Olivia Smart skates for Spain mainly because of her partnerships and the practical advantages Spain offered in ice dance, especially around citizenship, funding, and long‑term Olympic goals.

Quick Scoop: Why does Olivia Smart skate for Spain?

Although Olivia Smart was born in Sheffield, England, her elite ice dance career really took off through partnerships that were based in the Spanish system. When she teamed up first with AdriĂĄn DĂ­az and later with Tim Dieck, both decisions were tied to representing Spain internationally.

In an interview, Smart explained that choosing to skate for Spain instead of another federation (like Germany, in Dieck’s case, or Great Britain in hers) came down to logistics and funding : ice dance is expensive, and the Spanish federation offered a clearer long‑term pathway and support. She has also gone through the process of acquiring Spanish citizenship, so she now competes as a British‑Spanish athlete rather than only British.

Key reasons in simple terms

  • She formed top‑level partnerships (first with AdriĂĄn DĂ­az, now with Tim Dieck) under the Spanish federation structure.
  • Spain provided better long‑term funding and logistical support than the alternatives on the table at the time.
  • Getting and using Spanish citizenship allowed her a more secure route to the Winter Olympics (including the push toward Milano‑Cortina 2026).
  • Both she and her partner evaluated multiple national options; both Spain and Germany were interested, and choosing Spain was a strategic decision, not just a default.

She sometimes jokes about being “English born and bred” while still competing in Spanish colors, but stresses that at this level, where you skate can be a blend of personal identity, partner choice, and hard realities like funding and Olympic qualification.

Mini FAQ

  1. Is Olivia Smart Spanish or British?
    She is described as a British‑Spanish ice dancer and has Spanish citizenship to compete for Spain.
  1. Could she have skated for Great Britain instead?
    Yes in principle, but her elite partnerships and federation backing aligned with Spain, so that’s where her competitive path made the most sense.
  1. Is this kind of switch common?
    In ice dance and figure skating, it’s not unusual for athletes to represent countries different from their birthplace when partnerships, residency, or federation support line up better elsewhere.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.