For the following entry in our New Staff 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 after I was six years previous. After two years I had my first competitors. I keep in mind it very clearly. I used to be very nervous however I beloved to do my fairly hair, and have my lovely costume on! Since then I’ve competed yearly. This stored up till I turned 18. That is after I determined to cease singles skating.
Three weeks after stopping, I obtained the possibility to strive 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 observe when i used to be three. I joined my brothers coaching passes when our dad was our coach. My brother would have his regular observe and I’d be subsequent to the barrier with a cone in hand to skate circles round them haha.
After stopping hockey after I was 12 I didn’t contact a pair of skates or the ice rink for 5 years. Once I was 17, I watched some previous Olympic footage of German pair skaters and Yuzuru [Hanyu] that I obtained the concept to strive it out. I mailed the close by membership to strive 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 keep in mind having my first competitors in Finland as a solo ice dancer. It was horrible. I felt so misplaced and I informed my coach that I gained’t compete alone once more, however I feel this expertise made me resolve to get higher, to not stand out even higher.
Rebecka: From the beginning, it was very spontaneous that I began with ice dance. I believed it might be a brand new problem to attempt to it caught.
Filip: I however obtained compelled into ice dance by my first coach. She informed me that me being a boy in Sweden that wishes 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. Once I stopped singles skating the plan was to cease skating and competing, however after I obtained requested to strive ice dance I didn’t see a motive to not strive 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 very good. Singles skating expertise with the identical enthusiasm and good persona that ticked all of the containers. She picked up on it actually shortly and regardless that she was confused by the sample dances she may use her expertise to make the skating extra unison.
What’s one thing that shocked you about your accomplice if you first began coaching collectively?
Rebecka: I discovered it very stunning that Filip began skating when he was solely 17!
Filip: I discovered it stunning how she was so fast to determine to start out taking it significantly, and some weeks after beginning she took a flight to a different nation with a boy she didn’t know fairly nicely for a two week camp. I noticed myself in that aggressive spontaneity similar to after I began skating as a 17 12 months previous.
What experiences do every of you carry to the partnership?
Rebecka: I carry my expertise from singles skating. I’ve competed since I used to be a child each nationally and internationally. I’ve suggestions and tips concerning the best way to deal with nerve-racking conditions. And I’ve educated for a very long time below many alternative 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 many of the fundamentals down and only some unhealthy habits.
I’ve been very concerned about 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: With the ability to discuss throughout observe and have a say in my coaching with each my coach and accomplice. One other very nice profit is that with the whole lot 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 along with her means it’s all price it.
What’s it that you just already like most about dancing along with your new accomplice?
Rebecka: You have got very enjoyable throughout observe and out of doors observe! I additionally discover it very partaking how briskly we’re enhancing!
Filip: I additionally discover on and off ice practices very enjoyable! We’ve got a number of chortle stuffed hours throughout our weeks of coaching. I additionally get pleasure from Rebecka’s simple goingness, she is at all times in a great temper and doesn’t get labored up simply!
Inform us about your coaching heart. 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 generally 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 normally do lifts 15 min earlier than ice begins to get warmed up and to work on method.
Inform us about your packages final season. Who/what impressed your music decisions and total themes?
Rebecka: We solely obtained to determine one in every of our packages. Our coach determined the Free dance to hurry up the method so we may observe them earlier than our first competitors.For our rhythm dance we actually appreciated the theme “Rise up and freedom”. It is 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 a number of expertise from this competitors which helped us a ton shifting ahead. We had a complete of 4 competitions earlier than turning into seniors.
What have been among the largest classes you discovered from competing final season?
Filip: I feel that our largest lesson this season is that the whole lot we do must be in unison not solely on the ice. We must be related and keep as a group in the whole lot 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 feel 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 practising it!
Who choreographed your packages? Did another person organize your music? In that case, please share these experiences.
Final season we obtained assist from our coaches to construct our packages. We determined along with them on which music and elegance we wished. Karin organized the free dance music and Filip blended the rhythm dance. This season we took assist from a choreographer named Albin Boudrée. It was fairly whimsical and a number of “study by doing” final season however we predict in the long term it was a great expertise.
For those who may have a lesson with any ice dancer previous/current, who would it not be? Why?
Rebecka: I’d like to have a lesson with Lilah Concern, and Lewis Gibson. I actually appreciated their program on the Olympic Video games! Love the power and vibe they offer off!
Filip: We generally have Aliki Stergiadu as a coach throughout some camps, and with that I ponder. How would her accomplice coach us. Would he be the identical? Extra strict, or laidback?
I actually wish to have Juris Razguliaiev for a observe session someday!
What’s every of you trying ahead to most this skating season? What will likely be your largest problem(s)?
Rebecka: I’m trying ahead to get our new packages! I’m additionally actually excited to journey to new nations 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 wanting to see how this season with correct preparation goes to assist our aggressive season.
Filip: I’m actually excited to compete with our new packages! To get the possibility to indicate us for actual with correct preparation and one 12 months of expertise collectively. What I see as our largest problem will likely be to get extra cohesion in our partnership and enhance the overall relationship between us.
What’s one phrase that finest describes your partnership?
Spontaneous
Please share something you prefer to our readers to find out about you as a group.
“Don’t take the whole lot so critical, it’s not that deep.” Rebecka – 2026
Comply with Rebecka and Filip’s ice dance journey through their group Instagram account @Team_rebecka.filip.