In a historic victory, Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson clinched the ice dance gold medal at Skate America, marking a significant milestone in their careers.
At last week's 2024 Skate America, the first ISU Grand Prix of the season, British ice dancers Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson topped the podium in style.
The win is particularly notable as it ended a 15-year streak of American dominance in the event. Lilah and Lewis, who have placed fourth at the last two World Championships, showcased their exceptional skills and chemistry on the ice, earning an overall score of 206.38 points.
Their performance was a testament to their hard work and dedication, as they narrowly edged out the defending world champions, the USA's Madison Chock and Evan Bates, by just 0.75 points, to take the gold.
The British duo led after the rhythm dance and maintained their overall lead after finishing second in the free dance. Their victory at Skate America is a promising start to the Grand Prix season, setting a high bar for their upcoming competitions. “It definitely feels great to feel like we’re on a good momentum already at the beginning of the season,” Gibson remarked, reflecting on their achievement.
British pair skaters Luke Digby and Anastasia Vaipan-Law are also making waves in the figure skating world, delivering a strong performance at the American Grand Prix. The duo, who train in Dundee, have shown remarkable progress since they began skating together in 2019. Their performance in the free programme was a personal best for the team, highlighting their potential and growth in the sport. On the achievement, the duo said:
“It’s difficult to put into words the feeling we had once we finished our free programme. We were truly satisfied and overjoyed that we were able to deliver two programmes to the very best of our ability at Skate America. It’s a moment I’m sure we will never forget.”
As they look to the future, Luke and Ana are focused on refining their routines and aiming for higher placements. Their enthusiasm and commitment to the sport certainly make them a pair to watch in the coming seasons.
Excitingly, Luke and Ana have recently received a second Grand Prix allocation for the season, and will be competing at the upcoming NHK Trophy in Japan. “It was a dream come true when we found out that we had been selected to compete at the NHK trophy in Japan, as it is such a prestigious and exciting event.”
These latest achievements are not only moments of national sporting pride but highlight the growing strength and talent in British figure skating, providing strong role models and inspiration for the next generation of skaters.
Fear/Gibson will next be in action at the Nepela Memorial in Bratislava 24-26 October.
Vaipan-Law/Digby will be skating at the NHK Trophy 8th-11th November (watch live for free on the ISU YouTube channel!) Full results from Skate America 2024 can be viewed here.
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