Team GB is aiming for its most successful Winter Olympics at the upcoming Milano Cortina Games. UK Sport, the organization funding Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK, anticipates between four to eight medals in northern Italy. Previously, Britain achieved its best Winter Games performance at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, securing five medals, including one gold. Nevertheless, Team GB officials are setting even higher expectations for the upcoming games.
This optimism is fueled by the strong lineup of Team GB athletes heading to Italy, which includes world champions, X Games gold medallists, and podium finishers in the World Cup. The 2024/25 season witnessed British winter athletes grabbing nine World Championship medals across various sports. British skiers and snowboarders excelled with 28 major podium finishes in Olympic events, three Crystal Globes, and one World Championship title by Zoe Atkin.
Chef de mission Eve Muirhead, a curling gold medallist in 2022, emphasized the meticulous preparations and focus on creating optimal conditions for athletes to perform at their best. Muirhead expressed confidence in the exceptional potential of the 2026 team, noting the opportunity to challenge the status quo.
With high expectations set for Team GB in various disciplines like men’s skeleton, curling, skiing, and snowboarding, Mirror Sport analyzes top contenders for medals in Italy. Notably, Weston, a double men’s skeleton world champion, has dominated the World Cup circuit, while Muir, a two-time World Cup gold medallist, showcases impressive skills in slopestyle and big air events.
Young talent like Brookes, the youngest snowboarding world champion, and Atkin, the current halfpipe world champion, are also poised to make an impact at the Winter Olympics. Bankes, a world champion in 2021, is expected to shine in mixed team events alongside her British teammate, Huw Nightingale. Additionally, figure skating duo Fear and Gibson aim to secure Britain’s first Olympic figure skating medal since 1994.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games are scheduled from February 6 to 22, with fans able to enjoy over 850 hours of live action on discovery+ via Prime Video. The £3.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription provides access to TNT Sports 2 for continuous Olympic coverage throughout the games.