Great Britain is heading to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics with an unprecedented opportunity to outshine their past performances and break their current record of five medals set at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Games.
This season’s World Cup results indicate that Team GB is poised to exceed expectations across several key disciplines, despite the unpredictable nature of winter sports. Here’s a look at the prime medal hopefuls and when you can catch their standout moments:
Skeleton
Team GB has been dominant in men’s skeleton this season. Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt captured all seven World Cup race wins between them. On the women’s side, Tabitha Stoecker secured two silvers and ended third overall. Together, Wyatt and Stoecker also excelled in the mixed team event, making their mark ahead of its Olympic debut. Prediction: 3 medals.
Curling
Bruce Mouat is a standout figure, aiming to become Britain’s first athlete to win two medals at the same Winter Games. After topping the world rankings and bouncing back from their narrow miss in Beijing, Mouat leads the men’s rink with strong gold hopes. Alongside Jennifer Dodds, the reigning mixed doubles gold medallist, they are frontrunners in mixed doubles. Prediction: 2 medals.
Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing
Though these events are known for their high stakes and frequent upsets, GB athletes bring promising prospects. Mia Brookes (snowboard Big Air), Kirsty Muir (ski Big Air and slopestyle), and Zoe Atkin (ski halfpipe) have all medaled on the World Cup circuit. Charlotte Bankes, a snowboard-cross specialist, continues to impress with individual and team victories alongside Huw Nightingale. Prediction: 2 medals.
Figure Skating
Ice dance duo Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson offer Britain its best hope for a figure skating medal since the iconic Torvill and Dean. Their inventive routines, including nods to the Spice Girls and the Proclaimers, have captured attention worldwide. Despite a recent bronze at the European Championships tempering expectations, they remain strong contenders. Prediction: 0 medals.
Other Events
Medal success will be challenging for the two-man and four-man bobsleigh teams led by Brad Hall, as well as seasoned athletes Dave Ryding (alpine skiing) and Andrew Musgrave (cross-country skiing). Short track speed skating remains a long shot with Niall Treacy as the sole British competitor. Prediction: 0 medals.
Key Dates to Watch
- Feb 4: Curling mixed doubles begin with Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds facing Norway (18:05 GMT).
- Feb 6: Opening ceremony at San Siro, Milan, featuring tenor Andrea Bocelli’s performance.
- Feb 9: Kirsty Muir (ski slopestyle, 11:30) and Mia Brookes (snowboard Big Air, 18:30) compete in medal finals.
- Feb 10: Mixed doubles curling medal matches (bronze 13:05; gold 17:05).
- Feb 11: Figure skating ice dance finals featuring Fear and Gibson (18:30).
- Feb 13: Men’s skeleton (18:30) with Weston and Wyatt; women’s snowboard-cross (09:00).
- Feb 15: Mixed team events in skeleton (17:00) and snowboard-cross (12:45).
- Feb 16: Dave Ryding’s men’s slalom final (09:00); Kirsty Muir’s ski Big Air final (18:30).
- Feb 17: Mia Brookes competes in snowboard slopestyle final (12:00).
- Feb 21: Curling team medal matches and Zoe Atkin in ski halfpipe (18:30).
- Feb 22: Final bobsleigh races and women’s curling final (10:05), followed by closing ceremony (20:00).
Team GB arrives inspired and ready to challenge history with a talented group of athletes primed for a medal-winning Winter Olympics in 2026.