It sounds like a football match, but the men’s event at the 2023 European Figure Skating Championships looks to be a matchup between France and Italy. The Frenchmen have had a much more recent history of winning Euros, with Florent Amodio and Brian Joubert taken four of the titles over the past two decades. But you’d have to go all the way back to the legendary Carlo Fassi in 1953 and 1954 for the last European men’s champ from Italy. But outside of them, there are a few skates who have won European medals in the past who could also figure into the picture.
2023 Europeans men’s predictions
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GOLD Adam Siao Him Fa FRA - It’s been a breakthrough season for Siao, who won his first Grand Prix event and his first French title this season. And though his last international outing was a disappointment—he had a Grand Prix Final berth in his sight and couldn’t convert in the free skate at NHK Trophy—he’s got one of the most all-around repertoires. If he hits here, he is the most likely to walk away with the title.
SILVER Kevin Aymoz FRA - As we’ve seen this season, a clean Aymoz without quads will do just fine. And he’s had to hold off on his more difficult jumps as he’s again had to wrestle with injury this season. It has felt like an upward trajectory of confidence for him since having to withdraw from Grand Prix France, and he’s got the opportunity to get on the podium for the first time at Europeans. Quads are likely not needed here, but that just means he will have to be clean.
BRONZE Matteo Rizzo ITA - After taking back the Italian title for the first time since the 2017-18 season, Rizzo comes into Europeans hoping to put together two good programs, which has been an elusive task for him. Like Siao, he’s got both the strong basics and the quads to compete, but he’s prone to underrotations on those quads.
4. Daniel Grassl ITA - A lot of change for Grassl, who started the season training in the US, then went back to Italy for a few weeks, and ended up going to Russia to train with the Tutberidze camp. This will be his first competition since going to Russia, and it comes after dropping off the podium at Italian Nationals last month. Was it too much too soon for him this season? We’ll see how he does after acclimating to his new training environment.
5. Deniss Vasiljevs LAT - The reigning bronze medalist at Europeans is trying to figure out if his season will lean more toward the silver medal at John Wilson Trophy or the 10th place at Skate Canada. It has never been easy for him to put together a consistent season, even in his junior days, but we know that when he’s on, he can bring the house down with his programs.
6. Gabriele Frangipani ITA - In his fourth senior season, Frangipani seems to have started to figure out how to compete internationally a bit better this season. He had a solid competition last season at Europeans, finishing ninth.
7. Lukas Britschgi SUI - Up until his injury about a month or so ago, Britschgi was having the season of his career so far, highlighted by a third-place finish at Warsaw Cup where he hit three personal best scores. We’re not sure how much he’s been able to train since fracturing his collarbone, so it remains to be seen where he ends up in Espoo.
8. Mihhail Selevko EST - After his 15th place at Worlds last year, the younger Selevko brother has not been able to capitalize on that success as much as he would’ve liked. He’s at Europeans on the heels of winning Estonian Nationals, and will be making his debut here.
9. Nika Egadze GEO - He’s been the stronger and more consistent of the two Georgians this season, with a win at the Denis Ten Memorial and a fifth place finish at Grand Prix France. He’s looking for a big jump from his 28th place at Euros last year.
10. Morisi Kvitelashvili GEO - This season has been nothing but rough for him since his silver at Finlandia Trophy to start the season. The quad toe, especially, has left him for many of his programs. He won bronze here three years ago, and is always an unpredictable one.