Spain heads to Asunción with a record delegation and speed skating ready to fight for medals

ODYTA Summary

Spain's national roller sports team was officially presented at the Consejo Superior de Deportes in Madrid ahead of the World Skate Games Asunción 2026, according to Rollerzone.es. The delegation is described as one of the largest in Spanish history, with 143 athletes and 42 technical staff traveling to Paraguay. The article notes that Spain won 49 medals at the previous edition — 19 gold, 8 silver and 22 bronze — and that the federation's stated goal is to keep Spain among the leading international skating powers. RFEP president Carmelo Paniagua and CSD president José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes took part in the presentation. For speed skating, the article says seven skaters were selected by coach Garikoitz Lerga for the Junior and Senior World Championships, scheduled by the RFEP for October 10–18 in Paraguay. The junior selections are Iker Bretón, Carla Plana and Paula Rodríguez; the senior selections are Aura Quintana, Manuel Taibo, Patxi Peula and Jhoan Sebastián "Chevi" Guzmán. The piece describes the squad as small but internationally experienced, citing recent results: Guzmán's European Championship golds in 200 m dual, 100 m, lap sprint and 3,000 m relay plus bronze in 500 m sprint; Taibo as European relay champion and marathon runner-up; and Peula and Quintana with European silver medals in the 5,000 m points. It also notes Plana recently became Spanish champion in Málaga in the 10,000 m points and 15,000 m elimination. The article states the Games are officially scheduled for October 2–18, with more than 8,000 athletes from over 90 countries expected, and venues including the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, the Secretaría Nacional de Deportes and the Costanera de Asunción. It adds that the Marathon World Championships on October 18 will be part of the World Skate Marathon Tour World Cup. Rollerzone.es says it will provide special coverage of the World Skate Games ASU26 and the speed skating World Championships.