13 Aug Julia Rick Dominates at The World Games Return in China
Chengdu, China – History was made last week at the brand-new Panda Wakepark cable, purpose-built for The World Games. Selected based on their world rankings and victories in major competitions, the planet’s top wakeboarders gathered for a long-awaited showdown — and it was Germany’s Julia Rick who stole the spotlight on the Open women division .
The Return of Cable Wakeboarding to The World Games
It had been twenty years since cable wakeboarding last featured at The World Games, with its only appearance in Duisburg, Germany, back in 2005. Known as a multi-sport event for disciplines outside the Olympic and Paralympic programs, The World Games first took place in 1981 in the United States, offering athletes from non-Olympic sports a global stage.
In 2005, four waterski and wakeboard disciplines were on the schedule: Barefoot, Boat Wakeboard, Cable Wakeboard, and Overall Waterski. Back then, Denise De Haan (NED) claimed gold in the women’s cable event, with Kirsten-Brigitte Leifel (GER) and Pauline Dyrschka (GER) rounding out the podium.
Julia Rick Reclaims Her Throne
Fast forward to 2025, and the sport has evolved into a high-powered spectacle, with athletes pushing the limits of what’s possible on a cable. In the women’s division, all eyes were on Julia Rick — the multiple-time world champion and global icon of women’s wakeboarding.
After narrowly missing gold at the World Championships in Paris last September, Rick came to Chengdu with one mission: to win. She delivered under pressure, combining flawless execution with her trademark technical mastery to secure the top step of the podium.
“I’ve been dreaming about this moment since Paris,” said Rick after her victory. “To win gold here, at The World Games, with the world watching, is just incredible.”
Italian rising star Vanessa Titarelli claimed silver, proving once again she’s a serious contender for the sport’s future. Bronze went to the Netherlands’ Sanne Meijer, the reigning Cable World Champion, who also competed in the boat wakeboard event earlier in the week.
Women’s Podium
- Julia Rick – GER
- Vanessa Titarelli – ITA
- Sanne Meijer – NED
Julia-podium world games 2025
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