Britain's Winter Olympic Ambitions Sparking Confidence Ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026
Team GB is on the cusp of achieving what many deem the most impressive Olympic performance at a winter Games in history. With their sights set on securing an unprecedented eight medals, the British contingent is bursting with optimism and determination as they prepare to take on the world's best athletes in Italy.
The team's lofty target surpasses Britain's previous best of five medals won in 2014 and 2018, while a disappointing performance at Beijing in 2022 – where only two curling medals were secured – has provided the impetus for significant improvement. UK Sport director Dr Kate Baker is adamant that Team GB is in the strongest position they've ever been heading into a winter Olympics from a world championship performance perspective.
Baker's assertion is backed by an impressive array of talented athletes, including 2023 snowboard slopestyle world champion Mia Brookes and 2025 freeski halfpipe world champion Zoe Atkin. The likes of Kirsty Muir in the freeski slopestyle and big air, as well as Charlotte Bankes in the snowboard cross, are all gunning for medals.
"We have this incredible array of female athletes on snow who are pulling extraordinary things out of the bag," Baker noted, highlighting the potential of these exceptional talents to propel Britain to unprecedented heights. By drawing inspiration from past successes – including the iconic Torvill and Dean ice dancing duo – Baker believes that Team GB can capture the hearts and minds of the British public.
As for the men's curling team, led by Bruce Mouat, Baker described them as "rock stars" who deserve their billing as gold medal favourites. Meanwhile, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are aiming to win Britain's first figure skating Olympic medal since 1994 after winning world championship bronze last year.
Despite acknowledging that the winter Games pose inherent risks – particularly in events like skeleton and curling – Baker remains resolute in Team GB's optimism. "We know that on the day, anything can happen," she said. "But we also recognise that we have extraordinary talent. And that gives us real confidence that, on our very best day, we could be reaching the top end of that medal range."
Chef de mission Eve Muirhead echoes Baker's sentiments, stating that Team GB's potential is "exceptionally high". The focus has been meticulous in preparing for Milano-Cortina 2026, and Muirhead is confident that her team will make a strong impression. With the nation rallying behind them, Team GB is poised to achieve what many believe will be their most impressive Olympic performance at a winter Games.
Team GB is on the cusp of achieving what many deem the most impressive Olympic performance at a winter Games in history. With their sights set on securing an unprecedented eight medals, the British contingent is bursting with optimism and determination as they prepare to take on the world's best athletes in Italy.
The team's lofty target surpasses Britain's previous best of five medals won in 2014 and 2018, while a disappointing performance at Beijing in 2022 – where only two curling medals were secured – has provided the impetus for significant improvement. UK Sport director Dr Kate Baker is adamant that Team GB is in the strongest position they've ever been heading into a winter Olympics from a world championship performance perspective.
Baker's assertion is backed by an impressive array of talented athletes, including 2023 snowboard slopestyle world champion Mia Brookes and 2025 freeski halfpipe world champion Zoe Atkin. The likes of Kirsty Muir in the freeski slopestyle and big air, as well as Charlotte Bankes in the snowboard cross, are all gunning for medals.
"We have this incredible array of female athletes on snow who are pulling extraordinary things out of the bag," Baker noted, highlighting the potential of these exceptional talents to propel Britain to unprecedented heights. By drawing inspiration from past successes – including the iconic Torvill and Dean ice dancing duo – Baker believes that Team GB can capture the hearts and minds of the British public.
As for the men's curling team, led by Bruce Mouat, Baker described them as "rock stars" who deserve their billing as gold medal favourites. Meanwhile, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are aiming to win Britain's first figure skating Olympic medal since 1994 after winning world championship bronze last year.
Despite acknowledging that the winter Games pose inherent risks – particularly in events like skeleton and curling – Baker remains resolute in Team GB's optimism. "We know that on the day, anything can happen," she said. "But we also recognise that we have extraordinary talent. And that gives us real confidence that, on our very best day, we could be reaching the top end of that medal range."
Chef de mission Eve Muirhead echoes Baker's sentiments, stating that Team GB's potential is "exceptionally high". The focus has been meticulous in preparing for Milano-Cortina 2026, and Muirhead is confident that her team will make a strong impression. With the nation rallying behind them, Team GB is poised to achieve what many believe will be their most impressive Olympic performance at a winter Games.
. And let's not forget about the history of British winter Olympic performance being pretty spotty at best... I'm not expecting them to live up to the hype just yet 
.
this team has got some serious talent 
and from what i've seen, they're not just aiming for medals, they're going for gold 
and with all these amazing athletes like mia brookes and zoe atkin, i gotta say i'm loving the vibe 
it shows they're not just relying on luck or talent alone, but also on smart strategy and teamwork 
so fingers crossed for them at milan-cortina 2026, i'm all in 
. And what about the mental preparation - all that pressure can be intense, especially in events like curling where one tiny miscalculation can make all the difference 
. Still, I'm excited for Team GB - they've come a long way since Beijing 2022 and it'll be amazing to see them shine on the ice! 
They're definitely in a great position heading into Milano-Cortina 2026 and with the talent they have, I wouldn't be surprised if they hit that 8-medal target 
. The addition of female athletes in sports like freeski slopestyle and snowboard cross has given them a huge boost. Plus, who wouldn't love an all-star team featuring rock star curling squad Bruce Mouat and co? 
️! With the likes of Mia Brookes and Zoe Atkin dominating the slopes, I've got no doubt they'll give it their all and bring home some serious hardware 
. And let's not forget Kirsty Muir and Charlotte Bankes - those ladies are absolute rockstars on snow 
! My money's on them taking gold in freeski slopestyle and snowboard cross, respectively 
. Bring on the Olympics, Team GB is ready to shine 
!
. I guess all the training and preparation are paying off, huh? They've got some talented athletes like Mia Brookes and Zoe Atkin on their team, so yeah, they should be able to get those medals 
. Now it's all about these super-talented athletes pushing themselves to new heights. And I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty inspiring to see.
! That's amazing confidence and determination from the team, especially after last year's disappointing performance. Dr Kate Baker is totally right to say that they've got an incredible array of talented athletes who are ready to shine 
. Let's go Team GB! 
. I mean, they've had some decent performances before, but eight medals? That's a stretch 
. Don't get me wrong, the athletes are talented and all that 
. I mean, what happens when things don't go their way? Will they be able to handle the disappointment? 
.
. The fact that they're drawing inspiration from legends like Torvill and Dean is just genius 
. I'm totally convinced that Team GB has what it takes to bring home those medals and make the British public go wild 
. With the whole nation rallying behind them, I can already imagine the energy in the stadium when they take to the ice and snow 
.