Lukáš Csölley

Lukáš Csölley
Myslivečková and Csölley in 2018
Born 18 June 1990
Bratislava
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Figure skating career
Country Slovakia
Partner Lucie Myslivečková, Federica Testa, Nikola Višňová
Coach Roberto Pelizzola, Paola Mezzadri, Raffaella Cazzaniga, N. Lunghi, Hendryk Schamberger, Gabriela Hrázská
Skating club SKP Bratislava
Began skating 1995
Retired June 28, 2018
Medal record
Representing Slovakia
Figure skating: Ice dancing
Winter Universiade
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Granada Ice dancing

Lukáš Csölley (born 18 June 1990) is a Slovak former competitive ice dancer. With Lucie Myslivečková, he competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. With Federica Testa, he won four ISU Challenger Series medals and bronze at the 2015 Winter Universiade. They finished in the top ten at the 2015 and 2016 European Championships.

Career

Early years

Csölley started learning to skate in 1995. He competed in singles until the age of 16.

Partnership with Višňová

In 2006, Csölley switched to ice dancing and teamed up with Nikola Višňová from the Czech Republic. They decided to represent Slovakia. In their first two seasons, they trained under Gabriela Hrázská in Brno, Bratislava, and Oberstdorf. They finished 19th at the 2007 World Junior Championships in Oberstdorf and 17th at the 2008 World Junior Championships in Sofia.

In the 2008–2009 season, Višňová/Csölley trained in Berlin, Oberstdorf, and Brno, coached by Hendryk Schamberger. They placed 17th at the 2009 World Junior Championships in Sofia.

During the next two seasons, the two were coached by Roberto Pelizzola and Raffaella Cazzaniga in Milan. They ranked 20th at the 2010 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia; 19th at the 2010 World Junior Championships in The Hague, Netherlands; 22nd at the 2011 European Championships in Bern, Switzerland; and 5th at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Gangneung, South Korea.

In September 2011, Slovak news reported that their partnership had ended.

2011–2012 season: First season with Testa

In October 2011, Slovak news media reported that Csölley had teamed up with Italy's Federica Testa to compete for Slovakia. Coached by Roberto Pelizzola in Milan, Testa/Csölley made their international debut at the Bavarian Open in February 2012 and then competed at the World Championships in March in Nice, France.

2012–2013 season

Testa/Csölley finished 17th at the 2013 European Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, having placed 19th in the short dance and 16th in the free dance. At the 2013 World Championships in London, Ontario, Canada, the two placed 26th in the short dance and did not advance further.

2013–2014 season

In September 2013, Testa/Csölley competed at the final Olympic qualifying event, the Nebelhorn Trophy; they finished ninth and became the first alternates for the 2014 Winter Olympics. In January 2014, they placed 12th at the European Championships in Budapest, Hungary but the two missed the cut-off for the free dance in March at the World Championships in Saitama, Japan.

2014–2015 season

Paola Mezzadri joined Pelizzola as Testa/Csölley's coach. They began their season with a bronze medal at the 2014 Ondrej Nepela Trophy, an ISU Challenger Series (CS) event held in early October. Later that month, making their Grand Prix debut, they placed fourth in the short dance and seventh overall at the 2014 Skate America. In November, they were awarded gold at two CS competitions, the Volvo Open Cup and Warsaw Cup.

They finished eighth overall at the 2015 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. In March, they placed 15th at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai, having ranked 13th in the short and 15th in the free.

2015–2016 season

Testa/Csölley finished 9th in the short dance, 8th in the free dance, and 8th overall at the 2016 European Championships in Bratislava. At the 2016 World Championships in Boston, they placed 12th in the short, 15th in the free, and 14th overall.

2016–2017 season: First season with Myslivečková

Testa/Csölley received invitations to the 2016 Skate Canada International and 2016 Trophée de France but withdrew from both Grand Prix events on 7 July 2016 due to Testa's decision to retire from competition. After Testa's retirement, Csölley contacted Czech ice dancer Lucie Myslivečková on Skype. They teamed up in late June 2016 and announced on 11 July 2016 that they would compete together for Slovakia. During their first season together, they were coached by Roberto Pelizzola and Paola Mezzadri in Milan, Italy.

Myslivečková/Csölley won gold at the Volvo Open Cup in November 2016 and placed 16th at the 2017 European Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic. In mid-March 2017, they decided to withdraw from the World Championships in Helsinki due to Myslivečková's shoulder injury, requiring an operation.

2017–2018 season: 2018 Winter Olympics

During the season, Myslivečková/Csölley trained under Barbara Fusar-Poli, Stefano Caruso, and Roberto Pelizzolla in Milan, Italy. In late September, the duo competed at the 2017 CS Nebelhorn Trophy, the final qualifying opportunity for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Their result, 6th, was sufficient to obtain an Olympic spot for Slovakia, by 0.27 of a point. In January, they placed 17th at the 2018 European Championships in Moscow, Russia.

In February, the two competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. They qualified to the free dance and finished 20th overall. In March, they placed 25th at the 2018 World Championships in Milan, Italy.

Following Myslivečková's decision to retire, Csölley briefly trained with Testa. On June 28, 2018, he announced his retirement from competition.

Programs

With Myslivečková

Season Short dance Free dance
2017–2018
2016–2017
  • Paris
    by Ibrahim Maalouf
  • Lilies of the Valley
    (from Pina)
    by Yun Miyake
  • Defie 1962
    by Ibrahim Maalouf
  • True Story
    by Ibrahim Maalouf

With Testa

Season Short dance Free dance Exhibition
2015–2016

  • Malèna
    • Passeggiata In Paese
      by Ennio Morricone
    • Kutlama
      by Mr. Avant Garde Folk
    • Ma l'amore no
      by Ennio Morricone
    • Orgia
      by Ennio Morricone
  • Addams Family Values
    by Marc Shaiman
    • It's An Addams
    • Fester's In Love
    • The Big Date
    • The Tango

2014–2015
  • Flamenco: Nerva
  • Paso doble: Zorongo
    by Paco Pena
  • Flamenco: Que se ven desde el conquero
    (Faradangos de Huelva)
    by Pepe Romero
2013–2014
2012–2013
2011–2012
  • Merengue: Pinta Me
    by Elvis Crespo
  • Samba: Baila Baila Con Migo
    by Domino
  • Rhumba
    by Gizelle D'Cole

With Višňová

Season Short dance Free dance
2010–2011
Original dance
2009–2010
  • Flamenco
  • Prelude (On Earth As In Heaven)
    by Globus
  • Wyatt's Torch
    by Globus
  • Take Me Away
    by Globus
2008–2009
  • Charleston: Aviator
  • The Mooch
  • Charleston: Aviator
2007–2008
  • Na Vsetine
    by Čechomor
  • Gorale
    by Čechomor
2006–2007

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Myslivečková

International
Event 2016–17 2017–18
Winter Olympics 20th
World Championships WD 25th
European Championships 16th 17th
CS Lombardia Trophy 7th
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 6th
CS Ondrej Nepela Memorial 8th
CS Warsaw Cup 3rd
International Cup of Nice 8th
Volvo Open Cup 1st
National
Slovak Championships 1st 1st
Four Nationals 2nd 5th
WD = Withdrew

With Testa

Testa/Csölley at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy
International
Event 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17
Worlds 27th 26th 23rd 15th 14th
Europeans 17th 12th 8th 8th
GP Cup of China 4th
GP Skate Canada WD
GP Skate America 7th
GP Trophée WD
CS Nepela Trophy 3rd 4th
CS Tallinn Trophy 2nd
CS Volvo Cup 1st
CS Warsaw Cup 1st
Bavarian Open 6th
Crystal Skate 4th
Golden Spin 8th
Ice Challenge 9th
Nebelhorn Trophy 9th
Nepela Trophy 6th 4th
New Year's Cup 2nd
Pavel Roman 5th
Universiade 4th 3rd
Volvo Open Cup 4th
National
Slovak Champ. 1st 1st 1st
WD = Withdrew

With Višňová

Višňová/Csölley at the 2010 World Junior Championships
International
Event 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11
European Champ. 20th 22nd
Golden Spin 9th
Nepela Memorial 6th
Pavel Roman 2nd
International: Junior
World Junior Champ. 19th 17th 17th 19th 5th
JGP Austria 13th 10th
JGP Czech Republic 14th 7th
JGP France 15th
JGP Germany 8th 14th
JGP Hungary 13th
JGP Turkey 8th
JGP United Kingdom 11th
Grand Prize SNP 4th J
Mont Blanc Trophy 3rd J
Pavel Roman 4th J
National
Slovak Champ. 1st J 1st J 1st 1st 1st
J = Junior level