Appeal made over 'incorrect' Fear & Gibson penalty

British Ice Skating has appealed after Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson missed out on an ice dance bronze medal at the World Figure Skating Championships by being deducted two points. Fear and Gibson were third after the rhythm dance and looked to have secured bronze in the free dance, but they were penalised for an "illegal element" by the judges. BIS called the deduction "incorrect" and said it is formally challenging the decision with the International Skating Union.

Fear and Gibson finished fourth, 0. 22 of a point behind Americans Emilea Zingas and Vadym Kolesnik in Prague. The reason for the penalty was the height of Gibson's arms in an overhead lift during their routine.

Under the ISU's rule 704, it is illegal if the "point of contact of the lifting hand(s)/arms of the lifting partner with any part of the body of the lifted partner is sustained with fully extended arms higher than the lifting partner's head". However, the rule allows one arm to be fully extended above the head, provided it is the supporting arm. BIS said on Tuesday that the ISU had confirmed they had received the protest submission.

"We believe this deduction was applied incorrectly and does not accurately reflect the performance delivered on the ice," read a BIS statement. "As an organisation, British Ice Skating stands for fairness, clarity, and transparency in sport. In this instance, we do not believe those principles have been upheld.