Same-sex couples can now compete as a pair at Britain’s National Championships
British Ice Skating is the latest federation to open its National Championships to all ice dance teams including two men or two women. The post Same-sex couples can now compete as a pair at Britain’s National Championships appeared first on Outsports.
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The ice dance competition at next year’s British Figure Skating Championships could be won by a team featuring two men or two women.
British Ice Skating (BIS), the national federation, has confirmed a series of rule changes for its 2026/27 season. In ice dance, it says, “same-sex couples will now be permitted to compete in all events, including at the Championships.”
The news was relayed via an “Important Announcement” on social media, with BIS saying: “This change reflects our ongoing commitment to making ice skating inclusive and accessible for all.”
BIS becomes the third national federation to make such an amendment. Skate Canada was the first, updating its rules in 2022 to allow any two skaters to form a pair or ice dance team, regardless of gender.
Earlier this year, Olympic medal winners Gabriella Papadakis and Madison Hubbell performed together on the ice at an exhibition in Zurich.
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After winning medals at the Winter Olympics, France’s Gabriella Papadakis & Team USA’s Madison Hubbell joined forces on the ice in Zurich.
It was the first time they had teamed up in front of an audience, and they said they did so to support others in figure skating who had been advocating for change.
Then in September, Mille Colling and Emma Aalto were cleared to become Finland’s first same-sex ice dance team. They competed in a qualifier for the national championships, telling the media they were “best friends that want to skate together.”
The International Skating Union’s rules continue to stipulate that pair and dance teams must comprise one man and one woman.
Nevertheless, the British switch-up is likely to advance calls within other federations and within ISU circles.
Reacting to the news, world top-ranked ice dancer Lewis Gibson, who will represent Team GB at the Winter Olympics in Milan in February alongside his dance partner Lilah Fear, welcomed the development.
“I was really happy when I heard British Ice Skating has opened ice dance up to same-sex couples next season,” Gibson told Outsports. “It feels like it’s aligning to that of other countries. Inclusivity doesn’t change the skating, it enriches it.
“As someone who skates openly and proudly, I see this as a message that figure skating belongs to everyone.
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@reuters Retired Olympic champions Gabriella Papadakis from France and Madison Hubbell from the U.S. will perform together during the Art on Ice Gala, hoping their all-women pairing will help break down gender stereotypes and open the way for same-sex couples to compete. #Reuters#News#IceSkating#gender#genderequality#sports ♬ original sound – Reuters
“Letting any two skaters team up, regardless of gender, honours that. It gives so many more people the chance to find the partner that brings out their best, and in a small country where there is not a lot of male skaters, this will perhaps give a chance to have more couples perform.”
In the U.K., millions of TV viewers have already enjoyed watching same-sex couples perform on the series “Dancing on Ice.”
The show ran for 17 seasons between 2006 and 2025, and broke new ground when Steps singer Ian ‘H’ Watkins teamed up with professional skater Matt Evers in 2020.
@ianhwatkins #danceawesome #frozen #danceAwesome #dancingonice #teamhandmatt #handmatt #viral #thisishowitsdone @themattevers #lgbtq #iliketomoveitmoveit ♬ I Like To Move It Remix – Mastiksoul
The two gay men were praised by fans for their performances and visibility before becoming the fifth couple to be eliminated, out of 11 in the competition that year.
Three years later, drag queen The Vivienne was partnered on the show with Colin Grafton, and they went on to reach the final, finishing third.
Grafton paid a powerful tribute to his friend, whose legal name was James Lee Williams, upon their tragic passing away earlier this year, writing: “What we were able to accomplish together on Dancing On Ice was truly remarkable and I know your bravery and our partnership inspired many people. I will always be so proud of what we accomplished.”
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The post Same-sex couples can now compete as a pair at Britain’s National Championships appeared first on Outsports.
