MILAN — Italian figure skater Matteo Rizzo received a hero’s welcome after turning in his best performance of the season in the team event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, handing a team bronze medal to Italy.
Rizzo scored 179.62 points in the men’s single’s free skate portion of the team event Saturday, marking a season best for the Italian figure skater. But he — and the entire arena ― was celebrating well before the judges handed down his score.
Following his performance, Rizzo saluted to the crowd at the Milano Skating Arena and proudly beat his chest. Rizzo sprinted on the ice toward his teammates and slid on his knees across the ice toward the Italian team box while enthusiastically shouting. He then jumped over the side of the rink to embrace his teammates. The heartfelt moment brought everyone in the stands to their feet.
Rizzo secured third place in the men’s singles free skate and helped Italy clinch bronze in the team event.
Rizzo draped an Italian flag over his shoulders in the kiss-and-cry while awaiting for his score. Chants of ‘Matteo’ broke out in the arena before he received his marks. An emotional Rizzo broke down in tears at his score.
The energy in the arena was palpable during Rizzo’s performance and the Italian figure skating team loudly applauded after each jump. After he nailed his Triple Flip to the tune of Interstellar by Imperial Orchestra, Rizzo gave the crowd an enthusiastic fist pump. As he finished his last step sequence, the Italian team loudly chanted, ‘Italia!’
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.