The Olot city council hosted a gala event on Saturday evening to honour the first team of the Club Patinatge Artístic Olot, which secured the world title at the World Roller Games held in Paraguay on 18 October.
Known for its numerous achievements, the Club Patinatge Artístic Olot has frequently been recognised in the council's plenary hall for its sporting successes over the years. This time, the event celebrated the 25 skaters and their coaches, Ricard Planiol and Ester Fàbrega, who triumphed in the world championship in the large show group category. Competing in Asunción, Paraguay, the team clinched first place with their performance of 'Estic enganxat', scoring 41.53 points, surpassing the Italian team Royal Eagles (38.24) and Tona (35.88).
Just a week after winning the gold medal, the council became a venue for the celebration, attended by families and supporters. The event was presided over by Mayor Agustí Arbós, accompanied by the Sports Councillor, Aniol Sellabona. Arbós expressed his support for the club, stating, "We are delighted to support you because you help us make the city better every day. Our commitment is to assist the entities that contribute to improving our city. Moreover, the club is a breeding ground for good people, instilling values such as responsibility, which is more necessary than ever today. To have responsibility means having no excuses when things do not go well. You demonstrate that to achieve success in life, one must continue working without excuses to reclaim the championship next year."
Sellabona also highlighted the significance of their achievements, noting, "We must not forget the importance of what you have accomplished. It is substantial. There are now over 100 world champions in the city. Today, it is good to talk about what a sports club represents. We have many that have woven their own stories. When we speak of a club, we refer to many individuals striving to advance it and the community that clubs foster. I want to thank you for this work that goes beyond championships and titles. You build community and strengthen the city."
The event also featured speeches from team captains Júlia Casadevall and Jana Sagués, coaches Ricard Planiol and Ester Fàbrega, and club president Josep Sagués. They all paid tribute to the club's psychologist, Gina Sagristà, who passed away from cancer in July.
With the title achieved in Paraguay, the Club Patinatge Artístic Olot has established itself as one of the most successful entities in the country, reaffirming Olot's status as a reference point for both Catalan and global artistic skating. The celebration at the council marks the conclusion of a golden season in which the team has secured all possible titles: Catalan, Spanish, European, and world championships. This 2026 title marks the club's fourth consecutive world championship, a feat only surpassed by the six consecutive titles won between 2013 and 2018.
