The wait is over. The Artistic Skating events at the 2026 World Skate Games are officially underway in Asunción, Paraguay. The first medals have already been awarded in Artistic Skating, setting the stage for 11 days of competition, celebration and unforgettable performances at SND Arena. Athletes from 43 countries have arrived in Paraguay, bringing years of dedication and the opportunity to represent their nations on one of skating’s biggest stages. For every athlete, the journey to Asunción means something different. It may be years of early mornings, countless hours in the rink, difficult setbacks, or the unwavering support of family and coaches who believed in them along the way. Now, all of that work comes down to a few precious minutes on the floor.
The First Podiums
The opening medals have already been decided in Inline Free Skating, with Junior and Senior athletes taking the floor to begin the Artistic Skating competition.
Junior Ladies Inline Free Skating
- India Gonzalez — ESP | 130.59
- Giorgia Panebianco — ITA | 116.27
- Mariia Kapichnikova — RUS | 111.87
With the victory, India Gonzalez becomes a two-time World Champion in Junior Ladies Inline Free Skating, adding another world title to her growing résumé.
Senior Ladies Inline Free Skating
- Sofia Ciacia — ITA | 127.92
- Clara Barattoni — ITA | 119.64
- Guiliana Scarmarda — ARG | 111.07
Sofia Ciacia claimed the Senior Ladies Inline Free Skating title, building on last year’s bronze-medal finish to reach the top step of the podium in Asunción.
Senior Men’s Inline Free Skating
- Yi-Fan Chen — TPE | 183.28
- Elvis Martinello — ITA | 160.00
- Egor Tomilin — RUS | 104.64
Yi-Fan Chen delivered a remarkable performance to claim the Senior Men’s Inline Free Skating title. This makes an amazing seventh World title for the Chinese Taipei champion. With the first Inline Free Skating medals awarded, attention now turns to the athletes still waiting to take the floor across the remaining Artistic Skating disciplines. More than 1,000 skaters are competing in Asunción, each bringing a story of their own. For the Dominican Republic, this week is already historic. The country is making its World Championship debut, marking an important new chapter for Artistic Skating and giving its athletes the opportunity to proudly represent their nation on the world stage. For every skater, there is also the opportunity to earn valuable World Skate Ranking points, making every performance count toward their place among the world’s best.
Skaters to Watch
As competition moves into the upcoming disciplines, the Senior Ladies Free Skating field features some of the sport’s biggest names. Madalena Costa of Portugal, the reigning World Champion, returns to defend her title and possibly smash another record along the way. Known for her technical brilliance and captivating performances, Costa has established herself as one of the sport’s biggest stars and has the social media following to prove it. Spain’s Sira Bella Gallardo will bring her own brand of drama to the floor with a packed long program set to Lady Gaga. With solid elements and plenty of performance power, she will be looking to wow the SND Arena crowd and put up some jaw-dropping scores. In Senior Solo Dance and Couples Dance, Roberta Sasso and Gherardo Altieri of Italy have three titles within reach as individuals and as a team. Elegant individually and extraordinary together, the Italian duo brings exquisite artistry to every performance. Together, they are on their way to becoming one of the winningest couples in history. The home crowd will have plenty to cheer for when Erika Alarcón of Paraguay takes the floor in Senior Ladies Solo Dance. Few athletes will feel the energy of Asunción quite like the hometown favorite. Wit Along with Altieri, Senior Mens Solo Dance is packed with champions. Brayan Carreño of Colombia, the reigning Senior Mens Solo World Champion and current No. 1 in the World Skate Rankings, arrives as the skater to beat. Argentina’s Facundo Neiva will be among those looking to challenge him and shake up the standings. Last year’s Junior World Champion Yuri Allegranti of Italy also has his eyes on his first Senior World podium. The Senior Pairs competition brings the return of reigning World Champions Tommaso Cortini and Micol Mills of Italy. Their spectacular lifts and fearless throw jumps have a way of leaving audiences holding their breath, and they’ll be looking to deliver another winning performance as they defend their world title. Senior Mens Free Skating could deliver a Spanish showdown, with defending champion Hector Diez facing Guillermo Gomez, who is making his Senior World debut after winning the Junior World title last year. The two bring distinctly different styles and plenty of spectacular elements, setting up a competition to watch closely.
What Comes Next
The Inline medals have already found new homes, but the biggest moments of the Artistic Skating competition are still ahead. For the athletes, there are titles to chase, records to challenge and memories to make. For Artistic Skating fans, there are performances to discover, rivalries to follow and moments that will stay with us long after the World Skate Games come to an end. The next medal round is the Junior Free Skating Long Program, with the Top 10 performances beginning October 10 at 6:05 p.m. local time in Asunción.
Catch all the action live at worldskate.tv. Asunción is ready.
The skaters are ready. And we are all United By Wheels!