Blackpool ice-skater Anastasia Vaipan-Law is inspired by legendary skating duo Torvill and Dean

The 26-year-old and partner Luke Digby will make their Winter Olympic debut next February, with the pair bidding to become the first British figure skaters to win an Olympic medal since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won bronze in the Ice Dance in 1994.

They would also be the first British pairs skaters to stand on the podium since Phyllis Johnson and Basil Williams over 100 years ago in Antwerp.

Torvill and Dean famously won gold at Sarajevo 1984, with their iconic Boléro routine etching themselves and the discipline of ice dance irrevocably into the British psyche.

It has led to the assumption that if two skaters are performing, then it’ll be in ice dance – which is comprised of rhythm dance and free dance events - rather than pairs – which features the short and free program.

Vaipan-Law, who lived in Blackpool for the first 12 years of life where her skating career began before she moved to Scotland – is aware distinguishing between the two can be difficult and her mission at the Milano Ice Skating Arena is to show off pairs skating in all its glory.

“Whenever someone thinks that we do ice dance and compares us to Torvill and Dean, I'm never offended because they are absolutely incredible,” said the four-time British pairs skating champion.

“It's just that we are actually completely different. That's when the conversation comes of what pairs is. They are just so successful in Britain and when you see two figure skaters together, that's just what you think of.

“It is hard to explain to people, so we need to put our own stamp on it. I'm really looking forward to showing the British public the difference between the two because I think it's quite important.

“We are both very passionate about lifting the sport up within the UK. I would love for people to differentiate and the UK deserve to know what we do and appreciate it. I want to put it on the map and inspire others.”

Vaipan-Law described being chosen to represent her country at the biggest winter sports event in world as the culmination of a “lifelong dream”; one which began aged just seven after growing up in a household in which both of her parents skated.

She continued: “I grew up in the ice rink and never really left the place. I was doing other sports at the same time but then it made sense for me to be in the rink. I fell in love with it and have been there ever since.”

Vaipan-Law began her career as a singles skater but a knee injury forced her to reconsider her position as a solo performer before eventually teaming up with Digby in December 2019.

“Our dynamic just worked off the bat,” she said. “It clearly was the right decision to make, and we've done really well since. From the get-go, every season we have seen improvements.”

The pair recently finished sixth overall at the 2025 Skate Canada International – which included a personal-best free program that placed them fourth in the segment – and Vaipan-Law was delighted at how the couple bounced back from falling during the short program.

“She added: “I was absolutely gutted and quite upset and that's just because we are so passionate about doing well. I went back to my room that night and just had to gather myself for the next day.

“We completely put trust in each other. It ended up being a personal best and I was absolutely overjoyed. It was from one end of the scale to another. We learnt so much from it and that is what is going to make us a better team.”

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