{"id":250,"date":"2026-03-31T09:20:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=250"},"modified":"2026-03-31T09:20:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:20:22","slug":"meet-the-team-gb-stars-aiming-to-smash-winter-olympics-medals-record-at-milano-cortina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=250","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Team GB stars aiming to smash Winter Olympics medals record at Milano Cortina"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_548649\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Team GB&#8217;s 2026 Winter Olympics line-up features several medal prospects who will be tasked with making it their most successful Games to date in Italy<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">09:00, 06 Feb 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 09:07, 06 Feb 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36667491\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Zoe Atkin poses with medal X Games Aspen 2026\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667491.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Zoe-Atkin-poses-with-medal-X-Games-Aspen-2026.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667491.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Zoe-Atkin-poses-with-medal-X-Games-Aspen-2026.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667491.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Zoe-Atkin-poses-with-medal-X-Games-Aspen-2026.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667491.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Zoe-Atkin-poses-with-medal-X-Games-Aspen-2026.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Zoe Atkin is one of several Team GB hopefuls in Italy\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Zoe Atkin is one of several Team GB hopefuls in Italy<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Team GB is targeting its most successful Winter Olympics at the Milano Cortina Games. UK Sport, which funds Olympic and Paralympic sports across the UK, is predicting between four and eight medals in northern Italy.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Britain&#8217;s best showing at a Winter Games previously came at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, where five medals (including one gold) were clinched. However, Team GB performance bosses are raising their expectations even further this time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This optimism stems from the fact the Team GB contingent heading to Italy includes world champions, X Games gold medallists and World Cup podium finishers. The 2024\/25 season saw Britain&#8217;s winter athletes claim nine World Championship medals across different sports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">British skiers and snowboarders secured 28 major podiums in Olympic events, claimed three Crystal Globes (overall World Cup titles) and one World Championship crown, courtesy of Zoe Atkin. Chef de mission Eve Muirhead, who won curling gold in 2022, described preparations as &#8220;meticulous&#8221; with a &#8220;focus on creating the conditions that allow athletes to deliver when it matters most.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">She added: &#8220;The potential within this team is exceptionally high, and while we don&#8217;t always benefit from the same ease of access to snow and ice as some of our rivals, when I look at the class of 2026, I see a real opportunity to challenge the status quo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Amy Williams&#8217; advice to Matt Weston ahead of Winter Olympic skeleton tilt<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Winter Olympics star major doubt for games after being airlifted to hospital following crash<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With the bar set high for Team GB in the men&#8217;s skeleton, men&#8217;s and mixed curling teams, as well as skiing and snowboarding disciplines, <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Mirror Sport<\/strong> examines our top contenders to secure medals in Italy.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_db1670\">Matt Weston &#8211; Skeleton<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Double men&#8217;s skeleton world champion Weston claimed three consecutive overall World Cup crowns between 2023 and 2026. Currently leading the men&#8217;s rankings, Weston triumphed in five of this season&#8217;s seven World Cup events. He secured silver behind team-mate Marcus Wyatt in the other two, with Wyatt also tipped to reach the podium.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36667496\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36667496\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.36\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Matt Weston celebrates at 2025 World Championships\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667496.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Matt-Weston-celebrates-at-2025-World-Championships.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667496.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Matt-Weston-celebrates-at-2025-World-Championships.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667496.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Matt-Weston-celebrates-at-2025-World-Championships.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667496.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Matt-Weston-celebrates-at-2025-World-Championships.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Matt Weston is Team GB's great hope in the skeleton\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Matt Weston is Team GB&#8217;s great hope in the skeleton<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_db1670\">Kirsty Muir &#8211; Freestyle skiing (big air, slopestyle)<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Two-time World Cup gold medallist Muir won slopestyle gold in Tignes last season and claimed the big air crown in Secret Garden, China, in November. At the recent Aspen X Games, she secured slopestyle gold and big air silver.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_db1670\">Mia Brookes &#8211; Snowboarding (big air, slopestyle)<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Brookes made history in 2023 by becoming snowboarding&#8217;s youngest ever world champion at just 16 years old, claiming slopestyle gold. She has won consecutive big air Crystal Globes and secured World Cup gold in December, alongside slopestyle gold and big air bronze at the recent X Games. Brookes has the potential to become Team GB&#8217;s first Olympic gold or silver medallist on snow.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36667492\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36667492\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Mia Brookes poses with medal\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667492.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Mia-Brookes-poses-with-medal.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667492.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Mia-Brookes-poses-with-medal.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667492.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Mia-Brookes-poses-with-medal.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667492.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Mia-Brookes-poses-with-medal.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Mia Brookes is tipped for big things this month\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Mia Brookes is tipped for big things this month<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_db1670\">Zoe Atkin &#8211; Freestyle skiing (halfpipe)<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Atkin is the current halfpipe world champion and has clinched three podium finishes from three starts on the World Cup circuit this season, including a gold. She also managed to win gold at the recent X Games.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_db1670\">Charlotte Bankes &#8211; Snowboarding (snowboard cross)<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Bankes became world champion in 2021 and secured the mixed team title two years later alongside British team-mate Huw Nightingale. She has won the Crystal Globe overall World Cup title on two occasions, while finishing runner-up in the standings in 2024 and 2025, with the latter campaign being hampered by a broken collarbone.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_db1670\">Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear &#8211; Figure skating (ice dance)<\/h3>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36667495\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36667495\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear train Figure Skating\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667495.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Lewis-Gibson-and-Lilah-Fear-train-Figure-Skating.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667495.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Lewis-Gibson-and-Lilah-Fear-train-Figure-Skating.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667495.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Lewis-Gibson-and-Lilah-Fear-train-Figure-Skating.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36667495.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Lewis-Gibson-and-Lilah-Fear-train-Figure-Skating.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear can make history for Team GB\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear can make history for Team GB<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The duo could deliver Britain&#8217;s first Olympic figure skating medal since 1994. Fear and Gibson are widely seen as the finest British figure-skating partnership since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. They have also claimed four European medals and are two-time Grand Prix Final bronze medallists.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_db1670\">Team Mouat &#8211; Curling<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Bruce Mouat&#8217;s British curlers are tipped to build on their silver medal from 2022. They are the reigning curling world champions, having also claimed the title in 2023. They secured three consecutive European crowns between 2021 and 2023.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Watch Winter Olympics 2026 live on discovery+<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36597648.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Untitled-6jpeg.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-price-details__OpMC_\">\n<p>\u00a33.99<\/p>\n<p>discovery+<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"AffiliateContent_content-buy-btn__xWiVO buy-btn\" aria-label=\"Buy button\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4qSiovb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer\">Get discovery+ here<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games is running from February 6-22 and fans can enjoy more than 850 hours of action live on discovery+ via Prime Video.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Throughout the games, the \u00a33.99 discovery+ Entertainment subscription will provide access to TNT Sports 2, the home of 24\/7 Olympic coverage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Team GB&#8217;s 2026 Winter Olympics line-up features several medal prospects who will be tasked with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}