elena salikhova

DanceSport at The World Games 2025: Latin Competition Sets Chengdu Alight

Podium Latin DanceSport TWG2025
Chengdu, People’s Republic of China – August 8, 2025
The opening day of competition at The World Games 2025 delivered a night to remember. A near-capacity crowd filled the Chengbei Gymnasium to witness the world’s very best Latin couples battle for gold in this iconic multi-sport event.

The World Games, held every four years, bring together the finest athletes from non-Olympic and newly emerging sports, offering them a global stage. This year’s edition in Chengdu has already been praised for its outstanding organization – a sentiment echoed by athletes across disciplines. From the very first day, it has been an unforgettable experience for our DanceSport competitors.

Kairat Algadaev & Julia Alexandra Seleznyov, Latin representatives for the USA, described their participation as “grateful, honored, and excited – an unmatched feeling that will be forever remembered.” Matteo Del Gaone & Ekaterina Utkina, a Standard couple representing Italy, added: “Dancing is more than a sport, and to represent our country and DanceSport is an honor we give our all for.”

Indeed, the feelings of pride, honor, and privilege are shared by all athletes here – as is the sense of responsibility. But there is no doubt they know how to carry it. The meaning of representing a flag is hard to put into words, yet it could be read clearly in Anastasia Glazunova’s eyes as she paraded as flag bearer during the Open Ceremony on Thursday, August 7, with Alexey following just behind – both with the sparkle of those who know they have come to make history. Or in the moment when Team China stopped mid-parade to dance together for the cameras, sending the crowd into a roar of cheers. Or when Spain’s Guillem Pascual and Pascual offered a few steps of Cha Cha Cha, a clip that quickly went viral.

From the start, this edition of The World Games has been filled with special moments – and the Latin competition was no exception. The event began at 18:00 on Friday, August 8, with the 24 qualified couples taking the floor determined to give the very best of themselves to the audience.

Finalists

LAT charles y elena TWG2025 After intense Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds, the final line-up was:

A Final to Remember

LAT guillem y diandra TWG2025 The final opened with a spectacular Group Dance Cha Cha Cha, the audience instantly feeling the energy and anticipation. Each couple then performed a Solo Samba under a magical atmosphere of deep blue tones and spotlights, creating unforgettable images for every DanceSport enthusiast.

The third dance, a Group Paso Doble, ignited the passion that defines this style – the crowd visibly moved by the intensity on the floor. After three dances, the standings pointed clearly towards Marius and Khrystyna as the favorites, with only the Rumba and Jive to go.

The Solo Rumba melted hearts in the arena – full of charisma, emotion, and artistry – before the final Jive brought the venue back to life with boundless energy, sealing an unforgettable night.

Results

LAT marius y krhystyna TWG2025 As expected, the favorites did not disappoint. After a magnificent display, Marius-Andrei Balan & Khrystyna Moshenska (GER) were crowned gold medalists at The World Games 2025 in DanceSport Latin. Charles-Guillaume Schmitt & Elena Salikhova (FRA) took silver, and Guillem Pascual & Diandra-Aniela Illes (ESP) claimed bronze – the first-ever DanceSport medal for Spain in this historic competition.

In the post-event press conference, laughter and joy filled the room. Conversations ranged from Chengdu’s famous pandas (and whether the athletes had seen them) to the deep pride of representing their nations in an event considered by many to be the pinnacle of their sport.

For Marius and Khrystyna, and for Charles and Elena, this edition brought an upgrade from their medals in Birmingham 2022 – each stepping one place higher on the podium. For Guillem and Diandra, it was an emotional first medal, both personally and for Spain.

One comment from Marius resonated deeply:

“We have been sharing the floor for several years already with our colleagues, and we are very happy to share the floor together. I can say this from the bottom of our hearts, as I know they (all the medallists) feel the same. To share the floor with our colleagues in such a great event as The World Games is not important only for us. It’s important for the countries where we come from.”

These words reflect the affection between athletes who have known each other for many years. Even in a competition where everyone aims to win, mutual respect and love for dance transcend rivalry – and that is something the audience can feel.

Full post-event coverage continues on our official social media channels, where fans can watch individual interviews with all medallists, along with some of the most interesting questions from the press conference.
LAT press conference TWG2025

Words from the President

Speaking after the event, the WDSF President highlighted the beauty of experiencing The World Games here in Chengdu:

“The organization has been fantastic, and we have witnessed so many moments of DanceSport – both on and off the floor – reaching so many people. This is the passion of athletes who love to dance, and this passion travels across the world so that everyone can understand the beauty, artistry, and greatness of DanceSport.”

Coming Next

The Standard competition will take place on August 9, and we expect nothing less than more greatness, more passion, and more moments that no one should miss. You can follow all the action on our official website in the dedicated section for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu.

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Pictures: Copyright by the IWGA/The World Games

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latin chengdu marius-andrei charles-guillaume diandra-aniela dancesport The World Games elena salikhova WDSF khrystyna moshenska TWG2025 guillem pascual
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