Chasing Ice Dance Dreams Aiming for the Olympics Britain’s Rising Stars Shine on the World Stage

They are the rising stars of British ice danc: Phebe Bekker and James Hernandez, a perfectly synchronized pair on the ice. Two-time silver medalists at the ISU Junior Grand Prix and double British Junior National Champions, they stepped onto the senior stage in 2025, making their World Championship debut with a James Bond-inspired free dance. Bold and brimming with promise, they have now set their sights on their next goal: the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.

Behind their accolades lies a story of unwavering dedication and perseverance. One of their proudest achievements came in Croatia, where they claimed gold at the Golden Spin of Zagreb, an international victory that stands as a testament to their progress. At the 2024 World Championships, they placed 17th, their best result on the global stage yet—but they know the summit still lies ahead.

Their daily routine is almost a poetic portrait of life on ice. Training begins at 7:30 a.m. and continues into the afternoon, precision and focus poured into skating technique, ballet, and conditioning. Beyond the rink, they immerse themselves in all forms of dance—from breakdancing to ballroom, hip-hop to classical ballet—all in pursuit of deeper emotional and artistic expression on the ice.

“We love this rhythm,” they say. “It doesn’t drain us, it nourishes us.”

Weekends are their time to recharge. James finds his reset on the golf course, letting the pressure of the week fly with each swing. Phebe prefers the city streets, the company of friends, and the comforting blend of music and coffee. They understand that to keep skating forward, they must first learn how to breathe in everyday life.

But none of this came easily. At just fifteen, they left home and crossed the ocean to the United States in pursuit of their skating dream. “I was still a kid,” Phebe recalls. “It was my first time away from home. I didn’t know the language well. Even the small things, like changing a phone number, I had to figure out on my own.”

At one point, a visa issue almost caused them to miss the European Championships. Training time was drastically cut, but they still gave everything they had to make it to the ice. In that moment, they finally understood, skating isn’t just about scores and rankings. It’s about belief, emotion, perseverance, and most of all, the courage to never give up.

On the eve of the World Junior Championships, James’s father passed away. The grief was so overwhelming he could barely step onto the ice. It was a friend’s words that brought him back: “You’re not going to compete today. You’re just going to skate.” That sentence became his guiding light:- not to win, but to express. Not to prove, but to connect.

For them, skating is the closest thing to flying. On the ice, they release emotion, tell stories, and connect with the audience. They believe this sport has the power not only to move people, but to awaken a deeper sense of beauty and love in the world.

“If one day we grow old and can no longer skate… as long as we can look back and say, ‘I gave it my all. I truly loved it,’ that will be enough.”

Because they know: an ice dance career may be short, but love and dreams... they are forever.