Federica Faiella

Federica Faiella (born 1 February 1981) is an Italian former competitive ice dancer. With partner Massimo Scali, she is the 2010 World bronze medalist, a two-time (2009–2010) European silver medalist, and six-time (2003–2005, 2007–2009) Italian national champion. They also won eleven Grand Prix medals.

Faiella began skating at the age of ten.[1] She competed with Luciano Milo, with whom she was the Junior Grand Prix Final champion in the 1997–1998 season. She and Scali trained at the same rink under the same coach.[2] After Milo quit skating, she briefly partnered with a French skater.[2]

At the 2010 World Championships, Faiella/Scali announced that they would return for another season. Their assigned Grand Prix events were the Cup of China and the Cup of Russia. Visa problems delayed their training in the U.S. and Faiella had recurring back problems.[8] They again finished third at the 2010 Cup of China after Scali tripped on Faiella’s skirts in both programs.[9] They withdrew from the 2010 Cup of Russia prior to the free dance due to Scali’s back injury.[10] At the 2011 European Championships, they placed ninth in the short dance but moved up to fifth after the free dance.[11] This was their final competitive event.[12]

On March 15, 2011, Scali announced on the team’s website that they were retiring from competitive skating and that he would work with coach and choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo’s team at the Detroit Skating Club.[12] However, in May 2011, after it became clear that Faiella’s healing process was progressing better than expected, they announced through their official website that they would in fact continue to skate competitively.[13] The comeback attempt ended after Faiella injured her back, and in 2012 Scali confirmed that they would not return to competitive skating.[14]