Figure skaters prepare for their first Olympics

Two figure skaters are preparing to compete at their first Winter Olympics.

Kristen Spours and Ed Appleby, who train at the Link Centre in Swindon in Wiltshire, have both overcome challenges ahead of the Milan-Cortina Games, which officially begin on Friday.

Spours had back surgery shortly after qualifying in March 2025 and was forced to take four months away from the sport, whilst Appleby injured his ankle during the off-season.

Spours said her Olympic story was "less about medals and more about resilience".

Three weeks after qualifying at the World Championships, Spours ruptured a disc in her back and underwent spinal surgery.

"I was done at that point. I thought it was over. I couldn't fathom a world where I would ever be back," she said.

The 25-year-old took four months away from her sport to recover.

In November, just over six months after her surgery, she won a national title at the British Championships.

"I think you often don't stand back and look at how far you've come.

"I've worked my life to become an Olympian and that's my story," Spours added.

Ed Appleby, 21, travels from his home in Colchester to train in Swindon.

Despite his ankle injury, he defended his British title in November 2025.

"We know that the hard work has been done, we just need to follow it through," said Appleby.

Appleby said he had dedicated the past few years completely to training and had taken a break from education after his A-levels, but plans to go to university in September.

He said the ambition for this Olympics is not a medal but a "sense of achievement to actually be there and soak up the moment and just make the most of that experience".

Chris Boyadji, who coaches the pair, said seeing them compete would be a "magical moment".

Boyadji said the injury worries resulted in a "slow start" to the season but that they both "fought very well and I'm very pleased that we're in this position right now".

"I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish with the skaters," he added.

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