The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina are poised to be a landmark event for Team GB, with UK Sport forecasting a potential record-breaking medal haul of up to eight. This would surpass the nation's previous best of five medals achieved at both Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. The games officially commence with a spectacular opening ceremony at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium on Friday, featuring performances by Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli, before the focus shifts to a British squad brimming with youthful talent and genuine podium potential.
Flagbearers and Figure Skating Phenoms
Leading the British contingent into the ceremony will be dual flagbearers: bobsleigh pilot Brad Hall, 35, and ice dancer Lilah Fear, 26. Fear, alongside her partner Lewis Gibson, is being heralded as 'the new Torvill and Dean' following their bronze medal at last year's World Championships. This dynamic pair could secure Britain's first Olympic figure skating medal since 1994, marking a historic return to form on the ice.
"When I heard the news, I started crying immediately," Fear revealed about her flagbearing honour. "I was just flooded with so much emotion, honour, and pride. It was an out-of-body experience to be asked, and I am just so incredibly excited and honoured."
Strong Contenders Across Multiple Disciplines
Team GB's medal prospects extend far beyond the ice rink. In skeleton, the nation boasts two of the world's best: reigning world champion Matt Weston and his teammate, close friend, and world silver medallist Marcus Wyatt. Both are hot favourites to podium, with Wyatt aiming to join Weston on the medal stand.
On the snow, a cohort of young stars is targeting Britain's first Olympic gold or silver medal on the slopes. This group includes freestyle skiers Kirsty Muir and Zoe Atkin, snowboard cross world champion Charlotte Bankes, and snowboarding prodigy Mia Brookes. Brookes, who became the youngest world champion in snowboarding history at age 16, is a particular standout in big air and slopestyle events.
Curling Hopes for Multiple Podiums
Britain's curlers are also expected to add significantly to the medal tally. The women's team, now led by chef de mission Eve Muirhead who guided them to gold in 2022, will look to defend their title. Meanwhile, Bruce Mouat's men's rink, the current world champions, are strong contenders for a medal, potentially setting up a hat-trick of podium finishes across the mixed, men's, and women's events.
Key Athletes and Their Competition Schedules
Matt Weston: Skeleton
A two-time world champion and three-time overall World Cup winner, Weston is a formidable gold medal hope. He dominated this season's World Cup circuit, winning five of seven golds.
- Days to watch: February 12 (men's heats one and two), February 13 (men's heats three and four), February 15 (mixed team event).
Zoe Atkin: Freestyle Skiing (Halfpipe)
The current halfpipe world champion, Atkin has been in exceptional form, achieving three podium finishes from three World Cup starts this season, including a gold medal.
- Days to watch: February 19 (qualifying), February 21 (finals).
Charlotte Bankes: Snowboarding (Snowboard Cross)
Bankes, the 2021 world champion and two-time Crystal Globe winner, is a major threat despite recovering from a broken collarbone last year.
- Days to watch: February 13 (women's event), February 15 (mixed team event).
Mia Brookes: Snowboarding (Big Air, Slopestyle)
Brookes has already made history as the youngest snowboarding world champion and comes into the games with back-to-back big air Crystal Globes and recent X Games success.
- Dates to watch: February 8 (big air qualifying), February 9 (big air finals), February 16 (slopestyle qualifying), February 17 (slopestyle finals).
Kirsty Muir: Freestyle Skiing (Big Air, Slopestyle)
Muir, Team GB's youngest athlete at the 2022 Beijing Games, is a two-time World Cup gold medallist and arrives with X Games gold and silver medals from this season.
- Dates to watch: February 7 (slopestyle qualifying), February 9 (slopestyle finals), February 14 (big air qualifying), February 16 (big air finals).
Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson: Figure Skating (Ice Dance)
Fear and Gibson made history by winning Britain's first World Championship figure skating medal since 1984. They are also four-time European medallists.
- Dates to watch: February 9 (rhythm dance), February 11 (free dance).
Team Mouat: Curling
Bruce Mouat's men's rink are the reigning world champions and have won three successive European titles, making them strong contenders for Olympic gold or silver.
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, featuring nearly 3,000 athletes from 90 nations competing for 116 medals, will run until February 22. With 53 athletes representing Team GB and qualifying action already underway, the stage is set for what could be a historic campaign for British winter sports, broadcast live on the BBC.
