Karel Zelenka (born March 31, 1983) is a Czech-Italian former competitive figure skater. He is a five-time (2003–2007) Italian national champion and competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics. He qualified to the free skate at eleven ISU Championships – three World, three World Junior, and five European Championships – and finished in the top ten twice.
Personal life Zelenka was born in 1983 in Louny, Czechoslovakia. His father is a figure skating coach. The family moved to Italy when the younger Zelenka was six years old. He received Italian citizenship in January 2006.
Career Zelenka debuted on the ISU Junior Series (ISU Junior Grand Prix) in 1997. He won the Italian junior title in the 1998–99 season and was sent to his first ISU Championship – 1999 Junior Worlds in Zagreb, Croatia, where he finished 20th after qualifying to the final segment.
Zelenka placed 19th at the 2000 Junior Worlds in Oberstdorf, Germany, and 8th at the 2001 Junior Worlds in Sofia, Bulgaria. In October 2001, he won the silver medal at his JGP assignment in Poland.
Zelenka won the first of his five consecutive senior national titles in the 2002–03 season. He reached the free skate at the 2003 European Championships in Malmö but was eliminated after the short program at the 2003 World Championships in Washington, D.C.
Zelenka competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin; he placed 25th in the short program and missed qualifying to the free skate by one spot. He achieved his career-best ISU Championship placement, 7th, at the 2007 European Championships in Warsaw.
He trained in Milan, Italy; Oberstdorf, Germany; and Switzerland.
Programs Season Short program Free skating 2009–10 Blues for Klook Burn the Floor Cheek to Cheek Let Yourself Go Top Hat White Tie and Tails 2008–09 Nut Rocker 2007–08 Blues for Klook The Truman Show 2006–07 Alexander 2005–06 Romeo and Juliet Art of War 2004–05 Elements Lord of the Dance Dreamcatcher 2003–04 Quixote Lord of the Dance 2002–03 Light Cavalry 2000–01 Live at the Acropolis Carmen
Competitive highlights GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
International Event 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 Olympics 25th Worlds 25th 20th 25th 17th 16th Europeans 19th 16th 19th 7th 15th 23rd Cup of China 6th Skate America 10th 12th Skate Canada 10th Finlandia Trophy 7th 16th Golden Spin 10th 4th 6th Nebelhorn Trophy 5th Nepela Memorial 3rd NRW Trophy 13th Schäfer Memorial 4th Triglav Trophy 4th International: Junior Junior Worlds 20th 19th 8th Germany 12th 5th Italy 6th Norway 15th 8th Poland 2nd Slovakia 14th Slovenia 10th National Italian Champ. 1st J 2nd 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd WD 3rd J = Junior level; WD = Withdrew
References
External links
Official site