Dancing On Ice’s Matt Evers helps train Ukrainian ice-skating refugee

Virgin Radio

14 Jul 2022, 10:59

Ready to have your heart melted? Dancing On Ice star Matt Evers has been training a six-year-old Ukrainian ice skating refugee following his country's devastating war.

National ice-dancing competitor Gosha Mandziuk was training six days a week before all hell broke loose but was unable to keep up his hard work after fleeing to the UK until the DOI star offered to help.

The pro skater explained to Sky News about the young boy who has been living with his mother Iryna and a host family in Bristol since April while his dad is still in Ukraine: “Seeing and hearing his story really pulled at my heart strings.

“I think as a professional skater and working with 15 different celebrities on Dancing on Ice we can spot certain things that a normal coach or skater may not see.

“Seeing the tapes of him and from when you guys filmed him I can definitely see he has potential. Even the way he stands in his skates – he’s just got it – he’s a talented kid.”

He continued: “When this came along, it just felt right. Something is telling me to make sure he can just stay on the ice and keep his dream alive too.

"I will definitely keep an eye on his journey and who knows, maybe in a couple of years, he’ll be on Dancing on Ice – you never know!”

Iryna said: “Since the last filming, we’ve met a lot of amazing people. You cannot even realise that so many people are eager to assist, to help. I’m sure he is now more confident.

“He has a lot of instructions, he goes to the ice, he has received new skates, and his skating is more, smooth so he is stronger now than he was.”