Torvill and Dean Poised for Triumphant Return — Iconic Duo Could Step Back In to Guide the Next Generation of British Ice Skaters Amid Olympic Hopes

Legendary ice dance duo Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who won Olympic gold in 1984 and bronze in 1992, have expressed an interest in returning to the sport to help foster the next generation of British figure skaters. Despite their success, no British figure skater has won an Olympic medal since their triumphs.

During an interview with BBC Sport, Dean shared, “I guess some people would say we should lead that new generation to some extent, and we most probably would – if we were asked to.” This comment came after Torvill and Dean attended the British Olympic Ball in London, even though Dean now resides in Colorado.

The National Ice Skating Association (NISA) has shown interest in exploring talks with the duo, with NISA Chief Executive Keith Horton saying the organization would be open to discussions about a higher-profile role for Torvill and Dean within the sport.

Since retiring in the late 1990s, Torvill and Dean have found a second career in British TV, particularly through the Dancing On Ice series, where they have contributed to popularizing the sport. However, competitive figure skating in Britain is now in a “trough,” according to Dean, with financial support and infrastructure challenges hampering its growth.

The Kerr siblings, the last prominent British ice dance team, retired after finishing eighth at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Current British hopefuls, Nick Buckland and Penny Coomes, who finished 20th in Vancouver, are now Britain’s top ice dance team, though they no longer receive any funding from UK Sport.

Dean expressed frustration with the lack of financial support, noting, “It’s sad to see the financial aid isn’t there. It was there and it didn’t produce, and the funding was taken away. Where is that disconnect? What happened?”

Torvill and Dean’s potential roles with the British program could range from coaching Buckland and Coomes to acting as figureheads in efforts to boost participation in the sport. However, Horton voiced concerns about how their expertise could be utilized given Dean’s location in Colorado and the duo’s busy schedules.

“Chris doesn’t live here anymore. They’ll give time if they’re available, but they’re so extremely busy,” Horton said, citing challenges in scheduling a press conference for the upcoming European Championships.

Despite the difficulties, Dean reassured, “We are around, and we are available – it just doesn’t happen.”

If Torvill and Dean were to coach the next generation of British ice dancers, they would likely work alongside Evgeny Platov, who won Olympic gold in 1994 and now coaches Buckland and Coomes. Platov, a former rival of Torvill and Dean, currently trains them in Philadelphia, although they are expected to return to Britain for the European Championships in January.

Horton remained optimistic about the future, saying, “We’re actually developing quite a strong ice dance structure. The only thing missing at the moment is UK Sport funding, which we need for athletes to train on a full-time basis.”

The funding situation will be reviewed at the end of the season in April 2025, with results from Buckland and Coomes expected to influence future decisions.