The Torino 2025 FISU World University Games Winter will be a particularly special competition for figure-skater Raffaele Francesco Zich, a native of the north-western Italian city and local starlet, who can’t wait to welcome the world and put on a show in his hometown.
Born in Vietnam but raised in Italy from when he was just ten months old, Raffaele already had skates on by the time he was a toddler, having been inspired by his older sibling on the ice.
Following his sister’s traces in the ice
“My passion for figure skating was born thanks to my sister, since she also practiced it for a period of time,” he tells krikyalive.com. “When I was around two years old, I often went with my family to watch her training sessions. I remember I wanted to try it so badly that when I finally went out onto the ice, my parents had to fight to take me off!”
From then on, ice skates became Raffaele’s footwear of choice, spending more and more time in the rink with less opposition from his parents as his talent for the sport shone through. Trained by Edoardo De Bernardis and Renata Lazzaroni at Ice Club Torino, the now 18-year-old won the Italian national junior championship title in 2021, and boasts silver medals at both the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival in Finland and the 2022 Junior Grand Prix in Poland as some of the major highlights of his young career so far.
Ahead of this year’s Games taking place in his native Torino, Raffaele was announced as one of several Ambassadors for the competition, an invitation he admits he was stunned to receive.
“When I first received the news, I was shocked because I wasn’t expecting it at all!” he says. “I soon realised it was a big opportunity to show everyone that professional athletes can also be great students and not just people who focus only on sports.”
A strategic sciences student
Currently enrolled at the University of Torino in a Bachelor programme in Strategic Sciences, Raffaele has been training in Switzerland for the past three months, but has fortunately been able to continue his studies online through a Dual Career programme, thus living out the very values he has been promoting as an Ambassador for the Games.
“Since becoming an Ambassador, I have been promoting the FISU World University Games andtheir values while trying to inspire young students to keep studying hard and keep their sports dreams alive, without having to choose between sports and education, just as I am doing myself,” he says.
The young talent says he cannot wait to put on his skates in the rink where he grew up training, as thousands descend upon his home province for the highly anticipated event.
Impatient to compete at Palavela
“I’m very excited to have the FISU Games in Torino because it’s the city where I grew up and which I’m very attached to, and it’s always an honour to skate in the Palavela rink. I have a ton of great memories in that arena, and I can’t wait to make new ones!” he beams. “Hosting a big event like these Games is a huge opportunity for Torino, since it not only grows the pride of the city, but it also gives the people coming to watch the event from all around the world a chance to explore the beautiful culture this city has to offer.”
While his immediate focus on the ice is to “consistently challenge myself and go over my limits”, Raffaele admits a strong showing at the Games could serve as a stepping stone in helping him achieve his ultimate dream.
One of the youngest competitors of the event
“My future goal is to go to the Olympics, and with hard work and dedication I will achieve this goal,” he states. “Competing at the WUG represents a great opportunity, since it gives me, one of the youngest competitors, the chance to compare myself with the world’s greatest athletes and learn from them.”
The will take place from 13-23 January. Watch all the competitions live on . Click on the link to find the full schedule.
Written by Fabio De Dominicis, pictures courtesy of Raffaele Zich
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