Bolzano – Thomas Rottensteiner will lead the Italian Ice Sports Federation (FISG) going forward. The 63-year-old South Tyrolean won the election on Saturday in Bolzano by a clear majority and will take over the federation for the 2026–2030 term.
At the 48th regular FISG General Assembly, the entrepreneur from Ritten received 1,597 votes, or 77.30 percent. His opponent, Federica Manzoni Pesenti, received 468 votes, or 22.65 percent; one vote was left blank. Rottensteiner succeeds Andrea Gios. After twelve years, a South Tyrolean is once again at the helm of Italian ice sports.
According to the association, Walter Andriolo was elected vice president. In addition to Martin Wenter and Karol Pescosta, the association’s council also includes Marcello Cobelli, Monica Domenicali, Veronica Zappone, and Diego Pozzati. Angela Menardi and former national team goalkeeper Andreas Bernard from Kaltern were elected as athlete representatives, while Gabriele Minchio was elected as the coaches’ representative. Hugo Perathoner will serve as chair of the Board of Auditors.
The association had already sought to elect a new president in July. However, the incumbent at the time, Gios, failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in his bid for a fourth term, so the election had to be rescheduled. The 79 South Tyrolean ice sports clubs held about one-third of the voting rights prior to the vote, meaning that Rottensteiner received support well beyond South Tyrol.
From the four-man bobsled to the top of the federation
Rottensteiner was born on March 15, 1963, in Bolzano. As a bobsledder, he competed for Italy in the four-man bobsled at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville. He later moved into leadership roles in ice sports. From 2004 to 2021, he led the Rittner Buam, who during that time won five Italian championship titles, three Italian Cups, five Super Cups, and one Alps Hockey League title. Most recently, he served as vice president of the FISG for four years.
Rottensteiner stated that he is and will remain the president for everyone and intends to devote attention to all components of the federation. He aims to bring major international events to Italy, including World Championships in speed skating and short track, a Grand Prix in figure skating, and, in the long term, a top-tier Ice Hockey World Championship. Other priorities include youth development, stronger support for clubs, and greater media visibility for ice sports. He intends to capitalize on the momentum from the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina to raise awareness of these disciplines even outside their traditional strongholds.
