In figure skating, athletes competing for a country other than their birthplace is common, especially in disciplines like ice dance. However, the story of Smart and Dieck stands out as they represent Spain, generating significant professional and media interest.

Olivia Smart (right) and Tim Dieck during their free dance performance at the ISU Grand Prix in Allen, Texas, US on 20/10/2025. Photo: ISU

Born in Sheffield (UK), Olivia Smart joined the Spanish Ice Sports Federation in 2016, competing with Adrian Diaz. Over six years, Smart and Diaz elevated Spanish ice dance, achieving 4th place in Europe, 8th at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, and 7th in the world.

After the 2022 Olympics, Diaz retired, leaving a significant void in Smart's career. She considered quitting, exploring side projects like circus performing or participating in the British television show "Dancing on Ice", where she won and gained popularity. However, an unfulfilled feeling on the ice prompted Smart to return to competition for the 2026 Olympics.

Her opportunity arose from a tryout with Dieck, an athlete who had previously competed at the Olympics for Germany. Within minutes, their skating together was seamless. Despite this, Smart initially hesitated due to major decisions, including choosing a representative country, training location, and long-term path. Ultimately, they chose Spain, a country willing to offer financial support and facilitate Dieck's naturalization. The pair also continued training at the Montreal Ice Academy, a leading ice dance training center.

Their first season, 2023-2024, served as an adjustment period. Smart developed from the British-Canadian school, while Dieck was influenced by the German-Russian tradition. Their common ground was a passion for embodying roles and storytelling on ice.

This blend quickly yielded success. In late 2024, they secured a bronze medal at the Skate America Grand Prix, then ranked 5th in Europe and 6th in the world in 2025. These were the best historical results for a Spanish pair in figure skating. Their free dance alone placed 3rd overall.

A highlight was their free dance inspired by the film "Dune". The program impressed with its innovative movements, never-before-seen lifts, and support from a Cirque du Soleil artist. The performance quickly went viral on social media, garnering millions of views. Smart and Dieck received a nomination in the "Interesting Program" category and won the "Best Costume" award at last year's ISU Awards.

To maintain momentum for the Olympic season, the coaching staff proposed a performance based on "Dune Part 2". They retained the universe and characters but increased the difficulty, changed the music, and updated the costumes. The new program continued to resonate and was considered even more complex.

In the 2025-2026 season, the pressure of expectations caused the pair to falter at times. They worked with a psychologist to maintain balance. Despite placing 7th at the European championships in Sheffield after a minor error, Smart and Dieck retain strong ambitions for the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Smart was also chosen as Spain's flag bearer.

After the rhythm dance on 9/2, Smart and Dieck are currently in 10th place. The Spanish pair's goal is to secure an Olympic qualification, meaning a top 8 finish. They will have the opportunity to achieve this in the free dance on 11/2.

By Hoang An (based on Marca)