OLYMPICS: Figure skating-Two Paths, One Ice: Spain marks Ice Dance milestone at Milano Cortina

MILAN – Spain showcased two contrasting paths to the Olympic ice dancing stage on Wednesday, fielding two couples in the event for the first time.

British-born Olivia Smart, who has represented Spain for the past decade, and Germany-born Tim Dieck were among the 13 couples competing at Milano Cortina, training at the Ice Academy of Montreal, a dominant hub in the discipline in recent years.

Alongside them were Madrid-based Sofia Val and Asaf Kazimov, products of Spain’s growing domestic ice dance program led by former Olympians Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin at the SK International Ice Dance School.

Smart and Dieck finished ninth overall with 201.49 points, while Val and Kazimov – making their Olympic debut – placed 19th with 165.23 points.

Even though figure skating remains a minority sport with limited elite infrastructure in Spain, Smart said having a larger skating contingent highlighted the country’s progress since the Beijing 2022 Games.

"To walk out with another dance team, more skaters, a bigger team than what we were four years ago, and to see the growth that Spanish sport has had is incredible," said the 28-year-old. "We're proud to be part of pushing the sport and making history for Spain."

Smart and Dieck, who have competed together since 2023, train under Canadian coaches Marie-France Dubreuil and Patrice Lauzon, alongside French coach Romain Haguenauer. They share the ice with many of the world’s top teams, including newly crowned champions Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.

Domestic Push

Despite training abroad, Dieck hopes their Olympic visibility will encourage more investment in Spain.

"We made history with having two couples in the final," he said. "Hopefully we will have the opportunity to put more money in new facilities, maybe in Barcelona, and build a new ice rink. The Grand Prix Final was held there a couple of years ago, and hopefully we will get a facility, and who knows what can happen then."

Val and Kazimov, with their different style but shared ambition, aim to show that an Olympic pathway can be built domestically.

"For the kids who can watch this on TV and see that it’s possible to train in Spain and reach the Olympic Games from Spain, it’s absolutely incredible," said Kazimov. "In our rink in Majadahonda, they can see that you don’t have to go abroad."

Val added that competing without high expectations made their Olympic debut a valuable experience.

"I think now we know what to expect," she said. "There’s something magical about feeling this for the first time, especially without so many expectations about the result."

-Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Milan; Editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters