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HISTORIC VICTORY: Romania wins the “Wimbledon” of dance sport!
Rareș Cojoc and Andreea Matei have achieved a major feat by winning the WDSF Grand Slam at the Blackpool Dance Festival, the world’s oldest and most prestigious dance competition, held in the United Kingdom. After an extraordinary 2025, with victories in Wuxi, Stuttgart, and Rome, this was the only major title missing from their list of achievements. A true “Grand Slam” built over time, further enriched by the world title won in Sibiu and their success at the Shanghai Masters. Rareș Cojoc commented with great emotion: “Joining the ranks of legends means having reached the pinnacle. Thanks to my family for their support and to my partner for her trust. This is the result of hard work and dedication.” Andreea Matei added: “It’s an evening I’ll never forget. Together with Rareș, we’ve achieved perfection.” Congratulations to this extraordinary couple and best of luck for their future achievements! For over 100 years, the Blackpool Dance Festival has represented elegance, tradition, and absolute prestige. Considered the true “Wimbledon” of competitive dance, it is an iconic event also celebrated in the film *Shall We Dance?* starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, and Susan Sarandon. The 2026 edition stands out for its record numbers, with over 1,250 participants from around the world and four intense days of competition, accompanied by live performances from the prestigious Empress Orchestra, striking a perfect balance between tradition and innovation. Here are the final rankings: 1. Cojoc Rares & Matei Andreea ROU 2. Dariusz Mycka & Madara Freiberga POL 3. Yuan Shaoyang & Qi Chongxuan CHN 4. Dmitri Kolobov & Signe Busk DEN 5. Yahor Boldysh & Irina Averina GER 6. Andrea Roccatti & Julia Mozdyniewicz ITA
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WDSF SENIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Fabio Guardati and Giuliana Rapone reached the final, securing an impressive 5th place at the WDSF European Championship Latin Senior II, held on February 15, 2026, in Lyon (France). This is a major achievement on the international stage, confirming the caliber and quality of Italian athletes. This result follows their recent victory as 2026 Italian Absolute Champions, marking an outstanding start to the season.