Laura Davis meets Olympic Gold medallist Robin Cousins, who is bringing his ice dancing show to Liverpool
THE transformation from Olympic champion to ice dancer is no easy path, reveals Britain’s best-known solo figure skater. Used to a regime of vigorous training towards a single perfect performance, Robin Cousins finally had to concede that he’s only human.
Having retired from competitive skating, after winning a gold medal at Lake Placid in 1980, it took him some months to get accustomed to his new job with Holiday on Ice.
“It was horrific,” he exclaims. “In my day I was doing eight competitions a year and a few odd exhibitions and galas, and all of a sudden you have to do 10 shows in the same week on a piece of ice that’s a third of what you’re used to, in spotlights.
“I spent the first couple of months trying to be what I thought the audience wanted to see.
“I had done that Olympic performance four times – National Championships, Europeans, Olympics – and I had a version of the performance in the show.
“Eventually you realise you can only do what you can and you end up being better by allowing yourself to be human.
“What I did at the Olympics was one night and one night only – a moment in time.”
His medal, originally on display at his parents’ house, is now kept in a drawer along with a Union Jack flown at the Olympics bought for him by an anonymous donor.
Although schoolchildren up and down the country have tried it on for size, the blue and white ribbon has never been around his neck since he stepped off the winners’ podium.
Hampered by a knee injury, Cousins gave up professional skating back in 2000 but he is still very much part of the Holiday on Ice “family”, as he refers to it, and is bringing his show, Spirit, to the Echo Arena later this month.
A journey from morning to evening, based on the four elements earth, air, fire and water, it draws on spiritual traditions.
Chinese New Year and kite-flying makes an appearance, as well as a Native American pow-wow and a Celtic solstice. The music ranges from Enya to Take That to hip-hop.
“I wanted to do something that’s everything Holiday on Ice is about, which is all light and fluffy and frivolous and family fun entertainment, but push it a bit further,” says Cousins.
“It’s primarily catering to a market that pre-exists. It’s fantastic that after 66 years there are people coming who are bringing their grandchildren, who were brought by their parents and grandparents.
