From June 30 to July 4, Piazza Duca d'Aosta became an open-air stage for elite inline freestyle, drawing more than 500 athletes and a massive crowd to the heart of Milan.
Milan has closed the curtain on the Inline Freestyle World Cup - Milan - Hero Battle Cup 2026, five days that turned the square in front of Central Station into the beating heart of urban skating. The completely free event welcomed over 500 athletes and an enormous, diverse crowd that filled Piazza Duca d'Aosta and turned every run into a moment of pure connection between the skaters and the city.
A global sports village in the city centre
With a strong international turnout, the World Cup brought together athletes, coaches and staff from more than 25 nations, building a genuine sports village in the middle of Milan. The competition delivered big numbers: over 300 athletes entered the World Cup qualifiers, with 100 finalists fighting for the podium, supported by a dedicated 40-member crew alongside sponsors, institutions and media partners.
The event also generated a powerful media echo, gathering more than 2 million views on Instagram and keeping thousands of fans watching the finals streamed live by World Skate.
The podium: Pro Women and Pro Men
- Slide: Anna Kukushkina (NIA) and Viritpol Vongakrayakorn (THA)
- Jump: Mayrin Burasovitch (FRA) and Maxim Caraion (MDA)
- Speed Slalom: Sveva Romano (ITA) and Huang Pin-Ruei (TPE)
- Classic: Lia Li Yuet (HKG) and Roman Shchapov (NIA)
- Pair: Roman Shchapov and Margarita Komarovskaia (NIA)
- Battle: Lia Li Yuet (HKG) and Kamin Inswang (THA)
Asia dominated the national medal standings, monopolising the top steps of the podium across nearly every discipline with an unbeatable blend of speed and style.
The future on wheels
A special mention goes to the young talents in the Under 15 category, who impressed crowd and judges alike and confirmed the extraordinary growth of the discipline, proof that the future of world inline freestyle is in excellent hands.
Milan also hosted the debut of the futuristic new Freestyle Mashup discipline, presented for the first time and inaugurated by 100 athletes. The format fuses the elegance of inline figure skating, the sharp responsiveness of freestyle and the vibrant rhythms of contemporary dance.
"We are thrilled with the incredible response Milan gave to this grand showcase of sport," said event organizer Alessandro Cola. "The technical level this year was extraordinary, pushed to the absolute limit by the new, unified Pro category, which saw veterans compete side-by-side with the rising stars of tomorrow."