Les Supremes turned their lead from yesterday’s Short Program into a gold medal in today’s Free Skating. With 233 points, the Canadian team finished ahead of Team Haydenettes from the US (229.28) and the defending champions, Team Helsinki Rockettes from Finland (228.67), at the 2026 ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships in Salzburg. Les Supremes is the best team in the world for the fourth time in the past five years—after 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The Free Skate developed into an extremely exciting competition among the top teams tonight in the Salzburgarena. Thanks to outstanding performances by the Finnish teams, the standings tightened significantly after yesterday’s short program. All top teams achieved season-bests, showcasing the highest level of Synchronized Skating in front of a crowd of 3,180 spectators.

A final highlight for the captains

The fourth-best Free Skate in the field was enough for Les Supremes to take the World Championships gold with a total of 233.00 points. “We were super happy when we saw the score,” said team captain Olivia Di Giandomenico.

“We are very happy that we were able to show two great performances to this fantastic audience here in the Salzburgarena,” added the 25-year-old. Co-captain Julia Bennett added: “We had fantastic chemistry throughout the entire season and worked perfectly together. It’s truely a wonderful year for us!”

Les Supremes won every competition they entered this winter. “Fourth place at the 2025 World Championships was not what we wanted. But we drew great motivation from that result to turn things around. We’re very proud of that,” emphasized Di Giandomenico.

Moments later, at the press conference the two world champion captains announced – through tears – the end of their careers with Les Supremes. “We both had many wonderful years with our teammates and coaches. We just want to sincerely thank them for this beautiful time!”

Focused every second

After winning bronze last year, Team Haydenettes from Lexington near Boston secured the silver medal in Salzburg. With 229.28 points—based on two season-best performances—they narrowly held off Team Helsinki Rockettes.

“It was a wonderful event. We really enjoyed it together and are very happy that we delivered our best skating on the ice,” said co-captain Trevor Olender, who skated the final competition of her career. Team captain Paige Felton added: “We were fully focused every second on the ice and told our story through our program in an excellent way.”

The silver medal is particularly meaningful given that throughout the season, substitute skaters repeatedly stepped in for injured teammates and rose to the same high level as the rest of the team. “Our coaches are magicians,” the team captains said.

Newly formed Rockettes back on the podium

Despite missing out on defending their title, the team captains of Helsinki Rockettes were delighted by the bronze medal in Salzburg, which they earned with by far the best Free Skate (156.23 points).
“This medal means a lot to us. After winning the world title last year, half of our team was replaced with junior skaters. Our younger teammates contributed incredibly well—this medal is the highlight of an exciting journey and development throughout the entire season,” said team captain Eveliina Tikkinen.

With a total score of 228.67 points, the defending champions finished more than ten points ahead of fourth-placed Team Unique. Their Finnish competitors made a comeback from seventh place with the second-best Free Skate of the evening. Team Nova Senior from Canada dropped from third to fifth place.

“We felt good all day. We brought a lot of emotion onto the ice and enjoyed every second,” said Tikkinen. Co-captain Wilma Lindström highlighted the strong support from the many Finnish fans in the Salzburgarena: “The support was incredible!” Both team captains announced, with tears in their eyes, that they will not return to the ice for Helsinki Rockettes next year.

Mit der Gesamtanzahl von 228,67 Punkten lagen die Titelverteidiger letztlich über zehn Punkte vor dem viertplatzierten Team Unique. Die finnischen Landsleute hatten davor von Platz sieben aus mit der zweitbesten Kür des Abends zur Aufholjagd geblasen. Team Nova Senior aus Kanada fiel von Position drei auf Position fünf zurück. „Wir haben uns gut gefühlt, den ganzen Tag. Wir haben viele Emotionen auf das Eis mitgenommen und jede Sekunde genossen“, sagte Tikkinen. Co-Captain Wilma Lindström hob die tolle Unterstützung der vielen finnischen Fans im Stadion hervor: „Es war ein grandioser Support!“ Beide Team-Captains gaben mit Tränen in den Augen bekannt, nächstes Jahr nicht mehr für die Helsinki Rockettes aufs Eis zu gehen.


Colibris Vienna begeisterten die Halle mit ihrer Kür

Das österreichische Nationalteam von Colibris Vienna hat die WM auf Platz 21 abgeschlossen und wie schon im gestrigen Kurzprogramm auch in der heutigen Kür eine Saisonbestleistung erzielt. „Wir haben unser Bestes gegeben und den Auftritt genossen, denn die Unterstützung in der Halle war enorm. Wir sind sehr zufrieden mit dem Auftritt heute und besonders auch mit der Entwicklung, die wir in den letzten Monaten gemacht haben“, bilanzierte Team-Captain Katharina Grantner. Die Salzburgerin hofft stellvertretend für den gesamten österreichischen Eiskunstlauf, dass die heimische Synchro-Szene das Momentum aus dieser Bonus-WM auf heimischem Eis mit in die Zukunft übertragen kann.

ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships 2026 in Salzburg