0:00:08 > 0:00:10My dream is to represent my country
0:00:10 > 0:00:13in the Olympics and Worlds and Europeans and things like that.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18She's the most self-motivated ten-year-old.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23There are, however, very few that actually do make it to the very top.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27Whether Lily can will be put to the test in three months' time
0:00:27 > 0:00:30in the UK's biggest competition of the year -
0:00:30 > 0:00:32the British Figure Skating Championships.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Some of the little ones would potentially be the people
0:00:39 > 0:00:43we would be looking at for the squad for the Beijing Olympics.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47But Lily faces tough competition,
0:00:47 > 0:00:50including two 12-year-olds - Mia...
0:00:50 > 0:00:54I skate six days a week, morning and night.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57It means everything to me.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59..and Genevieve.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03I want to maybe win the Olympics.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09But having an ice princess in the family comes at a price.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12The money that goes out, that's spent on the ice-skating,
0:01:12 > 0:01:13it isn't cheap.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16It's about £1,000 a month.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18If you don't try to set it up from there,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20there's no point waiting up to there.
0:01:20 > 0:01:21Go.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25This year, I broke my shoulder.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28I've torn ligaments in my foot.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30I've broke my knee.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33I've had a lot of injuries.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34Oh, come on.
0:01:39 > 0:01:40SHE SOBS
0:01:43 > 0:01:47I don't personally know any other ten-year-olds
0:01:47 > 0:01:52that want to become who I want to become,
0:01:52 > 0:01:56because my dreams are very, very big.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Lily. I've made you poached eggs on toast.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Morning.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19Lily's a morning person, so she wakes up sprightly every morning.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21This is our normal routine.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23We just start a few hours earlier than everybody else.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Every day of the week begins for ten-year-old Lily Matthias
0:02:29 > 0:02:32by getting her mother, Lyndsey, to drive her from an hour
0:02:32 > 0:02:33from their home in Blackpool
0:02:33 > 0:02:37to the ice rink in Blackburn where she trains.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43It does feel like it's...two o'clock instead of five o'clock.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46There's just nobody around.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49I always feel like sleeping because it's so dark.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55If you sleep now, you're going to miss the sunrise.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58It's the exciting part of the journey.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06In skating, you have to start early.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09It's the only time you get the ice quiet for practice.
0:03:22 > 0:03:29It is quite unique that I have self-motivation
0:03:29 > 0:03:32to wake up at half four in the morning and go to the rink.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37I've always wanted to be a skater,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39since I was about three,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43but my mum didn't let me cos she thought I was a bit too young!
0:03:45 > 0:03:49For her seventh birthday, we bought her an ice-skating lesson.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52It was only ever going to be just a half-an-hour lesson.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57At eight, she'd already decided this was what she was wanting to do.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00She wanted to be the best that she could be,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03she wanted to be British champion and then she wanted to do Europeans
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and Worlds, and ultimately, of course, would be the Olympics.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10She makes all the decisions.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12She kind of dictates how much she wants to train.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Everything is driven by her.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I don't know where it comes from, just something within her.
0:04:17 > 0:04:21It's not genetic, it is just Lily.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23OK, let's try it one more time.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I really liked the fact that when you did the mohawk,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29there was a really strong push there before you went into it, OK?
0:04:29 > 0:04:31As you stepped forward...
0:04:31 > 0:04:34The reason Lily and her mum decided to come to the ice rink in Blackburn
0:04:34 > 0:04:39is so she can be trained by former Olympic competitor Kathryn Hudson.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41She's super talented.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44You ask her to jump, she wants to do it twice.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Tell her that it's time to get off, she wants to stay on longer.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49She's brilliant.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54Kathryn has been training Lily now for two years.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Many of the girls she's competing with
0:04:56 > 0:04:59have literally grown up on skates.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02They've kind of started as toddlers and gone through,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04or even started at five and six.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07She's got a lot of years of just trying to catch up.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09The more you train everything this speed,
0:05:09 > 0:05:13the more confidence you're going to have come the competition to do it,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16because it's more normal, isn't it?
0:05:16 > 0:05:18She's only been skating for two years,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20so at the minute we're very much focusing
0:05:20 > 0:05:24on really getting her to have a little bit of competition practice.
0:05:24 > 0:05:29OK, so as you finish that spin, OK, finish it and grow.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32And THEN come round.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35That's it.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39There are very few that actually do make it to the very top,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42but one of the main things you need is motivation and drive,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44and she's got it in bucket-loads.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50Well, to be honest, it's pretty much completely changed.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55It's just all now about... the skating.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Everything else sort of takes a back seat.
0:06:00 > 0:06:05It's all about the skating, that's all they ever talk about.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07The score's come up.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Yeah. Ten. Oh, my gosh.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15- 12.64 just for a jump.- For one jump. - For one jump.
0:06:17 > 0:06:21We're not planning on any holidays for a start, no family holidays.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23We don't go on family days out.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28Everything is sort of shelved, regardless of any adverse effects
0:06:28 > 0:06:34it might have on us as a family, in terms of money and time it takes.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37It really doesn't matter, you know.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41My favourite woman figure skater is Gracie Gold.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44She's just amazing. She's so beautiful.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46When she skates, she's really elegant,
0:06:46 > 0:06:52and all of her jumps land really light and beautiful.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54It's a great name, that, for a skater, isn't it?
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Gracie Gold.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58When did Gracie start skating, Lils?
0:06:58 > 0:07:00When she was eight. Like me.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02- Same as you?- Really, same?
0:07:02 > 0:07:06So there's absolutely no reason why you can't catch up.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09You can see she didn't start when she was three.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12She just looks like a bigger version of you!
0:07:12 > 0:07:14CHUCKLING
0:07:14 > 0:07:17COMMENTATOR: 'More mature side of Gracie Gold.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21'I think that suits her very well.'
0:07:21 > 0:07:26I'd love to be as good as Gracie Gold. That is my main dream.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37If Lily's ever going to get to the Olympics,
0:07:37 > 0:07:39she'll have to prove herself against this skater -
0:07:39 > 0:07:4112-year-old Genevieve Somerville,
0:07:41 > 0:07:45already number one in the under-15s advanced novice category.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49The turn needs to be with speed.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- What?- Do it again.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Driven by her mother, Genevieve's been training since she was three.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03I want to see tight knees, heels coming off the floor first.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06This is the painful bit.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Giving Genevieve another advantage
0:08:08 > 0:08:12is that she's trained three times a week in this gym
0:08:12 > 0:08:15by a national gymnast champion from Bulgaria.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Her mum, Madlen.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Genevieve, shoulders back. If you're going to be sitting, sit up.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Higher, higher, higher.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26I've been coming to gym since I was three,
0:08:26 > 0:08:31cos I remember being in one of them baby carriers
0:08:31 > 0:08:32on the bench.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I come three times a week.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42It is difficult, being a coach and a mum at the same time,
0:08:42 > 0:08:46because I know when we go to the rink,
0:08:46 > 0:08:48she wants me to praise her a lot more.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53I tend to focus a lot more on her mistakes and what needs improving.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58I know she wants a lot more of the...me to be a mum,
0:08:58 > 0:09:02a lot more to say, "Well done," and, "You did well," which I try to.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05We've got an understanding that when there's something
0:09:05 > 0:09:09that needs correcting, I've got to tell her as well.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Genevieve, faster. Knee in tighter, it's too slow.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16We fall out sometimes...
0:09:16 > 0:09:18if I don't do what I'm told.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21No, you didn't go up.
0:09:21 > 0:09:26The fact that she gets more time to practise her off-ice jumps
0:09:26 > 0:09:29gives her an added advantage.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34I'd just like her to fully rotate it and not fall.
0:09:37 > 0:09:42Hold. OK, now... Do the axel again.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Think about that quality on the skating.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47On the ice, Genevieve's mum is just as determined
0:09:47 > 0:09:50to maximise her daughter's chances.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56She spends £600 a month to have her trained at £30 an hour
0:09:56 > 0:10:00by former British champion and elite coach David Hartley.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04So the British Championships are in 13 weeks.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06So what I'd like to do to start off with
0:10:06 > 0:10:09is let's look at how we skate across the ice.
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Let's look at the speed, let's look at the power.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Hold. Hold, hold.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16And step, and present.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19OK, that was...
0:10:21 > 0:10:22..awful!
0:10:22 > 0:10:25OK, from the landing position here, let's look at your mum, for example.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29So, from this position, we step, give her a little smile.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Genevieve's one of the rising stars in British skating.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34She's got one of the best laybacks in the country,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38and she has that hunger for success.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Genevieve should compete in the under-12 category,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43but to really push her on, mum Madlen
0:10:43 > 0:10:46has her competing in the under-15s.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48Genevieve does put a lot of pressure on herself,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51but I don't think that necessarily comes from her.
0:10:51 > 0:10:52Honestly speaking, I think
0:10:52 > 0:10:55she does get put under a lot of pressure from her mum.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Sometimes she takes on the role of coach,
0:11:00 > 0:11:02especially when she's practising.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05I think you've got to find that fine balance where, you know,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08you're a parent, you bring the skaters to the rink,
0:11:08 > 0:11:09that's your job.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12If you start to kind of cross over into coaching territory,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15then the relationship does become quite strained.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17And present.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19Mum, can you give us a thumbs-up? Were you happy with that?
0:11:19 > 0:11:20So-so? OK.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Three, two, one, go!
0:11:28 > 0:11:29Good!
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Every day, Lily trains for six hours at this ice rink in Blackburn.
0:11:33 > 0:11:34On your right foot.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36Add an hour to get there and an hour to get home,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40and her skating takes up as much time as school.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46Except in her case, it doesn't. Something had to give.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52When I was at school, I didn't enjoy it,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56because some of the children didn't understand why I was leaving early
0:11:56 > 0:12:00or...going in late.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04I did get picked on a lot when I was there.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09Being picked on, I felt really, really upset, sad every day.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12I was crying every time I went into school. I didn't want to be there.
0:12:12 > 0:12:16When I was in lessons, I was bored. It just really didn't fit with me.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22Lily had said that she had thought about home-schooling
0:12:22 > 0:12:27and whether it would be something that we would consider.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30What am I? Key stage two or three?
0:12:30 > 0:12:33- Key stage...two, I believe.- OK.
0:12:33 > 0:12:34What are you up to?
0:12:34 > 0:12:39I'm doing solids, liquids and gases. Shall I do that one first?
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Yes, yeah.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45Being home-schooled is really good, cos then I can learn things
0:12:45 > 0:12:51that I love to learn about and do what I want to learn about.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55That's all we need, then, liquid nitrogen!
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Put that in the bath, you could skate on it.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02My mum is not a tough teacher at all.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07I kind of let her lead how we do it. Lily chooses basically which...
0:13:07 > 0:13:11- Yeah, you said...- ..topics we do.
0:13:11 > 0:13:12What's the next column?
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- Er...hundreds.- Fabulous.
0:13:16 > 0:13:21Lily's parents now pay two hours a week for a maths and English tutor.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Apart from that, it's mostly down to Mum.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28I think science and geography is the easiest one,
0:13:28 > 0:13:30because we live by the sea, which is handy.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32So we can go down to the beach.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35The estuary is just over the back of us, so we get to do a lot
0:13:35 > 0:13:38more practical that you would get to do in a classroom.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39It's a cockle.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41She actually picks up probably a lot more
0:13:41 > 0:13:43because she's out seeing it all the time.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46It's a bit disgusting, to be honest.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50People are really surprised that she's kept up-to-date with
0:13:50 > 0:13:52the rest of her peers.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I think that's because it's on a one-to-one basis
0:13:55 > 0:13:58and the tutor and we can go at Lily's pace.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Lily has a 15-year-old brother, Josh, who attends the local school.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09In my opinion, school is really fun for me,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12so I'd never really want to be home-schooled.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17I got invited to go to a private school, but I turned it down,
0:14:17 > 0:14:20cos I didn't want to be with people I didn't know.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23I'm happy I made this decision, cos obviously if I did go to private
0:14:23 > 0:14:26school, Lil probably wouldn't be able to ice-skate or anything.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30We couldn't have done Joshua at a private school
0:14:30 > 0:14:34and Lily doing the skating at the level she's at.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I would have been absolutely stuffed.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38THEY LAUGH
0:14:38 > 0:14:40You want them both to have everything.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42We were just fortunate, really,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45that we've got a very talented skater in the family,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48and we've got a lad who's prepared to forgo certain things
0:14:48 > 0:14:50but not be bothered about it.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55We kind of have to spend a lot of money on Lily, but it's not like
0:14:55 > 0:14:58they don't spend any money on me or don't pay any attention to me.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02Obviously I get a new pair of football boots every season.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04I would rather see Lil do well in the competition
0:15:04 > 0:15:07than go to Tenerife for a week.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10- Are you nearly done?- Mm-hm!
0:15:10 > 0:15:13What time do you need to be there tomorrow morning?
0:15:13 > 0:15:14Erm, about six.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18'We did give her free rein of the decisions
0:15:18 > 0:15:20'and we just guide her,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23'because, obviously, we are the adults,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25'we try to do the right thing by her
0:15:25 > 0:15:27'but she leads everything.'
0:15:29 > 0:15:31- Tired?- Yes, very!
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Goodnight, then.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38'She will get one shot at this ice-skating,
0:15:38 > 0:15:42'she can pick education up any time.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45'Skating is...it's now or never,
0:15:45 > 0:15:50'get this opportunity to train to hopefully realise her dream.'
0:15:55 > 0:15:58But Lily has her sacrifices to make too.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02This is 7pm every night in the Matthias household.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12I'm really cold.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14200 miles north,
0:16:14 > 0:16:1812-year-old Mia Gallagher is another rival who started early.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25She's been on the ice since she was five
0:16:25 > 0:16:27and her mum even moved their home
0:16:27 > 0:16:30so that they'd be just beside the ice rink.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34It's basically coming home from school,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36getting ready and going to the ice.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39Then coming back, going to bed, get school in the morning
0:16:39 > 0:16:41and then skating again.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45And it's basically skating all the time, but I love to do it.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Five times a week, Mia trains with yet another ice champion,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53the Scottish one, Lorraine Allison.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56OK, right, on the barrier, if you do me your spiral kicks.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00OK? So we're onto your dynamic ballistic stuff, so right through.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02No, no, control that body.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03Keep it down.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07But there's been a downside to Mia starting so young.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09'Mia's now been skating six years
0:17:09 > 0:17:14'and she's had an accident at least once, if not twice,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16'three times a year.'
0:17:16 > 0:17:2017 x-rays, erm, throughout her skating career.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25This year, I broke my shoulder.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27I've torn ligaments in my foot.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29I've broke my knee.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32I've broke my wrist twice.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34I've had a lot of injuries.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39An injury last year prevented Mia taking part, for the first time,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42in the British Championships.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45So throughout this year that's been the big goal.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Then three months ago her worst injury yet put that in jeopardy.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54I was in the cast for... was it three weeks?
0:17:54 > 0:17:55Three weeks.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Like, I know sometimes you're, like, scared that you're going to
0:17:58 > 0:18:01hurt yourself again, but going forward
0:18:01 > 0:18:03I think we have to be confident.
0:18:03 > 0:18:04If you start thinking, you know,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06"I'm going to hurt myself, I'm going to fall,"
0:18:06 > 0:18:09the chances are it will be worse for you.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11'So you need to just relax and just go for it.'
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Set-up and go straight away, go now, go now.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20OK, so what is it about that that knocks it off for you?
0:18:20 > 0:18:21I don't know.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23She's on double jumps just now.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26She's got one double-double combination in her programme
0:18:26 > 0:18:28and that's the one we're having issues with.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32I would say probably 70% just now she's falling.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35And this is the problem and this is where she's unconfident.
0:18:37 > 0:18:42The last injury was probably one of the most severe.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46And we were faced with kind of devastating news that,
0:18:46 > 0:18:51you know, Mia's skating career might be on hold or, even worse,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54she may not be able to skate at all.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57I just couldn't imagine having to stop because of injury.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I just wanted to get back so badly.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05My only ever concern is that if she gets knocked to the head,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08that's probably my worst fear.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Sometimes you start to think about long-term,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16how it'll affect their bones, especially with Mia having
0:19:16 > 0:19:19so many injuries, you know, how that will affect them long-term.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25Sometimes I look back and think, "Would I do that again?"
0:19:26 > 0:19:29I think, if I'm being perfectly honest,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32if I knew what I was signing up for, probably not.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46Today's only the sixth competition of Lily's skating career.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49It's the last warm-up event ahead of the British Championships
0:19:49 > 0:19:51in a month's time.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08I've been a bit nervous this week about all the other girls
0:20:08 > 0:20:12being more experienced than me and I feel a bit like...
0:20:12 > 0:20:13I'm the newbie on the block.
0:20:26 > 0:20:31The biggest issue is that she trains obviously five days a week
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and generally she's spot-on every single day.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37And then, because of the lack of competition experience
0:20:37 > 0:20:42that she's had, she kind of comes to the day and pulls back
0:20:42 > 0:20:45and just goes a bit careful and that then has repercussions,
0:20:45 > 0:20:49because she gets downgraded on some of her jumps and stuff
0:20:49 > 0:20:52like that, which is frustrating, because she can do them all.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59The best under-12s from all over the country are here.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03Including Mia.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06- Try again.- I'm so clumsy.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Obviously Mia's been three months behind with her training.
0:21:10 > 0:21:15We're not quite where we should be, however we're not far away.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19From the injury, she's definitely been working hard to try and get back up there
0:21:19 > 0:21:21amongst the girls that she's competing against.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23I think she's quite confident.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27She seems to be landing her jumps, which is always a good sign.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Today, my aim is to go on and get a new personal best.
0:21:31 > 0:21:32And to skate clean.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40But I can't imagine that she's not going to feel nervous
0:21:40 > 0:21:44because it's all new and...
0:21:44 > 0:21:46if she can just get a handle on the nerves a bit
0:21:46 > 0:21:49and just get the best out that she can, I think she'll do OK.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52If she doesn't do better today than she's done previously,
0:21:52 > 0:21:56I think she'll be really upset because she's worked so hard.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03The Salchow was lovely, yeah.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Yeah, you just pulled that loop around a little bit.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Got a little bit onto the back of the skate. OK?
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Are you struggling to fit it in? Yeah.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14So, let's go through it, all right? Don't worry.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16So we're starting...
0:22:16 > 0:22:18'We need to be getting out and doing as many competitions
0:22:18 > 0:22:19'as we possibly can,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22'just simply to practise that side of things, cos you can't,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25'no matter how many simulations you do at home,'
0:22:25 > 0:22:27you cannot replicate that feeling
0:22:27 > 0:22:29at all without getting there in a competition.
0:22:40 > 0:22:45- So, how are you feeling?- Good. - Yeah?- Yeah.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47- Mm, a bit nervous.- Yeah?
0:22:53 > 0:22:57'It is one of my favourite bits, like, getting all sparkled up.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00'But especially the make-up and wearing my pink dresses.'
0:23:02 > 0:23:05It's like every little girl's idea of heaven, isn't it?
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Having someone do your make-up and put glitter all over you.
0:23:11 > 0:23:12We're ready to start now.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18And all the other girls, as you kind of look around the ring,
0:23:18 > 0:23:20they're all jumping around and really...
0:23:20 > 0:23:22as where she's really quiet,
0:23:22 > 0:23:26which is what stresses me out, because I just think,
0:23:26 > 0:23:27"Normal Lily's disappeared."
0:23:29 > 0:23:31I'm just trying to do an Oscar-winning performance
0:23:31 > 0:23:33of calmness at the moment around Lily
0:23:33 > 0:23:35but inside I'm actually dying!
0:23:35 > 0:23:40It's just really quite stressful and I feel really nervous.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43I'll go and sit up there, I might watch like that.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45SHE LAUGHS
0:23:45 > 0:23:50In a near-empty stadium, 13 girls compete in their category.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Each has to include a maximum of four jumps
0:23:52 > 0:23:55and two spins in their two and a half minutes on the ice.
0:24:01 > 0:24:02Knock 'em dead, all right?
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Go and show us what you do every day at that rink.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06- Yeah.- All right? You can do this.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10- TANNOY: - Next we've got Lily Matthias.
0:24:10 > 0:24:11APPLAUSE
0:24:19 > 0:24:26MUSIC: Forrest Gump Suite by Alan Silvestri
0:25:16 > 0:25:18I've got the shakes.
0:25:47 > 0:25:48APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- That was probably...- Total Lily. - ..the best I've seen her skate, I think.- Lovely.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Lily has had a clean skate
0:25:56 > 0:26:00but Mia has the advantage of 30 competitions like this one.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03She looks confident enough.
0:26:03 > 0:26:07I think anything above 30, I think, would definitely put
0:26:07 > 0:26:09a smile on Mia's face today.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11- TANNOY:- ..Mia Gallagher.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15APPLAUSE
0:26:18 > 0:26:21LATIN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS
0:27:04 > 0:27:07APPLAUSE
0:27:11 > 0:27:14Oh, she's upset.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16- What's wrong? - MIA CRIES
0:27:16 > 0:27:18You did all right!
0:27:18 > 0:27:20What's happened? What's wrong?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23Mia, it's absolutely fine.
0:27:23 > 0:27:25That was a really good skate.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27A clean skate.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29Do you want a wee drink, honey? Very proud.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34- TANNOY:- '..score, 24.53.'
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Oh, come on.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41After her fall, Mia finds herself in tenth place.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44Listen, it is what it is, Mia.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Just work harder for the next one and it's a practice run.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51- TANNOY:- '..Lily Matthias,
0:27:51 > 0:27:55'total score, 27.82.'
0:27:55 > 0:27:56Yay!
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Lily's score puts her in fourth place.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Excellent. PB.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06That's more like it, isn't it?
0:28:08 > 0:28:13Yeah, she did brilliant. Great practice for the British.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26It's another 6am start for 12-year-old Genevieve.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29But this morning is different.
0:28:29 > 0:28:30'Gold medallist,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- 'Robin Cousins of Great Britain.' - CHEERING
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Good morning.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Former Olympic and world champion Robin Cousins
0:28:42 > 0:28:46is one of the British squad selectors for Beijing in 2022.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49He's identified a rising star.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51She has a nice snap.
0:28:51 > 0:28:52I like that a lot.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54Even timing.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57Even timing. Even timing.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59Down. What are your hands doing?
0:29:01 > 0:29:03Do you know that you land and you do that?
0:29:05 > 0:29:07Feel that...
0:29:07 > 0:29:11tension. Is your hand supposed to be like that when you land jumps?
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Put my hand where it's supposed to be.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18See how tight that is, that's what yours looked like. Fix it.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25No claws. No claws.
0:29:27 > 0:29:28Go.
0:29:30 > 0:29:31You're now looking at the talent pathway
0:29:31 > 0:29:34to start at around eight, nine, ten.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38So it's not a question of, "She's sweet," or, "Oh, he's cute,
0:29:38 > 0:29:40"they could, they really..." No.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43Are they any good? Do they have what it takes?
0:29:43 > 0:29:45'Great little body.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46'Perfect skater body.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50'She can rotate, she has a good feeling for the skating.
0:29:50 > 0:29:54'Basic skills need a lot of work but that can be fixed.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57'Again, it's a question of how badly do you want it
0:29:57 > 0:29:59'versus how badly do they actually want it.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02'And how hard are they willing to work to do it.'
0:30:02 > 0:30:04OK.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08So, I'm watching you and I can see that you have the ability
0:30:08 > 0:30:14and I can see you do it, but I'm seeing tentative,
0:30:14 > 0:30:18not really sure if I should just do it all or...
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- TIMID VOICE:- ..do nothing.
0:30:21 > 0:30:26So, when you compete, you need to stop being little mousy girl
0:30:26 > 0:30:28and sweet and lovely,
0:30:28 > 0:30:32and start going, "I've got it!" Does that make sense? Yes?
0:30:32 > 0:30:35No, no, no, no. No nodding. No smiling. Does it make sense?
0:30:35 > 0:30:37- Yeah.- Yes. Right, OK.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39She does have potential.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42I think one of the important things, for me,
0:30:42 > 0:30:44is that she needs to come out of her shell a little bit.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48I didn't compete because I wanted to compete against people,
0:30:48 > 0:30:49I wanted to show off.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51MUSIC PLAYS
0:30:54 > 0:30:56Beautiful triple Salchow!
0:31:01 > 0:31:03I wanted everybody to watch.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05I don't care if it was the cleaning lady
0:31:05 > 0:31:09or 5,000 people in an arena, this was my chance to show off.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12She is so timid and so sweet and so shy.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Olympic champions aren't made of that,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18but they are made of the material that she has within her.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21YOU have to be the one that people go...
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Sometimes we... You can't help who you watch,
0:31:26 > 0:31:28and it's not because they're the best,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30it's because they have the passion,
0:31:30 > 0:31:32and they're using that passion to perform.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34That's their gift.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37You have to figure out how to make that work for you.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Do you believe you can do it? Yes?
0:31:40 > 0:31:43I shall be watching at the championships,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46so you'd better make sure
0:31:46 > 0:31:48it's a performance you want to talk about.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50Because we'll be talking about you.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52All right?
0:31:52 > 0:31:54Good girl.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Ahead of the championships,
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Lily's persuaded Mum she must have new boots.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03- New ones?- Mm-hm.
0:32:03 > 0:32:04Let's get them done, then.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Yeah.
0:32:08 > 0:32:09Thanks, boss.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11What did you pay for these?
0:32:11 > 0:32:14It was £290.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15Just the boots.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19And the blades are about... I think the blades were 135, I think.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24These are really comfy, they're like slippers.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32Her last boots have lasted a year, but if her feet grow quicker,
0:32:32 > 0:32:35then, obviously, we'll have to buy boots sooner.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39My other skates were too small before, so to help my toes
0:32:39 > 0:32:44stop hurting and my feet stop hurting, I've got new skates now,
0:32:44 > 0:32:46which is really good.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51- Hello?- Hi.- Hiya.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53A few years ago,
0:32:53 > 0:32:57Lily's dad Wayne started his own business as a used car dealer.
0:32:57 > 0:32:58It's been going well,
0:32:58 > 0:33:02but the cost of Lily's skating is now £1,000 a month.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05So, that's going out, and that's how much is coming in, then?
0:33:05 > 0:33:06Pretty much, yeah.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08- It's not changed much.- No.
0:33:08 > 0:33:11It's been hard. It really has.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13'It is just by the grace of God at the minute,
0:33:13 > 0:33:16'sailing very, very close to the wind.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19'I've got credit cards maxed out and all sorts of stuff,
0:33:19 > 0:33:23'just to sustain the level that we're at. It is really expensive
0:33:23 > 0:33:27'and, in order for the skating not to be affected,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32'I've, you know, got into debt.'
0:33:32 > 0:33:35Lily's parents keep the money pressures away from her,
0:33:35 > 0:33:40but more and more, she realises how tight things are becoming.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43That's where I put my cars that I've bought, who I sold it to...
0:33:43 > 0:33:46- Gosh. Yeah. - ..how much I sold it for.- Yeah.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50Gross profit. And then you take 20% off that, and the rest is ours.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52- That's rubbish.- Innit?
0:33:52 > 0:33:56So that leaves us with £64,
0:33:56 > 0:33:59which will get you halfway to the rink.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02HE LAUGHS
0:34:02 > 0:34:06'Everybody, meaning my mum, my brother and my dad,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09'are making big sacrifices for my skating,
0:34:09 > 0:34:11'and I'm really grateful, obviously.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15'There's lots of things that they have to sacrifice,
0:34:15 > 0:34:19'like going out for dinner, we can't go on holidays,
0:34:19 > 0:34:22'because it's very expensive,'
0:34:22 > 0:34:26and there's lots of money in skating, that's all I know,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29because my mum and dad don't talk to me about money.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33It's all Lily. It's Lily's dreams, Lily's goals.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37She works so hard and she's so committed
0:34:37 > 0:34:41and she's got such a great work ethic that it would be wrong of us
0:34:41 > 0:34:45- not to support her to the very best that we can.- WAYNE:- Hmm.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47The mounting money worries mean
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Wayne and Lyndsey are now having to make choices.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52So, all the dresses are here.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54We're just going to have a look through them
0:34:54 > 0:34:57and see what you're going to use again this season,
0:34:57 > 0:35:01and, if there's anything we've got that we can sell, or anything.
0:35:01 > 0:35:03Definitely want to keep that.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07- You want me to keep it?- Yes. - OK.- It's got good memories.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10- That one's a maybe. Maybe keep it.- That's a maybe?
0:35:10 > 0:35:12Probably. It's quite stretchy.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15- So...- Is that one to sell?
0:35:15 > 0:35:17LILY GASPS
0:35:17 > 0:35:19- How can I sell that?! Oh, my God! - LAUGHTER
0:35:19 > 0:35:23How much do you think we'll be able to sell this one for?
0:35:23 > 0:35:27Although they cost upwards of £250 to make, when you resell them,
0:35:27 > 0:35:32- you only actually get probably less than £100 for it.- Yeah.- Whoa.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35But, you know, she has had quite a bit of use out of this one,
0:35:35 > 0:35:37which is nice.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41But it's at a level that a lot of people, I'm sure, would have to say,
0:35:41 > 0:35:44"No, you can't do the ice-skating, you can't do it as much."
0:35:44 > 0:35:50I'm sort of at a limit. I can't go beyond the limit that we're at.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54Basically, you could buy a house with what it's going to cost
0:35:54 > 0:35:58to get Lily probably through the next seven years to the Olympics,
0:35:58 > 0:36:01- so we know that... - We're going to have to
0:36:01 > 0:36:04- get a sponsor on board.- We have to do something, because, otherwise,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08- we're going to miss out on so many opportunities.- Yeah, yeah.
0:36:08 > 0:36:12I never, ever want to give up skating - ever -
0:36:12 > 0:36:15no matter what the sacrifices are.
0:36:27 > 0:36:31In Glasgow, Mia Gallagher knows, last time out,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34she gave her worst-ever performance in a competition.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38Lorraine, her trainer, now has two weeks left
0:36:38 > 0:36:41before the British Championships to pull Mia round.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Half the time, she's wanting to go about just dancing
0:36:48 > 0:36:50and showing off, when I'm like, "No, wait a wee minute.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53"There's jumps in there that have to be done
0:36:53 > 0:36:55"and landings that have to be held,"
0:36:55 > 0:36:58but Mia's like, "Well, I love my music and I'm going to just
0:36:58 > 0:37:00"show this off, so I don't care about the rest."
0:37:00 > 0:37:04And go... Out. And out! And out!
0:37:04 > 0:37:07I think Mia certainly enjoys the choreography
0:37:07 > 0:37:11side of the programmes, loves performing, especially
0:37:11 > 0:37:14when there's a judging panel there, there's cameras,
0:37:14 > 0:37:16and if there's a big audience as well.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Here, do you feel as though you held that round enough?
0:37:19 > 0:37:21- No.- No.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24So this shoulder then started falling out the circle, off axis,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh. Bump.
0:37:28 > 0:37:33Mia's performance score is almost double her technical.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36I think, if she can get the technical score up,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39I would say she could probably be in the top five.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42Yeah. But that's not easy. That is not easy.
0:37:44 > 0:37:45OK?
0:37:45 > 0:37:49So, how did that feel to you? Yeah. You can feel it straightaway,
0:37:49 > 0:37:53Because you're going to get a sore one down this side of your body.
0:37:54 > 0:37:59After an hour's training, Mia still has a school day ahead,
0:37:59 > 0:38:01then she's back for another two-hour session on the ice
0:38:01 > 0:38:03in the evening.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06Me and Claire get to go home and go to our bed
0:38:06 > 0:38:07and rest during the day.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10Mia has to go to school and then come back in at night.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13- She's got hit hard in comparison to us.- Yeah.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16Like, whenever my friends have parties, I don't normally
0:38:16 > 0:38:19go to them, because I'm in here training at night,
0:38:19 > 0:38:21but I like skating better.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Lily's final training sessions
0:38:36 > 0:38:39before the British Championships haven't been going well.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42SHE GASPS
0:38:42 > 0:38:47- How did it feel?- Not good. - You didn't feel good? No?
0:38:47 > 0:38:49- No.- It wasn't quite over the hip.
0:38:49 > 0:38:54- I hate it so much. It makes me want to cry, that spin.- Why?
0:38:54 > 0:38:59- Cos it's horrible to me. It doesn't like me.- It gets you a lot of points
0:38:59 > 0:39:02- if you get it right. - I know, but it doesn't like me.
0:39:05 > 0:39:06OK.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10Trainer Kathryn thinks Lily's in danger of losing the momentum
0:39:10 > 0:39:12she's built up.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Are you aware that most of the other skaters have been
0:39:15 > 0:39:18- competing for years and years and years?- Yeah.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21Most of them have been skating since they were three or four.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Why does that bother you?
0:39:26 > 0:39:29- Because no-one else knows that. - No...
0:39:29 > 0:39:31I just feel really...
0:39:32 > 0:39:34..down, really.
0:39:34 > 0:39:39Sometimes, I do think, you know, I don't want her to feel like this.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42No parent wants their child to feel so worried about something,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45and I do think, you know, are we doing the right thing?
0:39:45 > 0:39:48Are we making the right decisions?
0:39:52 > 0:39:57That's my baby, and my baby's bruised, so it can be difficult.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59LILY SOBS
0:40:04 > 0:40:08I think it's all been a bit too stressful, hasn't it?
0:40:08 > 0:40:11'I do question, sometimes, if we're doing the right thing
0:40:11 > 0:40:13'when she's so upset.'
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Another country, same mum.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33TRANSLATION:
0:40:39 > 0:40:41If you don't try to set it up from there,
0:40:41 > 0:40:45there's no point waiting up to there. Go.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52To sharpen Genevieve for the British Championships, her mum has
0:40:52 > 0:40:56entered her for a competition in her home country, Bulgaria.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Genevieve's the only UK skater here,
0:40:59 > 0:41:03but there's 21 Russian and East European girls.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11Genevieve and her Bulgarian friend Dara quickly spot the top skater -
0:41:11 > 0:41:16a 13-year-old from Russia, Elizaveta Nugumanova.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18- Was that a triple?- Yeah.
0:41:18 > 0:41:22- I think it was a triple toe. - Wow. Whoa, whoa.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25- She has really soft hands.- Yeah.
0:41:25 > 0:41:30- Really good. Russians are really good.- Yeah.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32She rotates really fast.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34She does.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36She really does.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39- Yeah, I think she'll grab a medal.- Yeah.
0:41:42 > 0:41:47'Basically, the environment is a lot more competitive, it's harsh,
0:41:47 > 0:41:51'so she needs to get used to this, because it will prepare her better'
0:41:51 > 0:41:54for the future, and it's a lot more intense,
0:41:54 > 0:41:58in terms of the training, so it's probably a lot more tiring.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01HE SPEAKS IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE
0:42:01 > 0:42:05Genevieve's mum has even hired a former Russian national champion
0:42:05 > 0:42:09to ensure her daughter knows the level she has to achieve.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14She needs a little bit more speed.
0:42:15 > 0:42:20And she needs another... triple jumps.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23A very good girl from Russia, she has all triples.
0:42:23 > 0:42:29I think she will be first, but this is sport and this is ice
0:42:29 > 0:42:31and anything can happen.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40Even Genevieve's Bulgarian grannies
0:42:40 > 0:42:43have been roped in by her mum to give her support.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58The ambition today is for a score over 30.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01- PA:- Genevieve Somerville.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04THEY CHEER
0:43:04 > 0:43:06THEY SHOUT ENCOURAGEMENT
0:43:10 > 0:43:13MUSIC PLAYS
0:43:20 > 0:43:21APPLAUSE
0:43:45 > 0:43:48CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:43:48 > 0:43:51Woo! Woo!
0:43:51 > 0:43:53- PA:- Genevieve Somerville.
0:43:53 > 0:43:56'She's not happy, her mum is not happy.'
0:43:56 > 0:44:01She is upset, because she don't jump properly.
0:44:01 > 0:44:04It's a lot of pressure.
0:44:04 > 0:44:05Too much for her.
0:44:07 > 0:44:09GENEVIEVE SOBS
0:44:19 > 0:44:23Genevieve ended up 10th, with 28 points.
0:44:25 > 0:44:30As predicted, the Russian favourite was first, with 49 points.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34I'm feeling gutted for Genevieve.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38Our expectations were to get a score in the 30s.
0:44:38 > 0:44:40It's all experience.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43She's got to learn that there is disappointment
0:44:43 > 0:44:47as well as success, and she is going to have to get stronger.
0:44:51 > 0:44:54There's a week to the British Championships,
0:44:54 > 0:44:56and Lily's not in a good place.
0:44:56 > 0:45:02I felt quite down and I just thought to myself, "Why am I so nervous?"
0:45:04 > 0:45:06It's not a nice feeling at all.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11DOORBELL RINGS
0:45:14 > 0:45:16Hello.
0:45:16 > 0:45:22Lily's coach thinks she needs a boost. She's planned a surprise.
0:45:22 > 0:45:26- I actually don't know.- Who would be the most incredible person to get
0:45:26 > 0:45:30- a phone call from? Come on, you must have...- Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:45:30 > 0:45:32- Gracie.- Yep.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37- Really?- Yes.
0:45:41 > 0:45:42THEY LAUGH
0:45:49 > 0:45:52LILY LAUGHS
0:45:52 > 0:45:57Hi, how are you? With your accent, you're just cute as a button.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59- Thank you.- Oh, my gosh!
0:45:59 > 0:46:04- I had no idea I was going to speak to you, it's amazing.- It's so fun!
0:46:06 > 0:46:08What would you like to ask Gracie?
0:46:08 > 0:46:13How do you not get so nervous? What makes you so confident?
0:46:13 > 0:46:17I didn't always know how to be confident, cos I'd always felt
0:46:17 > 0:46:23so fragile. I had to learn to love the competition aspect of it.
0:46:23 > 0:46:25It wasn't my favourite thing.
0:46:25 > 0:46:28Are you ever worried about the other competitors?
0:46:28 > 0:46:31Yeah, especially at my level, they really are
0:46:31 > 0:46:35- the best skaters in the world. - Yeah!- That's nerve-racking.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38I try not to think about it, because it doesn't change
0:46:38 > 0:46:40- what I have to do when I skate. - Mm-hm.
0:46:40 > 0:46:43Because, a little bird told me, you have a competition coming up.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45- Yes.- Which is why we're all here.
0:46:45 > 0:46:48Yes, I need to build up my confidence
0:46:48 > 0:46:51and you are definitely the person to talk to.
0:46:51 > 0:46:55You have to work on showing up and showing off.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59Yeah. Thank you so much for speaking to me, Gracie.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01It's meant a lot, a lot to me.
0:47:01 > 0:47:05- Best of luck.- Thank you.- Thank you. - And just really have fun.- Bye!
0:47:08 > 0:47:10Oh!
0:47:12 > 0:47:14LAUGHTER
0:47:14 > 0:47:16- Selfie!- Selfie.
0:47:27 > 0:47:28It's the day of
0:47:28 > 0:47:30the British Junior Skating Championships
0:47:30 > 0:47:35and, if Lily Matthias ever gets to the 2022 Olympics, she might
0:47:35 > 0:47:39look back to this competition as where it all really started.
0:47:39 > 0:47:42She knows Robin Cousins is here weighing her up
0:47:42 > 0:47:46as well as her rivals Mia and Genevieve.
0:47:55 > 0:47:59Some of the little ones would potentially be the people we'd
0:47:59 > 0:48:02be looking at for the squad for the Beijing Olympics.
0:48:03 > 0:48:04We need to pick out our elite.
0:48:07 > 0:48:09Hey, Lils. Lils.
0:48:11 > 0:48:16On the bits that you're doing, sell it.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18OK? I know you've only got a few people here,
0:48:18 > 0:48:21but there's going to be more noise, more people here today,
0:48:21 > 0:48:24so you need just to be up for it, even this morning. All right?
0:48:31 > 0:48:34'A good result would be a top ten. That would be really good.'
0:48:34 > 0:48:37That would just be like the cherry on top of the cake.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40I don't think we could be any more prepared for this competition.
0:48:40 > 0:48:44We've done absolutely everything, so it's kind of at that stage
0:48:44 > 0:48:47where you just want to enjoy it and what will be will be.
0:48:47 > 0:48:49There's nothing more that she
0:48:49 > 0:48:52or anyone else could've done to be ready for this.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55Just nice and slow, not too fast.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58- Like Lily, it's Mia's first time here.- Good girl.
0:48:58 > 0:49:01Injury prevented her competing last year
0:49:01 > 0:49:03and nearly did for her chances this year.
0:49:03 > 0:49:06She's definitely recovered from the injury now.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09There was a period of time where we were behind schedule,
0:49:09 > 0:49:11but I feel we've caught up with it now.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Genevieve is the most experienced,
0:49:16 > 0:49:20but the under-15 category is very demanding.
0:49:20 > 0:49:25Three minutes on ice to include spins, jumps and especially axels.
0:49:25 > 0:49:26Good girl.
0:49:26 > 0:49:29She has two double axels and a triple Salchow
0:49:29 > 0:49:31and the double axel she fell on yesterday in the programme,
0:49:31 > 0:49:35so it's just to make sure that she's not got any negativity
0:49:35 > 0:49:38in her mind setting up into that element in the programme.
0:49:40 > 0:49:43David wants to bring up another worry.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46- Do you get stressed out by the competitions?- Sometimes.
0:49:46 > 0:49:49Depends what competition.
0:49:49 > 0:49:51OK, why do you get stressed?
0:49:51 > 0:49:55- I don't know.- You don't know? Can I ask you a question?
0:49:55 > 0:49:58Do you think it's your mum that stresses you out?
0:49:58 > 0:50:01- Sometimes.- Sometimes. I think most of the time.
0:50:01 > 0:50:05Well, probably don't go near her as much as you should today,
0:50:05 > 0:50:07because we don't want her to stress you out.
0:50:08 > 0:50:11I know that, when she performs,
0:50:11 > 0:50:15she does look up and she wants to see that I'm watching.
0:50:15 > 0:50:17For some reason, it's really important for her
0:50:17 > 0:50:19to see me watching her.
0:50:19 > 0:50:21So go out there,
0:50:21 > 0:50:23sell it.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26Excuse me? Let me see it. Go, OK.
0:50:26 > 0:50:29THEY CHEER
0:50:29 > 0:50:31Go, Genevieve!
0:50:31 > 0:50:33I think she seemed really calm today, which is good,
0:50:33 > 0:50:37and I hope mum's in the stands keeping calm as well.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39MUSIC PLAYS
0:50:49 > 0:50:53Come on. One, two, up, back.
0:50:54 > 0:50:55Aw!
0:50:55 > 0:50:58Oh, my God...
0:50:58 > 0:50:59Bombed it, didn't she?
0:51:21 > 0:51:25If you're going to fall, you might as well fall on all three of them.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28It looks like you were collecting them there.
0:51:28 > 0:51:31She just needs to learn to deal with the pressure.
0:51:31 > 0:51:35'It's a stepping stone and it's a harsh lesson to learn,
0:51:35 > 0:51:37'but it's what we need to do.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40'I think they both want it
0:51:40 > 0:51:43'but I think it might be more mum rather than daughter.'
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Today, I want you to attack, I want you to put your heart
0:51:51 > 0:51:56and soul into it and go for it and just be confident within yourself.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59Lily and Mia are about to take to the ice.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04For the British, there are 35 competitors in the under-12s.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07They each have three minutes to impress the judges
0:52:07 > 0:52:10with at least four jumps and two spins.
0:52:14 > 0:52:19Energy, attack. I want to see that programme Mia-fied.
0:52:19 > 0:52:23Mia wants to do a double loop jump today to boost her score.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26But she finds it difficult and knows it's a risk.
0:52:26 > 0:52:31I would like Mia to hit a PB, a score of 30. Now, that's not easy.
0:52:31 > 0:52:33MUSIC PLAYS
0:52:43 > 0:52:45Good girl.
0:52:45 > 0:52:46There you go.
0:52:56 > 0:52:58Up you go.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15Whoo!
0:53:23 > 0:53:24Come on. Give me your hand.
0:53:27 > 0:53:28- Oh, my God!- Wow!
0:53:30 > 0:53:32Second place just now. Well done.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35Aw, darling, you've just smashed your PB! I'm so proud of you.
0:53:36 > 0:53:41If Lily's to be a champion, now is the moment she must show it.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47Don't forget what Gracie told you. Yeah? And my advice.
0:53:47 > 0:53:51Enjoy every second of it. All right? Go for it, Lils.
0:53:51 > 0:53:55Next to skate, from Blackburn, Lily Matthias.
0:53:55 > 0:53:56CHEERING
0:53:56 > 0:53:58Come on, Lily!
0:53:58 > 0:53:59MUSIC PLAYS
0:54:05 > 0:54:07She's on it.
0:54:09 > 0:54:11Come on, Lils.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16Nope.
0:54:21 > 0:54:23- Legs have gone a bit, haven't they? - Yeah.
0:54:39 > 0:54:41SHE EXHALES
0:54:41 > 0:54:45- You feel like you lost your legs a bit towards the end?- No.- No?
0:54:46 > 0:54:48I can't even breathe. Water.
0:54:57 > 0:54:59Yeah.
0:54:59 > 0:55:03- That was really harsh. - Wasn't it?- Really harsh.
0:55:04 > 0:55:08Lily's fall leaves her 31st out of 35 girls.
0:55:09 > 0:55:11I've been everywhere looking for you.
0:55:13 > 0:55:15You all right?
0:55:16 > 0:55:18LILY SOBS
0:55:18 > 0:55:22- It's only one competition. - But it's a big one.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25- It is, but there'll be other big ones.- I'm so proud of you.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27I couldn't do that.
0:55:29 > 0:55:30Don't cry.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33Don't cry.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38'I'm not bothered what they score. The score doesn't matter at all.'
0:55:38 > 0:55:42It's just disappointing for me to know that she's so disappointed.
0:55:45 > 0:55:47It all got a bit on top of her.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50She'll recognise that in a few days and, hopefully, next time
0:55:50 > 0:55:55she'll recognise that coming on her and know how to change that.
0:55:59 > 0:56:04You tell me. I need something from you, physically tell me. Say.
0:56:04 > 0:56:07- Disappointed.- Disappointed because?
0:56:07 > 0:56:11- I fell.- Next time, it will be...? - Amazing.- There you go.
0:56:11 > 0:56:13Thank you and goodnight.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16HE LAUGHS
0:56:16 > 0:56:19But that's, I would say, to be expected with the age
0:56:19 > 0:56:21and inexperience.
0:56:21 > 0:56:25It's called growing up. It's life. You take it and you move on.
0:56:25 > 0:56:26If you can't take it, don't do it.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31In second place, Mia Gallagher.
0:56:31 > 0:56:34CHEERING
0:56:34 > 0:56:37For the man picking the Olympic squad for 2022,
0:56:37 > 0:56:41it's how the girls perform in competitions that's crucial.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44'This is the growth period
0:56:44 > 0:56:47- 'and this is the learning period for these children.'- Silver medallist.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53'We've got not one, two, three or four or five, but maybe 10-15.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56'Whereas, this time next year, I'll be looking at the list'
0:56:56 > 0:57:00and going, "Oh, a second tick, a second tick," or, "Hm."
0:57:00 > 0:57:01You never know.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11'It's only three minutes of your life
0:57:11 > 0:57:16'each time you do it, but the three minutes means a lot to you.'
0:57:17 > 0:57:19It wasn't dreadful.
0:57:36 > 0:57:39When I came off the ice, I never thought I'd give up or anything.
0:57:39 > 0:57:44I just felt so down on myself and I just wanted to do it all again,
0:57:44 > 0:57:49which is good in a way, cos I could have just been like, "That's it.
0:57:49 > 0:57:52"I've had enough." But I don't want to ever quit.
0:57:54 > 0:57:57MUSIC: Instrumental of Let It Go from Frozen
0:57:59 > 0:58:02I have watched a lot of medal ceremonies,
0:58:02 > 0:58:04all the Olympians getting their medals.
0:58:04 > 0:58:10It really makes you motivated to try and get that goal.
0:58:10 > 0:58:13It would be amazing if it could be me.
0:58:16 > 0:58:18It's go big or go home.