Appleby skates season’s best as Team GB finish ninth in Olympic Figure Skating Team Event

Edward Appleby closed out Team GB’s Figure Skating Team Event campaign at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games with a season’s best 69.68 in the Men’s Short Program, as Great Britain secured a ninth-place finish overall in the qualification standings.

Skating on Saturday 7 February, Appleby delivered a composed performance on the biggest stage to earn valuable points for Team GB and complete a Team Event run that underlines the growing depth and momentum of British figure skating.

“I feel like I’m on quite a bit of a high right now. Obviously it wasn’t a completely clean skate but it felt very solid and it was one that let me enjoy the moment even more. Rather than just, ‘Okay this is when I become an Olympian,’ I put out what I have been training and I could be proud of the hard work that was put in to get here and it came together in the moment.”

Team Event recap: Team GB’s points across the four segments in the Figure Skating Team Event

The Olympic Figure Skating Team Event is a nation-versus-nation competition that combines all four disciplines — Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance. Countries earn points based on placement in each segment, and only the top teams progress to the final. With only 10 nations qualifying for the Olympic Figure Skating Team Event, simply earning a place on this start list is a huge achievement in itself.

Team GB’s qualification total was built across four performances:

• Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson - 86.85 in the Rhythm Dance (season’s best), delivering a standout start for Team GB.

• Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby - 57.29 in the Pairs Short Program, adding important points to the team total.

• Kristen Spours - 48.28 in the Women’s Short Program, gaining crucial Olympic experience and contributing to the overall score.

• Edward Appleby - 69.68 in the Men’s Short Program (season’s best), bringing Team GB’s Team Event campaign to a close.

  
  

Great Britain’s ninth-place overall finish is a significant achievement in itself — qualifying for the Team Event and delivering competitive performances across all four disciplines is a real statement of the strength of this British figure skating squad.

Next up for British Ice Skating at Milano Cortina

Monday 9 February brings the next major moments for Team GB’s British Ice Skating athletes:

• Speed Skating - Women’s 1000m: Ellia Smeding

• Figure Skating - Ice Dance Rhythm Dance: Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson and Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez

How to watch in the UK

You can catch every moment of the Games in the UK via BBC Sport (including BBC iPlayer/Red Button) or discovery+ (TNT Sports coverage).

British Ice Skating Olympic Hub

For daily schedules, athlete updates, results round-ups and the latest content throughout February, head to the British Ice Skating Olympic Hub - your one-stop shop for all things Milano Cortina.

Inspire to Skate

Inspired by the Olympic action? British Ice Skating’s Inspire to Skate campaign - delivered in partnership with Planet Ice - is here to help more people take their first steps onto the ice, whether you’re brand new or returning after a break.

From beginner-friendly taster lessons to finding a rink near you, there are loads of ways to get involved and give skating a go. Head to the British Ice Skating Olympic Hub for the latest campaign info and links to get started.