Lack of Gibson European gold and fear of GB

Lilah Fear and Louise Gibson have been denied Britain’s first European Figure Skating Championships gold medal for 32 years.

The pair placed second in the final round of the ice dance competition, but problems with the timing of the second element of their free dance routine cost them their chance to advance to first.

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However, Fear and Gibson still finished on the podium for a fourth successive Europeans, repeating their bronze medals from 2025 and adding their silvers in 2023 and 2024.

It raises hopes that they can end Team GB’s three-decade wait for a place on the Olympic figure skating podium in Milan next month.

Free dance gives skaters complete creative freedom in their routines, and Voy and Gibson take full advantage.

Dubbed the “Disco Brits” for their funky choices in music, they performed a Scottish-themed medley in honour of Gibson’s roots—tartan robes and all.

A few early timing issues didn’t stop them, and a strong finish made Utilita a permanent fixture around the arena.

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But it wasn’t the flawless performance they needed to end Britain’s three-decade wait for European gold.

France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cesaron won the gold, while Italy’s Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri – continental champions for the past three years – took silver.

Twizel throws Fear and Gibson into a twist

It means British skaters have yet to win a European event since Dame Jane Torvill and Sir Christopher Dean’s ice dance in 1994.

Voy, 26, and Gibson, 31, had a great chance to finish the race when they finished second after the rhythm dance, 1.5 points behind Fournier Beaudry and Cesaron.

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But after a strong start where they perfectly executed their most difficult lift, Voy fell a bit into the synchronised twizzle, the second element of the routine.

And when they got back on track and peaked magnificently at the conclusion as bagpipes blasted around Sheffield, the look of their disappointment on the ice in conclusion spoke volumes.

Instead, Fournier Beaudry, 33, and 31-year-old Cesaron – who only teamed up in March – sealed the gold.

They became a duo after Cesaro’s acrimonious split with ex-partner Gabriela Papadakis, who accused him of controlling behaviour.

Meanwhile, Fabbri, 37, and 36-year-old Guignard are the oldest male and female skaters at the championships and return to Sheffield, where they competed together in their first European Championships in 2012.

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It was Fabbri’s 14th Euro, a new record – and his sixth medal.

Earlier, fellow Brits Phebe Baker and James Hernandez performed a smooth, spine-tingling routine that drew a standing ovation in Sheffield.

After a good start, the young duo – aged 20 and 24, respectively – got better with moves towards the end of the routine, scoring above their base values ​​in their choreographed spin and execution grades.

That earned them a season-best 106.75 in the free dance, putting them in first place overall at the halfway point.

They finished 11th but ensured they will be one to watch in the years to come – and firstly, at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

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Golden Double for Georgia

In the afternoon session, medals are determined following the men’s free skate discipline.

Georgia’s Nika Egadze delivered the performance of her career, running away with gold with four quadruple jumps.

A tough showdown was expected as the 23-year-old scored 181.72 points and 273.00 overall for Georgia’s first European win in the men’s singles – and their second gold of the competition.

“I was a little shaky when I got to the ice. I started to feel a little nervous, but I remembered what my coaches said – I have to relax a little bit and do it for this amazing crowd,” Egadze said.

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Coached by Eteri Tutberidze, who drew the title for her snub to Kamila Valieva at the 2022 Olympics, where the Russian teenager was investigated for suspected doping.

Tutberidze is well known in the figure skating world for his tough coaching style. He previously worked with the Russian national team, whose athletes are banned from the championships – and will compete as neutrals at Milan 2026 – because of the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Egadze and Tutberidze have worked together for nine years, and he previously trained at his private rink until a competition-standard facility was built in Georgia last year.

Italy’s Matteo Rizzo was second, while Russian-born Czech Republic’s Georgy Reshtenko rose from eighth to third after the short programme.

Britain’s representative, Edward Appleby, finished in 24th place.