"Very rewarding": Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson exclusive on their hunt for a World and Olympic podium while learning from the process
The British ice dancers, silver medallists at the European Championships in 2023, are working towards their ultimate aim: winning a medal at a World Championships and the Winter Olympic Games in 2026.
Figure Skating
Having been European medallists in 2023, the next step for Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson seems obvious.
The British ice dancers want to repeat the feat at a World Figure Skating Championships. Or better yet, at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
"We put in the work, we keep our heads down and we believe in what's possible for us and in fulfilling our potential," Fear tells Olympics.com at the recent Skate Canada International when asked to reflect on her and Gibson's recent progress.
"We've continued to accomplish a lot, and we kind of keep our sights set on short-term goals more than long-term." But those ultimate goals are, like for every elite athlete, somewhere in the back of their minds.
"Of course a dream is to be on that world podium, the top of the world podium is everyone's dream and something we're definitely working towards."
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Taking inspiration from Papadakis and Cizeron and looking to 2026
With the next Olympic Winter Games in 2026 taking place in Europe, their British fans and family will likely find it easier to attend to cheer them on.
Fear and Gibson made their Olympic Games bow at Beijing 2022, which the former says provided a big learning experience.
"I think about the next Olympics as an amazing opportunity and something that I feel equipped for because we've already gone to one," the 24-year-old enthuses. "We gained and learned so much from our last Olympics and that gives us a huge sense of competence and confidence moving forwards.
"We still have a couple of years to go and a lot of room to grow. Big dreams, big goals, and big visions for ourselves – and of course that includes an Olympic podium."
The duo are based at the Ice Academy of Montreal in Canada, one of the world's leading ice dance training centres.
There, they have been exposed to countless talented teammates, including 2022 Olympic champions Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron of France, who smashed multiple scoring records in their gold-winning season.
"It's nice to see that it is possible," Gibson says of his teammates, who have been on a competitive break since summer 2022, and their record-breaking feats. "I think for us, we've sort of stayed true to our guns and kind of done it our way with our programs. It's been fun.
"We've made some jumps ourselves in the last few years and we just want to continue to do that."
Fear and Gibson on learning from the process
Part of making those jumps involves the day-to-day hard work, beginning in the summer with coming up with new programs, music, choreography and costumes, and ending at the World Championships each March.
"I think our sport is made up of so many elements, so many ways of achieving levels and GOE (Grades of Execution); we do all these competitions and we're lucky enough to get feedback," Scotland-born Gibson says.
"So there's always these small, short-term goals to work on and build upon with the coaches: you always have something in front of you; a new challenge every day."
Adds Fear: "Every competition is an opportunity to get feedback and to collect information (from the judges) to make us better for the next one. We always make a point of seeking that out after the event and taking it into account."
This 2023/24 season, the duo picked up silver and gold from their two Grand Prix outings before finishing fourth at the Grand Prix Final likely featuring many of their key rivals heading towards March's World Championships in Montreal.
It seems like their hard work through the processes of bringing their programs to life is slowly but surely paying off.
"Experimentation (with the programs) and giving the space and time for that, paired with clear goals and 'what is the purpose of this element? What are we trying to accomplish? What strengths are we trying to show?'… the blend of the two is sometimes difficult," Fear acknowledges.
"Patience is involved but there's also the deadlines of competitions. I think this season we've been able to navigate that balance a little better, and it's been very rewarding."