|
 This
year we say goodbye to two of the biggest names in Roller Sports,
names that will not be forgotten and shall remain in the history
books eternally as the greatest athletes of our time, Patrick
Venerucci & Beatrice Palazzi Rossi of Italy.
Between them, more than TEN world titles to their name, having
won successively, the Pairs title over the past decade. Year after
year, judges awarded them 10.0 for their performances as they left
the crowd breathless, and asking for more. Patrick's strength
and charisma matched the beauty and charm that was Beatrice, her
gymnastic ability unparalleled by any other in our sport. They have
dominated the world of Pairs and will never be replaced, they will
remain the greatest of our time.
 Luca
Lallai, also of Italy, unfortunately is another of our elite who
will not be returning to the world stage in 2003. However, Lallai
will be remembered for his outstanding, absolutely brilliant
technical ability, amazing triple loop combinations and triple axel
jumps that have been performed throughout his career. Lallai
first burst on to the world scene in 1997 at Reus, Spain. He then
went on to be the four time World champion in men's single and also
having won the combined events. Luca's performances strengthened
over the years as with his artistic ability, as we saw in 2002. Only
rivalled by Scott Cohen,
who won FIVE men's singles titles, Lallai is a
champion...
 Marco
Bornati & Emanuela Bornati are no strangers to the
world scene of dance, making their first international appearance in
1995 in Colombia, also capturing that title in the Junior grade. It
has been a long road to the top their stunning performances in 2002
took them all the way as they brought home the gold, yet again. Two
of the spunkiest skaters around, the Bornati's bring a smile to
everyone's face, often a tear, as emotion is as strong as their
technical ability, making them the all round winners. The roller
sports world can look forward to seeing them again in 2003.
 Heather
Mulkey of the USA, took
the crown in 2002 in the ladies free, but not for the first time.
This marks Mulkey's third win, only rivaled by Italy's Erika
Colaceci in 2000. Heather has proved that girls can hammer out
the triple jumps on roller and dispelled the myth of old that it
couldn't be so, performing as many as five in one program. Mulkey is
a fine talent and still very young, making her one of the hottest
skaters on the world scene, and sure to be around for many years to
come. Undoubtedly, Mulkey will be on fire in 2003.
 Luca
D'Alisera, 'popstar' on wheels... the crowd favourite, bringing
everyone to their knees. D'Alisera has the girls whipped in to a
frenzied state wherever he may be, but aside from that, he is of the
greatest male skaters in the world and will soon prove it to be
fact, yet again. D'Alisera won three successive titles in the Junior
category and is yet to capture the golden senior crown, though he
will be remembered in history for being the first athlete to perform
the triple axel jump in competition on roller. D'Alisera has
spectacular showmanship and combined with his super-speed spins and
triple after triple after triple programs, D'Alisera commands
the attention and is yet to to explode. This unsung hero is very
young and should be a household name around the
world...
More
of our international favourites will be found here in the very near
future. If you have details or images on any of the 'outstanding'
performers in 2002, please forward it to me here.. Also
see our FAME section for a
historical journey through time... |
Lu
