EXCLUSIVE: Dundee skaters Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby on the Olympics, training in Dundee and favourite moments

Anastasia and Luke at the European Championships just before making their Olympic debut (Picture: Ice Dundee / Supplied)

Today officially marks the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina with the exciting opening ceremony taking place ahead of fierce two weeks of exciting competition.

Among the athletes representing Team GB are Dundee-based figure skaters Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby.

But even before the opening ceremony tonight and the thrilling events ahead for the pair, this morning will see Anastasia and Luke perform in the Team Event - Pairs Short Program at 10.35am.

The pair’s journey to the Olympic stage has not been straightforward. Both were competing as singles skaters before serious knee injuries forced them to rethink their futures in the sport.

Rather than stepping away, they took a risk, teamed up, and rebuilt their careers together in pairs skating. Since joining forces in 2019, they have gone on to become five-time British champions, secure a top-seven finish at the European Championships, and qualify Great Britain for an Olympic quota place at the World Championships in Boston.

I caught up with Anastasia and Luke just before they flew out to Italy at the Dundee Ice Arena, where they train year-round.

What followed was an honest and upbeat conversation about setbacks, resilience, Dundee, and what it really means to reach the Olympics.

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Andrew Batchelor (AB): So hello Anastasia and Luke, it’s great to have you both here. To take things right back to the start, how did each of you first get into figure skating, and what was it that made you stick with it?

Luke Digby (LD): My sisters were fans of Dancing on Ice, and wanted to skate, so our mum took the family skating. I was only six years old at the time. Initially, I didn’t want to do lessons, I just wanted to be involved in the public skating. Gradually when I was about eight or nine, I did start to learn and once I started competing, that’s when the love for figure skating really started to develop.

Anastasia Vaipan-Law (AVL): For me, well my mum and dad were both skaters. I basically grew up in our local rink like the family. Even though I didn’t take lessons from a very early age, I was about six or seven years old when I started to learn to skate. Slowly but surely I made my way through it and then it became a bit more serious. Blackpool didn’t have a big rink and it wasn’t very competitive, so that eventually meant moving up to Scotland because you need a better set-up to progress.

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AB: You both came together at a really pivotal moment in your careers. Can you talk me through how you first decided to skate as a pair, and when you realised that this partnership could actually work?

LD: So initially, it started with us both having injuries, towards the end of our solo careers, around the end of 2018. We both had knee injuries and at that point we were looking for different directions. Me and Anastasia had always known each other, so we got in contact and came together. By the end of 2019, we were both in a similar situation and looking towards a new chapter. It was quite simple really, we agreed to try it and see what we could do together. Once we got on the ice, I knew we would work well together.

AVL: After my knee injury, it was quite obvious that I wouldn’t be able to continue in singles. I had always wanted to do pairs from a young age, but in the UK it’s difficult because there aren’t many male skaters. It was something I never thought would actually happen. But the timing worked out, we were both in the same position, and it allowed me to push through that and try working together. It just worked.

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AB: You’re now just days away from competing at the Winter Olympics. When you arrive in Italy, what are you most looking forward to experiencing, both on and off the ice?

LD: I’m most excited about stepping out onto Olympic ice and performing for the first time. That moment is something you dream about. I’m also really looking forward to being part of Team GB, being around other athletes in the Olympic Village, and just soaking up everything that comes with it.

AVL: Stepping onto Olympic ice is something every athlete dreams of, so that’s definitely up there. But I’m also really excited about the village, meeting athletes from other sports, hearing their stories, and just experiencing the atmosphere. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime environment.

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AB: Every elite athlete faces setbacks along the way. What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome as figure skaters?

LD: That’s quite a long list! There are great competitions, but also really difficult ones. We all work incredibly hard to perform at our best every time, but it doesn’t always go that way. That can be tough mentally, but you learn resilience from it and how to come back stronger.

AVL: Injuries are probably the biggest challenge. They affect you physically and mentally. Confidence is such a huge part of what we do, and you need complete trust in your body. When that gets knocked, it can be really hard. But we’ve been through it so many times now that we know how to manage it and stay ahead of it.

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AB: You both train here in Dundee year-round. What is it about training in the city that has helped you reach this level?

AVL: The set-up, without question. Dundee has the best set-up in the UK. I can’t think of another rink that compares to what we have here, and it’s been that way since it opened.

LD: And the coaching team as well. Simon and Debbie have so much experience, including coaching at multiple Olympics. Having that level of expertise, combined with the quality of the ice and the amount of ice time we get, makes a huge difference.

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AB: Looking back on everything so far, what moments stand out to you as some of your proudest or most memorable in your careers?

LD: Without listing everything, I’d say the European Championships. Competing at a home event, with that crowd and that level of support, was incredible. The noise, the atmosphere, it really reminded you why you do this.

AVL: Qualifying Great Britain’s Olympic quota spot at the World Championships in Boston last year has to be right at the top. Without that, there is no Olympics. We had two really strong skates and the whole experience, especially the crowd, was amazing. That moment meant everything.

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AB: For anyone reading this who might be thinking about stepping onto the ice for the first time, what advice would you give them?

LD: I’d say just turn up. Look up public skating sessions or start with the Skate Dundee programme, which is a great place to begin.

AVL: Absolutely. Start small, get a feel for the ice, work on your balance, and don’t overthink it. You don’t need to start at a certain age. It’s never too late. Luke started just skating around for fun, with no idea where it would lead, and now he’s going to the Olympics. It shows that enjoyment can take you a very long way. Take your time and remember it’s a longevity sport.

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AB: Finally, when you step onto Olympic ice for the first time, what do you want that moment to mean for you personally?

LD: Even though it’s the Olympics, stepping onto the ice still has the same importance as any other competition. I want to absorb the moment, but also know that I’ve done my absolute best. Finishing a skate knowing that you’ve given everything stays with you, and that’s what I’m aiming for.

AVL: I think it’s about staying grounded in the moment. You can’t let where you are overwhelm you. You have to step onto the ice the same way you would at Europeans or Worlds and treat it as just another performance. Then, once it’s over, if you know you’ve done everything you possibly could, that’s when the pride, happiness and joy really come through.

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For Dundee, the Winter Olympics can sometimes feel a world away. But as Anastasia Vaipan-Law and Luke Digby take to the ice in Italy, that distance disappears. 

Years of training, setbacks and small daily victories inside the Dundee Ice Arena have led to this moment.

The pair are about to make their Olympic debut in Italy this morning (Picture: FloweringDagwood)

For anyone inspired by their journey, Anastasia and Luke are proof that Olympic dreams don’t have to start anywhere else but your local rink.

As Anastasia said, you don’t need to have started skating at four years old, and it’s never too late to step onto the ice.

Whether you’re completely new or just curious, Dundee Ice Arena’s Learn to Skate programme is the perfect place to begin. It starts with the basics, builds confidence, and most importantly, keeps the focus on enjoyment.

Luke’s own journey began with public skating sessions, simply going round the rink for fun. Years later, he’s heading to the Winter Olympics.

The next Anastasia or Luke could be lacing up their skates in Dundee right now.

Whatever the final result, Anastasia and Luke’s Olympic debut marks a defining chapter, not just in their own careers, but in Dundee’s continuing reputation as a city capable of nurturing talent that reaches the very top of international sport.