{{Short description|Italian pair skater (born 1999)}} {{Infobox figure skater | name = Manuel Piazza | image = | imagesize = | caption = | fullname = | altname = | country = {{ISL}} (since 2024)<br>{{ITA}} (2015–24) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|10|13|df=yes}} | birth_place = Bolzano, Italy | hometown = Urtijëi, Italy | height = {{height|m=1.85}} | partner = Júlía Sylvía Gunnarsdóttir (2024–26)<br>Anna Valesi (2021–24)<br>Alyssa Montan (2018–20) | coach = Ondřej Hotárek<br>Rosanna Murante<br>Benjamin Naggiar | skating club = IceLab Bergamo | beganskating = 2006 | retired = | discipline = Pair skating (since 2018)<br>Men's singles (2015–18) | medalrecord = {{Figure skating infobox medals|nationals=Icelandic|country={{ISL}} |NC={{FS medal|g|NC|nationals=Icelandic|2024|Reykjavík|p}}{{FS medal|g|NC|nationals=Icelandic|2025|Reykjavík|p}} }} {{Figure skating infobox medals|nationals=Italian|country={{ITA}} |NC={{FS medal|b|NC|nationals=Italian|2024|Pinerolo|p}} }} }}

'''Manuel Piazza''' (born 13 October 1999) is an Italian pair skater. Competing for Iceland with his former partner, Júlía Sylvía Gunnarsdóttir, he is the 2025 Diamond Spin champion, 2025 Cup of Innsbruck bronze medalist, 2024 NRW Trophy bronze medalist and a two-time Icelandic national champion (2025–26). Gunnarsdóttir and Piazza are the first pairs team to represent Iceland in international competition.<ref name=ISU-2425/>

With his former partner, Anna Valesi, he is the 2024 Italian national bronze medalist and has won seven senior international medals, including silver at the 2022 Bavarian Open.

== Career ==

=== Early years === Piazza began learning to skate in 2006.<ref name=ISU-2223/> He placed sixth in junior men's singles at the Italian Championships in December 2016 and again in December 2017.

In 2018, he teamed up with Alyssa Montan to compete in junior pairs. Making their international debut, Montan/Piazza won silver at the Inge Solar Memorial – Alpen Trophy in November 2018. The following month, they took silver in the junior event at the Italian Championships.

In their second and final season together, Montan/Piazza won the Italian national junior title and placed 16th at the 2020 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia. The two were coached by Ondřej Hotárek, Luca Demattè, and Franca Bianconi in Bergamo, Italy.<ref name=ISU-AMMP/>

=== Pair skating with Anna Valesi for Italy === ==== 2021–22 season: Debut of Valesi/Piazza ==== In the 2021–22 season, Piazza began competing in the senior ranks with Anna Valesi. 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 ==== Beginning the international season at the John Nicks Pairs Challenge, where they won the silver.<ref name=ISU-AVMP /> They continued to 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 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>

=== Pair skating with Júlía Sylvía Gunnarsdóttir for Iceland === ==== 2024–25 season ==== In August, it was announced that Piazza had teamed up with Júlía Sylvía Gunnarsdóttir to compete for Iceland, the first ever pair to compete internationally for Iceland.<ref name=icelandpair>{{cite instagram |user=skatingicelandofficial |postid=C-r2Tr4ATa- |title=Skautasamband Íslands tilkynnir með stolti að Júlía Sylvía Gunnarsdóttir og Manuel Piazza (ITA) munu keppa fyrst allra í parakeppni á listskautum fyrir hönd ÍSS! |lang=is |date=August 15, 2024}}</ref> They split their training between Reykjavík, Iceland with coach Benjamin Naggiar and Bergamo, Italy with coaches, Ondřej Hotárek and Rosanna Murante.<ref name=SI-171124/>

Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza made their international debut in November 2024 at the 2024 NRW Trophy. They placed third in both the short program and the free skate to claim the bronze medal behind new Swiss team Oxana Vouillamoz / Tom Bouvart and Swedish sibling pair Greta Crafoord / John Crafoord. At their second international event, the 2024 CS Warsaw Cup, Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza placed twelfth.<ref name=SS-JSGMP/>

Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza competed at the 2025 Icelandic Championships at the end of November unchallenged, winning their first national pairs title by default. Having earned their ISU technical minimum scores at the NRW Trophy, Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza were assigned to compete at the 2025 European Championships in Estonia in January. At Europeans, Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza scored a personal best of 48.58, placing eighteenth in the segment. They did not advance to the free skate portion of the competition.<ref name=SS-JSGMP/>

==== 2025–26 season ==== Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza opened their season with a fourth-place finish at the 2025 Lombardia Trophy. One week later, they placed eighth at the ISU Skate to Milano.<ref name=SS-JSGMP/>

In October, Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza competed at the 2025 Diamond Spin and the 2025 Swiss Open, winning gold and placing fifth, respectively. The following month, the pair won the bronze medal at the 2025 Cup of Innsbruck and the gold medal at the 2026 Icelandic Championships. In January, Gunnarsdóttir/Piazza placed eleventh at the 2026 European Championships, scoring personal bests in all three competition segments.<ref name=SS-JSGMP/>

== Programs == === With Gunnarsdóttir === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! Season ! Short program ! Free skating |- ! 2025–2026 <br> <ref name=ISU-2526/> | * Imagine <br> {{small|by John Lennon <br> performed by Audiomachine <br> choreo. by Benjamin Naggiar}} | rowspan=2 | * ''West Side Story'' ** Maria ** Tonight <br> {{small| by Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim <br> choreo. by Benjamin Naggiar}} |- ! 2024–2025 <br> <ref name=ISU-2425/> | * Pray <br> {{small|(from ''Game of Thrones'') <br> by Matt Bellamy <br> choreo. by Benjamin Naggiar}} |}

=== With Valesi === {|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 }} |}

=== With Montan === {|class=wikitable style=text-align:center ! Season ! Short program ! Free skating |- ! 2019–20 <br> <ref name=ISU-1920/> | * Thinking Out Loud <br>{{small| by Ed Sheeran }} | * Here We Go Again * The Winner Takes It All * Dancing Queen <br>{{small| by ABBA }} |}

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

=== Pair skating with Júlía Sylvía Gunnarsdóttir (for Iceland) === {{Figure skating competitive highlights |level=senior|ref={{r|SS-JSGMP}}{{r|ISU-JSGMP}} |season1=2024–25|season2=2025–26 |{{FS placements|2|{{no wrap|European Championships}}|p1=18th|p2=11th}} |{{FS placements|2|Icelandic Championships|p1=1st|p2=1st}} |{{FS placements|2|{{small|CS}} Warsaw Cup|p1=12th}} |{{FS placements|2|Cup of Innsbruck|p2=3rd}} |{{FS placements|2|Diamond Spin|p2=1st}} |{{FS placements|2|Lombardia Trophy|p2=4th}} |{{FS placements|2|NRW Trophy|p1=3rd}} |{{FS placements|2|Road to 26 Trophy|p1=7th}} |{{FS placements|2|Skate to Milano|p2=8th}} }}

=== Pair skating with Anna Valesi (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 Alyssa Montan (for Italy) === {{Figure skating competitive highlights |level=junior|ref={{r|SS-AMMP}} |season1=2018–19|season2=2019–20|season3=2020–21 |{{FS placements|3|{{nowrap|World Junior Championships}}|p2=16th}} |{{FS placements|3|Italian Championships|p1=2nd|p2=1st|p3=1st}} |{{FS placements|3|Alpen Trophy|p1=2nd}} |{{FS placements|3|Bavarian Open|p1=8th|p2=3rd}} |{{FS placements|3|Egna Spring Trophy|p1=1st}} }}

=== Single skating (for Italy) === {{Figure skating competitive highlights |level=junior|ref={{r|SS-MP}} |season1=2015–16|season2=2016–17|season3=2017–18 |{{FS placements|3|Italian Championships|p2=6th|p3=6th}} |{{FS placements|3|Cup of Tyrol|p1=3rd|p2=8th}} |{{FS placements|3|Egna Spring Trophy|p1=7th|p2=6th}} |{{FS placements|3|Merano Cup|p2=WD}} }}

== Detailed results == === Pair skating with Júlía Sylvía Gunnarsdóttir (for Iceland) === {{Figure skating personal bests|ref={{r|SS-SSLM}} |162.62|{{nowrap| 2026 European Championships}} |57.45|2026 European Championships |32.80|2026 European Championships |24.65|2026 European Championships |105.17|2026 European Championships |52.83|2026 European Championships |52.34|2026 European Championships }} {{Figure skating detailed results |season=2024–25|ref={{r|SS-JSGMP}} |Nov 13–17, 2024|{{flagicon|GER}} 2024 NRW Trophy|3|47.04|3|93.46|3|140.50 |Nov 20–24, 2024|{{flagicon|POL}} 2024 CS Warsaw Cup|14|41.93|11|87.42|12|129.35 |Nov 29–Dec 1, 2024|{{flagicon|ISL}} 2024 Icelandic Championships|1|42.30|1|95.31|1|137.61 |Jan 28 – Feb 2, 2025|{{flagicon|EST}} 2025 European Championships|18|48.58|{{NA}}|{{NA}}|18|48.58 |Feb 18–20, 2025|{{flagicon|ITA}} Road to 26 Trophy|6|50.54|7|87.76|7|138.30 }} {{Figure skating detailed results |season=2025–26|ref={{r|SS-JSGMP}} |Sep 11–14, 2025|{{flagicon|ITA}} 2025 Lombardia Trophy|5|53.21|4|105.70|4|158.91 |Sep 18–21, 2025|{{flagicon|CHN}} 2025 Skate to Milano|9|53.09|8|98.94|8|152.03 |Oct 16–19, 2025|{{flagicon|POL}} 2025 Diamond Spin|1|48.65|1|91.75|1|140.40 |Nov 13–16, 2025|{{flagicon|AUT}} 2025 Cup of Innsbruck|6|51.72|2|102.44|3|154.16 |Nov 28–30, 2025|{{flagicon|ISL}} 2025 Icelandic Championships|1|51.59|2|99.23|1|150.82 |Jan 13–18, 2026|{{flagicon|GBR}} 2026 European Championships|9|57.45|11|105.17|11|162.62 }}

=== Pair skating with Anna Valesi (for Italy) === {{Figure skating personal bests|float=yes|ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00112113.htm |title=Couple Records Anna Valesi/Manuel Piazza (ITA) |website=International Skating Union}}</ref> |160.65|2023 Cup of China |55.55|2023 Cup of China |30.67|2023 Grand Prix de France |26.79|2023 Cup of China |105.10|2023 Cup of China |56.59|2023 CS Nebelhorn Trophy |51.40|2023 Cup of China }} {{clear}}

=== Pair skating with Alyssa Montan (for Italy) === {{Figure skating personal bests|float=yes|ref=<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_pb_00106722.htm |title=Couple Records Alyssa Montan/Manuel Piazza |website=International Skating Union}}</ref> |116.22|{{nowrap|2020 World Junior Championships}} |44.69|2020 World Junior Championships |24.26|2020 World Junior Championships |20.43|2020 World Junior Championships |71.53|2020 World Junior Championships |34.22|2020 World Junior Championships |39.31|2020 World Junior Championships }} {{clear}}

== References == {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name=ISU-AMMP>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00106722.htm |title= Competition Results: Alyssa Montan / Manuel Piazza |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220814072338/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00106722.htm |archive-date= 14 August 2022 |url-status= live }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-1920>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00106722.htm |title= Alyssa Montan / Manuel Piazza: 2019/2020 |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200502150901/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00106722.htm |archive-date= 2 May 2020 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-AVMP>{{cite web |url= http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00112113.htm |title= Competition Results: Anna Valesi / Manuel Piazza |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-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-JSGMP>{{cite web |url= https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00121148.htm |title= Competition Results: Julia Sylvia GUNNARSDOTTIR / Manuel PIAZZA |publisher= International Skating Union |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250401012620/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00121148.htm |archive-date= April 1, 2025 |url-status= live }}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-2425>{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00121148.htm|title=Julia Sylvia GUNNARSDOTTIR / Manuel PIAZZA: 2024/2025|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250329113522/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00121148.htm |archive-date= 29 March 2025 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

<ref name=ISU-2526>{{cite web|url=https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00121148.htm|title=Julia Sylvia GUNNARSDOTTIR / Manuel PIAZZA: 2025/2026|publisher=International Skating Union|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250915113522/https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00121148.htm |archive-date= 15 September 2025 |url-status= dead}}</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 | 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 | 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=ITA–Anna Valesi/Manuel Piazza |website=SkatingScores.com}}</ref>

<ref name=SS-AMMP>{{cite web |url=https://www.skatingscores.com/ita/pairs/alyssa_montan_manuel_piazza |title=ITA–Alyssa Montan/Manuel Piazza |website=SkatingScores.com}}</ref>

<ref name=SS-MP>{{cite web |url=https://www.skatingscores.com/ita/men/manuel_piazza |title=ITA–Manuel Piazza |website=SkatingScores.com}}</ref>

<ref name=SS-JSGMP>{{cite web |url=https://skatingscores.com/isl/pairs/julia_sylvia_gunnarsdottir_manuel_piazza/ |title=ISL-Júlía Sylvía GUNNARSDÓTTÍR/Manuel PIAZZA |website=SkatingScores.com}}</ref>

<ref name=SI-171124>{{cite web|url=https://www.iceskate.is/2024/11/17/julia-sylvia-og-manuel-med-lagmork-inn-a-evropumeistaramot/|title=Júlía Sylvía og Manuel með lágmörk inn á Evrópumeistaramót|trans-title=Júlía Sylvía and Manuel with minimum scores heading into the European Championship|language=is|publisher=Icelandic Skating Association|date=17 November 2024}}</ref>

}}

== External links == * {{ISU figure skater|00121148|Julia Sylvia Gunnarsdottir & Manuel Piazza}} * {{ISU figure skater|00112113|Anna Valesi & Manuel Piazza}} * {{SkatingScores|ita/pairs/anna_valesi_manuel_piazza|Anna Valesi & Manuel Piazza}} * {{ISU figure skater|00106722|Alyssa Montan & Manuel Piazza}} * {{SkatingScores|ita/pairs/alyssa_montan_manuel_piazza|Alyssa Montan & Manuel Piazza}} * {{Instagram|manuel.piazza.99}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Piazza, Manuel}} Category:1999 births Category:Italian male pair skaters Category:Living people Category:Figure skaters from Bolzano Category:21st-century Italian sportsmen