Ice Skating: Torvill and Dean set for return

JAYNE TORVILL and Christopher Dean appear almost certain to be reinstated as amateurs in time for next year's Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, though whether they will be able to compete there depends on the performance of the British pair, Marika Humphreys and Justin Lanning, at the World Figure Skating Championships taking place here this week.

Lawrence Demmy, a council member of the International Skating Union, said yesterday: 'The ISU meet in Wurzburg, Germany on 8 June, and I am sure by then we will have had Jayne and Chris's application.' It was also announced by the ISU yesterday that due to the break-up of several nations the number of entries for the Winter Olympics will be restricted to 20 in the ice dance and pairs competition and 30 in the ladies' and men's event.

That means that if Humphreys and Lanning fail to finish in the top 20 here, there will be no British representive at Lillehammer.

Fortunately for Torvill and Dean, such a scenario is unlikely. After yesterday's compulsory ice dance event they were in joint 18th place, and they may even improve on this in Friday night's free dance.

'Jayne and Chris will wait until the free dance event is over just to be 100 per cent sure,' Demmy said. 'They have until mid-April to announce their return.'