Day Five of the 2024 World Skate Games in Artistic Skating was show stopping with Junior Free Skaters in Rimini, Italy. It was a day of celebration for the future being here and now. World records were smashed and the crowd at the Fiera de Rimini witnessed a new generation of athletes in Junior Free Skating rise to the occasion. Triple jump combinations are being completed with ease among many skaters in these events. Mixed with highly difficult spins and beautiful programs, these skaters are taking the sport to new heights. In Junior Ladies Free Skating it was #1 World Skate Ranked Madalena Costa of Portugal defending her World title in spectacular fashion with a clean Long Program. With a mind blowing 247.42 points, 15 year-old Costa showed why she continues to raise the bar of technical elements and took home the Gold Medal. Costa skated to the music of Top Model while breaking her own World record by more than 11 points. Matilde Caputo of Italy charmed the home country audience in Italy. With her big jumping passes matched by great spins and performing with joy she won the Silver Medal with 191.14 points. Caputo skated with intriguing style to the music of Eva. Joining the podium with the Bronze Medal is Paula Roman of Spain. With a very clean style and consistent technique, Roman earned 173.13 points to the music of Human in a program with an elegant quality and the emotion building throughout.
Junior Ladies Free Skating
1 Madalena Costa POR 247.42
2 Matilde Caputo ITA 191.14
3 Paula Roman ESP 173.13
Guillermo Gómez of Spain won the Gold Medal in Junior Mens Free Skating in his first World Championships. This is the 6th year a Spanish skater has captured the Junior Mens Free Skating title. Gómez took the floor in Rimini and knew the moment was before him. Although it probably wasn’t the performance he had dreamed of, Gómez still skated with an innate sense of artistry to the music of Peace to keep him on the top of the podium with a World record of 257.76 points. Spain also captured the Silver Medal with Unai Cereijo with 229.23 points. Skating with ease and musicality mixed with outstanding elements to The Passion, Cereijo proved why he belonged on the podium. Pulling up to the Bronze Medal was Daniele of Ricci of Italy earning 182.10. Skating to the music of Romeo and Juliet, Ricci had dramatic flair and fought for every point to take his step on the podium much to the delight of the crowd in Rimini.
Junior Mens Free Skating
1 Guillermo Gómez ESP 257.76
2 Unai Cereijo ESP 229.23
3 Daniele Ricci ITA 182.10
Junior Free Skaters from more than 25 countries all came to the World Skate Games and raised the bar for Artistic Skating. The skaters are changing the face of the sport. Skaters are more complete and prepared than ever before. The education of the coaches is working as the global strength of the sport continues to build. With unlimited dreams and brilliant technique, the coming years look to be magic. All the Junior Free skaters have also earned points for the important World Skate Rankings. The 2024 World Skate Games are a celebration of sport, with special focus on the legacy of the sport in Rimini. At the end of the day it was Costa and Gómez who added their names to the legends that have come before them.
Competition is daily at Fiera de Rimini. Next up in Artistic Medals for the World Skate Games is Senior Free Skating. The Top 10 Ladies Long Program starts Friday, September 13 at 19:25 CEST. Senior Mens Free Skating Top 10 takes place Saturday, September 14 at 22:20 CEST.
Catch all the action live at www.worldskate.tv