Team GB is aiming for its most successful Winter Olympics at the upcoming Milano Cortina Games. UK Sport, responsible for funding Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK, anticipates between four to eight medals in northern Italy.
The best Winter Games performance for Britain was at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, where they secured five medals, including one gold. Team GB’s performance leaders are setting higher expectations for the upcoming event.
Optimism is high due to the strong Team GB representation heading to Italy, featuring world champions, X Games gold medalists, and World Cup podium finishers. In the 2024/25 season, British winter athletes achieved nine World Championship medals in various sports.
British skiers and snowboarders excelled with 28 podium finishes in Olympic events, three Crystal Globes, and a World Championship title by Zoe Atkin. Chef de mission Eve Muirhead, a curling gold medalist in 2022, emphasized meticulous preparations to enable athletes to perform at their best.
Muirdhead expressed confidence in the team’s potential, noting challenges due to limited access to snow and ice compared to rivals. Despite this, she sees a significant opportunity for the 2026 team to compete successfully.
With high expectations for Team GB in various disciplines like men’s skeleton, curling, skiing, and snowboarding, Mirror Sport assesses the top contenders for medals in Italy.
Double men’s skeleton world champion Weston dominated the World Cup circuit, claiming five victories and securing a leading position in the rankings. His teammate Marcus Wyatt is also expected to excel.
Muir, a two-time World Cup gold medalist, showcased her skills in slopestyle and big air events, winning titles in various competitions. Young talent Brookes, a snowboarding world champion, has a promising future with multiple achievements in recent seasons.
Atkin, the current halfpipe world champion, continues to impress with podium finishes and a strong performance in the X Games. Bankes, a former world champion, aims to add more accolades to her record in mixed team events.
The figure skating duo of Fear and Gibson aims to bring home Britain’s first Olympic medal in the sport since 1994. Their success at European competitions and Grand Prix events positions them as strong contenders at the Winter Olympics.
British curlers led by Bruce Mouat are expected to build on their past successes, including a silver medal in 2022 and consecutive world championship titles. The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games will run from February 6-22, offering fans over 850 hours of live coverage on discovery+ via Prime Video.
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