'Incredible' Team GB experiences most successful day ever at Winter Olympics after 'slow start'

Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 15/02/2026

- 20:08

Looking ahead, several athletes remain in strong contention for podium places

Team GB has been hailed as "incredible" following its most triumphant day ever at a Winter Olympics, claiming two gold medals within hours of each other in Livigno and Cortina.

Charlotte Bankes partnered with Huw Nightingale to secure victory in the mixed team snowboard cross.


Then Matt Weston joined forces with Tabby Stoecker to capture gold in the skeleton team event.

Britain's haul now stands at three golds in just 48 hours, having never previously claimed more than a single gold at any Winter Games.

Chef de mission Eve Muirhead described the achievement as "incredible".

She said: "(It was a) slightly slow start, we knew that, but we were patient, we kept the vibe up, we kept very positive because we knew we were going to have opportunities to come.

"Today, getting two gold medals just incredible, the most we’ve ever had in British Winter Olympic history, and for Matt being the most decorated British Winter Olympian of all time is something really special."

Bankes and Nightingale's exhilarating run to the top of the podium secured them a place in the history books as Britain's first-ever Olympic gold medallists on snow.

Team GB

Team GB has been hailed as 'incredible' following its most triumphant day ever at a Winter Olympics

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GETTY

Their triumph effectively shattered the frustrating narrative that had plagued Team GB throughout the opening week of competition.

The British squad had endured three agonising fourth-place finishes before this breakthrough moment transformed their fortunes entirely.

Weston's second gold medal elevated him to an unprecedented status, making him the first British Winter Olympian ever to claim multiple medals at a single Games.

The skeleton star's achievement following his individual triumph on Friday.

Charlotte Bankes and Huw NightingaleCharlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale were jubilant after winning gold at the Winter Olympics | GETTY

Britain's medal count could yet climb higher.

The team is targeting the record of five medals achieved at both Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.

In a curious twist, Marcus Wyatt and Freya Tarbit's narrow miss in the skeleton team event means Britain has also set an unwanted record for the most fourth-place finishes at a single Winter Olympics.

But, looking ahead, several athletes remain in strong contention for podium places.

Matt Weston

Matt Weston celebrates with his singles gold medal

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PA

Kirsty Muir in ski slopestyle and Zoe Atkin in ski halfpipe both possess genuine medal prospects.

The men's curling team and four-man bobsleigh crew also harbour realistic hopes of adding to the tally.

The competition runs until February 22.

Prior to the games kicking off, Muirhead spoke of the ambitious targets for Team GB to achieve.

Team GBIt was a historic day for Team GB | GETTY

She said: "We’ve been meticulous in our preparations for Milano Cortina 2026.

"I know first-hand the difference the right environment can make at an Olympic Games, and our focus has been on creating the conditions that allow athletes to deliver when it matters most.

"The potential within this team is exceptionally high, and while we don’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.

"We are heading to Italy as a credible force across more disciplines than ever before, and I’m excited to see the nation get behind them."