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.”

The case against the driver involved in the fatal car crash that injured Anthony Joshua has been adjourned by a court in Nigeria until March.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode appeared at Sagamu Magistrates Court in Ogun state on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old faces multiple charges, including causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a valid licence.

Proceedings have been paused until 13 March after prosecutors requested further time to prepare evidence.

Tragic loss for boxing star

The two-time world heavyweight champion was a passenger when the Lexus SUV collided with a stationary lorry on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Latif Ayodele, Joshua’s personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength coach, both died at the scene on 29 December.

Joshua, 36, spent two days in hospital receiving treatment for his injuries before being discharged.

Legal proceedings update

Kayode was making his second appearance in court regarding the incident in south-west Nigeria.

He has yet to enter a formal plea to the charges, which also include reckless and negligent driving.

Cyril Linette has resigned as chief executive of the French Alps 2030 Winter Olympics organising committee following a period of internal governance instability.

Organisers confirmed the departure on Wednesday after the decision was formally acknowledged during an executive board meeting last weekend.

The exit follows a reported public dispute between Linette and the committee’s chairman, Edgar Grospiron.

Leadership tensions escalate

Grospiron, a former Olympic freestyle skiing champion, had been involved in an open conflict with the outgoing chief executive.

Organisers stated the resignation reflects a desire for “new momentum through renewed governance” as the project enters a critical stage.

The organisation has been hit by a wave of high-profile departures in recent months.

Chief operating officer Anne Murac and communications director Arthur Richer have also left their posts.

Bertrand Méheut, who oversaw the remuneration committee, is another significant figure to have stepped down.

Logistical challenges ahead

Global attention has shifted to the 2030 event following the conclusion of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games on Sunday.

The French Alps bid faces a demanding schedule to prepare for the spectre of the Games.

A unique geographical split is planned, with snow sports in the mountains and ice events in Nice on the French Riviera.

Cost-cutting measures mean speed skating will likely take place outside France to avoid new construction expenses.

Existing venues such as the Thialf Arena in the Netherlands or Turin’s Oval Lingotto are being considered.

A definitive map of the host sites is expected to be finalised by the end of June.

Despite the administrative upheaval, officials remain outwardly confident regarding the delivery of the Games.

“The stakeholders reaffirm their commitment to the success of the 2030 French Alps Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

The committee added that the collective priority remains the “continuation of the work already underway”.

Rugby Special pundits John Barclay and Sam Warburton have delivered their verdict on the Six Nations so far, debating whether England are currently performing worse than Wales.

The northern hemisphere’s premier tournament has reached its midway point with three rounds of action completed.

Former captains Barclay and Warburton joined the programme to assess the runners and riders.

The duo tackled the pressing issue of form, specifically debating the relative struggles of the English and Welsh squads.

Assessing the struggle

A key talking point of the analysis focuses on whether England’s campaign has fallen below the standards set by their rivals across the Severn Bridge.

Both nations have faced significant challenges in the opening weeks of the championship.

Warburton, a two-time British and Irish Lions captain, offers his insight into the development of the Welsh camp.

Meanwhile, his Scottish counterpart scrutinises the tactical evolution and performance levels of the Red Rose.

The debate raises difficult questions about the trajectory of both teams as they navigate a transitional period.

Predictions for the run-in

Beyond the immediate comparison, the pair have dished out report cards for every team in the competition.

They also looked ahead to the deciding fixtures in the final two weeks.

The closing rounds will determine the destination of the title and the recipient of the dreaded Wooden Spoon.

Fans can watch the full analysis and see the final grades in the video report.

England captain Harry Brook struck a magnificent century after being promoted to number three to secure a two-wicket victory over Pakistan and a place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals.

McCullum’s tactical gamble pays off

The Yorkshireman smashed a 50-ball hundred having been elevated from the middle order by head coach Brendon McCullum.

McCullum faced heavy criticism following a 4-1 Ashes defeat earlier in the winter, but his strategic intervention in Pallekele proved decisive.

“Baz [McCullum] was the mastermind there,” said Brook.

“He had the discussion with me this morning about going up the order and trying to maximise the powerplay.”

Brook added: “Thankfully, it paid off.”

New role for the skipper

The decision to move the right-hander up the order allowed England to navigate a tricky chase despite Phil Salt falling for a golden duck.

It is a move that had been suggested by team-mate Moeen Ali, with Brook previously batting exclusively at number five in T20 internationals during 2026.

The shift appeared vital with opener Jos Buttler struggling for runs at the top of the order.

Will Jacks has subsequently taken over the finishing duties in the middle order, a role he performed admirably to support the captain.

Brook dominates spin attack

Brook arrived at the crease in the first over and immediately seized control, striking 10 fours and four sixes.

The 27-year-old displayed impeccable footwork against the spin trio of Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan.

He utilised the crease intelligently, moving deep to pull shorter deliveries while skipping down the track to drive through the covers.

Victory ensures England’s progression to the last four, where they will face New Zealand on Friday.

Pakistan secured a dream start against England as Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed opener Phil Salt for a golden duck on the very first delivery.

The left-arm pacer produced an immediate breakthrough to put the visiting side on the back foot instantly.

Salt, attempting to assert dominance early, was caught by Usman Khan to hand the hosts a vital advantage.

Immediate impact

It was exactly the opening the home side had targeted in their bid to dismantle the English top order.

The dismissal of such a dynamic ball-striker without a run on the board disrupts the tourists’ powerplay strategy significantly.

Shaheen has long held a reputation for taking wickets in the opening over, and he delivered once again with clinical precision.

England under pressure

Usman Khan made no mistake in the field, taking a sharp catch to silence the opener.

The jubilant celebrations from the Pakistan camp highlighted the massive importance of removing the Lancashire wicketkeeper-batter so cheaply.

England now face the task of rebuilding their innings after suffering the worst possible start to the contest.

The 14th Winter Paralympics are set to get under way in Milano Cortina, Italy, with elite competition scheduled to run officially from 6 March.

It marks the second time the nation has staged the Games, having previously hosted the event in Torino in 2006.

While the opening ceremony takes place on Friday, competitive action begins two days earlier with the wheelchair curling.

Great Britain face Estonia in their opening mixed round-robin fixture on 4 March.

Fitzpatrick leads British charge

Menna Fitzpatrick, the country’s most decorated Winter Paralympian, headlines the squad in the alpine skiing.

The six-time medallist competes alongside guide Katie Guest just three months after sustaining a serious knee injury.

Her sole gold medal to date came in the slalom at Pyeongchang 2018.

Sam Cozens also features in the alpine discipline with guide Dominic Allen.

The visually impaired skier, who was born with nystagmus, secured two third-place finishes in the giant slalom on the European circuit during the 2025-26 season.

Meanwhile, snowboarder Davy Zyw is set to make history in Italy.

The Scot becomes the first man with Motor Neurone Disease to compete at the Winter Paralympics.

Host venues and schedule

The Games are distributed across three main clusters: Milan, Cortina D’Ampezzo and Val di Fiemme.

The opening ceremony will be staged at the first-century Arena di Verona amphitheatre.

Proceedings conclude on 15 March at the Cortina Curling Stadium, which previously hosted the opening ceremony of the 1956 Winter Olympics.

The key venues for the sporting action include:

Edinburgh snowboarder Davy Zyw has been named in the Team GB squad for the Milan-Cortina Games, set to become the first snowsport athlete with motor neurone disease to compete at a Winter Paralympics.

The 38-year-old has defied medical expectations to secure his spot on the team for the event beginning on 6 March.

Zyw was diagnosed with the incurable life-shortening condition in 2018 and was initially given a prognosis of just two years.

‘Accepting the impossible’

The Scot works as a wine merchant and funded his bid for the Games through crowdfunding and employer support.

Speaking in a video released by Team GB, he described the journey as a battle against the odds.

“Essentially, I was told I had two or three years to live,” Zyw said.

“I’m seven years on and I’ve just fought my way up the ladder to get on the team at the Paralympics.”

He believes his selection sends a powerful message about resilience.

“I’ve had to accept the impossible, accept my fate,” he added.

“But, within that, there was a freedom. A freedom that nothing is impossible and that’s the message I want people to take away.”

A tragic beauty

A knee injury had previously curtailed Zyw’s hopes of an able-bodied career after he started on dry slopes near Edinburgh as a teenager.

He admits there is a profound irony in his path to the Milan-Cortina Games.

“The fact my diagnosis of being with an incurable degenerative neurological condition has brought me back to my childhood dream of being a snowboarder,” he said.

“There’s like a tragic beauty in this situation.”

Focus on the slopes

Zyw only decided to formally put himself forward for selection in the winter of 2024.

Despite the daily physical challenges of MND, he finds release when competing.

“Above all, what I love about being on my board… the daily challenges of MND, of living with this disease are gone,” he explained.

“When I’m dropping in, when I’m strapping, when I’m in the starting gate, MND is, it might be the reason I’m there, but it couldn’t be further removed from what I’m thinking about in that moment.”

“I’m thinking about the course in front of me and how I’m going to rip down it the best I can.”