Hosts Italy claimed three more gold medals on the penultimate day of the FIRS Artistic Skating World Championships ©FIRS

Italy, the hosts of the 2016 International Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) Artistic Skating World Championships, claimed three more gold medals on the penultimate day of action in Novara.

In the first event of the day, defending champion Debora Sbei of Italy could not make up the deficit that her compatriot Silvia Nemesio had on her following the short programme in the senior ladies free skating event.

Nemesio took the gold medal after the long programme with a score of 541.300 points, while Sbei finished narrowly behind her on 536.900.

Spaniard Monica Gimeno Coma collected the bronze medal with a total of 521.900.

In the senior men's free skating competition, Italian Luca Lucaroni added to the gold he won in the pairs event with Rebecca Tarlazzi.

Lucaroni's performance earned a standing ovation and a score of 553.800, which was enough to secure gold.

Another Italian, Alessandro Amadesi, was the first to enter the floor and, with the exception of a flaw in the first jump, was sensational but could only reach a total of 523.300, someway off Lucaroni.

Completing an Italian clean sweep was Andrea Girotto, who earned the podium position he was targeting, claiming bronze with a score of 520.800.

The juniors couple event was won by the US pair of Benson Kuan and Cassandra Seidel ©FIRS
The juniors couple event was won by the US pair of Benson Kuan and Cassandra Seidel ©FIRS

Elsewhere today, Italian duo Alessandro Spigai and Elena Leoni made the most of the lead they created yesterday in the seniors couple event.

Spigai and Leoni cemented the gold with another astounding performance that gave them a total of 272.390.

The silver medal went to Italians Andrea Bassi and Silvia Stibilj, who finished with a combined score of 264.810, whilst 253.650 handed the bronze to Alberto Maffei and Rachele Campagnol to complete an Italian clean sweep.

Romance then flooded the arena when American Joshua Meloy knelt down before Jaymee Mason and asked her to marry him, which she accepted.

In the final competition of the day, the US pair of Benson Kuan and Cassandra Seidel managed to end the day's Italian dominance in the juniors couple event.

Leading overnight, Kuan and Seidel showed their superior talent to earn a score of 254.600 points.

Unsurprisingly they were closely followed by an Italian duo with Luca Rossetti and Alessia Orsi taking silver on 242.070 points.

Portugal's José Cruz and Daniela Dias completed the top three on a score of 241.320.

The event is scheduled to finish tomorrow with the Closing Ceremony bringing proceedings to a close in Novara.