Colombia national team in its final week of training camp

ODYTA Summary

Colombia's national speed skating team is in its final week of training camp in Guarne, Antioquia, ahead of the World Skate Games Asunción 2026, where the speed skating events will take place from October 10 to 18. The team will travel to Paraguay on Tuesday, October 6, and once in Asunción will begin official practices at the Paraguayan Olympic Park rink. The 28 skaters called up—14 juniors and 14 seniors—are training under coaches Elías Del Valle, Iván Vargas, Juan Carlos Baena, and Víctor Serrano. World champion Juan Jacobo Mantilla praised the discipline and enthusiasm of the younger team members, saying he had not been around such a respectful and dedicated junior group in a long time. Teammate Kevin Lenis noted the team's mix of experience and youth, which he said could be important at the World Championships. Gabriela Isabel Rueda, another world champion on the team, highlighted the positive atmosphere and the exchange between generations. She said the team hopes to arrive strong and united to defend the overall title and help each skater meet their goals. Another skater, Giraldo, expressed her determination to become a world champion in the senior category. The team includes 16 world champions who together have won 80 gold medals at world championships. Of the 14 junior skaters, ten will make their World Championship debut, reflecting a generational transition that will face one of its first major international tests in Asunción.