For the subsequent entry in our New Group Sequence, we meet Rebecka Gamstedt & Filip Nilsson, senior ice dancers from Sweden. Rebecka & Filip are the 2026 Swedish junior bronze medalists.
Inform us about your particular person skating journeys, together with any early particular reminiscences.
Rebecka: I began skating once I was six years previous. After two years I had my first competitors. I bear in mind it very clearly. I used to be very nervous however I cherished to do my fairly hair, and have my lovely gown on! Since then I’ve competed yearly. This saved up till I grew to become 18. That is once I determined to cease singles skating.
Three weeks after stopping, I bought the possibility to attempt skating with Filip and it reignited my love for the game. I had by no means seen or heard something about ice dance earlier than this. Now we’ve completed one season collectively and I’ve by no means improved a lot throughout a season earlier than.
Filip: My skating journey is a bit completely different from most others. I began hockey follow when i used to be three. I joined my brothers coaching passes when our dad was our coach. My brother would have his regular follow and I’d be subsequent to the barrier with a cone in hand to skate circles round them haha.
After stopping hockey once I was 12 I didn’t contact a pair of skates or the ice rink for 5 years. After I was 17, I watched some previous Olympic footage of German pair skaters and Yuzuru [Hanyu] that I bought the thought to attempt it out. I mailed the close by membership to attempt it out and fell in love immediately. Ever since I’ve been in an ice rink six occasions per week for 4 years. I distinctly bear in mind having my first competitors in Finland as a solo ice dancer. It was horrible. I felt so misplaced and I instructed my coach that I received’t compete alone once more, however I feel this expertise made me resolve to get higher, to not stand out even better.
Rebecka: From the beginning, it was very spontaneous that I began with ice dance. I assumed it might be a brand new problem to attempt to it caught.
Filip: I however bought compelled into ice dance by my first coach. She instructed me that me being a boy in Sweden that desires to coach in determine skating makes me obligated to do ice dance.
Inform us how your partnership began.
Rebecka: It was very spontaneous and random on my half. After I stopped singles skating the plan was to cease skating and competing, however once I bought requested to attempt ice dance I didn’t see a purpose to not attempt it out.
I discovered the tryout bizarre haha. The steps didn’t make sense and I’d by no means watched something about it. However I did discover it very enjoyable! It was good firm!
Filip: I used to be excited on my half. I had tried out about 4 companions earlier than this however none of them caught, however this time it was a extremely good. Singles skating expertise with the identical enthusiasm and good character that ticked all of the containers. She picked up on it actually rapidly and though she was confused by the sample dances she might use her expertise to make the skating extra unison.
What’s one thing that shocked you about your associate if you first began coaching collectively?
Rebecka: I discovered it very shocking that Filip began skating when he was solely 17!
Filip: I discovered it shocking how she was so fast to resolve to start out taking it severely, and some weeks after beginning she took a flight to a different nation with a boy she didn’t know fairly properly for a two week camp. I noticed myself in that aggressive spontaneity identical to once I began skating as a 17 yr previous.
What experiences do every of you convey to the partnership?
Rebecka: I convey my expertise from singles skating. I’ve competed since I used to be a child each nationally and internationally. I’ve suggestions and methods relating to methods to deal with disturbing conditions. And I’ve educated for a very long time beneath many various coaches which provides me the instruments to sort out nearly all workout routines and coaching kinds.
Filip: Me however had extra expertise when it got here to ice dance. Even when it was only some years. I had a lot of the fundamentals down and only some dangerous habits.
I’ve been very involved in coaching my complete life so serving to Rebecka with workout routines for ache, energy or stretching.
What has been the most important adjustment for every of you to this point within the partnership?
Rebecka: Having the ability to discuss throughout follow and have a say in my coaching with each my coach and associate. One other very nice profit is that with all the things I do, I’m not alone. There’s at all times somebody there with me.
Filip: I needed to transfer cities to seek out Rebecka. Dwelling alone has include just a few downsides however getting the possibility to skate together with her means it’s all price it.
What’s it that you simply already like most about dancing along with your new associate?
Rebecka: You’ve got very enjoyable throughout follow and outdoors follow! I additionally discover it very partaking how briskly we’re enhancing!
Filip: I additionally discover on and off ice practices very enjoyable! Now we have loads of snicker crammed hours throughout our weeks of coaching. I additionally take pleasure in Rebecka’s straightforward goingness, she is at all times in temper and doesn’t get labored up simply!
Inform us about your coaching middle. What does a typical coaching day appear like for you?
We’re positioned in Stockholm. Our coaches are Karin Eliasson Skarstedt and Malin Malmberg and with assist typically from Aliki Stergiadu.
A standard coaching of a number of ice passes starting from 1-2 ½ hours every. We even have one session per week of dance. In these dance courses we undergo kinds of dancing: Rumba, Chacha, Waltz and so forth! We often do lifts 15 min earlier than ice begins to get warmed up and to work on approach.
Inform us about your applications final season. Who/what impressed your music selections and total themes?
Rebecka: We solely bought to resolve one among our applications. Our coach determined the Free dance to hurry up the method so we might follow them earlier than our first competitors.For our rhythm dance we actually favored the theme “Rebel and freedom”. It’s because we each agreed that the 90s was a time of standing as much as social norms and widening acceptance. With that we selected “Crucified” by Military of Lovers and “It’s My Life” by Dr. Alban.
Filip: After a complete season Rebecka wished to tear my head off, as a result of she hated the start of Crucified after months of morning practices with it screaming in our ears.
For our Free dance Karin selected a extra romantic theme. With a Bruno Mars trilogy of “Speaking to the Moon”, “Die with a Smile”, and “Runaway Child”.
Inform us about your competitions final season.
Final season our first competitors was Tallinn and we had a blast seeing all of the {couples} in actual life. Our opponents actually gave us a primary hand view on what ice dance actually is! We introduced with us loads of expertise from this competitors which helped us a ton shifting ahead. We had a complete of 4 competitions earlier than changing into seniors.
What have been among the largest classes you realized from competing final season?
Filip: I feel that our largest lesson this season is that all the things we do must be in unison not solely on the ice. We have to be linked and keep as a staff in all the things we do. If we accomplish one thing it’s our accomplishment, if somebody is injured, we’re injured and so forth.
Rebecka: I agree with Filip unison. One other lesson i believe is vital is facial expressions throughout classes and competitors. I feel it brings a lot to this system and will get you within the temper whereas training it!
Who choreographed your applications? Did another person prepare your music? In that case, please share these experiences.
Final season we bought assist from our coaches to construct our applications. We determined along with them on which music and magnificence we wished. Karin organized the free dance music and Filip combined the rhythm dance. This season we took assist from a choreographer named Albin Boudrée. It was fairly whimsical and loads of “study by doing” final season however we predict in the long term it was expertise.
If you happen to might have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who wouldn’t it be? Why?
Rebecka: I’d like to have a lesson with Lilah Concern, and Lewis Gibson. I actually favored their program on the Olympic Video games! Love the vitality and vibe they offer off!
Filip: We typically have Aliki Stergiadu as a coach throughout some camps, and with that I ponder. How would her associate coach us. Would he be the identical? Extra strict, or laidback?
I actually wish to have Juris Razguliaiev for a follow session someday!
What’s every of you wanting ahead to most this skating season? What can be your largest problem(s)?
Rebecka: I’m wanting ahead to get our new applications! I’m additionally actually excited to journey to new international locations and get a style for his or her ice rinks and the way the game is represented of their nation. What I feel our largest problem this season goes as much as senior, with out that a lot expertise. We’ve solely completed one season earlier than this, and we weren’t very ready for it. I’m desperate to see how this season with correct preparation goes to assist our aggressive season.
Filip: I’m actually excited to compete with our new applications! To get the possibility to indicate us for actual with correct preparation and one yr of expertise collectively. What I see as our largest problem can be to get extra cohesion in our partnership and enhance the final relationship between us.
What’s one phrase that finest describes your partnership?
Spontaneous
Please share something you desire to our readers to learn about you as a staff.
“Don’t take all the things so severe, it’s not that deep.” Rebecka – 2026
Comply with Rebecka and Filip’s ice dance journey by way of their staff Instagram account @Team_rebecka.filip.
