“My biggest strength, fortunately, that has come along with me also during the difficult times, is the passion to skate really well.

“It hasn’t been always easy, because I was one of the first Italian ladies that got this far. Therefore I had to get used to the euphoria, and the attention of the media. I was rather shy and I didn’t really enjoy the attention, but now I have learned to deal with it and I am able to focus better on figure skating. Hopefully it will remain that way.”