV/> |- | align=left | Italian Championships || || 17th J || 6th J |- | colspan=4 align=center | <small> J = Junior level </small> |}

== Detailed results == {{Figure skating personal bests|ref={{r|SS-AVMB}} |170.46|2026 World Championships |58.42|{{nowrap|2025 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb}} |32.95|2025 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb |26.03|2026 World Championships |113.88|2026 World Championships |61.34|2026 World Championships |53.80|2025 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb }} === Pair skating with Martin Bidař (for Czech Republic) === {{Figure skating detailed results |season=2024–25|ref={{r|SS-AVMB}} |Feb 13–16, 2025|{{flagicon|ITA}} 2025 Merano Ice Trophy|5|51.13|1|110.35|2|161.48 }} {{Figure skating detailed results |season=2025–26|ref={{r|SS-AVMB}} |Sep 11–14, 2025|{{flagicon|ITA}} 2025 Lombardia Trophy|3|58.10|3|112.47|3|170.57 |Sep 18–21, 2025|{{flagicon|CHN}} 2025 ISU Skate to Milano|5|57.17|7|98.94|7|156.11 |Oct 11–12, 2025|{{flagicon|GBR}} 2025 Tayside Trophy|5|62.87|2|119.60|2|182.47 |Nov 13–16, 2025|{{flagicon|AUT}} 2025 Cup of Innsbruck|1|64.10|1|106.99|1|171.09 |Dec 3–6, 2025|{{flagicon|CRO}} 2025 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb|7|'''58.42'''|5|110.10|5|168.52 |Dec 11–13, 2025|{{flagicon|SVK}} 2026 Four Nationals Championships|3|62.30|2|113.48|2|175.78 |Dec 11–13, 2025|{{flagicon|CZE}} 2026 Czech Championships{{efn|name=CzechChamps|The Czech Championships are contested as part of the Four Nationals Championships.}}|1|{{NA}}|1|{{NA}}|1|{{NA}} |Jan 13–18, 2026|{{flagicon|GBR}} 2026 European Championships|12|53.80|7|113.62|9|167.42 |Mar 24–29, 2026|{{flagicon|CZE}} 2026 World Championships|20|56.58|13|'''113.88'''|15|'''170.46''' }} {{notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=ISU-AV>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00104557.htm |title= Anna VALESI: Competition Results |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221011031333/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00104557.htm |archive-date= 11 October 2022 |url-status= live }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-AVMP>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00112113.htm |title= Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA: Competition Results |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231210002700/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00112113.htm |archive-date= December 10, 2023 |url-status= live }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-AVMB>{{cite web |title=Anna VALESI / Martin BIDAR: Competition Results |url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00123083.htm |website=International Skating Union |publisher=International Skating Union |access-date=21 May 2025}}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-2223>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00112113.htm |title= Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA: 2022/2023 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221003090922/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00112113.htm |archive-date= 3 October 2022 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-2324>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00112113.htm |title= Anna VALESI / Manuel PIAZZA: 2023/2024 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231114040417/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00112113.htm |archive-date= 14 November 2023 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-2425>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00112113.htm |title= Anna VALESI / Martin BIDAR: 2024/2025 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250328102845/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00123083.htm |archive-date= 28 March 2025 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-2526>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00112113.htm |title= Anna VALESI / Martin BIDAR: 2025/2026 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250920102845/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00123083.htm |archive-date= 20 September 2025 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

<ref name=RR-AV>{{cite web |url= http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=21368 |title= Anna VALESI |website= rinkresults.com }}</ref>

<ref name=GS221023>{{cite news |url= https://www.goldenskate.com/2022/10/2022-skate-america-pairs/ |title= Knierim and Frazier reclaim Skate America pairs’ title |first= Paula |last= Slater |work= Golden Skate |date= October 23, 2022 }}</ref>

<ref name=FISG230922>{{cite web|url=https://www.fisg.it/figura-bel-secondo-posto-per-beccari-guarise-al-nebelhorn-trophy/ |title= Figura, bel secondo posto per Beccari-Guarise al Nebelhorn Trophy! |trans-title=Look, nice second place for Beccari-Guarise at the Nebelhorn Trophy! |publisher= Federazione Italiana Sport del Ghiaccio |date=September 22, 2023 |access-date=September 30, 2023}}</ref>

<ref name=COCwithdrew>{{cite tweet | user = AnythingGOE | date = October 19, 2023 | title = 🇺🇸 Emily Chan / Spencer Akira Howe have withdrawn from Cup of China | number = 1714945636313772320 | author = AnythingGOEs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021221617/https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1714945636313772320 |archive-date=October 21, 2023}}</ref>

<ref name=COCadd>{{cite tweet | number = 1716438085079068830 | user = AnythingGOE | date = October 23, 2023 | title = 🇮🇹 Anna Valesi / Manuel Piazza have been assigned to Cup of China | author = AnythingGOEs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029013738/https://twitter.com/AnythingGOE/status/1716438085079068830 |archive-date=October 29, 2023}}</ref>

<ref name=GS231111>{{cite news |url= https://www.goldenskate.com/stellato-dudek-and-deschamps-score-another-victory-in-china/ |title= Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps score another victory in China |last=Slater |first=Paula |work= Golden Skate |date= November 11, 2023 |access-date= November 15, 2023 }}</ref>

<ref name=SS-AVMP>{{cite web |url=https://www.skatingscores.com/ita/pairs/anna_valesi_manuel_piazza |title= Anna Valesi / Manuel Piazza |website=SkatingScores.com}}</ref>

<ref name=SS-AVMB>{{cite web |title=Anna Valesi / Martin Bidar |url=https://skatingscores.com/cze/pairs/anna_valesi_martin_bidar/ |website=Skating Scores |publisher=Skating Scores |access-date=21 May 2025}}</ref>

}}

== External links == * {{isu name | id= 00112113 | name= Anna Valesi / Manuel Piazza }} * {{instagram|_annavalesi_}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valesi, Anna}} Category:2002 births Category:Italian female pair skaters Category:Living people Category:Figure skaters from Como Category:21st-century Italian sportswomen