British pair in contention for figure skating gold

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson scored a season-best 85.47 in the rhythm dance and sit second at the European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield; the free dance that will decide medals is scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson sit second after the rhythm dance at the European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield. They earned a season-best 85.47 points for a routine set to a Spice Girls medley. British skaters have not taken a European title since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean in 1994. The free dance, where medal places are decided, is scheduled for tomorrow evening. Key details: - Fear and Gibson scored 85.47 in the rhythm dance and are 1.5 points behind leaders Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, who scored 86.93. - The British duo completed a routine that included a rotational lift and received positive marks across the five judged elements. - Young British pair Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez placed 11th with a season-best 71.64 for a routine to "Freedom" by George Michael; both are also scheduled to compete at the 2026 Olympics. - Reigning European champions Marco Fabbri and Charlene Guignard are placed behind the leaders; they are 37 and 35 years old and returned to Sheffield, where they first competed together in 2012. - Twenty of the 28 pairs progressed from the rhythm dance to the free dance, which will determine the final podium on Saturday evening. Summary: The rhythm dance left Fear and Gibson well placed in second ahead of the free dance that will decide the medals. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron hold a narrow lead, and Fear and Gibson plan a Scottish-themed free dance honoring his roots, including tartan costumes, for tomorrow evening in Sheffield.