Zoe Atkin has written her name into the annals of British sporting history, claiming a hard-fought bronze medal in the women’s freeski halfpipe at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The 23-year-old, already a world champion and X Games gold medalist, delivered under immense pressure at Livigno Snow Park, capping what has become Team GB’s most successful Winter Olympics to date.
Atkin’s journey to the podium was anything but straightforward. Having qualified first among 21 competitors on February 19, 2026, she immediately established herself as a leading contender. The anticipation only grew when heavy snowfall forced organizers to postpone the final from Saturday evening to Sunday morning—a last-minute decision that left athletes and fans alike on edge. Some even speculated whether Atkin might win gold by default as the top qualifier, but the competition eventually resumed, and the battle for medals was on.
The atmosphere in Livigno was electric as Atkin, ear-buds streaming L’il Wayne to calm her nerves, dropped into the halfpipe. She opened the final with a strong first run, scoring 91.5 and seizing an early lead. But the competition was fierce. China’s Eileen Gu, already a global superstar and defending halfpipe champion, faltered on her first attempt but came roaring back with a 94.75 on her third run. Li Fanghui, also representing China, delivered a near-flawless performance to claim silver with 93.0. Atkin, undeterred by a fall on her second run, regrouped and soared to a 92.5 on her final effort—just a hair’s breadth from silver.
“I can’t even begin to describe the rollercoaster of emotions it is here at the Olympics,” Atkin told BBC Sport, her voice a mix of relief and joy. “I was so stressed out today and so nervous, so I played it a little bit safe on my first run just to put one down, and I stepped it up a little bit on my third run. I’ve been working on my run for the past four years, even longer, and to be able to come back to the Olympics and be on the podium means so much to me. I’ve been thinking about it for so long.”
For Atkin, the bronze medal was not just a personal triumph—it was a family affair. Her older sister, Izzy Atkin, made history in 2018 by winning Britain’s first Olympic skiing medal with a slopestyle bronze in Pyeongchang. Zoe was there to witness Izzy’s breakthrough, and now, eight years later, the roles were reversed. Izzy cheered from the sidelines in Livigno, her pride evident. “She’s always been my biggest inspiration, she pushed me into the sport, she was always bullying me to jump off things on the mountain,” Zoe said. “After watching her [win the medal] it’s always been a huge goal for me. It’s a real full-circle moment because she was here supporting me, and I was there when she won her bronze medal, so it’s really special. Obviously I wanted to one-up her a bit but it’s really special that we both have the bronze.”
The Atkin family’s story is as international as it is inspiring. Born in Boston to a British father from Solihull, Birmingham, and a Malaysian mother, Zoe grew up in Massachusetts before moving west to support her sister’s ski ambitions. Their father, Mike Atkin, credits a close-knit family for both daughters’ resilience. Speaking to the BBC, he explained, “We’ve always encouraged Zoe to stay calm and ski with confidence. Our advice has always been simple—focus on delivering a run she can feel proud of, rather than worrying about expectations.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics have been a showcase for Team GB’s rising talent. Atkin’s bronze marked the fifth medal for the British team, matching their record hauls from 2014 and 2018. But with three golds already secured, this edition stands as the nation’s most successful Winter Games ever. The moment Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale clinched the second gold in the mixed team snowboard cross, history was made—never before had Great Britain won more than one gold at a single Winter Games.
Atkin’s path to this moment has been paved with both triumphs and setbacks. Four years ago, at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, she finished a disappointing ninth. Since then, she’s been on a tear—winning X Games gold, racking up World Cup podiums, and entering Milano Cortina as the reigning world champion and World Cup leader. The pressure was immense, but Atkin’s mental preparation, bolstered by her studies at Stanford University, proved invaluable. A student of symbolic systems, she’s found a unique synergy between her academic and athletic pursuits. “I have learned so much that has helped me so much being an athlete in an action sport. The tricks and manoeuvres that we’re doing inherently have a lot of risk to them,” she said. “I’ve struggled with fear a lot in the past, especially when I was younger. Learning about the mechanisms of the brain has really helped me apply those learnings and new mindsets and be able to test those theories, in practice, in my sport.”
As for the competition, Eileen Gu’s gold was her sixth career Olympic medal, cementing her status as the most decorated freeskier—male or female—of all time. “I’m the most decorated freeskier of all time, male or female. I have the most gold medals ever, male or female. That’s a testament to competitive strength, it’s mental strength. It’s being able to perform under pressure, it has nothing to (do with) if you’re a boy or a girl,” Gu declared after her win.
The final in Livigno was not without drama. The postponement due to heavy snow forced athletes to adapt quickly, with Atkin and her fellow competitors facing challenging conditions. Yet, the British skier’s ability to remain composed and deliver when it mattered most was a testament to her growth since Beijing. “I am so happy. I’ve been looking forward to this for at least the past four years and it was so overwhelming with the crowd and knowing it was the Olympics—so many emotions,” Atkin told BBC Sport. “I was so stressed out and I was crying, and to put two runs down felt so good and the cherry on top is getting on the Olympic podium.”
With her family waving British flags and her sister by her side, Zoe Atkin’s bronze is more than just a medal—it’s a symbol of perseverance, sibling inspiration, and the growing legacy of British skiing. As the snow settles in Livigno, Team GB celebrates its record-setting Winter Olympics, and the Atkin sisters stand as icons for the next generation of British athletes. What a story, and what a Games!