Stefano Caruso (born 19 April 1987) is a former competitive ice dancer with dual German and Italian citizenship. Representing Germany with Tanja Kolbe, he won seven international medals and two German national silver medals. They placed eighth at the 2013 European Championships and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics, finishing 19th. Earlier in his career, Caruso competed for Italy with Isabella Pajardi.
Personal life Stefano Caruso was born on 19 April 1987 in Rome, Italy, to a Hungarian mother and a father from Naples. He moved to Milan in 2000. He studied languages and communication in Bergamo. In September 2013, he became a German citizen while retaining his Italian citizenship. In January 2014, he began working for the Bundeswehr's sports group.
Career
Early career Caruso started skating as an eight-year-old in Mentana, Rome. He trained in ice dance from the start and teamed up with Isabella Pajardi in 2000. They won the 2008 Italian national junior title and placed 9th at the 2008 World Junior Championships. After they split up in 2010, Caruso had tryouts with an American, Isabella Tobias, and a Canadian.
Partnership with Kolbe Caruso teamed up with Tanja Kolbe in 2010 to represent Germany. In their first season together, they took bronze at the 2010 Ice Challenge and at the 2011 German Championships.
In their second season together, Kolbe/Caruso won two international medals, gold at the 2011 NRW Trophy and bronze at the Istanbul Cup. They took the silver medal at the German Championships and were assigned to the 2012 European Championships, where they finished 12th. The duo split up after the event but teamed up again in July 2012.
In the 2012–13 season, Kolbe/Caruso took silver again at the German Championships and earned another trip to the European Championships where they finished 8th. They won two international medals – bronze at both the New Year's Cup and Volvo Open Cup.
In the 2013–14 season, Kolbe/Caruso were invited to their first Grand Prix event, the 2013 Trophee Eric Bompard, where they placed 7th. They added two more international medals to their collection – bronze at the 2013 Ondrej Nepela Trophy and Ice Challenge. In February 2014, Kolbe/Caruso competed at the Winter Olympics in Sochi and finished 19th. They announced the end of their partnership in June 2014.
Post-competitive career After ending his competitive career in 2014, Caruso began a coaching partnership with Barbara Fusar-Poli at Milan's Agorà ice rink.
Programs
With Kolbe
Season Short dance Free dance 2013–2014 New York, New York performed by Liza Minnelli, Luciano Pavarotti Borsalino performed by Tokyo Hosei Orchestra New York, New York performed by Liza Minnelli, Luciano Pavarotti Enchanted by Alan Menken: Narissa Arrives Storybook Ending Andalasia 2012–2013 La Foule by Édith Piaf French Can Can (from Gaite Parisienne) by Jacques Offenbach Beethoven's Last Night by Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Overture – Moonlight Sonata Dream of Candlelight Moonlight Sonata 2011–2012 Bla Bla Cha Cha by Petty Booka Besame Mucho Give It Up by The Goodman Love Story by Francis Lai Summer of '42 by Michel Legrand 2010–2011 Que Sera, Sera by Doris Day Sugar by Alma Cogan Tore My Heart by Oona Man's World by Natacha Atlas
With Pajardi
Season Original dance Free dance 2009–2010 Italian folk: Reginella by Massimo Ranieri Tarantella Napoletana Canone Inverso by Ennio Morricone Concerto Grosso No. 1 – Tengo Allegro by New Trous 2008–2009 Baciami Piccina by Ray Gelato New Orleans Blues by Ella Fitzgerald Baciami Piccina by Ray Gelato Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev Art of War by Vanessa-Mae (based on Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev) Un Giorno Per Noi performed by Josh Groban 2007–2008 Torna Surriento Tarantella by Claudio Villa Notre-Dame de Paris by Riccardo Cocciante: Les Sans-Papiers Belle Le Temps des Cathedrales
Competitive highlights GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix
With Kolbe for Germany International Event 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 Winter Olympics 19th World Champ. 21st European Champ. 12th 8th 11th Trophee Bompard 7th Bavarian Open 4th Cup of Nice 4th Finlandia Trophy 6th Golden Spin 7th 6th 5th Ice Challenge 3rd 3rd Istanbul Cup 3rd New Year's Cup 3rd NRW Trophy 8th 1st Ondrej Nepela 3rd Pavel Roman 4th Volvo Open Cup 3rd National German Champ. 3rd 2nd 2nd 2nd
With Pajardi for Italy International Event 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 Europeans 16th NHK Trophy 10th Nebelhorn 10th Golden Spin 5th Universiade 9th International: Junior Junior Worlds 9th Final 7th Austria 3rd Bulgaria 1st Czech Rep. 10th 8th France 11th Poland 11th Pavel Roman 11th 5th National Italian Champ. 6th J 4th J 3rd J 3rd J 1st J 3rd J = Junior level
References
External links