Ivan Righini (born 16 April 1991), previously Ivan Vadimovich Bariev (), is a retired Italian competitive figure skater and current choreographer. He is a two-time Bavarian Open champion and a four-time Italian national champion. He has reached the free skate at four ISU Championships, achieving his best result, sixth, at the 2016 Europeans.
Having competed for Russia as Ivan Bariev, he won four silver medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series, two Russian junior national titles, and bronze at the 2011 Golden Spin of Zagreb.
Righini has choreographed programs for the 2026 Olympic Champion, Mikhail Shaidorov.
Personal life Ivan Bariev was born on 16 April 1991 in Moscow, Russia. In 2013, he adopted his mother's former surname, Righini. In addition to Russian, he also holds Italian citizenship. His brother, Filip, is ten years younger.
Career
Early career Bariev began learning to skate in 1994. He debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series in September 2007, winning silver medals in Romania and Croatia. In late October 2007, he underwent surgery on the meniscus in his right knee. He finished seventh at both the JGP Final and the 2008 World Junior Championships.
The following season, Bariev was awarded silver medals at JGP events in the Czech Republic and South Africa. He finished fourth at the JGP Final. His first senior international medal, bronze, came at the 2011 Golden Spin of Zagreb. He made his final competitive appearances for Russia in late October 2012, at the Cup of Nice.
2013–14 season In 2013, Righini stated his intention to compete for Italy. He received the Russian federation's permission in May 2013. The International Skating Union requires that skaters who change federations sit out a certain period of time. For Righini, this period ended on 29 October 2013.
Righini debuted for Italy at the 2013 Merano Cup, placing fifth, and then won bronze at the 2013 Golden Spin of Zagreb. After winning the men's title at the 2014 Italian Championships, he took gold at the 2014 Bavarian Open. Righini was selected for the 2014 World Championships in Saitama, Japan. Placing 14th in the short program, he qualified for the free skate, in which he placed twelfth, and finished thirteenth overall.
2014–15 season Righini opened the 2014–15 figure skating season with an eighth-place finish at the 2014 CS Nebelhorn Trophy.
He then went on to make his Grand Prix debut. He received assignments to the 2014 Rostelecom Cup and 2014 NHK Trophy, then placed eleventh and tenth, respectively. Righini went on to finish seventh at the 2014 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.
At the 2015 Italian Championships, Righini won a second consecutive gold medal. He then won gold at the 2014 International Challenge Cup.
Righini then finished eighth and twenty-fifth at the 2015 European Championships and 2015 World Championships, respectively.
2015–16 season Righini planned to start the 2015-16 season at the 2015 Nepela Trophy, but had to withdraw due to a foot injury. He withdrew from the 2015 Cup of Nice after the short program since his blade was broken during the warm-up.
Righini then went on to compete on the Grand Prix series at the 2015 Cup of China and the 2015 Rostelecom Cup, where he placed tenth and eighth, respectively.
At the 2015 CS Warsaw Cup, Righini would go on to place sixth.
At the 2016 Italian Championships, Righini went on to win his third consecutive title as well as also win gold at the 2016 Bavarian Open.
Righini then went on to place sixth at the 2016 Europeans and twelfth at the 2016 World Championships.
2016–17 season Righini opened the 2016–17 figure skating season with a tenth-place finish at the 2016 CS Finlandia Trophy and an eleventh-place finish at the 2016 Trophée de France.
He then went on to win his fourth consecutive national title at the 2017 Italian Championships.
Righini was selected to compete at the 2017 Winter Universiade where he placed fifth.
He would then go to place twelfth at the 2017 European Championships. Although selected to compete at the 2017 World Championships, Righini withdrew due to a long-term nagging injury. He was replaced by Matteo Rizzo.
2017–18 season Righini began the 2017–18 figure skating season with an eleventh-place finish at the 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy and fourth-place finish at the 2017 CS Minsk-Arena Ice Star. He then went on to place fifth at the 2017 CS Golden Spin of Zagreb.
At the 2018 Italian Championships, Righini won the silver medal behind Matteo Rizzo. As a result, Rizzo was given the sole Italian men's spot at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Righini retired from competitive figure skating following that season.
Post-competitive career Following his retirement, Righini became a coach and choreographer. In fall of 2022, he announced that he had begun coaching at the Amodio Figure Skating Academy in Vaujany, France, alongside Florent Amodio. Among his students, was Luc Economides. He has choreographed programs for: Jogailė Aglinskytė An Xiangyi Patrick Blackwell Leyla Çetin Vladislav Churakov Lee Hae-in Ekaterina Kurakova Başar Oktar Oscar Oliver Maria Pavlova / Alexei Sviatchenko Kimmy Repond Georgii Reshtenko Vladimir Samoilov Mikhail Shaidorov
Programs Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 2017–2018 Irish Dance Riverdance Lord of the Dance Only You Tequila Sing, Sing, Sing 2016–2017 You Raise Me Up Can't Help Falling in Love Steamroller Blues A Little Less Conversation 2015–2016 You Raise Me Up
Nessun dorma Shine On You Crazy Diamond Money Caruso
Satisfaction Oh, Pretty Woman Baila morena
Medley Thriller Dangerous Billie Jean 2014–2015 Medley Thriller Dangerous Billie Jean I Did It My Way L.O.V.E. I Love You Baby Satisfaction Oh, Pretty Woman Baila morena 2013–2014 Bolero (RnB version) Once Upon a Time in America Here I Am 2012–2013 Variations on Theme of Paganini Phantom of the Opera 2011–2012 Toccata and Fugue in D minor 2010–2011 Thriller Demon Angel Poeta 2008–2009 Prelude 2007–2008 Violin Concerto
Competitive highlights GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
For Italy International Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 World Champ. 13th 25th 12th WD European Champ. 8th 6th 12th Cup of China 10th NHK Trophy 10th Rostelecom Cup 11th 8th Trophée de France 11th Finlandia Trophy 10th Golden Spin 7th 5th Lombardia Trophy 11th Nebelhorn Trophy 8th Ice Star 4th Warsaw Cup 6th Bavarian Open 1st 1st Challenge Cup 4th 1st Golden Spin 3rd Merano Cup 5th Universiade 5th Volvo Open 1st National Italian Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st 2nd
For Russia International Event 07–08 08–09 10–11 11–12 12–13 Challenge Cup 6th Cup of Nice 5th Golden Spin 3rd Ice Challenge 4th Nebelhorn Trophy 8th NRW Trophy 8th International: Junior Junior Worlds 7th Final 7th 4th Croatia 2nd Czech Rep. 2nd Romania 2nd South Africa 2nd National Russian Champ. 7th 9th 6th Russian Junior 1st 1st
Notes
References
External links