Finding his moment: Lukas Britschgi on joy, pressure, and growth
Finding his moment: Lukas Britschgi on joy, pressure, and growth
At this year’s Warsaw Cup Challenger event, 2025 European champion Lukas Britschgi reflected on the pressures of carrying a continental title and the unlikely road that brought him there. Between practice sessions in a crowded single-rink arena, the Swiss skater spoke openly about expectations, dreams for the upcoming championships, and what life after competition might look like.
A Familiar Stop with a Special Crowd
Britschgi has competed at the Warsaw Cup seven times, medaling at the last three, and the event has clearly earned a place in his heart.
“The most special thing here in Warsaw is the audience,” he said, recalling two years when “it was so crowded that people had to wait outside.”
He added that such energy is rare for a Challenger event and is part of why he competes at all— “to give something to people” and to hopefully get “positive feedback.”
Beyond the rink, he praised the city’s charm, its Old and New Towns, and even joked that the nightlife “was not bad here last year.”
“I also like the city here, the Old Town, the New Town,” said the skater from Switzerland. “I’ve been here many times, to so many places. Also, the nightlife was not bad here last year, so… yeah, it’s a great place and many skaters enjoy coming here.”
A Surprise European Title
Few skaters are as candid as Britschgi about the unexpected nature of his 2025 European Championship victory.
“I definitely didn’t expect it,” he admitted. “It was not a goal of mine because I knew there was Adam [Siao Him Fa] and if he skates well, he’s unbeatable for me. So in that matter, it was a really, really big surprise for me, and I guess for everyone. It was a very, very special moment and for me, it was not really a goal because it seemed to be not possible since we have better skaters than me, actually. And I was maybe a bit lucky.”
He noted that mistakes from competitors helped open the door but emphasized that “consistency pays off” in this sport. Being able to deliver “on that stage, on that night” remains one of the most meaningful moments of his career.
Living with the Weight of a Title
With major championships ahead, Britschgi is navigating a new kind of pressure.
“There is for sure pressure or expectation from the outside, not going to lie,” he said, listing fans, federation, and family.
But internal pressure has proven harder to tame.
“The worst thing is my own expectations is for sure the toughest one,” he admitted. “I’m pretty good at ignoring the expectations of my surroundings. I don’t really let it tap me or come close to me. But my own expectations do. I had to learn to handle them, especially last season.”
Last season, a lingering injury left him unable to train normally, amplifying stress and self-doubt. Working on the mental side, he said, was essential.
“I mean, I achieved more than I ever could have dreamed of and I try to really actively enjoy this season, not to put too much pressure on myself,” he explained. “I mean, yes, there is pressure and I also want to stay on a level, improve even, but most important is for me just to enjoy the season. But it’s not always that easy, to be honest.”
Looking back, he views the start of last season as one of his toughest challenges. Mostly in part, due to the injury.
“Still, the expectations were the same,” he said. “To be in good condition and perform the same, but it’s just not possible with the amount I practiced. It was really tough to know what I’was capable of doing and to still improve. I think that was really a tough season last year. That the season ended with a European title only makes the journey more surreal.”
Goals for Europeans, the Olympics, and Worlds
Looking ahead to the sport’s biggest stages, Britschgi remains both ambitious and realistic.
“At Europeans, I’ll try to be on the podium again. Maybe if I show a good performance, I can win a medal,” he contemplated. “Whether it’s second, third, or even first, he insists he’s content — “I’m still missing the 2nd place,” he joked.
For the Olympics and World Championships, his goals are clear: “Top 8 would be my goal,” he said, acknowledging both the unpredictability of the sport and the rising level of competition.
“That’s my big, big goal to reach but again, not everything’s in my hands,” the 27-year-old pointed out. “It’s figure skating. It’s tough. And opponents are really, really strong again this season. We’ve seen crazy programs already. I think it’s also kind of normal, since there is a lot of pressure, especially national pressure for some of the athletes. But I think for the Olympics, everyone is in their best shape. So top eight would be my goal and the same at Worlds.”
Following in Swiss Footsteps
As Switzerland’s leading men’s skater, comparisons to Stéphane Lambiel are inevitable. For Britschgi, however, the two-time World Champion was more than a predecessor—he was a childhood hero.
“He was definitely a big, big inspiration for me when I started skating,” Britschgi said. “That was the time when he was in his peak 2006, 2010.”
He recalled waking up at 3 a.m. to watch Lambiel skate and hanging posters on his walls. Still, he dismissed any direct comparison: “He achieved way, way more than I will ever achieve. He was on another level.”
Balancing Studies with Skating and Beyond
Away from the ice, Britschgi recently completed a Bachelor’s degree and has now begun a Master’s in Business Administration focusing on Innovation Management. The workload can be intense and bring their own stress, but he said academics provide balance.
“I still have time during my days to study between the practices, or in the evening,” he said. “It’s sometimes tough days or long days, yes, but I also need something else, not just figure skating. Just figure skating will make me crazy. It’s really nice to do, but I need some balance outside of it and to also have something else than just skating in the future. It’s pretty important for me.”
While many assume the detail-oriented skater will become a choreographer, Britschgi laughed at the idea.
“For sure not as a choreographer, because I’m really not creative,” he said. “The ideas come from my current choreographers Andrea (Vaturi) and Adam (Solya). I bring my own touch to it and try to, I don’t know, also create something, but I’m not creative enough to do a full program myself for someone else.”
Coaching, however, is on the table, especially to help out at camps.
“But I’m also studying for some reason,” he said. “I see myself a bit in a different world at some point, but I don’t know. If you would have asked me some years ago, I would have said I would never be in a rink again as soon as I’m done with figure skating.”
“But now I don’t know,” he added. “I feel it is a bit of a loss to not share my experience. I wouldn’t say I have a huge knowledge, but I still have some knowledge about skating. For sure I’d try to give something back to the new upcoming generations, at least in Switzerland. I’d try to be a part of it and just share a bit of what I’ve experienced and try to help out.”
A Message to Fans
As the conversation wrapped up, Britschgi expressed deep gratitude for the people who cheer him on.
“I want to thank all the fans around the world,” he said. “They are a big, big part for me, and for all of us athletes. They are our support, motivation, and also a bit of a source of power to skate on such a big stage. I’m really appreciating all the support I receive all around the world, and I’m very glad that I have such a nice fan base.”
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