Final push for Gibson and Frear as they find their rhythm in Sweden
Scottish ice dancer Lewis Gibson and partner Lilah Fear said they were “grateful” to be back on the ice in international competition for the first time in a year as they go into the final of the World Figure Skating Championships in eighth place.
The couple, who finished 13th last time they competed in the competition two years ago, said they were proud of their score in the rhythm dance, adding that it had set them up well for today’s free dance final. Historically, the couple have usually ranked higher after the free dance than in the rhythm dance, paving the way for a strong placing today.
Prestwick-born Gibson told The Scotsman: “Sometimes in the past, we’ve had to climb our way back up [from the rhythm dance] but it was good and we’re really proud of that. We want to just go and have fun and enjoy our last goal of the season.”
The couple, who train at the prestigious Ice Academy of Montreal in Canada, scored 77.42 in the rhythm dance – a personal best, beating their previous highest score which they were awarded at the Skate Canada Grand Prix two years ago, when they scooped a bronze medal.
In first place is European champions Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov from Russia, with a score of 88.15.
The World Figure Skating Championships in Stockholm, Sweden, has been the first major competition in
the sport in over a year, after last year’s event, which was due to take place in Montreal, but was cancelled at the last minute due to the pandemic.
Fear said: “As we stepped out there on the ice for the warm up, we just looked around and were like ‘we get to compete!’. Just taking that in, we really enjoyed the moment.”
The event is being held without an audience, while the skaters are in a competition
bubble and are tested for Covid-19 throughout the week.
She added: “I noticed it was a little quiet as we took our starting position, but we had some training mates in the audience and they made sure to make some noise, which we really appreciated, but once you get going, it’s kind of a bit of a blur anyway. We had a lot of well wishes from home and we really feel the love from around the world.”
Gibson said: “Throughout
the week, to be back at an event and going to practices, you feel so grateful to be able to do that again.”
British figure skating champion Natasha Mckay, meanwhile, is pinning her hopes on a place in the 2022 Winter Olympics after finishing 23rd in the World Figure Skating Championships final.
Mckay, from Dundee, said she hoped to win a place for Great Britain after a free skate which saw her miss both
axel components of her programme.
The skater, who scored 95.31 in her free skate after qualifying for the final in the top 24 after the short programme earlier this week, has struggled to get ice time during the pandemic. All three medals in the ladies' competition went to Russian skaters, with Anna Shcherbakova taking gold.
"Obviously everyone is looking for an Olympic spot this year,” said Mckay.