Michael Ferraioli and Marie DeFalco – Chosen to Perform during the Skating Spectacular at U.S. Championships in Saint Paul, Minnesota on January 24, 2016 by U.S. Figure Skating’s Chair of the Special Olympics and Therapeutic Skating Committee.
Michael is a Special Olympics athlete who began figure skating at 9 years old. Michael started pairs skating with Kristen Clark when he was 10 or 11 years old when they were brought together by Kristen’s mother who had admired his skating ability and they skated together for many years.
He competes at Level 6 in Special Olympics singles and, with his current partner, Marie DeFalco, at Level 3 in Special Olympics Unified Pairs. Michael, with Marie, is also a member of the Precisely Right Open Masters Synchronized Skating Team, which won a Silver Medal at the 2015 Eastern Synchronized Sectionals. Michael is an active tester who has passed the Adult Bronze freestyle, Adult Intermediate moves in the field, and Adult Silver pairs tests, and is working on his Adult Silver dances. Michael works at his local YMCA and also swims and plays tennis competitively. He is a sports fanatic and a BSA Eagle Scout.
Marie has been an obsessed figure skating fan since she was a small child. She skated on ponds occasionally, when the weather cooperated, but didn’t start going to rinks and taking skating lessons until age 41. Always fascinated by the speed and grace of figure skating and the exciting lifts and throws in pairs, Marie began skating pairs in 2009 with Andrew Fontan and Aaron Gillespie. In 2011 she started skating with Michael of whom she says is a wonderful partner seeming to be able to adapt to and synchronize with anyone. She has passed the Adult Bronze moves in the field and Adult Bronze pairs tests, as well as the Adult Pre-Bronze freestyle test. Marie, with her partner, Michael Ferraioli, is also a member of the Precisely Right Open Masters Synchronized Skating Team, which won a Silver Medal at the 2015 Eastern Synchronized Sectionals. Marie is a funds attorney and partner in a national law firm. She is a graduate of Yale Law School.