Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius: “All success is based on trust – in your preparation, your program, and each other. We did all that.”
Interview with Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius
original source: Championat dd. 9th December 2025 by Sonya Kasatkina
Ice dance duo Allison Reed and Saulius Ambrulevicius discuss overcoming setbacks, their Olympic ambitions, and their philosophy on competition and camaraderie in figure skating. Here’s a translation.
“Q: You started the season very early, in Beijing, after the World Championships in Boston. Was your performance in America a disappointment, or did it motivate you to prepare even better for this Olympic season?
Allison Reed: Of course, our performance then was disappointing. But I think once we accepted the situation, we shut everything else out and set a single goal – to qualify for the Olympics in Milan. We knew what we wanted and what we could achieve if we put our all into it. We changed our mindset, tried to stay positive as much as possible, had a great summer of training, and arrived in Beijing fully prepared and determined to earn our spot. I think that’s exactly what we did.
Q: Were you very nervous? It’s logical that you were leaders in Beijing, but maybe you were still a bit anxious?
Saulius Ambrulevicius: In situations like that, you always have to be nervous. If you’re not, something’s wrong. All success is based on trust – in your preparation, your program, and each other. We did all that. There was stress, but we controlled it.
Q: Did you change your preparation for this Olympic season?
Allison Reed: Definitely, we started preparing much earlier than ever before. Both programs were ready by June, whereas we usually set everything in July. This time, we had to start skating actively much sooner.
Saulius Ambrulevicius: We were completely focused the whole time. We had a plan and stuck to it 100%. The preparation was serious – physically and mentally. I think that’s what allowed us to feel much more confident this season.
Q: It wasn’t a surprise for you, but we’re all very happy that you (to Allison) received Lithuanian citizenship. What does it mean to compete in your first Olympics together?
Allison Reed: It’s an honor. I was incredibly grateful that our president granted me citizenship. We worked so hard for this, and I’m very thankful for the chance to participate in the Olympics – it’s every athlete’s dream. Before, I was the weak link, because we tried twice to make the Games, but for various reasons, it didn’t work out. So I’m very happy that now we can experience the Olympics together.
Q: What do you think of your programs? Are they a good choice for the Olympic season? For example, some teams choose their best program from the past four years for the Olympics.
Allison Reed: I’d like to change that mindset. Many people enter the Olympic season thinking, “This has to be my best program ever.” But we approach every season wanting to create the best program, music, and choices for that year. We treat every season as if it’s the Olympic season, because you never know when your career will end. We want to show programs that reveal us not just as athletes, but most importantly, as people. I think I can speak for both of us this year, both programs suit us perfectly. We love them.
Q: Do you have a specific goal for the Olympics? For example, top 10 or top 5?
Saulius Ambrulevicius: You know, just a few months ago, we didn’t even know if we’d go to the Olympics. Last year, and throughout our partnership, we didn’t know if Allison would get her passport. And when she did, we faced another challenge – qualifying. As for the upcoming Olympics, we’re not focusing on placement. Every time we compete, our only goal is to show our best and express ourselves through our program. For us, figure skating is art, not just sport. If you only think about making this your best program ever, you limit yourself. So this year, our Olympic goal is simply to be ourselves and show what we love. That’s why we chose music that helps us express that.
Q: Do you feel you need to improve anything before the Olympics? You’re already getting good scores, but are you satisfied, or do you want to improve technically or in presentation?
Saulius Ambrulevicius: There are always small adjustments to make. There’s always something to improve: a push here, a turn there, a movement that should better reflect the music or story. There will probably never be a moment when we say, “That’s enough.” In a partnership, you always have to keep moving forward.
Allison Reed: Yes, I think our shared goal is to leave every training day, competition, and performance feeling like we did something better than before. After competitions, we always analyze: “This was great, but that needs fixing.” We note the little details: a look here, a hand there. It might seem minor, but in dance, those details make the program truly come alive.
Q: What do you think about the trend of many teams returning to ice dance before the Olympics? For example, Guillaume and Laurence, the Shibutani siblings. Are they new rivals for you?
Allison Reed: No, not at all. Every time we step on the ice, we think of them as friends. Yes, we compete together, but first and foremost, they’re our teammates. It’s great to train with them. They inspire us, and we always give each other energy. Our rule is: we’re not rivals – we’re always friends. We’re happy that Laurence and Guillaume found each other. They’re not only great skaters but wonderful people. We’re also happy for the Shibutanis’ return. We trained with them when Saulius and I first teamed up, so we wish them all the best.
Saulius Ambrulevicius: Every team has its own path – some want to finish, others want to return. If teams feel ready to show more great skating and come back, that’s great. We’re fine with it. Figure skating is a very small community, so we all need to support each other.
Q: So it’s not a problem for you? Even though you competed all quadrennium, waited for a passport, fought for an Olympic spot and medals, while some teams only return for the Olympic season and immediately contend for everything.
Allison Reed: Everyone chooses their own path. We both left skating at some point in our careers and eventually came back. I remember leaving and quickly realizing I’d regret it if I didn’t try again. I won’t speak for Saulius, but I think he felt something similar.
Saulius Ambrulevicius: My story was a bit different. I left for other reasons. But then I got the chance to try something new, to find myself in a partnership where we could pursue goals together. Self-discovery and full commitment – that’s what life is about. If someone is hungry for skating and wants to return, why not? We can only support and be happy for them. In the end, everyone tries to do their best. And if returning teams succeed, my congratulations to them.
Q: Is the Olympics the main competition this season? Or is it the European Championships? Two years ago, you had a great result there.
Allison Reed: We approach every event as if it’s the most important. There are no less important competitions where we think, “Oh, this one doesn’t matter as much.” Of course, the Olympics are a special experience, different from Worlds or Europeans. But every event requires our full focus. So we treat each one as the most important thing in the world at that moment.
Q: So you don’t have a goal to repeat your bronze or maybe win silver at Europeans?
Allison Reed: We both believe that when you go to a competition, you should never think about placements, medals, or scores. For us, it’s especially important to leave the ice knowing we did everything we could that day – gave our all, performed, and left everything on the ice. Then, a good result is a reward and a pleasure.
Q: But this season, you’ve already beaten Laurence and Guillaume, and Charlene and Marco. They’re all from Europe, so you could even contend for the European title.
Allison Reed: Of course, those thoughts come up. But we beat Guillaume in Angers (in the rhythm dance) at their first international competition as a pair with Laurence. They had just started skating together. They’re wonderful skaters, but still a new team. Charlene and Marco also lost to us at their first event of the season.
Saulius Ambrulevicius: The season is still ongoing. Every competition brings something new. We’ll just do our best, and whatever happens, happens.”
Related topics: Allison Reed, Saulius Ambrulevicius
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