Niccolo Macii’s remark about Sara Conti’s focus sparks controversy, prompting his apology: “I absolutely didn’t want to put the weight of our mistakes on Sara. I’ve messed up a thousand times just like she did; so I wanted to apologize.”
Italian pair skaters Niccolo Macii and Sara Conti finished far from the podium at the Milano Cortina Olympics, reflecting on their performance, challenges, and pride in their journey after winning bronze.
original source: oasport.it dd. 16th January 2026 by Andrea Addezio / oasport.it dd. 15th January 2026 by Federico Rossini
Niccolo Macii and Sara Conti ended with a performance of highs and lows, finishing far from the podium. In the pairs free skate at the Milano Cortina Olympics, the Italian duo did not shine and quickly extinguished any hopes of a comeback that could have brought them closer to a medal dream. After the event, the pair spoke to the press. Here’s a translation of their comments.
Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii are in eighth place after the pairs short program. Both skaters, however, acknowledge that more could and should have been done.
Conti told: “We’re all close together, the competition is tomorrow, and it was a so-so short program for everyone. We were very solid on the throw, but there was a mistake on the salchow. I started to get shaky on all the elements, and I lost levels on the lifts all the way to the end. Still, I’m happy: we’ve already done one Olympics, we’re not exactly fresh, but tomorrow will be better. And the Olympics are the Olympics. Tomorrow, we’ll skate with our hearts and try to move the audience.”
Macii gave a more detailed account: “You could feel the tension. I have to say I felt much better because I’ve experienced this before. I was a bit more nervous before going in, but once the music starts, I can focus on what I have to do. I tried to be very solid: I had already seen Sara make a mistake in the first three minutes. I thought she’d be a bit more focused during the program, but maybe I could have helped her and been a bit more solid myself, but that’s how it went. Other times I’ve made mistakes and she’s been perfect. You have to accept mistakes and move on. We’re still in it, but we already have a medal, we don’t have to prove anything to anyone, we’re not expecting anything. That’s just how it went.”
In the short program, Sara Conti made a mistake, to which her partner responded by hoping she would be more focused – a comment that drew an annoyed look from Conti and sparked controversy. So after the free skate, Macii needed to explain. He told:
“I want to apologize for some things I said yesterday. I’m always very critical, and when I make mistakes, Sara keeps telling me, ‘Stop saying you made a mistake, stop it, stop it.’ So yesterday, I absolutely didn’t want to put the weight of our mistakes on Sara. I’ve messed up a thousand times just like she did; so I wanted to apologize for yesterday. We’re a team – even today didn’t go as we expected, but we knew it would be tough. Still, it was a great Olympics, our first, and we’re going home with a bronze medal.”
Sara Conti, emotional, commented on the event and their journey: “Sorry, there are so many emotions. They’re strong, as Nick said, and it didn’t go as we expected, but we fought until the end. Some elements went well, others not so well, but I’m proud of our journey. If I think that our participation was even in doubt because of my injury – a month ago I was on crutches and couldn’t even walk – I’m very proud of us.”
Macii continued: “One thing I want to say to everyone, and to Sara, is that now we’re at the end of a four-year cycle. With the Olympics, a cycle ends, then there are Worlds, we’ll see, but I think we can be proud of what we’ve done because, basically, we’ve made history for our country. So, in our own small way, I hope we’ve inspired as many people as possible, as many children as possible, to start this sport. We should be proud of ourselves, even if today didn’t go great, and yesterday didn’t either – but that’s okay, I was about to say something else, but that’s okay.”
Related topics: Niccolo Macii, Olympic Games, Sara Conti
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