The competition unfolded as a masterclass in international excellence, with athletes from across the globe pushing the boundaries of what's possible on wheels. Spain's Jhoan Guzman emerged as the undisputed king of speed, claiming an unprecedented 5 gold medals and establishing himself as the fastest man on skates at The World Games.

 

Day 0 - The Foundation: Official training on the brand-new road circuit marked a historic first, as skaters rolled on pristine asphalt for the inaugural time.

 

Day 1 - Opening Statements:The One Lap race launched speed skating's World Games participation with Colombia and Spain claiming the first medals. The intense Long Distance Points finals under Chengdu's warm atmosphere witnessed victories for France and Colombia, setting the tone for the battles ahead.

 

Day 2 - El Salvador celebrated their first-ever World Games gold medal with Ivonne Nochez's magical 100m victory, while Spain's Jhoan Guzman broke the World Record for the distance. The 15k Elimination race belonged to Colombia, with Gabriela Isabel and Juan Jacobo demonstrating the strength to cross the finish line first after 15k of exceptional battles.

 

Day 3 -El Salvador's Ivonne Nochez secured her second gold medal in the 200m Dual TT, while Guzman claimed his third consecutive gold. The 5,000m Points race saw Gabriela Rueda validate her high performance level with another gold medal, while Paraguay's Julio Mirena "easily" won first place in the men's category. Belgium's young athlete Fran Vanhoutte topped the 500m +D podium, while Guzman continued his unbeatable streak with his 4th gold out of 4 possible.

 

Day 4 - The 1,000m Sprint witnessed Guzman's perfect performance, winning his 5th gold medal, while Colombia claimed the 4 remaining medals (1,000m and Elimination races), cementing their status as a speed skating powerhouse.

 

Star Performers

 

 Jhoan Guzman Bitar (Spain): The undisputed champion with 5 gold medals and a World Record. His versatility across all distances - from explosive sprints to tactical distance races - established him as the greatest speed skater of these Games.

 

 Gabriela Rueda (Colombia): The South American sensation captured multiple medals across both road and track, demonstrating remarkable consistency and tactical brilliance.

 

 Ivonne Nochez (El Salvador):** Made history by delivering El Salvador's first-ever World Games gold medals, inspiring a nation and showcasing Central America's emerging speed skating talent.

 

 Gabriela Vargas (Ecuador): A triple medalist whose performances across multiple disciplines highlighted the depth of South American speed skating.

 

ROAD RACING:

 

Women's 10KM Point Race:

 Marine LEFEUVRE (France)

 GABRIELA RUEDA (Colombia)

 Gabriela VARGAS SARMIENTO (Ecuador)

 

Men's 10KM Point Race:

 Francisco Jose PEULA CABELLO (Spain)

 Julio Cesar MIRENA ORTIZ (Paraguay)

 Martin FERRIE (France)

 

Women's 1 Lap Final:

 Maria Fernanda TIMMS ARIZA (Colombia)

 Fran VANHOUTTE (Belgium)

 Anna-Laethisia SCHIMEK (Germany)

 

Men's 1 Lap Final:

 Jhoan Sebastian GUZMAN BITAR (Spain)

 Jhon Edwar TASCON HOLGUIN (Colombia)

 Yvan SIVILIER (France)

 

Women's Sprint 100M Final:

 Ivonne Sarai NOCHEZ GALLARDO (El Salvador)

 Haila BRUNET ALVAREZ (France)

 Dalia SOBERANIS (Guatemala)

 

Men's Elimination Race 15KM Final:

 Juan Jacobo MANTILLA PINILLA (Colombia)

 Nicolas Alexander GARCIA PAZMINO (Ecuador)

 Martin FERRIE (France)

 

Women's Elimination Race 15KM Final:

 Gabriela RUEDA (Colombia)

 Marine LEFEUVRE (France)

 Valentina Alejandra LETELIER CARTAGENA (Mexico)

 

TRACK RACING:

 

Women's Sprint 1000M Final:

 Maria Fernanda TIMMS ARIZA (Colombia)

 Gabriela RUEDA (Colombia)

 Fran VANHOUTTE (Belgium)

 

Men's Sprint 1000M Final:

 Jhoan Sebastian GUZMAN BITAR (Spain)

 Jhon Edwar TASCON HOLGUIN (Colombia)

 Anandkumar VELKUMAR (India)

 

Women's Elimination Race 10KM Final:

 Gabriela RUEDA (Colombia)

 Gabriela VARGAS SARMIENTO (Ecuador)

 Marine LEFEUVRE (France)

 

Men's Elimination Race 10KM Final:

 Juan Jacobo MANTILLA PINILLA (Colombia)

 Livio WENGER (Switzerland)

 Martin FERRIE (France)

 

Global Growth and Future Legacy

 

The World Games 2025 speed skating competition will be remembered as a watershed moment for the sport. With participation spanning five continents and record-breaking performances in multiple disciplines, Chengdu established new standards for international competition.

 

The emergence of new national powerhouses like El Salvador and Guatemala, combined with the continued excellence of traditional speed skating nations, points to an incredibly bright future for the sport. South America's dominance through Colombia and Ecuador, Europe's depth with Spain, France, Italy and Belgium, and Asia's growing strength demonstrate the sport's truly global evolution.

 

Next save the date is the 13th of September when we will see the best speed skating champions in beidaihe for the Speed World Championships 2025.

 

**About The World Games:** The World Games is the premier international multi-sport event for sports not featured in the Olympic Games, held every four years under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.