British ice dance stars Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson have added another medal to their collection, securing a bronze at the European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield. The result marks their fourth consecutive podium finish at the European event, continuing their impressive record in the sport.
Podium Battle Goes Down to the Wire
The fight for the silver medal was exceptionally close. Fear and Gibson were narrowly beaten by the Italian duo of Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri, the three-time European champions, by a mere 0.83 points. The British pair's combined score of 209.51 points was built on a vibrant rhythm dance set to a Spice Girls medley and a powerful free skate with a Scottish theme.
New Pair Strikes Gold for France
The gold medal was claimed in a stunning performance by French skater Guillaume Cizeron, the 2022 Olympic champion, and his new partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry. Remarkably, the pair have been skating together for just nine months. They delivered a season's best free skate to top the podium, showcasing incredible synergy in a short time.
Strong Showing from Other British Skaters
There were encouraging performances elsewhere for the home nation at the Sheffield event. In the pairs competition, Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby achieved a solid seventh-place finish. Meanwhile, in the ice dance, the British team of Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez finished in a respectable 11th position.
While the maiden European title eluded Fear and Gibson this time, their consistent presence on the podium underscores their status as one of the continent's leading ice dance partnerships. The event in Sheffield has set a compelling stage for the remainder of the international season.
