Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson secured a bronze medal at the European championships in Sheffield this month, marking a significant step in their journey towards the Winter Olympics. The Team GB ice dance duo are now setting their sights on ending Britain's 32-year wait for a skating medal at the Games, drawing inspiration from legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
Recreating a Legendary Performance
In a bold move last Halloween, Fear and Gibson paid homage to Torvill and Dean's iconic 1984 Olympic routine to Ravel's Boléro. They recreated the performance on Instagram, wearing the original costumes from Sarajevo, now slightly faded with time. This tribute was not just a nostalgic gesture but a statement of their ambitions.
Lewis Gibson explained the motivation behind the homage: "We love to do something iconic every Halloween, and we thought this would be the best year to dress up as the most iconic Torvill and Dean. We approached them to ask if we could do it, and they allowed us to use the costumes, which was unbelievable."
The logistics involved a 3,000-mile journey from Nottingham to Montreal, where the pair train, to carefully transport the costumes. Lilah Fear added: "The costumes were on display in the National Ice Centre in Nottingham. We had to take them back to Canada. We didn't want to break them!"
Challenges and Humour in the Recreation
Recreating the poses proved more difficult than anticipated. Fear noted the challenges with angles and lighting, and shared a humorous mishap with the wigs: "I think I had a child's wig by accident, so it was so tight on my head and didn't look great. Jayne definitely wore it better. But Lewis somehow looked fabulous, blond with flow. Maybe that's in his future?"
Both skaters expressed deep admiration for Torvill and Dean's original performance. Gibson reflected: "What we both just appreciate about that performance is the creativity and the strength it took to come up with something so unusual and original. It really did change the sport." Fear echoed this sentiment, emphasising its timeless appeal.
From Mentorship to Medal Contention
Fear and Gibson's connection to Torvill and Dean goes beyond inspiration; they received guidance from the legends early in their career. Gibson recalled: "We were actually lucky enough, right at the beginning of our career, to work with them. It was a really amazing experience just to get the chance to actually work with them."
When asked if Torvill and Dean saw them as torchbearers, Fear laughed: "Back then, we were so horrible, I think they were like: 'Are you sure you can hold the torch?' But they always had faith and belief in us, and it meant a lot."
Now, with a bronze medal from the European championships and consistent performances, including a third-place finish at last year's world championships, Fear and Gibson are legitimate contenders for an Olympic podium. Fear stated: "Compared to four years ago, we've totally transformed. We've become more of ourselves, more skilled skaters, and I think we're really proud to show that product in Milan."
Olympic Prospects and Competition
The road to a medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is competitive. While world champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States are favourites, and European champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron of France are strong contenders, the bronze medal could be a tight race. Fear and Gibson face competition from Italy's Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri, who beat them to silver in Sheffield, and Canada's Paul Poirier and Piper Gilles.
Fear remains focused on the process: "It's so funny, because I know that's the narrative that's out there, and of course it's our goal. But we're only treating it as the next competition in our season. Because if we make it bigger than it is, then it will be a disservice to our performance and our preparation."
Embracing the Moment with British Flair
In contrast to Torvill and Dean's French-inspired Boléro, Fear and Gibson's routines celebrate British culture. Their rhythm dance features a Spice Girls medley, while their free dance incorporates Scottish themes with songs like The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond and the Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).
As they prepare for the Olympic stage, Fear emphasised their mindset: "It's now or never. It's thrilling and very stressful, but also, let's go." Gibson added: "We both live for that moment. And I always say to myself: 'There's nowhere else I would rather be right now.' If I was sitting watching this at home, I would be so disappointed. So embrace it and enjoy this moment."
They also draw on advice from Torvill and Dean. Fear shared: "They always say: 'Enjoy it.' And it's so funny because it sounds like such simple advice. But that's something that we always come back to whenever we're feeling nervous, or we have pressure or doubt. It's always: 'Am I enjoying this?' We're living our dream right now. So let's make the most of it."
