British Skeleton and Bobsleigh Forge Unprecedented Alliance for Winter Olympic Glory
In a groundbreaking development for British winter sports, skeleton and bobsleigh athletes are working in closer collaboration than ever before, pooling resources and expertise to elevate Team GB's prospects at the upcoming Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. This strategic partnership represents a significant shift in approach, with athletes from both disciplines training together, sharing medical support, and exchanging crucial knowledge about tracks and conditioning routines.
Inspiring Cross-Sport Mentorship Drives Confidence
Tabby Stoecker, a two-time world championship silver medallist in skeleton, has revealed how training alongside British bobsledder Ashleigh Nelson has profoundly inspired her ahead of her Olympic debut. Nelson, a former sprinter who competed at two Summer Olympics and secured European gold and world silver in athletics, has become a mentor figure for Stoecker.
"Her career before this point has been such an inspiration," Stoecker emphasised. "As another woman of colour, she's had such a successful career. To see the way that she conducts herself and hear about her experiences has helped me feel more confident in my position and the way I would want to go about my career."
This mentorship extends beyond technical advice, fostering personal growth and resilience among athletes navigating the pressures of elite competition.
Building Towards Historic Medal Hauls
Stoecker, who has achieved notable success in skeleton's mixed event with world silvers in 2024 and 2025 alongside Matt Weston, believes this collaborative environment could propel Team GB to unprecedented success. Reflecting on the team's performance at PyeongChang 2018, where Britain secured three medals including Lizzy Yarnold's gold, Stoecker expressed ambitious optimism.
"We've all got it in us to be on the podium at Milano Cortina, and so do the boys," she declared, referencing teammates Amelia Coltman, Freya Tarbit, Weston, and Marcus Wyatt. "Success for me would be to be on the podium with a gold medal around my neck singing the national anthem. British bobsleigh and skeleton can definitely come away with podium after podium and dominate Italy."
Tangible Benefits Across Both Disciplines
The integration of medical and conditioning professionals between skeleton and bobsleigh has yielded measurable improvements. Bobsleigh pilot Adele Nicoll reported that the collaboration has taken her "health being taken to another level," while fellow pilot Brad Hall noted enhanced training capacity. For Stoecker, the advantages extend beyond physical preparation to encompass team cohesion and morale.
"We get the chance to stay in the same hotels and room together," she explained. "We're all in our PJs, having cups of tea and just chatting about being athletes and also not being athletes, just being regular people. It helps you want to be a better teammate and a better part of British Bobsleigh and Skeleton."
Strategic Support from UK Sport
This unified approach is underpinned by support from UK Sport, the nation's high-performance experts dedicated to powering athletes and teams toward success that inspires and unites the country. The organisation's backing has been instrumental in facilitating this cross-disciplinary cooperation, recognising its potential to maximise medal returns from the ice track.
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games approach, running from February 6-22, British fans can anticipate a strengthened contingent of sliders poised to challenge for podium positions. With discovery+ offering extensive live coverage via Prime Video, including 24/7 Olympic coverage on TNT Sports 2, the nation will be watching closely as this collaborative experiment unfolds on the global stage.
