Cup of Europe 2026 – Aliana shines with an outstanding sixth-place finish

🏆 Cup of Europe 2026 🇩🇪 🛼 – Aliana 🇸🇮 ✨6. place👑✨, category Espoir, freeskating 🛼💪🔝👏🥰

Aliana arrived at the 2026 Cup of Europe in exceptional form. Despite the challenges she had faced along the way, she gave everything she had on the rink, poured her heart and soul into her performance, and delivered an outstanding program. The result was an impressive sixth place in Europe – and a victory of a different kind, one that may not be visible to the outside world but means so much to her.

A victory for herself. For the brighter future she is building on eight wheels. For the two of us, our family, and everyone who stands by us. For the sport we love. And for Slovenia.

She did it. And we couldn’t be prouder. ❤️🇸🇮

We're back!

We’ve returned from one of the most important events for Europe’s finest young artistic roller skaters: the 2026 Cup of Europe, held in Stade, Germany, near Hamburg, from 17 to 24 October. We came home with unforgettable adventures and memories, an overwhelming sense of pride, and yet another reminder that even skaters from a small country like Slovenia can reach extraordinary heights among Europe’s elite. ❤️🇸🇮

For Aliana, a member of Slovenia’s national team, this was undoubtedly the most important challenge of the autumn part of her season – a competition she had been steadily and relentlessly preparing for throughout the year. It also marked the end of her 2026 competitive season, and she finished it in a way we can all be proud of.

Competing in the Espoir category, Aliana delivered a technically demanding, outstanding free skating program and stood shoulder to shoulder with 23 elite skaters from across Europe, representing 11 countries. The competition was fierce, the athletes were exceptionally well prepared, expectations were high, and the resulting pressure was anything but insignificant.

But once again, Aliana showed what she is made of. She found her focus, trusted herself and her abilities, and truly shone. She even gave her rivals something to think about. And she repeated her result from last year’s Cup of Europe: an outstanding 6th place among the best in Europe! ✨

A new spark of competitiveness, a new opportunity to grow 💞🙏

Behind the practically flawless and technically exceptional elements Aliana performed on the morning of Sunday, 18 October, lies a world that is difficult to comprehend when you simply read the result and think, What a shame there was no medal, or Sixth place again, even though she has finished higher before…

What looks effortless, elegant and inspiring on the rink hides endless hours of training, countless repetitions, painful falls, doubts, physical and mental preparation, sacrifices and considerable financial investment. There is nothing effortless about it. Things do not always go according to plan, and luck certainly does not always fall on your side.

There are so many variables that must align for an athlete to win a medal in such fierce competition, even when she is in outstanding form, that it is impossible to list them all.

And, of course, this does not apply to Aliana alone. It applies to every single competitor who travelled to this major and prestigious event, organised by World Skate Europe, with the ambition of stepping onto the podium.

There is no doubt that this was a competition of an exceptionally high standard. Every girl was brilliantly prepared. Every one of them had worked hard, made sacrifices and given her very best. Every one of them had come for a medal.

It is important to remember that this is the reality of every sport and every major competition. Respecting your rivals, wishing them well, understanding that things are not always easy for them either, encouraging them, reaching out to shake their hands and embracing them – these are the values that guide the two of us through our sporting challenges.

That is why it matters so much to learn and grow from every opportunity, whether the outcome is better or worse than expected. To carry forward that sporting spark that inspires you to keep going, while also embracing acceptance and gratitude for everything that comes your way – whether as a challenge, an obstacle or a wonderful source of encouragement.

For the two of us, she is a winner. 💖💙

An invisible victory – and a belief that grows stronger

As Aliana’s mother and coach, I am an inseparable and indispensable part of the journey she must take to achieve results at European and world level. And although her efforts have not yet been rewarded with the shine of one of those longed-for medals or with the attention of a wider interested audience, once the emotions settle, I can see clearly that, to me and to those closest to her, she is, in fact, a WINNER.

Although she has returned home from outstanding performances more than once without a medal around her neck, the bells of triumph have sounded in the background every single time. The battle has been won. Aliana is a winner, even if she did not receive the one reward she had quietly hoped for and that had driven her all the way here. Instead, she gained something else: renewed confidence in herself, in her skills and in what she is capable of achieving.

She was a lionhearted fighter who refused to give up. She was focused, courageous, precise and highly competitive, with beautiful technique in her jumps and spins. She proved that she can compete on equal terms with the very best and that she is a skater to be reckoned with in the future.

And, when all is said and done, that is always our greatest goal. Not external validation in material form, but confirmation of something far more important – the kind of achievement that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

She knows she is doing something right. And she knows that if she continues on this path, perhaps one day she really will step onto the podium.

So there is no reason for disappointment. External circumstances are secondary; they do not define her and they do not stand in her way.

We achieved what we set out to achieve: an outstanding performance on a highly stressful stage. The rewards came in the form of renewed hope, confidence, determination and motivation to move forward.

We also learned where there is room to build, refine and improve. That, too, is a wonderful lesson to take with us, and another opportunity for which we are grateful – another starting point from which we can grow.

A moment of disappointment can become tomorrow's motivation ✨❤️

When we saw Aliana’s score after her performance, we knew a medal would probably be out of reach. She had skated first out of the 23 best competitors in Europe, and when she slipped from third place in the provisional standings, we felt the sting of disappointment.

But not for long.

After constantly battling exhaustion from endless training sessions, competitions and schoolwork; after a long, expensive and stressful journey towards our goal in the breathtakingly beautiful north of Germany; and after countless doubts and little disappointments – with herself and with the events unfolding around her – that had unwittingly crept into her young inner world almost every day in the run-up to this competition, relief finally arrived.

With it came a realisation: Aliana truly belongs among Europe’s finest artistic roller skaters.

When you give everything you have in that moment, when you are satisfied with your performance and with everything you have invested to get where you are, when you know you have done all you possibly could, and when you understand how fortunate you are even to have the opportunity to compete at such an event, disappointment becomes secondary.

In fact, it becomes motivation to keep going.

That inner happiness, that personal sense of fulfilment, comes from knowing that you have travelled this path with the greatest possible dedication and love for a moment you have been waiting for so long. And then you realise that you have truly won.

For yourself – and, in turn, for the people closest to you.

You discover that you do not need a medal in material form to earn recognition, support or the motivation to continue working towards your goals. The medal simply was not meant to be yours this time. But you also begin to understand that it may not be nearly as far away as you once thought.

Of course, we all consciously or unconsciously hope that our inner victories will eventually be recognised outwardly too. Aliana and I hope for that as well. Perhaps one day, in another time and place. Because Aliana has proved time and time again – and once more at this competition – that she does not give up.

Since 2022, when she became part of the Slovenian national team of artistic roller skaters who regularly compete at major events across Europe and around the world, she has never finished outside the top 10! If that is not something to admire, I honestly don’t know what is.

Four artistic roller skaters, four outstanding results ✨❤️

Slovenia was represented by four girls in free skating at this year’s Cup of Europe. Alongside Aliana, Ela, Brina and Ester from the Renče skating club competed in the Minis category.

All four delivered excellent performances, showed themselves to be outstanding competitors and delighted us by finishing among the top 10. The brightest star of the group was young Ela, who took an incredible 2nd place, bringing home a well-deserved silver medal for Slovenia. Heartfelt congratulations!

Alongside Slovenia’s already accomplished senior artistic roller skaters, who compete for the highest honours at European and World Championships, these four young skaters – and many others whose talent we did not see at this particular event – are undoubtedly among the driving forces behind the growth of Slovenian artistic roller skating.

Even if their contribution is still being made largely behind the scenes, they are already demonstrating just how much success depends on having a big heart, courage, clear goals, the willingness to overcome fears and challenges, and unwavering dedication to the sport.

Our heartfelt congratulations to all four girls! For your courage, your outstanding programs, your hard work and the heart you left on the rink. Thank you for representing Slovenia so wonderfully and showing that dedication and perseverance can take you shoulder to shoulder with the very best, even when you come from a small country that is still too often overlooked.

May these achievements by Slovenia’s young skaters on eight wheels inspire and encourage artistic roller skaters throughout our country.

Medals are wonderful, but courage, perseverance and love – the things that keep us moving forward – matter even more.

Dreams do not come true on their own. You have to work for them, believe in them and then keep going, whatever it takes. And even when the road is covered in thorns, you must carry on.

Aliana and I will most certainly keep going. Because our roller skating story is far from over. It is only just beginning.