The Making of an Ice Princess


The Making of an Ice Princess

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My dream is to represent my country

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in the Olympics and Worlds and Europeans and things like that.

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She's the most self-motivated ten-year-old.

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There are, however, very few that actually do make it to the very top.

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Whether Lily can will be put to the test in three months' time

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in the UK's biggest competition of the year -

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the British Figure Skating Championships.

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Some of the little ones would potentially be the people

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we would be looking at for the squad for the Beijing Olympics.

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But Lily faces tough competition,

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including two 12-year-olds - Mia...

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I skate six days a week, morning and night.

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It means everything to me.

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..and Genevieve.

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I want to maybe win the Olympics.

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But having an ice princess in the family comes at a price.

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The money that goes out, that's spent on the ice-skating,

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it isn't cheap.

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It's about £1,000 a month.

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If you don't try to set it up from there,

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there's no point waiting up to there.

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Go.

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This year, I broke my shoulder.

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I've torn ligaments in my foot.

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I've broke my knee.

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I've had a lot of injuries.

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Oh, come on.

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SHE SOBS

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I don't personally know any other ten-year-olds

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that want to become who I want to become,

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because my dreams are very, very big.

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Lily. I've made you poached eggs on toast.

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Morning.

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Lily's a morning person, so she wakes up sprightly every morning.

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This is our normal routine.

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We just start a few hours earlier than everybody else.

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Every day of the week begins for ten-year-old Lily Matthias

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by getting her mother, Lyndsey, to drive her from an hour

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from their home in Blackpool

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to the ice rink in Blackburn where she trains.

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It does feel like it's...two o'clock instead of five o'clock.

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There's just nobody around.

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I always feel like sleeping because it's so dark.

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If you sleep now, you're going to miss the sunrise.

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It's the exciting part of the journey.

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In skating, you have to start early.

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It's the only time you get the ice quiet for practice.

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It is quite unique that I have self-motivation

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to wake up at half four in the morning and go to the rink.

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I've always wanted to be a skater,

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since I was about three,

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but my mum didn't let me cos she thought I was a bit too young!

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For her seventh birthday, we bought her an ice-skating lesson.

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It was only ever going to be just a half-an-hour lesson.

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At eight, she'd already decided this was what she was wanting to do.

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She wanted to be the best that she could be,

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she wanted to be British champion and then she wanted to do Europeans

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and Worlds, and ultimately, of course, would be the Olympics.

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She makes all the decisions.

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She kind of dictates how much she wants to train.

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Everything is driven by her.

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I don't know where it comes from, just something within her.

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It's not genetic, it is just Lily.

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OK, let's try it one more time.

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I really liked the fact that when you did the mohawk,

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there was a really strong push there before you went into it, OK?

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As you stepped forward...

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The reason Lily and her mum decided to come to the ice rink in Blackburn

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is so she can be trained by former Olympic competitor Kathryn Hudson.

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She's super talented.

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You ask her to jump, she wants to do it twice.

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Tell her that it's time to get off, she wants to stay on longer.

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She's brilliant.

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Kathryn has been training Lily now for two years.

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Many of the girls she's competing with

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have literally grown up on skates.

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They've kind of started as toddlers and gone through,

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or even started at five and six.

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She's got a lot of years of just trying to catch up.

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The more you train everything this speed,

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the more confidence you're going to have come the competition to do it,

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because it's more normal, isn't it?

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She's only been skating for two years,

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so at the minute we're very much focusing

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on really getting her to have a little bit of competition practice.

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OK, so as you finish that spin, OK, finish it and grow.

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And THEN come round.

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That's it.

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There are very few that actually do make it to the very top,

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but one of the main things you need is motivation and drive,

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and she's got it in bucket-loads.

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Well, to be honest, it's pretty much completely changed.

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It's just all now about... the skating.

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Everything else sort of takes a back seat.

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It's all about the skating, that's all they ever talk about.

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The score's come up.

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Yeah. Ten. Oh, my gosh.

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-12.64 just for a jump.

-For one jump.

-For one jump.

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We're not planning on any holidays for a start, no family holidays.

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We don't go on family days out.

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Everything is sort of shelved, regardless of any adverse effects

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it might have on us as a family, in terms of money and time it takes.

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It really doesn't matter, you know.

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My favourite woman figure skater is Gracie Gold.

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She's just amazing. She's so beautiful.

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When she skates, she's really elegant,

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and all of her jumps land really light and beautiful.

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It's a great name, that, for a skater, isn't it?

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Gracie Gold.

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When did Gracie start skating, Lils?

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When she was eight. Like me.

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-Same as you?

-Really, same?

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So there's absolutely no reason why you can't catch up.

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You can see she didn't start when she was three.

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She just looks like a bigger version of you!

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CHUCKLING

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COMMENTATOR: 'More mature side of Gracie Gold.

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'I think that suits her very well.'

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I'd love to be as good as Gracie Gold. That is my main dream.

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If Lily's ever going to get to the Olympics,

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she'll have to prove herself against this skater -

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12-year-old Genevieve Somerville,

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already number one in the under-15s advanced novice category.

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The turn needs to be with speed.

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-What?

-Do it again.

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Driven by her mother, Genevieve's been training since she was three.

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I want to see tight knees, heels coming off the floor first.

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This is the painful bit.

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Giving Genevieve another advantage

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is that she's trained three times a week in this gym

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by a national gymnast champion from Bulgaria.

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Her mum, Madlen.

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Genevieve, shoulders back. If you're going to be sitting, sit up.

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Higher, higher, higher.

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I've been coming to gym since I was three,

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cos I remember being in one of them baby carriers

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on the bench.

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I come three times a week.

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It is difficult, being a coach and a mum at the same time,

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because I know when we go to the rink,

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she wants me to praise her a lot more.

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I tend to focus a lot more on her mistakes and what needs improving.

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I know she wants a lot more of the...me to be a mum,

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a lot more to say, "Well done," and, "You did well," which I try to.

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We've got an understanding that when there's something

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that needs correcting, I've got to tell her as well.

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Genevieve, faster. Knee in tighter, it's too slow.

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We fall out sometimes...

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if I don't do what I'm told.

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No, you didn't go up.

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The fact that she gets more time to practise her off-ice jumps

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gives her an added advantage.

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I'd just like her to fully rotate it and not fall.

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Hold. OK, now... Do the axel again.

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Think about that quality on the skating.

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On the ice, Genevieve's mum is just as determined

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to maximise her daughter's chances.

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She spends £600 a month to have her trained at £30 an hour

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by former British champion and elite coach David Hartley.

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So the British Championships are in 13 weeks.

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So what I'd like to do to start off with

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is let's look at how we skate across the ice.

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Let's look at the speed, let's look at the power.

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Hold. Hold, hold.

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And step, and present.

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OK, that was...

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..awful!

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OK, from the landing position here, let's look at your mum, for example.

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So, from this position, we step, give her a little smile.

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Genevieve's one of the rising stars in British skating.

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She's got one of the best laybacks in the country,

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and she has that hunger for success.

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Genevieve should compete in the under-12 category,

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but to really push her on, mum Madlen

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has her competing in the under-15s.

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Genevieve does put a lot of pressure on herself,

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but I don't think that necessarily comes from her.

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Honestly speaking, I think

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she does get put under a lot of pressure from her mum.

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Sometimes she takes on the role of coach,

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especially when she's practising.

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I think you've got to find that fine balance where, you know,

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you're a parent, you bring the skaters to the rink,

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that's your job.

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If you start to kind of cross over into coaching territory,

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then the relationship does become quite strained.

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And present.

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Mum, can you give us a thumbs-up? Were you happy with that?

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So-so? OK.

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Three, two, one, go!

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Good!

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Every day, Lily trains for six hours at this ice rink in Blackburn.

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On your right foot.

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Add an hour to get there and an hour to get home,

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and her skating takes up as much time as school.

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Except in her case, it doesn't. Something had to give.

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When I was at school, I didn't enjoy it,

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because some of the children didn't understand why I was leaving early

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or...going in late.

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I did get picked on a lot when I was there.

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Being picked on, I felt really, really upset, sad every day.

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I was crying every time I went into school. I didn't want to be there.

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When I was in lessons, I was bored. It just really didn't fit with me.

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Lily had said that she had thought about home-schooling

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and whether it would be something that we would consider.

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What am I? Key stage two or three?

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-Key stage...two, I believe.

-OK.

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What are you up to?

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I'm doing solids, liquids and gases. Shall I do that one first?

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Yes, yeah.

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Being home-schooled is really good, cos then I can learn things

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that I love to learn about and do what I want to learn about.

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That's all we need, then, liquid nitrogen!

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Put that in the bath, you could skate on it.

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My mum is not a tough teacher at all.

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I kind of let her lead how we do it. Lily chooses basically which...

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-Yeah, you said...

-..topics we do.

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What's the next column?

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-Er...hundreds.

-Fabulous.

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Lily's parents now pay two hours a week for a maths and English tutor.

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Apart from that, it's mostly down to Mum.

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I think science and geography is the easiest one,

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because we live by the sea, which is handy.

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So we can go down to the beach.

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The estuary is just over the back of us, so we get to do a lot

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more practical that you would get to do in a classroom.

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It's a cockle.

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She actually picks up probably a lot more

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because she's out seeing it all the time.

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It's a bit disgusting, to be honest.

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People are really surprised that she's kept up-to-date with

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the rest of her peers.

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I think that's because it's on a one-to-one basis

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and the tutor and we can go at Lily's pace.

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Lily has a 15-year-old brother, Josh, who attends the local school.

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In my opinion, school is really fun for me,

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so I'd never really want to be home-schooled.

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I got invited to go to a private school, but I turned it down,

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cos I didn't want to be with people I didn't know.

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I'm happy I made this decision, cos obviously if I did go to private

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school, Lil probably wouldn't be able to ice-skate or anything.

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We couldn't have done Joshua at a private school

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and Lily doing the skating at the level she's at.

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I would have been absolutely stuffed.

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THEY LAUGH

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You want them both to have everything.

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We were just fortunate, really,

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that we've got a very talented skater in the family,

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and we've got a lad who's prepared to forgo certain things

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but not be bothered about it.

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We kind of have to spend a lot of money on Lily, but it's not like

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they don't spend any money on me or don't pay any attention to me.

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Obviously I get a new pair of football boots every season.

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I would rather see Lil do well in the competition

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than go to Tenerife for a week.

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-Are you nearly done?

-Mm-hm!

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What time do you need to be there tomorrow morning?

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Erm, about six.

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'We did give her free rein of the decisions

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'and we just guide her,

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'because, obviously, we are the adults,

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'we try to do the right thing by her

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'but she leads everything.'

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-Tired?

-Yes, very!

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Goodnight, then.

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'She will get one shot at this ice-skating,

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'she can pick education up any time.

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'Skating is...it's now or never,

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'get this opportunity to train to hopefully realise her dream.'

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But Lily has her sacrifices to make too.

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This is 7pm every night in the Matthias household.

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I'm really cold.

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200 miles north,

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12-year-old Mia Gallagher is another rival who started early.

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She's been on the ice since she was five

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and her mum even moved their home

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so that they'd be just beside the ice rink.

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It's basically coming home from school,

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getting ready and going to the ice.

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Then coming back, going to bed, get school in the morning

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and then skating again.

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And it's basically skating all the time, but I love to do it.

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Five times a week, Mia trains with yet another ice champion,

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the Scottish one, Lorraine Allison.

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OK, right, on the barrier, if you do me your spiral kicks.

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OK? So we're onto your dynamic ballistic stuff, so right through.

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No, no, control that body.

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Keep it down.

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But there's been a downside to Mia starting so young.

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'Mia's now been skating six years

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'and she's had an accident at least once, if not twice,

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'three times a year.'

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17 x-rays, erm, throughout her skating career.

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This year, I broke my shoulder.

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I've torn ligaments in my foot.

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I've broke my knee.

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I've broke my wrist twice.

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I've had a lot of injuries.

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An injury last year prevented Mia taking part, for the first time,

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in the British Championships.

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So throughout this year that's been the big goal.

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Then three months ago her worst injury yet put that in jeopardy.

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I was in the cast for... was it three weeks?

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Three weeks.

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Like, I know sometimes you're, like, scared that you're going to

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hurt yourself again, but going forward

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I think we have to be confident.

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If you start thinking, you know,

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"I'm going to hurt myself, I'm going to fall,"

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the chances are it will be worse for you.

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'So you need to just relax and just go for it.'

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Set-up and go straight away, go now, go now.

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OK, so what is it about that that knocks it off for you?

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I don't know.

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She's on double jumps just now.

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She's got one double-double combination in her programme

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and that's the one we're having issues with.

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I would say probably 70% just now she's falling.

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And this is the problem and this is where she's unconfident.

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The last injury was probably one of the most severe.

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And we were faced with kind of devastating news that,

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you know, Mia's skating career might be on hold or, even worse,

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she may not be able to skate at all.

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I just couldn't imagine having to stop because of injury.

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I just wanted to get back so badly.

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My only ever concern is that if she gets knocked to the head,

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that's probably my worst fear.

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Sometimes you start to think about long-term,

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how it'll affect their bones, especially with Mia having

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so many injuries, you know, how that will affect them long-term.

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Sometimes I look back and think, "Would I do that again?"

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I think, if I'm being perfectly honest,

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if I knew what I was signing up for, probably not.

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Today's only the sixth competition of Lily's skating career.

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It's the last warm-up event ahead of the British Championships

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in a month's time.

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I've been a bit nervous this week about all the other girls

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being more experienced than me and I feel a bit like...

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I'm the newbie on the block.

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The biggest issue is that she trains obviously five days a week

0:20:260:20:31

and generally she's spot-on every single day.

0:20:310:20:34

And then, because of the lack of competition experience

0:20:340:20:37

that she's had, she kind of comes to the day and pulls back

0:20:370:20:42

and just goes a bit careful and that then has repercussions,

0:20:420:20:45

because she gets downgraded on some of her jumps and stuff

0:20:450:20:49

like that, which is frustrating, because she can do them all.

0:20:490:20:52

The best under-12s from all over the country are here.

0:20:560:20:59

Including Mia.

0:21:010:21:03

-Try again.

-I'm so clumsy.

0:21:030:21:06

Obviously Mia's been three months behind with her training.

0:21:070:21:10

We're not quite where we should be, however we're not far away.

0:21:100:21:15

From the injury, she's definitely been working hard to try and get back up there

0:21:150:21:19

amongst the girls that she's competing against.

0:21:190:21:21

I think she's quite confident.

0:21:210:21:23

She seems to be landing her jumps, which is always a good sign.

0:21:230:21:27

Today, my aim is to go on and get a new personal best.

0:21:270:21:31

And to skate clean.

0:21:310:21:32

But I can't imagine that she's not going to feel nervous

0:21:360:21:40

because it's all new and...

0:21:400:21:44

if she can just get a handle on the nerves a bit

0:21:440:21:46

and just get the best out that she can, I think she'll do OK.

0:21:460:21:49

If she doesn't do better today than she's done previously,

0:21:490:21:52

I think she'll be really upset because she's worked so hard.

0:21:520:21:56

The Salchow was lovely, yeah.

0:22:010:22:03

Yeah, you just pulled that loop around a little bit.

0:22:030:22:05

Got a little bit onto the back of the skate. OK?

0:22:050:22:08

Are you struggling to fit it in? Yeah.

0:22:080:22:11

So, let's go through it, all right? Don't worry.

0:22:110:22:14

So we're starting...

0:22:140:22:16

'We need to be getting out and doing as many competitions

0:22:160:22:18

'as we possibly can,

0:22:180:22:19

'just simply to practise that side of things, cos you can't,

0:22:190:22:22

'no matter how many simulations you do at home,'

0:22:220:22:25

you cannot replicate that feeling

0:22:250:22:27

at all without getting there in a competition.

0:22:270:22:29

-So, how are you feeling?

-Good.

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

0:22:400:22:45

-Mm, a bit nervous.

-Yeah?

0:22:450:22:47

'It is one of my favourite bits, like, getting all sparkled up.

0:22:530:22:57

'But especially the make-up and wearing my pink dresses.'

0:22:570:23:00

It's like every little girl's idea of heaven, isn't it?

0:23:020:23:05

Having someone do your make-up and put glitter all over you.

0:23:050:23:09

We're ready to start now.

0:23:110:23:12

And all the other girls, as you kind of look around the ring,

0:23:150:23:18

they're all jumping around and really...

0:23:180:23:20

as where she's really quiet,

0:23:200:23:22

which is what stresses me out, because I just think,

0:23:220:23:26

"Normal Lily's disappeared."

0:23:260:23:27

I'm just trying to do an Oscar-winning performance

0:23:290:23:31

of calmness at the moment around Lily

0:23:310:23:33

but inside I'm actually dying!

0:23:330:23:35

It's just really quite stressful and I feel really nervous.

0:23:350:23:40

I'll go and sit up there, I might watch like that.

0:23:400:23:43

SHE LAUGHS

0:23:430:23:45

In a near-empty stadium, 13 girls compete in their category.

0:23:450:23:50

Each has to include a maximum of four jumps

0:23:500:23:52

and two spins in their two and a half minutes on the ice.

0:23:520:23:55

Knock 'em dead, all right?

0:24:010:24:02

Go and show us what you do every day at that rink.

0:24:020:24:04

-Yeah.

-All right? You can do this.

0:24:040:24:06

-TANNOY:

-Next we've got Lily Matthias.

0:24:060:24:10

APPLAUSE

0:24:100:24:11

MUSIC: Forrest Gump Suite by Alan Silvestri

0:24:190:24:26

I've got the shakes.

0:25:160:25:18

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

0:25:470:25:48

-That was probably...

-Total Lily.

-..the best I've seen her skate, I think.

-Lovely.

0:25:500:25:54

Lily has had a clean skate

0:25:540:25:56

but Mia has the advantage of 30 competitions like this one.

0:25:560:26:00

She looks confident enough.

0:26:010:26:03

I think anything above 30, I think, would definitely put

0:26:030:26:07

a smile on Mia's face today.

0:26:070:26:09

-TANNOY:

-..Mia Gallagher.

0:26:090:26:11

APPLAUSE

0:26:110:26:15

LATIN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYS

0:26:180:26:21

APPLAUSE

0:27:040:27:07

Oh, she's upset.

0:27:110:27:14

-What's wrong?

-MIA CRIES

0:27:140:27:16

You did all right!

0:27:160:27:18

What's happened? What's wrong?

0:27:180:27:20

Mia, it's absolutely fine.

0:27:210:27:23

That was a really good skate.

0:27:230:27:25

A clean skate.

0:27:250:27:27

Do you want a wee drink, honey? Very proud.

0:27:270:27:29

-TANNOY:

-'..score, 24.53.'

0:27:310:27:34

Oh, come on.

0:27:350:27:37

After her fall, Mia finds herself in tenth place.

0:27:370:27:41

Listen, it is what it is, Mia.

0:27:410:27:44

Just work harder for the next one and it's a practice run.

0:27:440:27:47

-TANNOY:

-'..Lily Matthias,

0:27:490:27:51

'total score, 27.82.'

0:27:510:27:55

Yay!

0:27:550:27:56

Lily's score puts her in fourth place.

0:27:590:28:02

Excellent. PB.

0:28:020:28:04

That's more like it, isn't it?

0:28:040:28:06

Yeah, she did brilliant. Great practice for the British.

0:28:080:28:13

It's another 6am start for 12-year-old Genevieve.

0:28:230:28:26

But this morning is different.

0:28:260:28:29

'Gold medallist,

0:28:290:28:30

-'Robin Cousins of Great Britain.'

-CHEERING

0:28:300:28:33

Good morning.

0:28:370:28:39

Former Olympic and world champion Robin Cousins

0:28:390:28:42

is one of the British squad selectors for Beijing in 2022.

0:28:420:28:46

He's identified a rising star.

0:28:460:28:49

She has a nice snap.

0:28:490:28:51

I like that a lot.

0:28:510:28:52

Even timing.

0:28:520:28:54

Even timing. Even timing.

0:28:540:28:57

Down. What are your hands doing?

0:28:570:28:59

Do you know that you land and you do that?

0:29:010:29:03

Feel that...

0:29:050:29:07

tension. Is your hand supposed to be like that when you land jumps?

0:29:070:29:11

Put my hand where it's supposed to be.

0:29:110:29:13

See how tight that is, that's what yours looked like. Fix it.

0:29:140:29:18

No claws. No claws.

0:29:220:29:25

Go.

0:29:270:29:28

You're now looking at the talent pathway

0:29:300:29:31

to start at around eight, nine, ten.

0:29:310:29:34

So it's not a question of, "She's sweet," or, "Oh, he's cute,

0:29:340:29:38

"they could, they really..." No.

0:29:380:29:40

Are they any good? Do they have what it takes?

0:29:400:29:43

'Great little body.

0:29:430:29:45

'Perfect skater body.

0:29:450:29:46

'She can rotate, she has a good feeling for the skating.

0:29:460:29:50

'Basic skills need a lot of work but that can be fixed.

0:29:500:29:54

'Again, it's a question of how badly do you want it

0:29:540:29:57

'versus how badly do they actually want it.

0:29:570:29:59

'And how hard are they willing to work to do it.'

0:29:590:30:02

OK.

0:30:020:30:04

So, I'm watching you and I can see that you have the ability

0:30:040:30:08

and I can see you do it, but I'm seeing tentative,

0:30:080:30:14

not really sure if I should just do it all or...

0:30:140:30:18

-TIMID VOICE:

-..do nothing.

0:30:180:30:21

So, when you compete, you need to stop being little mousy girl

0:30:210:30:26

and sweet and lovely,

0:30:260:30:28

and start going, "I've got it!" Does that make sense? Yes?

0:30:280:30:32

No, no, no, no. No nodding. No smiling. Does it make sense?

0:30:320:30:35

-Yeah.

-Yes. Right, OK.

0:30:350:30:37

She does have potential.

0:30:370:30:39

I think one of the important things, for me,

0:30:390:30:42

is that she needs to come out of her shell a little bit.

0:30:420:30:44

I didn't compete because I wanted to compete against people,

0:30:440:30:48

I wanted to show off.

0:30:480:30:49

MUSIC PLAYS

0:30:490:30:51

Beautiful triple Salchow!

0:30:540:30:56

I wanted everybody to watch.

0:31:010:31:03

I don't care if it was the cleaning lady

0:31:030:31:05

or 5,000 people in an arena, this was my chance to show off.

0:31:050:31:09

She is so timid and so sweet and so shy.

0:31:090:31:12

Olympic champions aren't made of that,

0:31:120:31:15

but they are made of the material that she has within her.

0:31:150:31:18

YOU have to be the one that people go...

0:31:180:31:21

Sometimes we... You can't help who you watch,

0:31:230:31:26

and it's not because they're the best,

0:31:260:31:28

it's because they have the passion,

0:31:280:31:30

and they're using that passion to perform.

0:31:300:31:32

That's their gift.

0:31:320:31:34

You have to figure out how to make that work for you.

0:31:340:31:37

Do you believe you can do it? Yes?

0:31:370:31:40

I shall be watching at the championships,

0:31:400:31:43

so you'd better make sure

0:31:430:31:46

it's a performance you want to talk about.

0:31:460:31:48

Because we'll be talking about you.

0:31:480:31:50

All right?

0:31:500:31:52

Good girl.

0:31:520:31:54

Ahead of the championships,

0:31:560:31:58

Lily's persuaded Mum she must have new boots.

0:31:580:32:01

-New ones?

-Mm-hm.

0:32:010:32:03

Let's get them done, then.

0:32:030:32:04

Yeah.

0:32:060:32:08

Thanks, boss.

0:32:080:32:09

What did you pay for these?

0:32:090:32:11

It was £290.

0:32:110:32:14

Just the boots.

0:32:140:32:15

And the blades are about... I think the blades were 135, I think.

0:32:150:32:19

These are really comfy, they're like slippers.

0:32:210:32:24

Her last boots have lasted a year, but if her feet grow quicker,

0:32:280:32:32

then, obviously, we'll have to buy boots sooner.

0:32:320:32:35

My other skates were too small before, so to help my toes

0:32:350:32:39

stop hurting and my feet stop hurting, I've got new skates now,

0:32:390:32:44

which is really good.

0:32:440:32:46

-Hello?

-Hi.

-Hiya.

0:32:480:32:51

A few years ago,

0:32:510:32:53

Lily's dad Wayne started his own business as a used car dealer.

0:32:530:32:57

It's been going well,

0:32:570:32:58

but the cost of Lily's skating is now £1,000 a month.

0:32:580:33:02

So, that's going out, and that's how much is coming in, then?

0:33:020:33:05

Pretty much, yeah.

0:33:050:33:06

-It's not changed much.

-No.

0:33:060:33:08

It's been hard. It really has.

0:33:080:33:11

'It is just by the grace of God at the minute,

0:33:110:33:13

'sailing very, very close to the wind.

0:33:130:33:16

'I've got credit cards maxed out and all sorts of stuff,

0:33:160:33:19

'just to sustain the level that we're at. It is really expensive

0:33:190:33:23

'and, in order for the skating not to be affected,

0:33:230:33:27

'I've, you know, got into debt.'

0:33:270:33:32

Lily's parents keep the money pressures away from her,

0:33:320:33:35

but more and more, she realises how tight things are becoming.

0:33:350:33:40

That's where I put my cars that I've bought, who I sold it to...

0:33:400:33:43

-Gosh. Yeah.

-..how much I sold it for.

-Yeah.

0:33:430:33:46

Gross profit. And then you take 20% off that, and the rest is ours.

0:33:460:33:50

-That's rubbish.

-Innit?

0:33:500:33:52

So that leaves us with £64,

0:33:520:33:56

which will get you halfway to the rink.

0:33:560:33:59

HE LAUGHS

0:33:590:34:02

'Everybody, meaning my mum, my brother and my dad,

0:34:020:34:06

'are making big sacrifices for my skating,

0:34:060:34:09

'and I'm really grateful, obviously.

0:34:090:34:11

'There's lots of things that they have to sacrifice,

0:34:110:34:15

'like going out for dinner, we can't go on holidays,

0:34:150:34:19

'because it's very expensive,'

0:34:190:34:22

and there's lots of money in skating, that's all I know,

0:34:220:34:26

because my mum and dad don't talk to me about money.

0:34:260:34:29

It's all Lily. It's Lily's dreams, Lily's goals.

0:34:290:34:33

She works so hard and she's so committed

0:34:330:34:37

and she's got such a great work ethic that it would be wrong of us

0:34:370:34:41

-not to support her to the very best that we can.

-WAYNE:

-Hmm.

0:34:410:34:45

The mounting money worries mean

0:34:450:34:47

Wayne and Lyndsey are now having to make choices.

0:34:470:34:50

So, all the dresses are here.

0:34:500:34:52

We're just going to have a look through them

0:34:520:34:54

and see what you're going to use again this season,

0:34:540:34:57

and, if there's anything we've got that we can sell, or anything.

0:34:570:35:01

Definitely want to keep that.

0:35:010:35:03

-You want me to keep it?

-Yes.

-OK.

-It's got good memories.

0:35:030:35:07

-That one's a maybe. Maybe keep it.

-That's a maybe?

0:35:070:35:10

Probably. It's quite stretchy.

0:35:100:35:12

-So...

-Is that one to sell?

0:35:120:35:15

LILY GASPS

0:35:150:35:17

-How can I sell that?! Oh, my God!

-LAUGHTER

0:35:170:35:19

How much do you think we'll be able to sell this one for?

0:35:190:35:23

Although they cost upwards of £250 to make, when you resell them,

0:35:230:35:27

-you only actually get probably less than £100 for it.

-Yeah.

-Whoa.

0:35:270:35:32

But, you know, she has had quite a bit of use out of this one,

0:35:320:35:35

which is nice.

0:35:350:35:37

But it's at a level that a lot of people, I'm sure, would have to say,

0:35:370:35:41

"No, you can't do the ice-skating, you can't do it as much."

0:35:410:35:44

I'm sort of at a limit. I can't go beyond the limit that we're at.

0:35:440:35:50

Basically, you could buy a house with what it's going to cost

0:35:500:35:54

to get Lily probably through the next seven years to the Olympics,

0:35:540:35:58

-so we know that...

-We're going to have to

0:35:580:36:01

-get a sponsor on board.

-We have to do something, because, otherwise,

0:36:010:36:04

-we're going to miss out on so many opportunities.

-Yeah, yeah.

0:36:040:36:08

I never, ever want to give up skating - ever -

0:36:080:36:12

no matter what the sacrifices are.

0:36:120:36:15

In Glasgow, Mia Gallagher knows, last time out,

0:36:270:36:31

she gave her worst-ever performance in a competition.

0:36:310:36:34

Lorraine, her trainer, now has two weeks left

0:36:340:36:38

before the British Championships to pull Mia round.

0:36:380:36:41

Half the time, she's wanting to go about just dancing

0:36:450:36:48

and showing off, when I'm like, "No, wait a wee minute.

0:36:480:36:50

"There's jumps in there that have to be done

0:36:500:36:53

"and landings that have to be held,"

0:36:530:36:55

but Mia's like, "Well, I love my music and I'm going to just

0:36:550:36:58

"show this off, so I don't care about the rest."

0:36:580:37:00

And go... Out. And out! And out!

0:37:000:37:04

I think Mia certainly enjoys the choreography

0:37:040:37:07

side of the programmes, loves performing, especially

0:37:070:37:11

when there's a judging panel there, there's cameras,

0:37:110:37:14

and if there's a big audience as well.

0:37:140:37:16

Here, do you feel as though you held that round enough?

0:37:160:37:19

-No.

-No.

0:37:190:37:21

So this shoulder then started falling out the circle, off axis,

0:37:210:37:24

duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh. Bump.

0:37:240:37:27

Mia's performance score is almost double her technical.

0:37:280:37:33

I think, if she can get the technical score up,

0:37:330:37:36

I would say she could probably be in the top five.

0:37:360:37:39

Yeah. But that's not easy. That is not easy.

0:37:390:37:42

OK?

0:37:440:37:45

So, how did that feel to you? Yeah. You can feel it straightaway,

0:37:450:37:49

Because you're going to get a sore one down this side of your body.

0:37:490:37:53

After an hour's training, Mia still has a school day ahead,

0:37:540:37:59

then she's back for another two-hour session on the ice

0:37:590:38:01

in the evening.

0:38:010:38:03

Me and Claire get to go home and go to our bed

0:38:030:38:06

and rest during the day.

0:38:060:38:07

Mia has to go to school and then come back in at night.

0:38:070:38:10

-She's got hit hard in comparison to us.

-Yeah.

0:38:100:38:13

Like, whenever my friends have parties, I don't normally

0:38:130:38:16

go to them, because I'm in here training at night,

0:38:160:38:19

but I like skating better.

0:38:190:38:21

Lily's final training sessions

0:38:340:38:36

before the British Championships haven't been going well.

0:38:360:38:39

SHE GASPS

0:38:400:38:42

-How did it feel?

-Not good.

-You didn't feel good? No?

0:38:420:38:47

-No.

-It wasn't quite over the hip.

0:38:470:38:49

-I hate it so much. It makes me want to cry, that spin.

-Why?

0:38:490:38:54

-Cos it's horrible to me. It doesn't like me.

-It gets you a lot of points

0:38:540:38:59

-if you get it right.

-I know, but it doesn't like me.

0:38:590:39:02

OK.

0:39:050:39:06

Trainer Kathryn thinks Lily's in danger of losing the momentum

0:39:060:39:10

she's built up.

0:39:100:39:12

Are you aware that most of the other skaters have been

0:39:120:39:15

-competing for years and years and years?

-Yeah.

0:39:150:39:18

Most of them have been skating since they were three or four.

0:39:180:39:21

Why does that bother you?

0:39:210:39:23

-Because no-one else knows that.

-No...

0:39:260:39:29

I just feel really...

0:39:290:39:31

..down, really.

0:39:320:39:34

Sometimes, I do think, you know, I don't want her to feel like this.

0:39:340:39:39

No parent wants their child to feel so worried about something,

0:39:390:39:42

and I do think, you know, are we doing the right thing?

0:39:420:39:45

Are we making the right decisions?

0:39:450:39:48

That's my baby, and my baby's bruised, so it can be difficult.

0:39:520:39:57

LILY SOBS

0:39:570:39:59

I think it's all been a bit too stressful, hasn't it?

0:40:040:40:08

'I do question, sometimes, if we're doing the right thing

0:40:080:40:11

'when she's so upset.'

0:40:110:40:13

Another country, same mum.

0:40:280:40:31

TRANSLATION:

0:40:310:40:33

If you don't try to set it up from there,

0:40:390:40:41

there's no point waiting up to there. Go.

0:40:410:40:45

To sharpen Genevieve for the British Championships, her mum has

0:40:480:40:52

entered her for a competition in her home country, Bulgaria.

0:40:520:40:56

Genevieve's the only UK skater here,

0:40:560:40:59

but there's 21 Russian and East European girls.

0:40:590:41:03

Genevieve and her Bulgarian friend Dara quickly spot the top skater -

0:41:070:41:11

a 13-year-old from Russia, Elizaveta Nugumanova.

0:41:110:41:16

-Was that a triple?

-Yeah.

0:41:160:41:18

-I think it was a triple toe.

-Wow. Whoa, whoa.

0:41:180:41:22

-She has really soft hands.

-Yeah.

0:41:220:41:25

-Really good. Russians are really good.

-Yeah.

0:41:250:41:30

She rotates really fast.

0:41:300:41:32

She does.

0:41:320:41:34

She really does.

0:41:340:41:36

-Yeah, I think she'll grab a medal.

-Yeah.

0:41:360:41:39

'Basically, the environment is a lot more competitive, it's harsh,

0:41:420:41:47

'so she needs to get used to this, because it will prepare her better'

0:41:470:41:51

for the future, and it's a lot more intense,

0:41:510:41:54

in terms of the training, so it's probably a lot more tiring.

0:41:540:41:58

HE SPEAKS IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE

0:41:580:42:01

Genevieve's mum has even hired a former Russian national champion

0:42:010:42:05

to ensure her daughter knows the level she has to achieve.

0:42:050:42:09

She needs a little bit more speed.

0:42:110:42:14

And she needs another... triple jumps.

0:42:150:42:20

A very good girl from Russia, she has all triples.

0:42:200:42:23

I think she will be first, but this is sport and this is ice

0:42:230:42:29

and anything can happen.

0:42:290:42:31

Even Genevieve's Bulgarian grannies

0:42:370:42:40

have been roped in by her mum to give her support.

0:42:400:42:43

The ambition today is for a score over 30.

0:42:540:42:58

-PA:

-Genevieve Somerville.

0:42:590:43:01

THEY CHEER

0:43:010:43:04

THEY SHOUT ENCOURAGEMENT

0:43:040:43:06

MUSIC PLAYS

0:43:100:43:13

APPLAUSE

0:43:200:43:21

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

0:43:450:43:48

Woo! Woo!

0:43:480:43:51

-PA:

-Genevieve Somerville.

0:43:510:43:53

'She's not happy, her mum is not happy.'

0:43:530:43:56

She is upset, because she don't jump properly.

0:43:560:44:01

It's a lot of pressure.

0:44:010:44:04

Too much for her.

0:44:040:44:05

GENEVIEVE SOBS

0:44:070:44:09

Genevieve ended up 10th, with 28 points.

0:44:190:44:23

As predicted, the Russian favourite was first, with 49 points.

0:44:250:44:30

I'm feeling gutted for Genevieve.

0:44:320:44:34

Our expectations were to get a score in the 30s.

0:44:340:44:38

It's all experience.

0:44:380:44:40

She's got to learn that there is disappointment

0:44:400:44:43

as well as success, and she is going to have to get stronger.

0:44:430:44:47

There's a week to the British Championships,

0:44:510:44:54

and Lily's not in a good place.

0:44:540:44:56

I felt quite down and I just thought to myself, "Why am I so nervous?"

0:44:560:45:02

It's not a nice feeling at all.

0:45:040:45:06

DOORBELL RINGS

0:45:090:45:11

Hello.

0:45:140:45:16

Lily's coach thinks she needs a boost. She's planned a surprise.

0:45:160:45:22

-I actually don't know.

-Who would be the most incredible person to get

0:45:220:45:26

-a phone call from? Come on, you must have...

-Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

0:45:260:45:30

-Gracie.

-Yep.

0:45:300:45:32

-Really?

-Yes.

0:45:340:45:37

THEY LAUGH

0:45:410:45:42

LILY LAUGHS

0:45:490:45:52

Hi, how are you? With your accent, you're just cute as a button.

0:45:520:45:57

-Thank you.

-Oh, my gosh!

0:45:570:45:59

-I had no idea I was going to speak to you, it's amazing.

-It's so fun!

0:45:590:46:04

What would you like to ask Gracie?

0:46:060:46:08

How do you not get so nervous? What makes you so confident?

0:46:080:46:13

I didn't always know how to be confident, cos I'd always felt

0:46:130:46:17

so fragile. I had to learn to love the competition aspect of it.

0:46:170:46:23

It wasn't my favourite thing.

0:46:230:46:25

Are you ever worried about the other competitors?

0:46:250:46:28

Yeah, especially at my level, they really are

0:46:280:46:31

-the best skaters in the world.

-Yeah!

-That's nerve-racking.

0:46:310:46:35

I try not to think about it, because it doesn't change

0:46:350:46:38

-what I have to do when I skate.

-Mm-hm.

0:46:380:46:40

Because, a little bird told me, you have a competition coming up.

0:46:400:46:43

-Yes.

-Which is why we're all here.

0:46:430:46:45

Yes, I need to build up my confidence

0:46:450:46:48

and you are definitely the person to talk to.

0:46:480:46:51

You have to work on showing up and showing off.

0:46:510:46:55

Yeah. Thank you so much for speaking to me, Gracie.

0:46:550:46:59

It's meant a lot, a lot to me.

0:46:590:47:01

-Best of luck.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-And just really have fun.

-Bye!

0:47:010:47:05

Oh!

0:47:080:47:10

LAUGHTER

0:47:120:47:14

-Selfie!

-Selfie.

0:47:140:47:16

It's the day of

0:47:270:47:28

the British Junior Skating Championships

0:47:280:47:30

and, if Lily Matthias ever gets to the 2022 Olympics, she might

0:47:300:47:35

look back to this competition as where it all really started.

0:47:350:47:39

She knows Robin Cousins is here weighing her up

0:47:390:47:42

as well as her rivals Mia and Genevieve.

0:47:420:47:46

Some of the little ones would potentially be the people we'd

0:47:550:47:59

be looking at for the squad for the Beijing Olympics.

0:47:590:48:02

We need to pick out our elite.

0:48:030:48:04

Hey, Lils. Lils.

0:48:070:48:09

On the bits that you're doing, sell it.

0:48:110:48:16

OK? I know you've only got a few people here,

0:48:160:48:18

but there's going to be more noise, more people here today,

0:48:180:48:21

so you need just to be up for it, even this morning. All right?

0:48:210:48:24

'A good result would be a top ten. That would be really good.'

0:48:310:48:34

That would just be like the cherry on top of the cake.

0:48:340:48:37

I don't think we could be any more prepared for this competition.

0:48:370:48:40

We've done absolutely everything, so it's kind of at that stage

0:48:400:48:44

where you just want to enjoy it and what will be will be.

0:48:440:48:47

There's nothing more that she

0:48:470:48:49

or anyone else could've done to be ready for this.

0:48:490:48:52

Just nice and slow, not too fast.

0:48:520:48:55

-Like Lily, it's Mia's first time here.

-Good girl.

0:48:550:48:58

Injury prevented her competing last year

0:48:580:49:01

and nearly did for her chances this year.

0:49:010:49:03

She's definitely recovered from the injury now.

0:49:030:49:06

There was a period of time where we were behind schedule,

0:49:060:49:09

but I feel we've caught up with it now.

0:49:090:49:11

Genevieve is the most experienced,

0:49:140:49:16

but the under-15 category is very demanding.

0:49:160:49:20

Three minutes on ice to include spins, jumps and especially axels.

0:49:200:49:25

Good girl.

0:49:250:49:26

She has two double axels and a triple Salchow

0:49:260:49:29

and the double axel she fell on yesterday in the programme,

0:49:290:49:31

so it's just to make sure that she's not got any negativity

0:49:310:49:35

in her mind setting up into that element in the programme.

0:49:350:49:38

David wants to bring up another worry.

0:49:400:49:43

-Do you get stressed out by the competitions?

-Sometimes.

0:49:430:49:46

Depends what competition.

0:49:460:49:49

OK, why do you get stressed?

0:49:490:49:51

-I don't know.

-You don't know? Can I ask you a question?

0:49:510:49:55

Do you think it's your mum that stresses you out?

0:49:550:49:58

-Sometimes.

-Sometimes. I think most of the time.

0:49:580:50:01

Well, probably don't go near her as much as you should today,

0:50:010:50:05

because we don't want her to stress you out.

0:50:050:50:07

I know that, when she performs,

0:50:080:50:11

she does look up and she wants to see that I'm watching.

0:50:110:50:15

For some reason, it's really important for her

0:50:150:50:17

to see me watching her.

0:50:170:50:19

So go out there,

0:50:190:50:21

sell it.

0:50:210:50:23

Excuse me? Let me see it. Go, OK.

0:50:230:50:26

THEY CHEER

0:50:260:50:29

Go, Genevieve!

0:50:290:50:31

I think she seemed really calm today, which is good,

0:50:310:50:33

and I hope mum's in the stands keeping calm as well.

0:50:330:50:37

MUSIC PLAYS

0:50:370:50:39

Come on. One, two, up, back.

0:50:490:50:53

Aw!

0:50:540:50:55

Oh, my God...

0:50:550:50:58

Bombed it, didn't she?

0:50:580:50:59

If you're going to fall, you might as well fall on all three of them.

0:51:210:51:25

It looks like you were collecting them there.

0:51:250:51:28

She just needs to learn to deal with the pressure.

0:51:280:51:31

'It's a stepping stone and it's a harsh lesson to learn,

0:51:310:51:35

'but it's what we need to do.

0:51:350:51:37

'I think they both want it

0:51:370:51:40

'but I think it might be more mum rather than daughter.'

0:51:400:51:43

Today, I want you to attack, I want you to put your heart

0:51:480:51:51

and soul into it and go for it and just be confident within yourself.

0:51:510:51:56

Lily and Mia are about to take to the ice.

0:51:560:51:59

For the British, there are 35 competitors in the under-12s.

0:52:010:52:04

They each have three minutes to impress the judges

0:52:040:52:07

with at least four jumps and two spins.

0:52:070:52:10

Energy, attack. I want to see that programme Mia-fied.

0:52:140:52:19

Mia wants to do a double loop jump today to boost her score.

0:52:190:52:23

But she finds it difficult and knows it's a risk.

0:52:230:52:26

I would like Mia to hit a PB, a score of 30. Now, that's not easy.

0:52:260:52:31

MUSIC PLAYS

0:52:310:52:33

Good girl.

0:52:430:52:45

There you go.

0:52:450:52:46

Up you go.

0:52:560:52:58

Whoo!

0:53:130:53:15

Come on. Give me your hand.

0:53:230:53:24

-Oh, my God!

-Wow!

0:53:270:53:28

Second place just now. Well done.

0:53:300:53:32

Aw, darling, you've just smashed your PB! I'm so proud of you.

0:53:320:53:35

If Lily's to be a champion, now is the moment she must show it.

0:53:360:53:41

Don't forget what Gracie told you. Yeah? And my advice.

0:53:430:53:47

Enjoy every second of it. All right? Go for it, Lils.

0:53:470:53:51

Next to skate, from Blackburn, Lily Matthias.

0:53:510:53:55

CHEERING

0:53:550:53:56

Come on, Lily!

0:53:560:53:58

MUSIC PLAYS

0:53:580:53:59

She's on it.

0:54:050:54:07

Come on, Lils.

0:54:090:54:11

Nope.

0:54:140:54:16

-Legs have gone a bit, haven't they?

-Yeah.

0:54:210:54:23

SHE EXHALES

0:54:390:54:41

-You feel like you lost your legs a bit towards the end?

-No.

-No?

0:54:410:54:45

I can't even breathe. Water.

0:54:460:54:48

Yeah.

0:54:570:54:59

-That was really harsh.

-Wasn't it?

-Really harsh.

0:54:590:55:03

Lily's fall leaves her 31st out of 35 girls.

0:55:040:55:08

I've been everywhere looking for you.

0:55:090:55:11

You all right?

0:55:130:55:15

LILY SOBS

0:55:160:55:18

-It's only one competition.

-But it's a big one.

0:55:180:55:22

-It is, but there'll be other big ones.

-I'm so proud of you.

0:55:220:55:25

I couldn't do that.

0:55:250:55:27

Don't cry.

0:55:290:55:30

Don't cry.

0:55:310:55:33

'I'm not bothered what they score. The score doesn't matter at all.'

0:55:340:55:38

It's just disappointing for me to know that she's so disappointed.

0:55:380:55:42

It all got a bit on top of her.

0:55:450:55:47

She'll recognise that in a few days and, hopefully, next time

0:55:470:55:50

she'll recognise that coming on her and know how to change that.

0:55:500:55:55

You tell me. I need something from you, physically tell me. Say.

0:55:590:56:04

-Disappointed.

-Disappointed because?

0:56:040:56:07

-I fell.

-Next time, it will be...?

-Amazing.

-There you go.

0:56:070:56:11

Thank you and goodnight.

0:56:110:56:13

HE LAUGHS

0:56:130:56:16

But that's, I would say, to be expected with the age

0:56:160:56:19

and inexperience.

0:56:190:56:21

It's called growing up. It's life. You take it and you move on.

0:56:210:56:25

If you can't take it, don't do it.

0:56:250:56:26

In second place, Mia Gallagher.

0:56:280:56:31

CHEERING

0:56:310:56:34

For the man picking the Olympic squad for 2022,

0:56:340:56:37

it's how the girls perform in competitions that's crucial.

0:56:370:56:41

'This is the growth period

0:56:420:56:44

-'and this is the learning period for these children.'

-Silver medallist.

0:56:440:56:47

'We've got not one, two, three or four or five, but maybe 10-15.

0:56:490:56:53

'Whereas, this time next year, I'll be looking at the list'

0:56:530:56:56

and going, "Oh, a second tick, a second tick," or, "Hm."

0:56:560:57:00

You never know.

0:57:000:57:01

'It's only three minutes of your life

0:57:090:57:11

'each time you do it, but the three minutes means a lot to you.'

0:57:110:57:16

It wasn't dreadful.

0:57:170:57:19

When I came off the ice, I never thought I'd give up or anything.

0:57:360:57:39

I just felt so down on myself and I just wanted to do it all again,

0:57:390:57:44

which is good in a way, cos I could have just been like, "That's it.

0:57:440:57:49

"I've had enough." But I don't want to ever quit.

0:57:490:57:52

MUSIC: Instrumental of Let It Go from Frozen

0:57:540:57:57

I have watched a lot of medal ceremonies,

0:57:590:58:02

all the Olympians getting their medals.

0:58:020:58:04

It really makes you motivated to try and get that goal.

0:58:040:58:10

It would be amazing if it could be me.

0:58:100:58:13

It's go big or go home.

0:58:160:58:18

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