The 2025 Artistic Skating season kicked off in spectacular style, with skaters from 16 countries showcasing their talent in the lively setting of Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the latest edition of the Artistic International Series.

The opening days of the competition were dedicated to the youngest categories—Tots, Espoir, and Minis. For these budding athletes, the event offered a special opportunity to grow, dream, and ignite a lifelong passion for the sport, ensuring the vibrant legacy of artistic skating continues to flourish for generations to come.

Junior and Senior athletes competed fiercely, collecting crucial World Skate ranking points as they chase their dreams of reaching the top. From the Cadet to Senior categories, competitors left it all on the floor—not only striving for medals and personal bests, but also aiming for a prized spot in the AIS World Cup Final this June in Reggio Emilia, Italy. With so much at stake, the intensity was palpable.

In Junior Ladies Solo Dance, Brazil’s Lia Iwazaki claimed the Gold with 138.65 points, performing to the hauntingly beautiful music of Anne Boleyn. Colombia’s Hannah Castillo brought home the Silver with 129.36 points. Meanwhile, Brazil continued to shine as Anna Fruchi earned the Bronze with 126.72 points. The Senior Ladies Solo Dance competition featured a fierce group of athletes all vying for medals. Three women with a history of earning accolades stood proudly on the podium. Defending World Champion and World Skate Rankings leader, Roberta Sasso of Italy, maintained her gold medal streak with a score of 151.92 points. Performing to Billie Eilish's music, Sasso captivated the audience in Buenos Aires. Erika Alarcon, representing Paraguay, claimed the silver with 149.62 points. Gabriella Giraldi of Brazil, who was in fourth place after the Style round, executed a flawless Free Dance to rise to third and secure the bronze medal with 146.20.

Two former World Champions reminded everyone why they have a taste for gold in the Mens Solo Dance. In the Junior Mens Solo Dance, Jeshua Folleco of Colombia claimed the top spot and gold with a score of 143.33. Argentina’s Matias Ovejero wowed the crowd with a silver-medal performance, earning 116.32 points. Brazil’s Felipe Tozato rounded out the podium, taking bronze with a score of 113.01. Brayan Carreño of Colombia skated with his acclaimed power and character to claim the gold medal in Senior Mens Solo Dance with a score of 159.98 points. Argentina’s Facundo Nieva lit up Buenos Aires with his radiant performance, earning 151.83 points and the silver medal. Brazil’s Erik Leite secured the bronze with 132.32 points, adding to his country’s growing medal tally in the Solo Dance events.

Junior Ladies Solo Dance

1 Lia Iwazaki BRA 138.65

2 Hannah Castillo COL 129.36

3 Anna Fruchi BRA 126.72

Junior Mens Solo Dance

1 Jeshua Folleco COL 143.33

2 Matias Ovejero ARG 116.32

3 Felipe Tozato BRA 113.01

Senior Ladies Solo Dance

1 Roberta Sasso ITA 151.92

2 Erika Alarcon PAR 149.62

3 Gabriella Giraldi BRA 146.20

Senior Mens Solo Dance

1 Brayan Carreño COL 159.98

2 Facundo Nieva ARG 151.83

3 Erik Leite BRA 132.32

Couples Dance and Pairs always bring a unique and captivating energy to any competition. In the Couples Dance category, Colombia stood tall with their flag flying high twice atop the podium. The Junior category delivered a thrilling race to the finish, with less than one point separating the top two couples. Ultimately, Jacobo Viera and Isabela Munera of Colombia claimed the gold with a score of 94.14. Close behind, Argentina's Matias Ovejero and Malena Villar secured the silver with 93.77. Adding another host country flag to the podium, Faustino Florentin and Clara Pereyra of Argentina earned the bronze with a score of 79.43.

In the Senior Couples Dance event, Colombia's Jeshua Folleco and Maria Muñoz captured the gold medal with a score of 141.73 points in their international senior debut. The former Junior World Champions impressed the crowd at Microestadio with their poised performance. Brazil’s Felipe Werle and Gabriella Giraldi delivered a lyrical and graceful routine that earned them the silver medal with 122.03 points. Argentina’s Luciano Prieto and Melisa Norro claimed the bronze with a score of 94.47. This was the second medal of the 2025 AIS for Folleco, Ovejero, and Giraldi, each of whom also earned podium finishes in their respective Solo events.

In Senior Pairs, it was a night of the gold and green of Brazil, claiming two spots on the podium. Yago Soares and Giulla Gastaldi captured the gold with a score of 88.85 points. Arthur Bastos and Rafaela Costa secured the silver with 81.69 points, adding to Brazil’s medal tally. Rounding out the podium, Paulo Andia and Anahi Saavedra of Bolivia took home the bronze with 62.25 points.

Junior Couples

1 Viera & Munera COL 94.14

2 Ovejero & Villar ARG 93.77

3 Florentin & Pereyra ARG 79.43

Senior Couples

1 Folleco & Muñoz COL 141.73

2 Werle & Giraldi BRA 122.03

3 Prieto & Norro ARG 94.47

Senior Pairs

1 Soares & Gastaldi BRA 88.85

2 Bastos & Costa BRA 81.69

3 Andia & Saavedra BOL 62.25

Host nation Argentina delivered a dominant performance in the Junior Ladies Free Skating with a podium sweep. Lola Fernandez led the way with a gold-medal-winning score of 124.99 points. Zoe Manggia earned the silver with 118.73 points, while Micaela Lopetegui completed the Argentine triumph by taking bronze with a score of 110.15. The success continued in the Junior Men’s Free Skating, where Ulises Loiseau stood atop the podium with 151.19 points to secure another gold for Argentina. Germany’s Tiziano Martino climbed from third after the Short Program to take silver with 141.15 points, while Joaquin Franichevich added to Argentina’s medal count with a bronze- winning score of 138.88 points.

Sofie Hofferberth of Germany made a long journey to the competition, and it paid off in golden fashion. Earning 129.06 points, she clinched the top spot in the Senior Ladies Free Skating event, taking home the gold medal as a well-earned souvenir. Argentina continued its medal streak, with Nadia Conci securing silver with a score of 117.85 points. Much to the delight of the crowd, Argentina’s Valentina Longo made an impressive leap from 8th place after the Short Program to claim the bronze medal, finishing with 116.32 points.

The Senior Men’s Free Skating event brought the first AIS Semifinal of the season to a thrilling close. Making his Senior debut, Argentina’s Juan Rodriguez delivered a standout performance in front of a home crowd in Buenos Aires, earning a gold medal with a score of 201.33 points. Brazil’s Erik Leite impressed with a graceful routine, securing the silver medal with 197.23 points—his second medal of the competition. Argentina’s Franco Mastroianni rounded out the podium, taking bronze with a score of 186.32. Host country Argentina earned nine medals among the Junior and Senior Free Skating events.

Junior Ladies Free Skating

1 Lola Fernandez ARG 124.99

2 Zoe Manggia ARG 118.73

3 Micaela Lopetequi ARG 110.15

Junior Men Free Skating

1 Ulises Loiseau ARG 151.19

2 Tiziano Martino GER 141.15

3 Joaquin Franichevich ARG 138.88

Senior Ladies Free Skating

1 Sofie Hofferberth GER 129.06

2 Nadia Conci ARG 117.85

3 Valentina Longo ARG 116.32

Senior Men Free Skating

1 Juan Rodriguez ARG 201.33

2 Erik Leite BRA 197.23

3 Franco Mastroianni ARG 186.32

What an incredible week in Argentina! The stunning new Microestadio at Olympic Park has quickly established itself as a top-tier venue for artistic skating. With coverage on worldskate.tv and an additional 50,000 viewers watching live broadcast on DeportesBA, audiences around the globe were able to witness the excitement of the Buenos Aires Semifinal in the 2025 Artistic International Series.

Coming up next is the Trieste Edition of the 2025 Artistic International Series, running from May 9th to 18th in Italy. Get ready for all the action as excitement builds for this spectacular event. Once Trieste concludes, the top athletes will receive their invitations to the AIS World Cup Final, set to take place this June in Reggio Emilia, Italy!

PHOTOGALLERY HERE  photos by Raniero Corbelletti.

World Cup Final News! 

Last Chance Open Competition: One program — Long Program (Free Dance for Dance) — and the winner earns a spot in the 2025 World Cup Final alongside the best skaters of the series!

Precision, Quartets, and Show Teams: We’re thrilled to welcome teams from these incredible disciplines to compete and showcase their amazing choreographies during this major event!

 And the best news... 

Senior Finalist Podium Prizes:

1st Place — $3000

2nd Place — $2000

3rd Place — $1000

Don't miss it — it’s going to be unforgettable!