GrandSlam Glory and a Farewell to Remember: Day 4 Highlights from Stuttgart
Stuttgart, Germany – August 22, 2025 – The fourth day of the 37th German Open Championships (GOC) was one of those days that will remain engraved in the memory of all who witnessed it. The program was packed with competitions across the Juniors, Seniors, and U21 categories, culminating in the GrandSlam Standard Adult final and the first rounds of the GrandSlam Latin. But beyond the results, it was also a day of emotion and celebration, thanks to the evening shows that filled the Beethovensaal with standing ovations, tears, and unforgettable moments.
WDSF Open Junior II Latin
Germany’s Tizio Tiago Domingues da Silva and Isabell Zagorje danced their way to gold, bringing the crowd to their feet in support of the local champions. Romania’s Babaian Yelysei and Dobre Irina Ioana earned silver, while the bronze went to Ivan Karalkou and Vasilina Polyushits (AIN).
WDSF Open Senior II Standard
The Netherlands celebrated victory through Serhii and Olha Shulha, who took first place with a commanding performance. Spain’s Ruben Viciana Lopez and Eva Moya secured second, and Lithuania’s Tomas Rimkus and Nerija Surblyte completed the podium.
WDSF Open Senior III Latin
The Senior III Latin title went to Finland’s Petri and Ulla Jarvinen, followed by Slovakia’s Frantisek and Miriam Beres in second and Austria’s Herbert and Beatrix Schoepf in third.
WDSF Open Juvenile II Solo Latin Female
In the Juvenile II Solo Latin Female category, Lena Esen from Turkey impressed the judges to claim gold. Romania’s Elisabeth Malik finished second, while China’s Su Ruixuan completed the podium in third.
Full results available for all competitions here.
WDSF Open Under 21 Latin – The Rising Generation
The U21 Latin was one of the highlights of the day, with Kazakhstan’s Stefan Kagadi and Tamara Belenkaya capturing the title in an explosion of joy. This marks their second Open U21 Latin victory of the year (after Tallinn in April), to which they add their triumph at the International Open Latin Adult in Luxembourg this June. China’s Wang Zian and Wei Xiaoqian secured silver, while Italy’s Nicholas Spica and Carlotta Aceti celebrated a proud third place.
Final Rankings
- Stefan Kagadi – Tamara Belenkaya (KAZ)
- Wang Zian – Wei Xiaoqian (CHN)
- Nicholas Spica – Carlotta Aceti (ITA)
- Pascar Paul Ioan – Melani Bartosevic (ROU)
- Maximilian Bier – Eveline Ishchenko (GER)
- Wang Kewei – Zhao Yiyi (CHN)
WDSF GrandSlam Standard Adult – Magic in Stuttgart
Their solo dances were moments of pure magic: the Viennese Waltz in the first round and the Slow Foxtrot in the second drew special admiration. There is something unique about Stuttgart, where the solo dances begin as the athletes descend the staircase from the tribunes into the floor, creating an intimacy with the audience that amplifies every step, every gesture.
The podium was completed by Dariusz Mycka and Madara Freiberga (POL) in second place and Dmitri Kolobov and Signe Busk (DEN) in third, after an evening that embodied the very essence of DanceSport.
Final Rankings
- Rares Cojoc – Andreea Matei (ROU)
- Dariusz Mycka – Madara Freiberga (POL)
- Dmitri Kolobov – Signe Busk (DEN)
- Yuan Shaoyang – Qi Chongxuan (CHN)
- Georgy Kalashnikov – Grigore Daria (ROU)
- Yahor Boldysh – Irina Averina (GER)
A Farewell to Remember – Marius & Khrystyna’s Final Dance
After an emotional first dance, a video revisiting their career and achievements was projected, leading into a heartfelt speech, shared on our social media, that left the hall in tears. Joined on stage by Franco Formica, three-time World Champion, they embraced as the audience roared in appreciation. Then, one final dance: a Rumba to Shirley Bassey’s “The Greatest Performance of My Life”. Words fall short to capture what unfolded—it was something to be felt through the senses, a gift to the venue that had given them so much love throughout their journey.
The ovation that followed was thunderous, the crowd chanting their names as they took their final bow. Earlier in the evening, during their heartfelt speech, they had revealed that they will compete one last time at the World Championship PD Latin in Leipzig on October 18, where their retirement will become official. The symbolism could not be greater: as they reminded everyone, coincidences do not exist. In 2004, in that very same city, Franco Formica and Oksana Nikiforova captured their third and final World Championship Latin title before retiring — a poetic parallel that adds even more meaning to this farewell.
In gratitude, WDSF will soon share a special feature on Marius and Khrystyna, capturing the behind-the-scenes of this magical evening in Stuttgart — from the preparations to the emotions that followed their final performance — so that the entire DanceSport community can relive what made their farewell truly unforgettable.
Looking Ahead
Tomorrow marks the final day of the GOC 2025, featuring the GrandSlam Latin, seven WDSF Open competitions from Junior I to Senior I, and the Solo Standard and Latin categories. Fans worldwide can watch it all live through the WDSF website, while the GrandSlam Latin quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals will be broadcast on the Olympic Channel.
Message from the President
“Day 4 of the GOC has given us both the thrill of competition and the gift of emotion. From the new generation rising in U21 Latin, to the beauty of the GrandSlam Standard, and the unforgettable farewell of Marius and Khrystyna, Stuttgart once again reminded us why DanceSport touches the soul. We look forward to closing this incredible edition tomorrow with a celebration worthy of our sport.” – Shawn Tay, WDSF President
Stay Connected
Follow WDSF channels for highlights, interviews, and exclusive content from the final day of GOC 2025 and beyond:
- Instagram: WDSF DanceSport
- YouTube: DanceSportTotal
- Facebook: WDSF DanceSport
- TikTok: WDSF DanceSport
Published on
