Britain’s new ice-dance champs Fear and Gibson next target Euros glory in Sheffield
Britain’s new ice-dance superstars Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson have skated off with a record eighth British title in Sheffield — ahead of their return next month for the Euros.
And with February’s Winter Olympics in their sights they proved they’re not simply chasing glory, they’re carving it straight into the ice, writes Graham Walker.
BUY TICKETS: Cheer on all Olympic hopefuls at the ISU Figure Skating European Championships, taking place at Utilita Arena Sheffield, from January 13-18, 2026. For available tickets and information visit www.europeans2026.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
Fear and Gibson’s history-making win, at last weekend’s British Figure Skating Championships, makes them the most decorated ice dance team in Great Britain.
It also moves them clear of iconic Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, and British legends John and Sinead Kerr, who each amassed seven national titles over their careers.
The landmark cements them at the very top of Britain’s illustrious ice dance lineage and their status as one of the world’s elite ice dance teams.
The Torvill and Dean backed ice dance sensations know what’s next and what they want...what they really, really want!
Fear and Gibson told us recently they wannabe Euro and Olympic champs dancing to a Spice Girls medley and will go for glory, as Torvill and Dean did, on Sheffield steel blades, made at the city’s famous John Wilson factory.
Lilah, aged 26, a British-Canadian, raised in London, commenting on their win, said: “It’s wild because Torvill and Dean are the British ice dance team, and just to have our names mentioned alongside theirs, let alone to have won it eight times, is crazy. It means so much and it shows the history we have here, all the memories we’ve built and how we’ve grown over those eight years, so it’s really cool to look back on.”
Lewis 31, from Prestwick, Scotland, added: “I remember that first year we won – we were so new together – and everything we’ve experienced since then has been so meaningful. To still be here eight years later, skating better than ever and pushing British ice dance forward is something we’re really proud of.
In pairs, Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Sheffield born Luke Digby dominated once again, taking gold for the 5th consecutive year at the British Championships.
Their impressive trajectory, from 10th at Europeans in 2023 and 16th at their first Worlds, to 5th at the 2025 Europeans and 12th at the 2025 Worlds, signals Britain’s return to the top tier of pairs skating — with their 2025 Europeans result in Tallinn marking the highest finish for a British pair since 1989.
Elsewhere, ice dance pair James Hernandez and Phebe Bekker also delivered an outstanding performance, improving on last year’s silver and showcasing their growing strength on the national stage – setting the bar high for the Europeans in January 2026.
The results pave the way perfectly for the ISU Figure Skating European Championships 2026, coming to Sheffield from January, 13–18.
The city will host Europe’s finest skaters – for the first time in a decade – providing UK fans with a front-row seat to witness remarkable performances on the ice and just weeks ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Fear and Gibson, who captured bronze at the 2025 World Championships – Britain’s first world figure skating medal since Torvill & Dean in 1984 – are targeting a podium finish on home ice, promising fans a thrilling showcase ahead of their Olympic campaign.
Sheffield’s return to hosting the European Championships marks a milestone for British Ice Skating,reflecting one of the nation’s most successful seasons in years and generating unparalleled excitement for fans nationwide. This is the last opportunity to see Britain’s top skaters compete on home ice before the Winter Olympic Games, and anticipation is at an all-time high!
"What they're doing is amazing," said Christopher.
“We're blown away by all the technical elements and the artistic side of it. We're really proud of what they're doing. Lilah and Lewis know exactly what they need to do."
Mark Hanretty, one of Dancing On Ice’s pro-dance skaters, a former European and World competitor, is , Ambassador for the Euro Championships coming to Sheffield.
The Exhibition of Champions Gala tickets will grant access to the spectacular closing night, where Europe’s newly crowned champions and medalists return to the ice to perform their most entertaining, creative, and crowd-pleasing routines in a celebration of the sport.
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