Berton/Hotarek are the first Italian Pairs team in history to win a medal at an ISU Championship (bronze at 2013 European Championships) and the first Pair skaters to win a Grand Prix event (2013 Skate Canada). They teamed up in early 2009. Berton was a single skater until 2009 and finished 16th at the European Championships 2009, while Hotarek competed internationally in pairs with Laura Magitteri. Berton competed in ice dance at the novice level (with Marco Fabbri). Hotarek had moved from the Czech Republic to Italy in 2005 and received Italian citizenship in 2010. Skaters Berton and Hotarek look up to are Olympic Champions Ekaterina Gordeeva/Sergei Grinkov (RUS) and Elena Berezhnaia/ Anton Sikhuralidze (RUS) as well as four-time World Champions Aliona Savchenko/Robin Szolkowy (GER).