Ice dancers Lilah Fear, 26, and Lewis Gibson, 31, began skating together in 2016 and have been British champions a record eight times.
By winning World Championship bronze last year, they became Great Britain’s first World skating medallists since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean took their last gold in 1984.
Fear and Gibson are skating at the European Championships at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena from 13th January, less than a month before the start of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, Italy.
What does it mean to you to be competing in one of the year’s most important events on home territory, in front of British fans?
Fear: We’re so excited! We’ve never really had this on this scale. We had a Grand Prix in Sheffield a few years ago which was so emotional for us – you could just feel this absolute wall of support on the ice rink. Knowing that we were representing the people in the audience was very meaningful to us.
The fact that it will be the huge Sheffield stadium with so many loved ones, people we’ve grown up with, so many friendly faces there supporting us… it’s something we’re really looking forward to.
The importance of your pride in Britain is reflected in your choices of music and costume this season…
Gibson: Absolutely. For the rhythm dance we have a Spice Girls soundtrack, complete with Lilah in a Geri-style Union Jack dress, and then my Scottish background reflected in the free dance, with music including the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond, The Proclaimers, and Auld Lang Syne.
For the free dance we wear Royal Stewart tartan – my own tartan is Buchanan, but Royal Stewart is the most world-renowned tartan and it looks great on the ice.
You’ve won two silvers and a bronze at the last three European Championships – but all three of those times Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri of Italy have taken gold, so once again it’s a really tough ask.
Gibson: That’s right, although the last time we competed in Sheffield was just a few weeks ago at the end of November when we won the British title for the eighth time. These Europeans are incredibly important both in their own right, and as a step towards the Winter Olympics in February.
Fear: I think it’s going to be a wonderful send-off for the Olympics. I hope the crowd get properly involved, and that they really feel the love of skating. It’s going to be very special.
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