North Devon figure skater Aísling takes major step towards Olympic dream
Aisling Lessiter continues her Olympic dream on the ice
A talented 16-year-old figure skater from North Devon is celebrating a major milestone after qualifying for the British Figure Skating Championships in December 2026.
Aísling Lessiter secured her place following successful performances in the British Ice Skating (BIS) Championship qualifiers in March, August and October, achieving a goal she has worked towards since the age of eight.
Despite living in North Devon, Aísling trains four times a week at Bristol and Swindon ice rinks, travelling up to two hours and 15 minutes each way. Her dedication means some mornings start at 3.30am to reach the rink for a 6am training session.
She has already achieved Level 8 in free skating, the highest competitive level available, reaching senior standard before her 16th birthday. During the 2026-27 season, she will compete nationally as a Level 6 Advanced Novice skater.
Aísling began competing nationally in October 2023, winning her first event, Young Stars, at National Level 2 against 28 competitors from across the UK.
Further success followed in 2025, when she won the BIS Open in Sheffield at National Level 5 (Intermediate Novice) and took gold at the Guildford Open.
She said she has always loved competing and, although she experiences nerves beforehand, she has learned to channel the pressure into successful performances.
Away from competition, Aísling has taken part in events with Disney on Ice, developing her acting and performance skills. Last December, she also worked on a film project with the Eden Project in Cornwall, featuring in an ice-skating advert shown on social media and in cinemas across the South West.
Her ambitions are firmly set on becoming an elite figure skater, competing at Grand Prix events, World Championships and ultimately the Winter Olympics.
To develop her skills, she has attended international skating camps in Europe during the summers of 2024, 2025 and 2026, training with experienced coaches, including Olympic coach Benoît Richard. She also had the opportunity to meet the current men's Olympic champion, an experience which further inspired her.
However, reaching the top of the sport comes at a considerable financial cost.
Her skating boots cost around £500 and blades another £500, with replacements needed as her feet grow or after approximately nine months of training. Coaching costs £30-£40 per half-hour lesson, and she currently has eight to 10 lessons a week. Ice time adds around £150 a month, alongside substantial travel expenses.
Competition dresses cost around £500 each, while entry fees can reach £150-£200. Events often take place in Sheffield, Nottingham, London or Scotland, frequently requiring overnight stays.
With costs continuing to rise, Aísling is appealing for support from local businesses, individuals and charitable organisations to help fund her training, equipment and competitions.
She hopes the support will allow her to continue progressing towards her ultimate ambition of representing Great Britain on the world stage.
As she dreams, one day supporters who help her now might see her competing at the Winter Olympics, knowing they played a part in making that dream possible.