On day seven of the 2024 World Skate Games the Fiera de Rimini in Italy was the setting for breathtaking beauty on the pursuit to the World Champion title in Couples Dance.
The best skaters in the world make Couples Dance look easy. It is anything but easy. Through the blending of art and technique, dance skaters are managing intricate partnering while telling a story and topping it off while executing highly demanding elements.
Coming into the Free Dance portion of Junior Couples Dance there was less than half a point separating the top two teams. At the end of the night it was Ema Sousa and Diogo Carvalho of Portugal becoming the 2024 World Champions. Their Free Dance to Querida Rosa took the #2 World Skate Ranked couple straight to the top step of the podium and the Gold Medals. Sousa and Carvalho finished with 135.12 points with their light and delightful quality. Winning the Silver Medals was Elisa Cavina and Yuri Allegranti of Italy. Skating with striking poise and confidence to Swan Lake they earned 133.74 points. The Bronze Medals went to Maria Munoz and Jeshua Folleco of Colombia. With 124.90 points the Colombian team performed radiantly to Written in the Stars.
Senior Couples Dance was a spectacular array of the sport with a host country sweep of the podium. The top three couples were brilliant and yet all so distinct in their own ways. Defending World Champions Roberta Sasso and Gherardo Altieri of Italy took the Gold Medals again with their polished elements, stunning unision and gorgeous speed to A Forbidden Love. Playing off of each other’s characters and capturing both the audience and judges, they scored 158.03 points. Earning their second consecutive World Silver Medal was Caterina Artoni and Raoul Allegranti of Italy. A passionate elegance and devotion to artistry were on display throughout their Free Dance to Je Suis Malade. They earned 153.91 points. Returning to the Bronze Medals were Martina Nuti and Nicholas Masiero of Italy with 142.20. Performing to Interweaving of Two Notes they skate with a mix of uniquely uninhibited style and spellbinding musicality that is all their own.
The list of Couples Dance legends that have come before is long and colorful and dates back to 1947. The 2024 Couples have added a wonderful part to create their own legacy. The Junior and Senior Couples in Rimini at the World Championships should be proud of their work in taking the sport to new heights. The Couples Dance skaters are executing the technical elements in such a way that they mesh with the choreography in a fluid and appealing way. Congratulations to all the athletes!
All of the Couples Dance participants in Rimini have earned points for the important World Skate Rankings.
Competition is daily at Fiera de Rimini. Next up in Artistic Medals for the World Skate Games is Junior and Senior Pairs. Junior Couples Free Dance starts on Monday, September 16 at 19:10 CET. Senior Pairs follow at 20:10 CET.
Catch all the action live at www.worldskate.tv