Tabitha ‘Tabby’ Stoecker’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Once a child circus star training in North London, the 25-year-old acrobat has now traded in her flying trapeze for the high-speed skeleton sled. Based at the University of Bath, she is set to compete for Team GB at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, chasing glory on ice.
Stoecker’s childhood was immersed in Circus Arts, dedicating up to 25 hours a week to acrobatics and trapeze from the age of 11. This unique upbringing gave her exceptional body awareness, fearlessness, and an adrenaline tolerance that perfectly prepared her for her next big act: skeleton racing.
Her introduction to winter sports came in 2019 when she responded to a “Discover Your Gold” talent programme advertisement. Despite having never trained in a gym, she embraced the challenge head-on, showing up to trials wearing a leotard and leggings. Her circus background translated into rapid ascent in the skeleton world.
READ MORE: Hidden Gem in the Cotswolds: Luxury Manor Retains Michelin Star for Ninth Year
READ MORE: Chew Valley Faces Threat of Losing All Timetabled Bus Services Again
By December 2023, in just her second World Cup start, Stoecker seized gold in La Plagne — the first British woman to win a World Cup skeleton race in eight years. This victory placed her among the sport’s elite, marking her as a worthy successor to Olympic champions like Lizzy Yarnold.
Heading into the Milano-Cortina Games, Stoecker is in the best shape of her life. She clinched third overall in the 2025-26 World Cup standings, becoming the first British woman in over a decade to secure an Overall World Cup medal. Beyond individual events, she shines in the new Mixed Team competition set for its Olympic debut this year.
Alongside teammates Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt, Stoecker has earned back-to-back World Championship silver medals. Her partnership with Wyatt has been particularly successful, with the pair winning World Cup golds in Cortina and Lillehammer last season.
A key part of the University of Bath’s renowned Sports Training Village, Stoecker has sharpened her explosive start technique using the specialized push-track, turning her acrobatic agility into some of the fastest start times in the world.
As she prepares to race on the Eugenio Monti track in Cortina, where she has already triumphed, Tabby Stoecker has transformed from a surprise newcomer into one of the world’s top skeleton contenders. Her remarkable transition from circus arts to Olympic ice exemplifies grit, skill, and determination — qualities that could soon deliver Team GB gold.