The Winter Olympics kicks off with a grand ceremony at Milan’s renowned San Siro Stadium on Friday, featuring performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli. The British team, filled with promising young talent, is expected to compete for up to eight medals in Italy, as forecasted by UK Sport.
Spanning across northern Italy, the 25th winter games will be celebrated with events and parades in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Team GB is anticipated to achieve its highest-ever medal count, aiming to surpass the record of five medals achieved in Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. Ice skating duo Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear, likened to the legendary Torvill and Dean, could secure the nation’s first Olympic figure skating medal since 1994. Lilah Fear, 26, will proudly carry the flag during the opening ceremony alongside bobsleigh pilot Brad Hall, 35.
This year, Britain’s curlers are poised to build on their success, having won two medals in 2022, including a gold by the women’s team. The country also boasts top skeleton athletes in world champion Matt Weston and his close friend Marcus Wyatt.
Among the leading contenders for medals are Mia Brookes, Kirsty Muir – the youngest athlete at Beijing 2022 at just 17, Zoe Atkin, and Charlotte Bankes. These athletes have the potential to secure Britain’s first gold or silver medal in snow sports.
The competition, running until Feb 22 with coverage on the BBC, will see nearly 3,000 athletes from 90 countries vying for 116 medals at Milan-Cortina. Team GB is represented by 53 athletes, with intense qualifying rounds already in progress. Marcus Wyatt is a strong contender to join Weston on the men’s skeleton podium, following his World Championship silver last year.
In various events at Cortina, athletes like Weston and Tabby Stoecker in the mixed team event, and Brad Hall in the men’s bobsleigh, will compete. The curling team, including Mouat and Jennifer Dodds, eyes a potential medal hat-trick. Team Morrison aims to defend the gold won by Muirhead’s women’s team in Beijing four years ago.
Matt Weston, a two-time world champion in skeleton, has dominated the sport with three consecutive World Cup titles between 2023 and 2026. Zoe Atkin, the current halfpipe world champion, and Charlotte Bankes, a snowboarding world champion, are also strong medal prospects.
Kirsty Muir, a freestyle skiing champion, Lilah Fear, and Lewis Gibson are set to showcase their talents in ice dance. Team Mouat, led by Bruce Mouat, holds the title of curling world champions and is a force to reckon with in the competition.
These talented athletes are gearing up to shine on the global stage, with high hopes of bringing home medals for Team GB at the Winter Olympics.
