Gold for the USA: Rafaela Montanaro, is again, the reigning Pole Sport World Champion!

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jan. 8, 2018 - PRLog -- This past December the Pole Sport & Art World Federation (POSA) hosted the Pole Sport World Championships 2017, which took place in the small Principality of Liechtenstein, in the heart of Europe. Pole dancing has evolved from a way for 20-somethings to pay for college to a physically demanding, jaw-dropping display of athleticism. Over the past decade, pole sports has grown exponentially, with hundreds of athletes around the world competing in high-level competitions. POSA is the current leading international organization and comprises of multiple national federations, including the United States Pole Sports Federation (http://www.uspolesportsfed.org/) (USPSF). Pole Sport has been given observer status by the Global Association of International SportsFederation (GAISF), which is one of many steps that will help us reach our goal.

The event brought 151 pole athletes from all over the world to compete in 11 divisions. First time athletes from Romania, Korea, Cuba, Albania and Lithuania participated in this international showdown. Of course, the USA´s top athletes took part in the international championships and were delighted to bring home two gold medals. The USA took 12 pole sport athletes ranging in age from 10 to 51. Within the senior women's division, Rafaela Montanaro, would compete for the reigning title. Her outstanding performance gained an impressive 135.433 points, a new world record. The additional gold medal awarded to the USA was won by Sabine Dworak in the category "Master 50+ Women's" division.

The nations of Czech Republic and Italy had the most competitors, thus earning the most victories with 6 medals each. Though weaker in number, but very strong in their performance, the Asian athletes brought home 4 medals. Ke Hong from China reached the world summit of Pole Sport and won the division "Senior Men".

Daniela Pecinova, from Czech Republic, received a standing ovation. She was the only athlete in the Parapole division and delighted the spectators with her stunning performance. She showed the world that missing one leg does not stop her from exercising and reaching goals in Pole Sport. She believes that having a disability is no excuse.

After two exciting days, the POSA World Federation proudly presents the new worldchampions in pole sport:

Senior Women
1. Montanaro Rafaela USA
2. Breschi Bianca ITALY
3. Minina Olena UKRAINE

  Senior Men
1. Hong Ke CHINA
2. Araya Naoto JAPAN
3. Kopiniak Andrii UKRAINE

Junior A Women (Ages 10-14)
1. Shevtsova Elizaveta CZECH REPUBLIC
2. Vísková Vanesa CZECH REPUBLIC
3. Iwasaki Ciari JAPAN

  Junior B Women (Ages 15-17)
1. Winkler Annika GERMANY
2. Dvoráková Denisa CZECH REPUBLIC
3. Re Greta ITALY

Master 40+ Women
1. Fabbrini Samantha ITALY
2. Dementeva Anna RUSSIA
3. Rajlichová Eva CZECH REPUBLIC

  Master 50+ Women
1. Dworak Sabine USA
2. Quattrini Claudia ITALY
3. Voranger Carole FRANCE

Master 40+ Men
1. Yamazaki Issey JAPAN
2. Huhtakallio Sami FINLAND

  Master 50+ Men
1. Olavi Heino FINLAND

Senior Double
1. Lenka Hulková Pavel Kolár CZECH REPUBLIC
2. Laura Borgognoni Lucia ITALY
3. Ludovica Nicolis Jessica ITALY

  Junior B Double
1. Celia BergunthatNoemie SWITZERLAND

Parapole
1. PecinovaDaniela CZECH REPUBLIC