An Olympic figure skater says Ayr Ice Rink must be saved for future generations.
Lewis Gibson, 29, has joined more than 5,000 others in signing a petition to save the rink from closure.
The facility faces the axe at the end of September after owners Ayrshire Curlers Ltd announced the devastating news on Monday that they are left with no option but to close due to soaring energy costs.
Hundreds of ice hockey players and figure skaters now face being left without a base, and have backed an online petition to stop the ice from melting.
Lewis, originally from Prestwick, first started skating at Ayr Ice Rink in 2006 before going on to excel in his career, including claiming a top 10 spot at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the figure skating mixed ice dance.
The former Prestwick Academy pupil, who now lives in Montréal, Canada, told the Ayrshire Post: “There’s been quite a few people who have started there and went to the Olympics - which is wild when you think of the size of Ayr town, nevermind just that one ice rink.
“People, like myself, have went on to push the sport, but then where are you supposed to start if there’s no ice rinks left? There’s so many people who use that facility, from young kids to adults to older adults in the curling side.
“It’s a safe space and also super social for these kids to be involved in - and an outlet of a different sport and not just the normal football.
“It’s great to have somewhere that’s diverse for people to go and use. It’s crazy to think that that opportunity won’t be there.
“With the volume of people, you can’t just go and cram everyone into the Galleon [Kilmarnock], or Auchenharvie [Stevenston] - they need the space.”
Lewis made his Team GB Olympic debut at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing last year and placed tenth with skating partner Lilah Fear.
The duo scooped silver at the 2023 European Figure Skating Championships, bagging their first International Skating Union (ISU) medal, and finished a career-best fourth at this year’s World Figure Skating Championships, held in Japan.
Now in the sport's ‘off season’, Lewis is hard at work training and creating new routines.
He said: “Even when I go back to Scotland I create workshops and seminars and I use Ayr Ice Rink all the time. It’s a great facility. They’re always so open and keen to have me there.
“The biggest part that gets me is where’s the opportunity going to be if they lose this rink, because there’s going to be a huge pool of people who won’t be able to skate or even get the chance to try it or take it up.”
•To sign the petition visit: https://www.change.org/p/save-ayr-ice-rink?
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