His coach is a legend: Naoki Rossi (16) is the next Swiss ice prince

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While the rain outside turns the previous day’s snow into mud, a handful of young figure skaters do their laps on the Küsnacht ZH artificial ice rink. It’s cold in the hall. The young people are freezing in their thin suits. Naoki Rossi (16) also constantly rubs his hands while shaking. He especially stands out. Not only because he is the only man on the ice, but also because his jumps and pirouettes are by far the most demanding.

Rossi first made the news five years ago. At that time, as a ten-year-old, he left his 16-year-old competitors behind him at the Swiss championships. He won the title without any danger. But then it became quiet around him. This was not because his performance deteriorated. But rather because he outgrew the role of child prodigy.

Better on the ice than on Instagram

In Switzerland, little attention was paid to the greatest success of his career, the second title at the Junior World Championships this spring. This achievement can certainly be described as historic. Since 1977, no Swiss has managed to win bullion at the World Junior Championships.

When asked about the lack of reporting, the teenager reacts with surprise. “That’s right, now that they say it like that…” Although the vice world champion speaks four languages ​​(Japanese, Italian, English, German), he finds it difficult to market himself. He was just nominated for Best Talent Sport. Now he must announce the news if he wants to win the title at the Sports Awards on December 10. But that is not in his nature at all.

Expressive on the ice

Rossi is reserved in conversations, speaks carefully and calmly. Maybe that’s why he feels so comfortable on the ice. «There I can express emotions without words. Everything is easier, it just flows.” Difficult jumps are his favorite elements. “The good feeling after landing proves that all the training has paid off.”

Naoki Rossi came into contact with figure skating at an early age. His mother regularly taught figure skaters as a dance teacher and two-time world champion Stéphane Lambiel (38) also worked with her. There is still close contact – although it is now Lambiel who plans the choreographies for Rossi. The Valais is enthusiastic about his student: “I enjoy working with Naoki. If I present him with an idea, he immediately develops it further. He always delivers more than you expect. Artistically he is great, he moves beautifully on the ice.”

It takes patience

Stéphane Lambiel sees great potential in the young Swiss. But he also knows that Rossi is currently going through a difficult phase. The transition from junior to elite runner is a challenge. Mentally, but also physically: “Naoki is young, his muscles still have to develop. He has to take the time for that.” Easier said than done for a perfectionist like Rossi. His choreographer knows this too: “He often puts a lot of pressure on himself if something doesn’t work out right away,” says Lambiel.

In conversation, the young figure skater confirms this impression. Rossi says: “I started figure skating because I enjoyed it. But now comes the pressure, the stress of delivering. Sometimes the fun is lost.” He looks back on these moments and thinks about how much joy this sport brings him. The teenager from Zumikon ZH has a great love for figure skating. The best conditions for a promising future.

Source : Blick