Nina Pinzarrone
| Nina Pinzarrone | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Pinzarrone at the 2024 World Championships | |||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 November 2006 Brussels, Belgium | ||||||||||||||
| Hometown | Brussels, Belgium | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.59 m (5 ft 2+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | |||||||||||||||
| Country |  Belgium | ||||||||||||||
| Coach | Ans Bocklandt, Dmitri Ovchinnikov | ||||||||||||||
| Skating club | ASW Antwerp | ||||||||||||||
| Began skating | 2011 | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||
Nina Pinzarrone (born 24 November 2006) is a Belgian figure skater. She is the 2024 European bronze medalist and a two-time ISU Grand Prix medalist, one of only two Belgian women to have medaled at those events. She placed eleventh at both the 2023 World Championships and the 2022 World Junior Championships.
At the domestic level, she is the 2024 Belgian national champion and a two-time (2020, 2022) national junior champion.
Personal life[edit]
Pinzarrone was born on 24 November 2006 in Brussels, Belgium. Her father Mario Pinzarrone is of Italian origin, while her mother, Laurence Novalet, is Belgian from Brussels.[1][2] She has an older sister, Lily, who is also a figure skater.[3] Nina's mother tongue is French but she skates in Flanders and goes to school in Dutch. Because her father is of Italian heritage, she studied the Italian language for a year as a fourth language but does not speak it.[4]
Career[edit]
Early years[edit]
Pinzarrone began learning how to skate in 2010 at the age of three. She followed her sister Lily, who became interested after watching figure skating on television.[5]
2021–22 season: International junior debut[edit]
Pinzarrone made her international junior and ISU Junior Grand Prix debuts in August at the 2022 JGP France II, the second of two JGP events hosted in Courchevel, France. She placed fifth in the short program and sixth in the free skate to place sixth overall. At her second JGP assignment, the 2022 JGP Slovenia, Pinzarrone replicated her short program and free skate placements from Courchevel but finished fifth in the overall standings.[6]
Pinzarrone did not compete again until November when she handily won her second Belgian junior national title. Following her win, between December 2021 and February 2022, she claimed the junior women's titles at the Santa Claus Cup, the Icelab International Cup, and the Dragon Trophy. She finished seventh at the Challenge Cup in March.[6]
In April, Pinzarrone competed at her first World Junior Championship. There, she was seventh in the short program but fell to sixteenth in the free skate after a series of mishaps, ultimately winding up in eleventh overall.[7]
2022–23 season: International senior debut[edit]
Pinzarrone was assigned to her first Grand Prix event, the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy, in July.[8] In August, she received a second assignment, replacing South Korean skater Lim Eun-soo at the 2022 Skate Canada International. She later withdrew from both events due to hip injury, subsequently revealed to be a double stress fracture.[9][10]
After recovery, Pinzarrone won the silver medal at the Latvia Trophy.[6] Having acquired senior technical minimums, she was assigned to compete at the European Championships for the first time, alongside longtime Belgian national champion Loena Hendrickx. Her coach stated that her primary objectives for the event were to achieve the minimum scores to take Belgium's second berth at the World Championships later in the season.[11] Pinzarrone underrotated the second part of her jump combination in the short program, but still finished sixth in the segment.[12] She rose to fifth place after the free skate.[13] She had the second-best technical score in the free skate.[4]
Due to Hendrickx's placement at the previous year's World Championships, Belgium had three berths in the women's event in Saitama. Pinzarrone, Hendrickx and national silver medalist Jade Hovine all had the minimum scores necessary to attend, comprising the largest Belgian women's delegation in event history.[14] Pinzarrone finished eleventh.[15]
2023–24 season: European bronze and Grand Prix medals[edit]
Beginning the season at the 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy Pinzarrone finished ninth.[6] Speaking of this event later, she would opine: "At Lombardia I really wasn't myself."[16] She was also invited to attend the Shanghai Trophy, coming fourth of six skaters.[6] She called the latter invitation "an amazing experience."[17]
Making her Grand Prix debut following the previous year's withdrawals, Pinzarrone appeared first at the 2023 Grand Prix de France, where she finished fourth in the short program with a new personal best 65.74 points, only 0.99 points back of second-place Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia.[18] She set another new personal best in the free skate (133.06), and rose to second overall. Her silver medal made her only the second Belgian woman to medal on the Grand Prix, after Hendrickx. Of the feat, she said: "It doesn’t feel real."[16] The week before her second Grand Prix assignment she appeared at her first senior Belgian championships. With Loena Hendrickx withdrawing due to illness, Pinzarrone won her first national title by more than forty points.[19] At the 2023 NHK Trophy, Pinzarrone placed second in both segments, but third overall, winning the bronze medal and qualifying to the Grand Prix Final for the first time. She said she had not considered this result a possibility at the start of the season, and added that it was "so cool" that both she and Hendrickx had qualified, the first time two Belgian women had done so.[20] Pinzarrone went on to finish fourth at the Final.[21]
Pinzarrone entered the 2024 European Championships as a podium favourite after her results in the first half of the season, and finished second in the short program with a personal best 69.70 points, less than a point ahead of third-place Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia, the defending champion. In the free skate, four of her jumps were deemed a quarter underrotated, coming third in that segment and placing third overall behind Hendrickx and Gubanova.[22] With her bronze medal alongside Hendrickx's gold, Belgium had two women on the European podium for the first time, with Pinzarrone also only the second woman (after Hendrickx) to make the European podium.[23]
In the leadup to the 2024 World Championships in Montreal, Pinzarrone was plagued with nosebleeds that hindering her training and performance. In advance of the free program, she had her nose cauterized without anesthesia and skated with a cotton ball in her nostril. She finished fifteenth, and said afterward: "It is difficult to skate at full speed for 4 minutes anyway and that was even more difficult now. I did my best until the end and I think I did well in my circumstances."[24]
Programs[edit]
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–2024 [25] |
|
|
|
| 2022–2023 [26] |
|
|
|
| 2021–2022 [27] |
|
|
Competitive highlights[edit]
GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix.
| International [6] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 17–18 | 18–19 | 19–20 | 20–21 | 21–22 | 22–23 | 23–24 |
| Worlds | 11th | 15th | |||||
| Europeans | 5th | 3rd | |||||
| GP Final | 4th | ||||||
| GP France | 2nd | ||||||
| GP NHK Trophy | 3rd | ||||||
| GP Skate Canada | WD | ||||||
| GP John Wilson Trophy | WD | ||||||
| CS Golden Spin | WD | ||||||
| CS Lombardia Trophy | WD | 9th | |||||
| Challenge Cup | 4th | WD | |||||
| Latvia Trophy | 2nd | ||||||
| Shanghai Trophy | 4th | ||||||
| International: Junior [6] | |||||||
| Junior Worlds | 11th | ||||||
| JGP France II | 6th | ||||||
| JGP Slovenia | 5th | ||||||
| Antwerp Diamond Trophy | 1st | ||||||
| Challenge Cup | 7th | ||||||
| Coupe du Printemps | 2nd | ||||||
| Dragon Trophy | 1st | ||||||
| Egna Spring Trophy | 1st | ||||||
| Icelab International Cup | 1st | ||||||
| Santa Claus Cup | 1st | ||||||
| Skate Helena | 1st | ||||||
| Sofia Trophy | 1st | ||||||
| International: Advanced novice [28] | |||||||
| Antwerp Diamond Trophy | 1st | 1st | |||||
| Bavarian Open | 8th | 3rd | |||||
| Challenge Cup | 2nd | 7th | |||||
| Coupe du Printemps | 2nd | 5th | |||||
| Ice Talent Trophy | 1st | 1st | |||||
| Kempen Trophy | 1st | ||||||
| Prague Ice Cup | 1st | ||||||
| Santa Claus Cup | 2nd | 2nd | |||||
| Triglav Trophy | 2nd | ||||||
| Volvo Open | 2nd | ||||||
| National | |||||||
| Belgian Champ. | 1st N | 2nd N | 1st J | C | 1st J | 1st | |
| TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Canceled Levels: J = Junior, N = Novice | |||||||
Detailed results[edit]
| Segment | Type | Score | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | TSS | 198.80 | 2023 Grand Prix de France |
| Short program | TSS | 65.74 | 2023 Grand Prix de France |
| TES | 38.11 | 2021 JGP Slovakia | |
| PCS | 30.16 | 2023 NHK Trophy | |
| Free skating | TSS | 133.06 | 2023 Grand Prix de France |
| TES | 72.69 | 2023 Grand Prix de France | |
| PCS | 63.68 | 2023 NHK Trophy |
ISU Personal best highlighted in bold.
Senior results[edit]
| 2023–24 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 18–24, 2024 | 2024 World Championships | 11 64.04 |
16 113.42 |
15 177.46 |
| January 10–14, 2024 | 2024 European Championships | 2 69.70 |
3 132.59 |
3 202.29 |
| December 7–10, 2023 | 2023–24 Grand Prix Final | 3 66.72 |
5 128.19 |
4 194.91 |
| November 24–26, 2023 | 2023 NHK Trophy | 2 63.44 |
2 131.22 |
3 194.66 |
| November 17–18, 2023 | 2024 Belgian Championships | 1 66.65 |
1 129.98 |
1 196.63 |
| November 3–5, 2023 | 2023 Grand Prix de France | 4 65.74 |
2 133.06 |
2 198.80 |
| October 3–5, 2023 | 2023 Shanghai Trophy | 4 59.21 |
4 121.85 |
4 181.06 |
| September 8–10, 2023 | 2023 CS Lombardia Trophy | 12 47.41 |
6 108.02 |
9 155.43 |
| 2022–23 season | ||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 22–26, 2023 | 2023 World Championships | 14 62.04 |
10 129.74 |
11 191.78 |
| February 23–26, 2023 | 2023 International Challenge Cup | 3 62.99 |
4 128.21 |
4 191.20 |
| January 25–29, 2023 | 2023 European Championships | 6 61.35 |
5 124.57 |
5 185.92 |
| December 16–18, 2022 | 2022 Latvia Trophy | 3 58.28 |
2 111.00 |
2 169.28 |
| December 7–10, 2022 | 2022 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb | 20 44.79 |
WD | WD |
Junior results[edit]
| 2021–22 season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total | |
| April 13–17, 2022 | 2022 World Junior Championships | Junior | 7 63.67 |
16 98.25 |
11 161.92 |
| March 18–20, 2021 | 2022 Coupe du Printemps | Junior | 1 56.64 |
2 105.77 |
2 162.41 |
| February 24–27, 2022 | 2022 International Challenge Cup | Junior | 4 51.91 |
7 89.75 |
7 141.66 |
| February 11–13, 2022 | 2022 Dragon Trophy | Junior | 1 62.85 |
1 100.43 |
1 163.28 |
| January 13–14, 2022 | 2022 Icelab International Cup | Junior | 1 58.54 |
1 108.09 |
1 166.63 |
| December 6–12, 2021 | 2021 Santa Claus Cup | Junior | 1 63.67 |
2 108.13 |
1 171.80 |
| November 19–20, 2021 | 2022 Belgian Championships | Junior | 1 59.77 |
1 116.11 |
1 175.88 |
| September 22–25, 2021 | 2021 JGP Slovenia | Junior | 5 64.58 |
6 121.52 |
5 186.10 |
| August 25–28, 2021 | 2021 JGP France II | Junior | 5 58.40 |
6 104.68 |
6 163.08 |
| 2020–21 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| April 29–May 2, 2021 | 2021 Egna Spring Trophy | Junior | 2 54.58 |
1 97.59 |
1 152.17 |
| April 14–18, 2021 | 2021 Skate Helena | Junior | 1 61.89 |
1 106.40 |
1 168.29 |
| February 26–March 3, 2021 | 2021 Sofia Trophy | Junior | 1 63.82 |
1 123.08 |
1 186.90 |
| 2019–20 season | |||||
| Date | Event | Level | SP | FS | Total |
| February 20–23, 2020 | 2020 International Challenge Cup | Novice | 1 43.69 |
15 54.80 |
7 98.49 |
| February 3–9, 2020 | 2020 Bavarian Open | Novice | 3 37.85 |
3 74.59 |
3 112.44 |
| December 2–8, 2019 | 2019 Santa Claus Cup | Novice | 2 42.08 |
2 69.14 |
2 111.22 |
| November 22–23, 2019 | 2022 Belgian Championships | Junior | 1 54.30 |
1 97.21 |
1 151.51 |
| November 8–10, 2019 | 2021 Skate Helena | Novice | 2 36.65 |
1 68.25 |
1 104.90 |
References[edit]
- ^ Claeys, Jan (30 January 2023). "Nina Pinzarrone (16) verovert met vijfde plek de harten op het EK kunstschaatsen: "Hier werkt ze al sinds haar derde voor"". Gazet van Antwerpen. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023.
- ^ Schoonjans, Tim (7 December 2016). "Zusjes Pinzarrone blijven de schaatswereld verbazen". BRUZZ. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023.
- ^ Schoonjans, Tim (July 12, 2016). "Zusjes Pinzarrone blijven de schaatswereld verbazen" [Sisters Pinzarrone continue to amaze the skating world] (in Dutch). Bruzz.
- ^ a b "16-jarige EK-revelatie Nina Pinzarrone: "Grappig dat mensen plots mijn naam kennen"" [16-year-old European Championship revelation Nina Pinzarrone: "Funny that people suddenly know my name"]. Sporza (in Dutch). February 2, 2023.
- ^ Sterpigny, Sébastien (April 15, 2022). "Nina Pinzarrone : " J'aime cette sensation de liberté quand je patine "" [Nina Pinzarrone: "I like this feeling of freedom when I skate"] (in French). L'Avenir.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Nina PINZARRONE: Competition Results". International Skating Union. April 19, 2022.
- ^ Agence Belga (April 17, 2022). "Mondiaux juniors de patinage artistique - Nina Pinzarrone termine 11e à Tallinn" [Junior World Figure Skating Championships - Nina Pinzarrone finishes 11th in Tallinn] (in French). RTL Group.
- ^ "ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2022/23". International Skating Union. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
- ^ Pinzarrone, Nina [@pinzarrone_nina] (September 6, 2022). "One day so honoured, the next so sad... I am forced to withdraw from the Grand Prix series - both Skate Canada & MK John Wilson - due to injury..." – via Instagram.
- ^ Dombrowski, Judith (June 12, 2023). "Belgium's Nina Pinzarrone "fearless" moving forward". Golden Skate. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Maak kennis met 16-jarige kunstschaatsster Nina Pinzarrone: "Ze heeft klasse op het ijs"" [Meet 16-year-old figure skater Nina Pinzarrone: "She has class on the ice"]. Sporza (in Dutch). January 26, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (January 26, 2023). "Anastasiia Gubanova leads women at Europeans". Golden Skate.
- ^ Slater, Paula (January 28, 2023). "Anastasiia Gubanova wins historic gold at 2023 Europeans". Golden Skate.
- ^ "Loena Hendrickx prijkt op 5e stek na korte kür op WK, Nina Pinzarrone is 14e" [Loena Hendrickx takes 5th place after short program at World Championships, Nina Pinzarrone is 14th]. Sporza (in Dutch). March 22, 2023.
- ^ "Sterke Loena Hendrickx knokt zich omhoog naar brons op WK kunstschaatsen, Nina Pinzarrone 11e" [Strong Loena Hendrickx fights her way up to bronze at the World Figure Skating Championships, Nina Pinzarrone 11th]. Sporza (in Dutch). March 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Slater, Paula (November 4, 2023). "Levito secures first Grand Prix title in France". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ^ Pinzarrone, Nina [@pinzarrone_nina] (October 8, 2023). "SHANGHAÏ Trophy 🇨🇳, what an amazing experience! Thank you to the Chinese Figure Skating Federation for the invitation and unforgettable welcome, atmosphere and organization. It was a real honor and I would come back any time 😀". Archived from the original on October 10, 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ "Isabeau Levito (USA) scales new heights at ISU Grand Prix de France". International Skating Union. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ^ "Nina Pinzarrone décroche son premier titre de championne de Belgique en patinage artistique" [Nina Pinzarrone wins her first Belgian championship title in figure skating]. Le Soir (in French). November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (November 25, 2023). "Ava Marie Ziegler takes surprising win at NHK Trophy". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (December 10, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto sublime in Beijing; wins Grand Prix title". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ Slater, Paula (January 13, 2024). "Hendrickx finally clinches gold at Europeans". Golden Skate. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "Goud en brons! Loena Hendrickx en Nina Pinzarrone verzorgen historisch Belgisch feestje op EK kunstschaatsen" [Gold and bronze! Loena Hendrickx and Nina Pinzarrone organize a historic Belgian party at the European Figure Skating Championships]. Sporza (in Dutch). January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ "Nieuwe bloedneus hinderde Nina Pinzarrone op WK: "Ik begon te panikeren en te wenen"" [New nosebleed hindered Nina Pinzarrone at the World Cup: "I started to panic and cry"]. Sporza (in Dutch). March 23, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ "Nina PINZARONNE: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023.
- ^ "Nina PINZARONNE: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. August 30, 2022.
- ^ "Nina PINZARONNE: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. April 19, 2022.
- ^ "Nina PINZARRONE". Rink Results. August 30, 2022.
- ^ "BEL-Nina PINZARRONE". Skating Scores.