Inline speed skating exploded in Colombia during the last decade to become not only one of the most popular sports in the South American country but they are also great authority in this discipline at international level and this is demonstrated clearly with the huge number of world titles won by Colombians in recent years.

Last year, the greatest competition of our discipline was disputed in Colombian territory. Santiago de Cali was the city chosen to host this elite skating event, and there, the Colombian team was once more seen wearing the world crown, despite been under pressure by the growing South Korean team that showed great influence in track distances; but in road, Colombia took control again.

This year the fight promises to be memorable in Gijon, as each year is more difficult to get the podium in a sport that continues to grow very fast and this year a new record of participants will be beat in Iberian territory.

Colombia will have a total of 23 athletes rolling in Gijon while only three of them will compete in the marathon that will close the 2008 CIC World Speed Skating Championsnips program on Friday September 12th. Cecilia Baena, Alexandra Vivas and Diego Rosero Calad will travel to Spain just to compete in the 42 km Marathon, as they got their qualification finishing among the top five world ranked of the World Inline Cup 2008.

The greatest chances of victories for the team led by Libardo Garcia will be deposited in the powerful senior women's team where in short distances will be Jercy Puello and Jennifer Caicedo while Liana Holguín, Brigyte Mendez and Carolina Upegui (who will debut in senior category) are going to be in the long distances ones. Baena and Vivas will be watching from the outside on the track and on the road for this year focused their career towards the marathons circuit while Berenice Moreno will be mom and for obvious reasons is away from the sport, while Kelly Martinez was out at the Trials Championships, disputed in Yopal.

Men will go with the firm objective of joining the world's best in a category where Colombia is still not on top. Andres "Cultivo" Muñóz will be the main Colombian candidate to fight for gold at short distances against heavy competitors. Alongside him will be the experienced and charismatic Juan Nayib Tobón. In long distances Jorge Cifuentes will be the team head in which will also be the World Champion Nelson Garzon who suffered a sharp fall and is still recovering from it. Julian Arboleda will be the new one with the Colombian colours.

Within the junior ones will be many new faces but Luisa Agudelo will be the only one to repeat in 2008 Colombian Team. Carolina Magana, Maria Mendoza, Rommy Muñóz and Melissa Ramirez take part in a team that promises to fight for the world title control.

The boys Sebastian Arce, Carlos Perez and Oscar Cobo are new at Gijon 2008 meanwhile Pedro Causil and Daniel Zapata are going trough his second involvement with the Colombian team.

With great names in the past, such as Jorge Botero and the most famous sprinter, Capeto, Colombia will strive to make new heroes and memories.

The team has scheduled to leave on August 26 from Bogota until Asturias Airport, the closest to Gijon, a town that for a week will be the skating world capital.