Inline freestyle marked its official debut at The World Games 2025, held in Chengdu. The choice of the Chinese city reflected the sustained growth of the discipline in the country, which has established itself as one of the leading powers on the international stage.

The competition unfolded over two consecutive days, featuring Speed Slalom and Classic Slalom events. Both disciplines highlighted the unique blend of technical precision and artistic expression that defines inline freestyle skating.

The opening day was dedicated to Speed Slalom, a test in which athletes complete cone courses at high speed, rewarding accuracy in every maneuver as well as the ability to accelerate and decelerate effectively.

The second day focused on Classic Slalom, a discipline that combines technical execution with artistic dimension. Competitors performed routines that integrated technical complexity with personal expression, showcasing the creative side of the sport.

Key results

China led the medal table with six out of eight possible podiums. Zhang Hao secured gold in both Men’s Speed Slalom and Men’s Classic Slalom, while Zhu Siyi won gold in Women’s Classic Slalom and silver in Women’s Speed Slalom.

In the other events, the gold medal in Women’s Speed Slalom went to Liu Chiao-Hsi of Chinese Taipei. The men’s Speed Slalom podium was completed by Fu Yu (China) and Lesani Reza (Iran), while in Men’s Classic Slalom, Zhang Hao was joined by Italy’s Valerio Degli Agostini and Wang Yuxuan (China). In the women’s Classic Slalom, Zhu Siyi was accompanied by Liu Jiaxin (China) and Spain’s Laura Oria Albelda.

International projection

The event confirmed the global expansion of inline freestyle, with athletes from Asia, Europe and the Middle East reaching the podium. Liu Chiao-Hsi’s victory in Women’s Speed Slalom prevented a complete Chinese sweep and highlighted the growing competitiveness of the discipline across Asia.

Italy, Spain and Iran also featured among the medal-winning nations, underscoring the increasing international diversification of a sport that continues to gain ground within the multi-sport landscape.

The debut of inline freestyle at The World Games represents an important step in the institutional consolidation of the discipline. Its inclusion in the TWG program, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, grants inline freestyle skating new recognition within the competitive structure of non-Olympic sports.