Editor’s Note
The information on this page is incomplete. Moreover, it highlights only Individual World Champion Gold Medalists from the United States. It does not yet include U.S. teams/team members who won gold medals. In the future, we hope to build a complete archive of U.S. twirlers who won silver and bronze medals at World Championships as well as gold, silver and bronze medalists at Nations Cup and precursors to Nations Cup. If you would like to provide additions or edits/corrections to this archive, please email info@vintage-baton-twirler.org.
A brief history of the World Baton Twirling Championships is provided at the bottom of this page.
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2020s Champions (Inclusive of All Systems)
Senior Women: Savannah Miller (WBTF)
Savannah Miller is one of the most accomplished athletes in modern baton twirling. She began twirling at age three and went on to earn 17 World Championship gold medals as a member of Team USA. Miller served as Feature Twirler for the University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band and captured numerous national titles, including USTA national championships in Women’s Solo and Artistic Twirl. In addition to her competitive success, she is an internationally recognized coach and choreographer who has taught twirling clinics around the world.
2023 IBT World Championship – Liverpool
2023
Senior Women – Solo: Ally Duda
Ally Duda
2023
Junior Artistic Twirl
Carissa Wolfe
2023
Adult Women – X-Strut: Kylee Cates
Kylee Cates
2023
Senior Women – X-Strut: Ella McDaniel
Ella McDaniel
2023
Junior Women – X-Strut: Carissa Wolfe
Carissa Wolfe
2023
Youth Women – X-Strut: Emi Peel
Emi Pee
2023
Junior Women 2-Baton: Carissa Wolfe
Carissa Wolfe
2023
Senior Men – X-Strut: Joel Claudio-Martinez
Joel Claudio-Martinez
2025
Senior Women – X-Strut: Carissa Wolfe
Wheaton
2023
Senior Duet: Mikayla Schuller and Erienne Hay
Schuller & Hay
2023
Junior Duet: Bailey Mountford and Kendall Anderson
Anderson & Mountford
2023
Twirl Team and Artistic Team: Wheaton
Wheaton
2025 IBTF Technical World Championship
2025
Senior Women – X-Strut: Carissa Wolfe
Carissa Wolfe
2025
Junior Women – X-Strut: Collyn Lambeck
Collyn Lambeck
2025
Senior Men – X-Strut: Allen Johnson
Allen Johnson
2010s Champions (Inclusive of All Systems)
2012
Senior Men’s 2 Baton: Matthew Freeman (WFNBTA)
Matthew Freeman is an American baton twirler, coach, and six-time WFNBTA World Champion. His world titles include Junior Men’s Rhythmic Twirl (2003), Junior Men’s Solo (2005, 2009), Junior Men’s 2-Baton (2009), Junior Men’s Rhythmic Twirl (2009), and Senior Men’s 2-Baton (2012). A former Penn State feature twirler, Freeman remains active as a coach and mentor through M Twirling Team.
2014
Pairs: Jonathan Burkin and Melissa Nugent (WBTF)
Burkin & Nugent (Still To Come)
2015
Senior Men’s Solo: Joel Claudio (WFNBTA)
Senior Men’s 2-Baton: Joel Claudio (WFNBTA)
Joel Claudio (Still To Come)
2018
Strut: Adaline Bebo (WFNBTA)
2018
Artistic Twirl: Adaline Bebo (WFNBTA)
Adaline Bebo (Still To Come)
2018
Junior Women: Laney Pulhalla (WBTF)
2000s Champions / First Decade of the 21st Century (Inclusive of All Systems)
2003
Junior Men’s Rhythmic Twirl: Matthew Freeman (WFNBTA)
2005
Junior Men’s Solo: Matthew Freeman (WFNBTA)
2009
Junior Men’s Solo: Matthew Freeman (WFNBTA)
Junior Men’s 2-Baton: Matthew Freeman (WFNBTA)
Junior Men’s Rhythmic Twirl: Matthew Freeman (WFNBTA)
Matthew Freeman is an American baton twirler, coach, and six-time WFNBTA World Champion. His world titles include Junior Men’s Rhythmic Twirl (2003), Junior Men’s Solo (2005, 2009), Junior Men’s 2-Baton (2009), Junior Men’s Rhythmic Twirl (2009), and Senior Men’s 2-Baton (2012). A former Penn State feature twirler, Freeman remains active as a coach and mentor through M Twirling Team.
1990s Champions (Inclusive of All Systems)
1991
Senior Men: Mark Nash
1992
Junior Men: Mark Nash
1994
Senior Men: Mark Nash
Mark Nash is one of the most accomplished male baton twirlers in history. An eight-time World Champion and 19-time U.S. Grand National Champion, he helped redefine men’s baton twirling through his athleticism, artistry, and competitive success. Nash later became a respected coach, choreographer, judge, and mentor to generations of champions. He is still active in twirling today and runs the Nash Twirling Academy, Lincoln, California. Learn more about Nash here.
1994
Junior Women: Alysha Depp
Alysha Busza (nee Depp) is one of the most accomplished American baton twirlers of the 1990s. In 1994, she captured the World Baton Twirling Federation Junior Women’s World Championship, becoming the first American woman to win a world freestyle title in many years. She was also the 2002 Grand National Champion and Miss Majorette of America. Depp’s success helped usher in a new era of international achievement for Team USA and inspired a generation of competitive twirlers.
1997
Senior Women: Annetta Lucero
Annetta Lucero, (b. 1967) of California is one of the most accomplished baton twirlers in American history. A three-time WBTF Senior Women’s World Champion (1983, 1986, 1997), she became the youngest senior women’s world champion at age 16 and later returned to capture another world title fourteen years later, cementing her legendary status.
Today, Lucero remains active in the baton twirling community as a coach, instructor, mentor, and motivational speaker. Through clinics, online instruction, and social media, she continues to share technical expertise and encourage twirlers of all ages. Lucero also promotes positive athlete development and lifelong participation in the sport.
1997
Junior Men: Jason Lee
Jason Lee is one of the pioneering male athletes in international baton twirling during the 1990s. Representing the United States, he captured the 1997 World Twirling Championships Junior Men’s title, becoming one of the few American males to earn a world championship in solo competition during that era. His success helped increase the visibility of male twirlers on the international stage and inspired a new generation of young men to pursue the sport.
1980s Champions (Inclusive of All Systems)
1980
Senior Men: Michael Cruz (WBTF)
Senior Women: Pam Harris (WBTF)
Junior Women: Bonnie Palacios (WBTF)
1981
Senior Men: Michael Cruz (WBTF)
Junior Women: Bonnie Palacious (WBTF)
Senior Women: Marci Papadopoulos (WBTF)
1982
Senior Men: Glenn Bittenbender (WBTF)
Junior Women: Bonnie Palacious (WBTF)
Senior Women: Yolanda Castellanos (WBTF)
1983
Senior Men: Glenn Bittenbender (WBTF)
Junior Women: Bonnie Palacious (WBTF)
Senior Women: Annetta Lucero (WBTF)
1984
Senior Men: Mark Nash (WBTF)
Junior Women: Bonnie Palacious (WBTF)
Senior Women: Merrilee Meredith (WBTF)
1985
Senior Men: Mark Nash (WBTF)
Senior Women: Monique Frey (WBTF)
1986
Senior Men: Glenn Bittenbender (WBTF)
Junior Women: Janae Dorn (WBTF)
Senior Women: Annetta Lucero (WBTF)
1987
Senior Men: Mark Nash (WBTF)
Junior Women: Janae Dorn (WBTF)
Senior Women: Bonnie Palacious (WBTF)
1988
Senior Men: Mark Nash (WBTF)
Junior Women: Janae Dorn (WBTF)
Senior Women: Bonnie Palacious (WBTF)
1989
Senior Men: Mark Nash (WBTF)
Michael Cruz (Still To Come)
Pam Harris (Still To Come)
Bonnie Palacios (Still To Come)
Marci Papadopoulos (Still To Come)
Glenn Bittenbender (Still To Come)
Yolanda Bastellanos (Still To Come)
Annetta Lucero, (b. 1967) of California is one of the most accomplished baton twirlers in American history. A three-time WBTF Senior Women’s World Champion (1983, 1986, 1997), she became the youngest senior women’s world champion at age 16 and later returned to capture another world title fourteen years later, cementing her legendary status.
Today, Lucero remains active in the baton twirling community as a coach, instructor, mentor, and motivational speaker. Through clinics, online instruction, and social media, she continues to share technical expertise and encourage twirlers of all ages. Lucero also promotes positive athlete development and lifelong participation in the sport.
Merrilee Meredith (Still To Come)
Mark Nash is one of the most accomplished male baton twirlers in history. An eight-time World Champion and 19-time U.S. Grand National Champion, he helped redefine men’s baton twirling through his athleticism, artistry, and competitive success. Nash later became a respected coach, choreographer, judge, and mentor to generations of champions. He is still active in twirling today and runs the Nash Twirling Academy, Lincoln, California. Learn more about Nash here.
Monique Frey (Still To Come)
Janae Dorn (Still To Come)
Additional History
Brief History of World Championship Baton Twirling
For many years, baton twirling had two separate international championship systems, each crowning its own World Champions. The World Baton Twirling Federation (WBTF) was established between 1977 and 1979 and held its first World Championships in 1980, featuring divisions such as Freestyle, Solo, 2-Baton, 3-Baton, Strut, and Rhythmic Twirl.
At the same time, the World Federation of National Baton Twirling Associations (WFNBTA/NBTA) conducted its own World Championships under a different competitive structure and rule system. As a result, it was possible for two athletes to be recognized as “World Champions” in the same year while competing under different international federations.
Moving to One System
In recent years, the sport has moved toward greater international unity through the creation of the International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF), which was formed to provide a single global championship structure and internationally recognized governance for the sport. WBTF became part of the new IBTF structure. WFNBTA (more formally WFNBTMA) also became part of the IBTF structure; however, WFNBTA continues to exist as its own organization.
The IBTF held its first World Championships in 2023.
Today, IBTF World Championships and Nations Cup events serve as the primary international pathway for elite baton twirlers, although the WFNBTA continues to operate its own international championship program. Under the IBTF system, the World Championships represent the sport’s highest level of international competition, while the Nations Cup is a parallel event held concurrently that allows additional athletes who did not qualify for the World Championships to compete internationally.
The primary motivation behind the creation of the IBTF was to unify the sport under a single international governing body, and thus become a member of SportAccord (formerly the GAISF – Global Association of International Sports Federation, which is the first step necessary to achieve Olympic recognition.
WBTF World Championship 1980-2022
The first WBTF World Championships were held in Seattle, Washington, USA, in 1980. Subsequent WBTF World Championships were held in France (1981); Belgium (1982); Italy (1983); Australia (1984); France (1985); Italy (1986); Canada (1987); Japan (1988); France (1989); Canada (1991); Belgium (1994); Australia (1997); France (2000); Japan (2003); the Netherlands (2006); France (2009); Switzerland (2012); Italy (2015); Norway (2018); and Italy (2022). The 2020 WBTF World Championships were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ultimately held in 2022. In 2023, the International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF) assumed responsibility for the sport’s unified World Championships program. (Source: WBTF/IBTF records)
WFNBTA World Championship 1990-2022
The first WFNBTA World Championship took place in Amsterdam, Holland in 1990, followed by WFNBTA World Championships in 1993 (France), 1996 (Italy); 2000 (United States); 2003 (France); 2006 (Norway); 2009 (Belgium); 2012 (Switzerland); 2015 (Italy); 2018 (Norway) and 2022 (Norway). The 2020 WFNBTA World Championships were canceled in 2020 due to the global pandemic. (Source: NBTA Europe)
