Thailand came first for the third time at this year’s World Championship in Massage between 27-29 June in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Organised by the International Massage Association (IMA), the eighth edition of the competition broke all previous participation records, with 267 competitors from 58 countries.

The event is both a competition and a space to network and promote the different massage techniques practiced around the world.

This year was also a hybrid event, as it has been in previous years, with a physical massage competition in Denmark as well as participants using Zoom to compete from further afield, with judges watching live.

Participants pay a fee of €260 (US$306, £223) to compete.

Judges from 27 countries evaluated massage therapists’ skills in five key areas:

• Techniques

• Ergonomics and body mechanics• Flow

• Innovation• Client contact and empathy

The results

The top performing nations for massage therapy were Thailand, Lithuania, China, Argentina and France.

The overall individual final winners were:

• Gold – Len-Jin Liang, from Canada

• Silver – Anne Brienberg, from Denmark• Bronze – Erica Argano, from Italy

Therapists competed in massage categories including Swedish, wellness, sports, Thai, freestyle Eastern, freestyle Western, facial massage, body shaping massage and chair massage.

Awards were also given to teachers of massage, schools dedicated to the profession, best massage events of the year plus social media and massage influencers.

To see a full list of the winners, visit the website here.

Jeppe Tengbjerg, founder of IMA spoke during the association’s Education Massage Conference the day before the competition began. He said: “The art of massage is where intuitive touch is based on a foundation of knowledge in anatomy, physiology and pathology.”

He highlighted that massage should include three elements: massage, stretching and joint mobilisation. He added that therapists should also add wellness experiences to their treatments.

Jengbjerg told Spa Business, “I have taught and shared this knowledge for years now in famous spas and schools all over the world. What is interesting is that professional massage teachers’ saw the results of their teachings this year. Their efforts were 100 per cent supported by their students’ results at this year’s World Championship, as Thailand became the Best Massage Nation again.”

Jean-Guy de Gabriac, founder of World Wellness Weekend and judge and board member of the International Massage Association was inducted into the championship’s hall of fame.

De Gabriac told Spa Business "As a judge in the wellness massage category, I've seen such precision, grace and dedication from competitors," de Gabriac continued. "The New Zealand team, for example, were very deserving of the silver medal they won in the wellness category. During their massages I witnessed (with everyone in the room) what "body, mind and soul" truly means."

Next year, the event will take place between 3-5 July in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Read more about massage champions Slav Marinov and Anna Tsankov in a recent issue of Spa Business here.