The British Skating Federation has announced its intention to contest the scores awarded to ice dance duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson at the recent World Figure Skating Championships. This decision was communicated through an official statement from the federation.
At the 2026 Championships, Fear and Gibson represented Great Britain, finishing third in the rhythm dance with a score of 85.09 points, which included 48.46 points for technical performance. They placed fifth in the free dance, resulting in an overall fourth-place finish with a total of 208.98 points.
The British pair concluded the competition just 0.22 points shy of a bronze medal. The bronze was awarded to the duo of former Ukrainian skater Vadym Kolesnyk and Emilia Zingas, marking their first medal at the World Championships.
Following the competition, the British federation submitted a formal appeal to the International Skating Union (ISU), claiming that their representatives were unfairly penalized, which led to Fear and Gibson’s fourth-place standing. The federation stated that the final result did not accurately reflect their performance on the ice.
“We officially challenge the decision [to deduct points] and express our concerns to the International Skating Union (ISU). We also call for a full and independent review of the judging process to ensure accountability and fairness for all skaters,” the statement read.
The federation emphasized its commitment to fairness and transparency in the sport, asserting that these principles were not upheld at the 2026 Championships.
“We are fully confident that the ISU will thoroughly investigate this matter, and that any findings will lead to actions ensuring that no skater—regardless of nationality or status—will suffer in this manner again,” stated Pam Agus, president of the British Skating Federation.
This season has also seen disputes regarding the performance of the duo Laurence Fournier-Baudry and Guillaume Cizeron. In their debut season together, they secured a gold medal at the 2026 Olympics despite errors in their final performance, surpassing American favorites Madison Chock and Evan Bates. The American pair expressed concerns about the transparency of the scoring, while the ISU reaffirmed its trust in the judges and the effectiveness of current protocols.
The British Skating Federation is appealing the scores given to Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson at the World Figure Skating Championships, arguing that the results do not reflect their performance. This move underscores ongoing concerns about judging transparency in the sport.