Earlier this month, the beautiful Italian Alps saw almost 3000 winter athletes, coaches and volunteers arrive, with the Lombardia region of Italy hosting the latest edition of the Winter World Masters Games.

The event, which runs every 4 years, is organised by the International Master Games Association and is open to athletes over 30 (over 28 for figure skaters) to form the worlds largest multi-sport event aside from the Olympic Games. The Games attract former Olympians, World competitors, beginners, and everything in between.

Disciplines include Alpine Skiing, Snow Running, Winter Biathlon, Ice Hockey, Long and Short Track Speed Skating, Cross Country Skiing, Curling,Ski Mountaineering and, of course, Figure Skating.

28 proud figure skaters from Great Britain competed over 7 days in Ice Dance, Pairs, Free Skating and Artistic Skating in Bormio, host of the figure and short track speed skating event.

The picturesque outdoor training rink was a little challenging when the wind picked up and the temperatures dropped to -18, but skaters made the best of it and enjoyed skating in the alpine air, surrounded by mountain views and fresh snow.

Audiences were treated to a variety of events from ISU Bronze through to Master Elite competitions. Former Olympian Gary Beacom (Canada) wowed the judges and spectators alike with his gravity defying spin and edge work, and quirky choreography.

Former Junior World Ice Dancers Leigh Yip and his sister Su-Wan Lewis (Great Britain) competed together in the Masters Elite Pattern Dance showing true class and quality skating.  Former National and International competitors from across the world showed that they can still compete clean jumps and level 4 spins in their 60s - these events really are quite inspiring!

Our British skaters delivered some brilliant performances bringing home a total of 4 Gold, 5 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, as well as many personal best scores and new personal goals achieved.

It takes an enormous amount of courage to step onto competitive ice at any age, but what is so wonderful about the adult competitions is knowing that they all juggle training between work, being a parent, being a carer, battling illness and injury, yet still manage to get out there and do it.

The 2024 WWMG team were;

Galina Hartshorn, Nadia Colbourne, Jacqueline Wadsworth, Hannah Goff, Annabel Mansell, Debbie Beesley, Susan Edwards, Simon Jell, Su-Wan Lewis, Leigh Yip, Agnese D’Amore, Bethan Lewis, Kayleigh Roycroft, Seren Tudor, Gayle Smith, Gail Tudor, Lulu Alexandra, Daisy Miles, Alicia Audibert, Adam Rudling, Mika Bosphore-Ward, John Darnton, Karen Taylor, Emily Walker, Greg Charvet, Kitty Swanson, Simon Surridge, Gillian Taylor-Darnton.

The British 2024 medalists are;

Congratulations to all the competitors and we wish them all the very best for the rest of the season!

~ By Lulu Alexandra

Adult Nationals is just round the corner! 4th March - 8th March 2024 at iceSheffield. Stay up to date with this and our other adult skating events via our dedicated Sportity channel: BIS_Adults