The first medals of this Colombian World Cup are awarded. Italy was immediately in great shape thanks to the Italian Juniors of Solo dance Greta Pani, Linda Cantalini and Francesco Vittuari, the latter on the track again tomorrow in the Inline Junior specialty. And a beautiful gold medal for our Roberta Sasso, in her first year in the Senior Solo dance category.
WHO JUNIOR. At the end of the Free dance the podium of the first day of competition is confirmed. So if the gold ends up with the Portuguese Mariana Pinheiro with 138.33, the silver and bronze are all Italian thanks respectively to Greta Pani, who gets 126.66 to the tune of “Let it be” by the Beatles, and Linda Cantalini, who scores 121.09 bringing to light the tragedy that occurred on 8 March 1908 in New York with the death of hundreds of workers in the fire of a shirt factory.
“I am happy with this result, despite a small error in travelling, as I am with my sports season – he says Greta PaniItalian vice champion at Ponte di Legno 2023 – Last June I also obtained the gold medal in Solo dance Junior female at the final of the Artistic International Series”.
“I particularly enjoyed myself during the Style, while in the Free dance I made some technical errors – says the Italian champion Linda Cantalinibronze at the Artistic International Series in Argentina – Overall I am satisfied.”
Applause for our Francesco Vittuari who spreads his wings, just like the eagle of his program, overcoming the Spaniard Ot Font and obtaining a nice bronze in the Junior Men’s Dance Solo with 120.28. In front of him another spectacular overtaking: that of the Portuguese Diogo Costa who leaps to the top (127.25) overtaking the host Jeshua Folleco (124.48).
“This is my second world bronze medal in Solo dance Junior – the words of Francesco Vittuari, bronze at the Italian Inline Specialty Championship – I am extremely happy because I deserved first place in Free dance: I took to the dance floor believing in it with all of myself and giving my all. And tomorrow (Friday the 22nd for those reading, ed.) I will be competing again with the Inline Short program. I will try to win another medal.”
WHO SENIOR. The gold medal – the first won in this World Cup by our national team – of Roberta Sasso shines in the Colombian sky. The Italian, Italian vice champion in her first Senior year, leaves everyone speechless and, with the “To my aunt” program dedicated to her recently deceased aunt, gets 152.36. Second was the Spanish Natalia Baldizzone (150.04) and third the Paraguayan Erika Alarcon (146.65). Finally, our Italian champion Asya Sofia Testoni finishes in sixth position with a score of 136.57 with Roland Petit’s “Carmen”.
“I never expected this result in my first year in the Senior category – she says Roberta Sasso – I competed with athletes, including my teammate Asya Sofia Testoni, who I have always considered idols and examples to follow. Needless to say, this experience was inexplicable for me both on the track and once I discovered the score.”
Finally, as regards the men’s category, Mattia Qualizza and Nicholas Masiero confirm fourth and fifth place respectively with 143.75 and 130.22. Qualizza brought a program entitled “Asian arts” while Masiero brought the “Bolero by M. Ravel”. In the first three positions of the ranking, however, it happens that the engaging Portuguese Pedro Walgode surpasses everyone and places himself at the top of the podium with 156.78. The Hispanic Llorenc Alvarez and his “Scorpion” fall to second place (156.14), while the host Brayan Carreno (155.51) slips to third.
TODAY’S RESULTS, THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
JUNIOR FEMALE DANCE ONLY
1. Mariana Pinheiro (POR)
2. Greta Pani (ITA)
3. Linda Cantalini (ITA)
JUNIOR MALE DANCE ONLY
1. Diogo Costa (POR)
2. Jeshua Folleco (COL)
3. Francesco Vittuari (ITA)
SENIOR FEMALE DANCE ONLY
1. Roberta Sasso (ITA)
2. Natalia Baldizzone (ESP)
3. Erika Alarcon (PAR)
TOMORROW’S PROGRAM, FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER (Italian time)
7.10pm Style dance Junior dance couples
8.50pm Style dance Senior dance couples
11.00pm Short program Junior artistic couples
8.45pm Short program Senior artistic couples
01.10 Short program Inline donne Junior
01.45 Short program Inline uomini Junior
02.10 Short program Inline donne Senior
02.55 Short program Inline uomini Senior
03.45 World Cup opening ceremony
To follow the competitions on World Skate TV here
For the race calendar (to remove 7 hours for the Italy-Colombia time zone) and other information here
Photo by Raniero Corbelletti (in the photo Roberta Sasso)
