An Unstoppable Beating Heart: Final Day of the 2026 German Open Championships

China's Yan Bangbang and Du Yujun Secure Historic First-Ever WDSF GrandSlam Latin Gold in Stuttgart

Stuttgart, August 15, 2026 — The curtain fell today on the 38th German Open Championships (GOC) after an electric final day capped by the eagerly anticipated WDSF GrandSlam Latin Adult.

An Unstoppable Beating Heart: Final Day of the 2026 German Open Championships

This year’s edition shattered expectations. Reflecting on the week, DTV President Dr. Tim Rausche noted that with Italy leading the final medal table (14 gold, 9 silver, 8 bronze), followed by Romania (7/6/3),and Germany securing third place with 23 total medals (5 gold, 10 silver, 8 bronze), over 6,200 starts from more than 2,700 couples and 1,000 solo dancers, a 15% increase in entries, and sell-out crowds for the final two days, these championships mark the most successful post-pandemic event since 2020. The scale was matched by unprecedented elite depth; GOC Sports Director Bernd Roßnagel highlighted that 24 of the top 25 world-ranked couples in both Standard and Latin competed this week. WDSF President Shawn Tay reaffirmed Stuttgart's position as the "beating heart of WDSF", where nearly 4,000 athletes from 60 nations gathered to celebrate the sport.

The evening gala prior to the GrandSlam Latin final featured a heartfelt tribute by the GOC organization, beginning with a special retrospective video. DTV President Tim Rausche then delivered a touching speech, presenting Lifetime Achievement Awards ("Lebenswerk") with lifetime "Golden Tickets" to Harry Körner, Michael Eichert, marking his 25 years as Sports Director of the DTV and GOC, and Wilfried Scheible, former GOC CEO who handed the reins to Bernd Roßnagel and Stephen Harnisch this year. Scheible, one of the original pioneers who helped launch the tournament in 1987 in Mannheim, dreamed of creating a premier German event modeled after the legendary Blackpool competitions, a single venue bringing together dancers of all ages and categories. From its humble two-day beginnings, the GOC has expanded into a massive weeklong festival running three simultaneous halls to accommodate nearly 4,000 WDSF athletes.

Highlights of the Day: Saturday 15^th August

WDSF GrandSlam Latin Adult

The highlight of the evening unfolded before a distinguished WDSF leadership panel in attendance, including WDSF 1^st Vice President and Vice President for Sports Nenad Jeftic, and Jens Steinmann, WDSF Vice President, alongside WDSF General Secretary Sergey Nifontov.

What followed was a dizzying, high-octane final before a roaring crowd that supported every single pair through each of the five dances. As the podium was being prepared after the final Jive, the couples treated the audience to a charming, spontaneous display, dancing in unison to the rhythmic clapping of the arena. In a humorous nod to the crowd, Konstantin Gorodilov and Polina Figurenko even broke into a surprise Standard dance, asking the audience if they wanted more!

The podium ceremony was presented by WDSF Vice President Nenad Jeftic, DTV President Dr. Tim Rausche, GOC CEO Stephen Harnisch, and Vera Zhang, President of BDDANCE x UDANCE.

China's Yan Bangbang and Du Yujun captured gold, securing the first-ever GOC gold medal for China and their second consecutive GrandSlam title following their triumph in Nanjing past July. Following their victory, the champions shared an intimate reflection with us in an exclusive post-event interview:

"Our Rumba was our favorite dance of the night, it felt like converging into one self. We remember watching this dance from the top floors when we were fifteen years old, and to find ourselves standing here now is a dream come true."

An Unstoppable Beating Heart: Final Day of the 2026 German Open Championships

They narrowly edged out Spain’s Guillem Pascual and Diandra-Aniela Illes, who took silver, an extraordinary comeback in Stuttgart after being forced to withdraw due to injury last year. The Spanish duo, who won gold at the WDSF Blackpool GrandSlam earlier this season, hold a deep connection to this hall, having debuted as a partnership on the GOC floor in 2022. As Guillem recently shared with us:

"We converted pure emotion into a connection that wasn't just physical, but genuinely spiritual."

You can read our interview with Guillem and Diandra here.

WDSF Open Standard Senior I

Stefano Manni and Tatiana Manni captured gold in Stuttgart, continuing an extraordinary run following their World Championship title in Vienna last July and their European crown in Didim this past April.

The category also delivered a deeply moving highlight as Tobias and Angi Solymosi broke into the top five. Angi’s inspiring journey of resilience was featured recently in an exclusive WDSF interview, where she reflected on how DanceSport served as an anchor during challenging health trials. As Angi shared during our interview:

"DanceSport will always be there for you. There are times that might be hard but trust your body. It will always tell you what is possible. Never give up on your dreams and always trust in yourself."

WDSF Open Standard Junior I

WDSF Open Solo Standard Female Adult

WDSF Open Latin Senior III

WDSF Open Solo Latin Female Juvenile II

WDSF Open PD Standard Master Class I

An Unstoppable Beating Heart: Final Day of the 2026 German Open Championships

You can check all the results of the event on the WDSF website.

The 2026 German Open Championships end on a high note, delivering breathtaking performances, unforgettable tributes, and fierce competition across every tier. Reflecting on the atmosphere of the final day of GOC 2026, WDSF President Shawn Tay shared a message with the DanceSport family:

"The boundless passion and unity of our community made this week in Stuttgart an unforgettable celebration."

Fans can relive every high-voltage moment on the WDSF YouTube channel DanceSport Total. The 365-day countdown to the 39th German Open Championships begins now, we look forward to returning to the Liederhalle Culture and Congress Centre when the championships kick off again from August 10–14, 2027.