Sunday 02/02/2025
Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson secured a spot on the European Figure Skating Championships ice dance podium for the third year in a row, delivering a high-energy Free Dance on Saturday afternoon that won them the bronze medal. The result continues a hugely successful season for the British couple, who have achieved a podium finish at every competition so far, including two gold Grand Prix medals.
Fear and Gibson, silver medallists at the 2023 and 2024 Championships, just lost out on the runner-up spot to France’s Evegeniia Lopareva and Geoffrey Brissaud, with less than a point’s difference between the two teams. The gold medal went to Italian team Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri for the third consecutive year.
In a highly competitive field at the championships, which this year took place in Tallinn, Estonia, Lilah and Lewis demonstrated their resolve to successfully secure their podium spot. When asked about their performance in the Free Dance, they said:
"We were really over the moon with our skate today, especially with the comeback from yesterday, how we geared up mentally and really went for it today with the energy we chose. That's the feeling that lasts for us and what we'll take forward. Also, all of the feedback is fuel and motivation to prepare for Worlds!"
British skaters Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez also competed in the category, achieving a 13th-place finish with their James Bond-inspired performance. In only their second senior season, and with James combatting illness, they demonstrated their professionalism to nevertheless deliver a strong finish.
“James wasn’t feeling 100% this afternoon which, combined with some respiratory issues post-performance, prompted a short hospital visit as a precautionary measure. He has received the all-clear and has returned to his hotel feeling much better.” Jon Eley - Head of Performance, British Ice Skating.
After what has been a highly successful championships for the British team, excitement is further fuelled by the knowledge that the next European Figure Skating Championships will be on home soil, with Sheffield set to host in January 2026 - the last major international competition before many of the competing athletes will go on to the Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortana. Figure skating fans who want to add their voice to the roar of the home crowd can get their tickets for the event now: europeans2026.com
Congratulations to Lilah, Lewis, Phebe and James and their teams on a fantastic championships!
Watch their performances here:
The excitement doesn’t stop with the 2025 European Championships!
Looking ahead, the ISU European Figure Skating Championships 2026 will be taking place in Sheffield, UK at the Utilita Arena Sheffield, from 13th-18th January 2026 - the first time the UK has hosted this event in over a decade. This prestigious event will showcase the best skaters from across Europe on British ice, offering fans the opportunity to experience world-class figure skating up close.
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