Team GB's Golden Winter: A Complete History of Olympic Triumphs
Great Britain is experiencing an unprecedented Winter Olympic campaign at the Milan Cortina Games, with three gold medals secured within just 48 hours. This remarkable achievement has elevated Team GB's all-time Winter Olympic gold tally to 15, marking a historic moment in British sporting history.
The Record-Breaking 2026 Campaign
Matt Weston initiated Britain's golden surge in Italy with a commanding victory in the men's skeleton event. Weston then partnered with Tabby Stoecker to claim another gold in the mixed skeleton competition. Between these triumphs, Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale secured victory in the mixed snowboard cross, creating Britain's most extraordinary Olympic period.
The Complete Golden Legacy
Madge Syers – Figure Skating (1908)
Although predating official Winter Olympics, Madge Syers earned Britain's first winter gold when figure skating debuted at the 1908 London Summer Games. The 29-year-old champion, who had previously won world championships in 1906 and 1907, made history as the first woman to compete at World Figure Skating Championships in 1902.
Men's Curling Team (1924)
William Jackson, Robin Welsh, Thomas Murray, and Laurence Jackson secured Britain's first official Winter Olympic gold in curling at the inaugural Chamonix Games. Their dominant victories over Sweden and France were officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee 82 years later.
Men's Ice Hockey Team (1936)
In a stunning upset at the Nazi-sponsored Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games, captain Carl Erhardt led Britain to victory over four-time defending champions Canada. This achievement made Britain the first team to simultaneously hold Olympic, World, and European titles.
Jeannette Altwegg – Figure Skating (1952)
At the Oslo Games, Jeannette Altwegg upgraded her 1948 bronze to gold in ladies' singles. Born in India to a Scottish mother and Swiss father but raised in Liverpool, Altwegg had previously reached the junior Wimbledon finals in 1947.
Robin Dixon and Tony Nash – Bobsleigh (1964)
The Innsbruck Games witnessed Britain's first sliding sports gold as Dixon and Nash edged Italian teams by 0.12 seconds. Their legacy endures with a curve named after them at the St Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun.
John Curry – Figure Skating (1976)
Returning to Innsbruck, John Curry achieved the rare triple crown of European, World, and Olympic titles. His coming out as gay in 1976 made him the world's first openly gay elite sportsperson.
Robin Cousins – Figure Skating (1980)
The Bristol-born skater claimed gold at Lake Placid through the cumulative ranking system, despite earning fewer points than silver medalist Jan Hoffman. His performance earned him the 1980 Sports Personality of the Year award.
Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean – Figure Skating (1984)
The iconic ice dancing pair captivated 24 million British viewers during their Sarajevo performance, receiving 12 perfect scores. After turning professional, they returned to win bronze at Lillehammer in 1994.
Women's Curling Team (2002)
Rhoma Martin, Debbie Know, Fiona MacDonald, Janice Rankin, and Margaret Morton overcame multiple tie-breakers and dramatic final-end victories against Canada and Switzerland to secure gold in Salt Lake City.
Amy Williams – Skeleton (2010)
Drawn to skeleton after Bath's push-start track opened during her studies, Williams broke track records twice at Vancouver to win by 0.56 seconds, despite never having won a World Cup or World Championship race.
Lizzy Yarnold – Skeleton (2014 and 2018)
Britain's most decorated winter Olympian earned back-to-back golds in Sochi and Pyeongchang. Her 2018 victory was particularly remarkable as she overcame vestibular disorder and chest infection to set a track record on her final run.
Women's Curling Team (2022)
Hailey Duff, Jennifer Dodds, Vicky Wright, and captain Eve Muirhead rescued Britain's Beijing campaign with an 11-10 extra-end victory over Sweden followed by a 10-3 final win against Japan.
Matt Weston – Skeleton (2026)
The two-time World Champion delivered four flawless runs to finish almost a full second ahead of competitors, becoming Britain's first male individual gold medalist since Robin Cousins in 1980.
Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale – Mixed Snowboard Cross (2026)
After individual disappointments, the pair combined to secure Britain's first Olympic gold on snow, with Bankes powering past France's Lea Casta in the closing stages.
Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker – Mixed Skeleton (2026)
Weston returned to claim his second gold with Stoecker, overcoming a 0.3-second deficit to finish 0.17 seconds ahead of Germany. This marked Britain's first two-gold day at Winter Olympics.
A New Era of British Winter Sports
Team GB's 2026 performance represents a watershed moment in British winter sports history. The three gold medals in Milan Cortina not only demonstrate current excellence but also honor a century-long legacy of British achievement on ice and snow. From pioneering figures like Madge Syers to modern champions like Matt Weston, Britain's Winter Olympic journey continues to inspire new generations of athletes.
