A heartbreaking fall dashed the medal hopes of British figure skating duo, Luke Digby and Anastasia Vaipan-Law, at the European Figure Skating Championships in Sheffield.
The pair, who had performed admirably in the short program, leaving them in fifth place and on the cusp of a historic medal, stumbled during their free skate routine. Vaipan-Law's fall on the fourth element, a throw triple loop, and a subsequent stumble on the throw triple salchow, sealed their fate, leaving them in seventh place overall.
Despite the disappointment, the Brits put on a brave face, especially with royalty and Olympic champions in attendance. Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, along with his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and British Olympic gold medalists Robin Cousins and Sir Christopher Dean, witnessed the performance.
The gold medal went to Georgia's Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava, who demonstrated resilience and talent, having only arrived in the UK the day before due to visa issues. Their success was even more impressive considering the circumstances.
But here's where it gets controversial... Georgia's triumph is also linked to one of the most divisive figures in ice skating, Eteri Tutberidze. Tutberidze, who made headlines for her treatment of Kamila Valieva at the 2022 Olympics, is the coach of Nika Egadze, the current leader in the men's short program. Egadze defended Tutberidze's methods, stating they have a strong connection as a team.
And this is the part most people miss... Tutberidze's influence extends beyond Georgia. She previously worked with the Russian national team, whose athletes are now banned from these championships due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. They will compete as neutrals in Milan 2026.
In other news, three-time British champion Edward Appleby narrowly advanced to the men's free skate on Saturday. Despite an error that could have cost him dearly, Appleby's overall performance was strong enough to secure his place, thanks in part to errors from other contenders, like France's Kevin Aymoz, who had a disappointing routine.
So, what do you think? Is Tutberidze's training method too harsh, or is it what's needed to produce champions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
