Fear and Gibson hope Winter Games spark new era for British skating
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson hope their performances at the Winter Olympics will reignite Great Britain’s passion for figure skating despite missing out on a medal in Italy.
The British duo finished seventh in the ice dance competition at Milano Cortina, having arrived as genuine contenders following their world bronze medal in 2025.
Although mistakes in the free dance cost them a shot at the podium, the pair became crowd favourites with routines featuring the Spice Girls and Scottish anthems.
Inspiring the next generation
Fear and Gibson are determined to ensure their time on the Olympic ice leaves a legacy beyond the final standings.
The ice dance partners want to replicate the impact of previous Games to encourage participation across the UK.
“A huge mission of ours is to get people involved in the sport and we know that the Olympics can do that,” said Fear.
“There is this reignition of the love of ice dance and figure skating in Great Britain that has always been there, it is so exciting. Let’s keep that momentum.”
Focus shifts to World Championships
The pair sat fourth after the rhythm dance but slipped down the rankings, extending the wait for a British Olympic figure skating medal since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean in 1994.
Attention now turns to next month’s World Championships in Prague where they intend to climb back towards the podium.
“We know we can do it. It was so close, that’s why it is so devastating,” Fear added.
“It was within reach for the first time in our career. Why not aim higher for the next one?”
Entertaining the crowd
Gibson insists their unique style and energy will remain unchanged regardless of the result in Italy.
The skater believes their unconventional path resonates with audiences who enjoy the entertainment factor of their routines.
“We did it our way; choosing music we wanted to dance to, we didn’t have conventional paths to come together,” Gibson explained.
“It is really cool that we were able to do it for us and I think that’s what resonates with people, the enjoyment that we have doing this sport.”
Despite the competitive disappointment, the team embraced the atmosphere of the Games.
“Everything happened in those couple of weeks, from high highs to low lows,” said Fear.
“We had a celebration no matter what at the end and really took in the Olympic experience.”