Colombia speed skating national team 2026

ODYTA Summary

Colombia's 2026 Speed Skating National Team was officially presented in Guarne, Antioquia, following the National Selective Camp that finalized the roster for the World Championship at the World Skate Games in Asunción, Paraguay. The team is coached by Elías del Valle, Iván Vargas, and Juan Carlos Baena, and comprises 28 skaters from 17 clubs across six regional leagues: Antioquia, Bogotá, Valle del Cauca, Santander, Bolívar, and Quindío. Bogotá has the largest contingent with 13 athletes from six clubs, followed by Valle del Cauca with five, Antioquia with four, Santander with three, Bolívar with two, and Quindío with one. The squad includes 16 world champions who collectively hold 80 gold medals at world championships. Among the 14 junior-category athletes, ten will make their World Championship debut, which the federation describes as evidence of a generational transition. Alberto Herrera Ayala, president of the Colombian Skating Federation, highlighted the blend of experience and renewal, and noted that eight team members will also represent Colombia at the South American Games in Santa Fe, Argentina. He emphasized that this is the only team at the upcoming World Skate Games with 16 world champions, and mentioned four athletes who entered the selective process as pre-juniors and earned spots to compete in the junior category at the World Championship. Herrera Ayala specifically cited Luysa Paternina, Mariana Bonet, Mariana Ambuila, and Matías Rodríguez as examples of the country's development and sports projection programs. He recalled that since the previous year, pre-juniors have been given the opportunity to join the European tour, and noted that three of them—Luysa and the two Marianas—earned World Championship spots after training with the national team in Italy. The official presentation was led by federation vice president Jorge Roldán Pérez, alongside Guarne mayor Mauricio Grisales, Antioquia Skating League president Julián Osorno, and National Technical Commission president Carlos Torres. Team members, coaches, physiotherapist Verónica Bahamón, technical commissioner Fredy Ortegate, and Fedepatín events director Julio Cuestas were introduced. A notable moment was the presentation of the national flag, received by Gabriela Isabel Rueda, the most experienced athlete in the group, and Jerónimo Sánchez, a debutant from Guarne.