Team GB can finally end their Winter Olympics medal drought on Friday after a bittersweet start to the Games, with several stars finishing just off the podium.
That looks set to change with Matt Weston in the driving seat in the men’s skeleton, leading the field by 0.3 seconds and having broken the track record twice in Thursday’s first two heats.
Team-mate Marcus Wyatt is over a second off the pace and has work to do down in seventh, while there was more skeleton action earlier on as Britain’s Tabby Stoecker, Freya Tarbit, and Amelia Coleman got their Olympic campaigns underway sitting fifth, sixth and ninth overnight respectively.
But Charlotte Bankes, bidding to erase the memories of a disappointing Beijing Games as she competed in the snowboard cross, was knocked out in the quarter-final stage. An error out of the gate left the 30-year-old with too much ground to make up, despite a late lunge for the line.
Follow all the latest updates from Milano-Cortina 2026 in our live blog below
Winter Olympics 2026
- Heavy favourite Matt Weston wins gold in men's skeleton for Team GB
- Charlotte Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarter-finals
- Team GB's men suffer first curling defeat in 9-7 loss to Italy
- GB skeleton athletes Stoecker, Coltman and Tarbit in action
- Winter Olympics day 7 schedule
Ice-cool Matt Weston shatters track records and ends Team GB’s medal drought with skeleton gold
21:21 , Flo CliffordDay seven of the Winter Olympics fell on Friday 13th but far from being unlucky, it was the day Team GB’s medal curse finally lifted.
Morale has dropped after a series of near misses, including three fourth-places – one by a fraction of a point – and the day started off badly as Charlotte Bankes fell victim to her own curse, that of the Olympic quarter-final, once again.
But after Blue Monday, Terrible Tuesday, and Worrying Wednesday, and with anxiety swirling over how feasible UK Sport’s target of four to eight medals actually is, Matt Weston arrived to save the day.
Ice-cool Weston shatters track record and ends GB’s medal drought with skeleton gold
Quarter-final curse strikes again for Charlotte Bankes as GB medal drought continues
22:26 , Flo CliffordCharlotte Bankes suffered Winter Olympics heartbreak for the second Games in succession as she crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals.
It was the same result as in Beijing four years ago, when she was the heavy favourite to take the title.
Quarter-final curse strikes again for Charlotte Bankes as GB medal drought continues
Who is Matt Weston? Skeleton star and team GB’s first Winter Olympics gold medallist
22:16 , Flo CliffordMatt Weston won Team GB’s first medal of this Winter Olympics with a peerless performance in the men’s skeleton on Friday night, winning Olympic gold for the first time.
He broke the track record in all four of his heats in Cortina d’Ampezzo and was utterly imperious, only getting better with each run, and withstood all the pressure as the overwhelming favourite to claim his first Olympic medal.
Who is Matt Weston? GB skeleton star going for first Winter Olympics gold
‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin beaten for first time in two years in stunning men’s skating final
22:14 , Flo CliffordThe men’s figure skating final ended in a stunning upset as ‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin, the overwhelming favourite for gold, fell twice and failed to make the podium.
The 21-year-old had planned seven quadruple jumps in his free skate programme but popped his attempt at an Olympic-first quad axel, landing only a single, and fell on his quad lutz and a combination including a double salchow.
‘Quad God’ Malinin beaten for first time in two years in stunning men’s skating final
Weston didn't know he'd broken track records
22:06 , Mike JonesThe euphoria of winning the Olympic gold medal and achieving a dream overtook Matt Weston at the end of his final skeleton run.
So much so that he didn’t know that his final run was his fastest of the competition and the fourth time he’d broken the track record.
“Oh, was it? I didn’t even know that in the last one I was too busy crying at the end,” he admitted to Laura Robson of TNT Sports when she informed him of the feat.
Weston continued: “I’m quite a perfectionist, there’s things I want to clean up, a bit here, a bit there. I wasn’t quite happy with all my runs but they were good enough for this.”
Weston on winning the gold
22:01 , Mike Jones“I’m being very careful at the moment to be honest, I’ve seen all the ones breaking off the ribbon so I’m cradling this one. I’m going to sleep with it tonight,” laughed Matt Weston when asked what it feels like to have his hands on an Olympic gold medal.
He added: “No. [I can’t sum up what it’s like on the podium]. The feeling’s unlike anything I’ve ever had before. The pure emotion, it’s overwhelming.
“Seeing my fiancé and everyone back at home that’s been supporting me over the years it means so much. It means everything.”
Weston thanks family for support
21:56 , Mike JonesMore from Matt Weston now who had his family to thank after his victory.
The Olympic champion added: “Obviously they [Weston’s family] missed out in Beijing. I’m so happy to see them here because it’s not just me that’s had to sacrifice for this.
“It’s my fiancé, my family and everyone. I’ve missed funerals, weddings, anything.
“It’s all been for the pursuit of this little thing around my neck now.”
Winning Olympic gold 'unlike anything else'
21:51 , Mike JonesThe new Olympic champion stopped by TNT Sports to discuss his triumph and was asked to sum up how it feels to have won an Olympic gold medal.
“It’s crazy,” Matt Weston replied. “It’s a feeling unlike anything else.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to win World and European championships, but this blows them out of the water.
“This is absolutely incredible. I can’t describe it, I feel like I’m in a blur. It’s amazing.”
Here's Matt Weston with his gold medal
21:46 , Mike Jones
Weston's family so 'proud'
21:41 , Mike JonesMatt Weston's fiancé, Alex Howard-Jones said: "I don't have any words. I told you that he'd get gold and he did. Couldn't be prouder of him."
His dad, Tom, added: "He's definitely that good. I knew he'd be very close, at least second. Absolutely proud of him."
Day 8 (Saturday 14 February 2026) – 8 gold medal events
21:36 , Mike JonesGreat Britain are finally on the board in the medal table. Can they improve on that tomorrow?
Here’s a look at what’s happening on Saturday in Milano-Cortina:
Alpine skiing
- 9am–11am: Men's giant slalom run 1
- 12.30pm–2.20pm: Men's giant slalom run 2 🏅
Biathlon
- 1pm–2.35pm: Women's 7.5km sprint 🏅
Cross-country skiing
- 11am–1pm: Women's 4x7.5km relay 🏅
Curling
- 8.05am–11.05am: Women's round robin 4
- 1.05pm–4.05pm: Men's round robin 5
- 6.05pm–9.05pm: Women's round robin 5
Freestyle skiing
- 9.30am–11.05am: Women's dual moguls final 🏅
- 6.30pm–8.45pm: Women's freeski big air qualification
Ice hockey
- 11.10am–1.40pm: Men's preliminary round (2 games)
- 3.40pm–6.10pm: Men's preliminary round, Women's quarter-final
- 8.10pm–10.40pm: Men's preliminary round, Women's quarter-final
Short track speed skating
- 7.15pm–10.05pm: Women's 1000m qualification; Men's 1500m quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals 🏅 Women's 3000m relay semi-finals
Skeleton
- 5pm–7.50pm: Women's heats 3 and 4 🏅
Ski jumping
- 5.45pm–8.05pm: Men's large hill individual 🏅
Speed skating
- 3pm–5.05pm: Women's team pursuit qualification, Men's 500m 🏅
The new Olympic champion
21:31 , Mike Jones
Winter Olympics 2026 medal table
21:26 , Mike JonesThe 2026 Winter Olympics is underway in northern Italy as Milan-Cortina plays host to the century-old sporting event.
Norway are historically the most successful nation in the Winter Games and the Norwegians are once again favourites to top the medal table, having claimed 16 golds in Beijing four years ago, four more than second-placed Germany.
Winter Olympics 2026 medal table: Current standings as USA trail to hosts Italy
Weston joins ranks of British winners
21:18 , Mike JonesGreat Britain has seen quite a bit of success in the skeleton in recent times but mainly from the women’s competition.
Matt Weston joins the ranks of previous Olympic champions, Amy Williams (2010) and Lizzy Yarnold (2014 & 2018) to take the gold medal.
The medal presentation
21:18 , Mike JonesIt’s been a long time coming for Great Britain after a run of near misses this week.
But, finally, we have an athlete on the podium and in the top spot.
The medal presentation for the men’s individual skeleton takes place now.
Christopher Grotheer, the Olympic champion four years ago, takes the bronze medal.
Axel Jungk, Grotheer’s compatriot and silver medallist from four years ago, repeats that feat.
Matt Weston, the hero of Great Britain and new Olympic champion, is awarded the gold!
Weston improved in every run
21:15 , Mike JonesIt’s a rare feat to repeatedly get better as the competition goes on but that is something that Matt Weston achieved.
Here are his four run times:
Run one: 56.21 seconds
Run two: 55.88
Run three: 55.63
Run four: 55.61
Matt Weston wins Olympic gold
21:12 , Mike Jones
GB sliders boost medal hopes with impressive outings in skeleton heats
21:08 , Charlie BennettShe spent her childhood training to be an acrobat, but Tabby Stoecker now performs her most death-defying stunt inches from the ground.
After a solid first day in Cortina, the 25-year-old Londoner believes she can soar to the Olympic skeleton podium.
With speeds reaching 125kph, skeleton is not a sport for the faint-hearted, but it appears to be the winter sport for Great Britain. While Team GB early medal prospects struggle across the Alps and Dolomites, hopes remain high that this bizarre discipline, where athletes hurl themselves headfirst down an icy track on a hi-tech tea tray, will take up the slack.
GB sliders boost medal hopes with impressive outings in skeleton heats
Final standings
21:07 , Mike JonesMatt Weston was top of the leaderboard by a long margin.
He wins Great Britain’s first medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics and makes history by becoming the first British man to clinch gold in the skeleton.
Here are the top five:
- Matt Weston (Great Britain) - 3:43.33
- Axel Jungk (Germany) - 3:44.21 (+0.88)
- Christopher Grotheer (Germany) - 3:44.40 (+1.07)
- Wenhao Chen (China) - 3:44.59 (+1.26)
- Amedeo Bagnis (Italy) - 3:44.74 (+1.41)
Elsewhere, GB’s Marcus Wyatt finished in ninth place with a time of 3:45.77 (+2.44).
Matt Weston wins the gold medal in skeleton!
21:04 , Mike JonesIn never seemed in doubt but wasn’t over until Matt Weston crossed that line.
Not only did he win the gold medal but he did so in style and improved his lead in the final run.
Axel Jungk finished +0.88 seconds behind him to win silver.
Team GB are finally on the medal table and it’s a great one.
Matt Weston is the Olympic champion.
Matt Weston wins the gold medal!
20:59 , Mike JonesMatt Weston makes history!
He is the first man to win a gold medal in the skeleton. He’s only the second man to take a skeleton medla since Dom Parsons in 2018.
He doesn’t ease off the gas either. Three previous runs all broke the track records, this one does so as well!
A time of 55.61 is more than enough to make him the Olympic champion!
The overall time 3:43.33, Weston hugs his coach and lets out some tears.
A well earned and fully deserved victory!
Jungk goes quick!
20:57 , Mike JonesAxel Jungk is quick off the mark just like his compatriot Christopher Grotheer.
He is so quick down the track trying to make up the +0.39 seconds to Matt Weston.
The time of 56.10 is enough to put him in first place and guarantee him a silver medal.
Can Weston now claim the gold?
Grotheer guarantees himself a medal
20:54 , Mike JonesChen’s time of 3:44.59 is the one to beat and next up is the defending Olympic champion.
Germany’s Christopher Grotheer flings himself down the start of the course and flies into the track.
It’s touch and go with the German matching Chen’s time and improving on it as the run goes on.
A rapid finish sees him complete the run in 55.93 seconds for a time of 3:44.59.
Grotheer is guaranteed a medal now but what colour will it be? Axel Jungk and Matt Weston still to come.
The countdown is on
20:52 , Mike JonesItaly’s Amedeo Bagnis has displaced Felix Keisinger on top spot and guarantees a top five spot.
His run time was 56.07 the fastest so far in heat four.
There are only four sliders to go and Bagnis may just clinch a medal depending on the final few runs.
No, his hold of top spot doesn’t last long as China’s Chen Wenhao pips him.
Time for the final three...
Wyatt dethroned
20:46 , Mike JonesChina's Qinwei Lin knocked Marcus Wyatt off top spot with a final time of 3:45.61.
There’s only six sliders left to go including Matt Weston going for gold.
Marcus Wyatt finishes strongly
20:39 , Mike JonesTeam GB’s Marcus Wyatt ends his skeleton heats with his quickest run of 56.24.
That means he tops the table with an overall time of 3:45.77.
He was sat in tenth, and go finish no lower, but will that final run fire him further up the table?
Gaspari ends on a high
20:32 , Mike JonesItaly’s Mattia Gaspari completes his home Olympics with a run of 56.55.
That’s more than good enough to give him the lead in the final and he will finish no lower than 13th now.
The time to beat is 3:46.79.
Kim goes first!
20:27 , Mike JonesWe’re ticking away the sliders until Matt Weston’s run and now there’s 14 to go.
South Korea’s Jisoo Kim is the latest to jump into the lead witha time of 3:48.11.
Seven sliders down
20:22 , Mike JonesAustria’s Florian Auer is now the leader in the men’s skeleton after seven heat four runs.
His time sits at 3:48.36.
Everyone has to perfect in these final runs to maximise where they finish.
Latvia’s Emils Indriksons misses out on taking over first place by +0.14 seconds.
Lead keeps switching hands
20:17 , Mike JonesAs to be expected with heat four the lead keeps switching as more sliders make their final runs.
Luca Defayet of France moves into first place with a combined time of 3:49.69 from his four runs.
How long will he keep hold of top spot?
Heat 4 underway
20:08 , Mike JonesHiro Takahashi of Japan kicks off the final heat of the men’s skeleton.
He’s 41 years old and the oldest competitior, man or woman, taking part in the skeleton for this Olympics.
He records a personal best and finishes with a time of 57.42 for his final run.
22 more sliders before Matt Weston goes for gold.
One more run for gold
19:58 , Mike JonesMatt Weston heads into the final heat with a lead of +0.39 seconds and is the big favourite to win the gold medal.
He just needs one more good run and the gold medal will be his.
Can he do it? We’re about to find out...
Who is Matt Weston?
19:51 , Mike Jones28-year-old Matt Weston is the reigning world and World Cup champion, having won five of the seven races on the World Cup circuit this season. The remaining two were won by his teammate Marcus Wyatt, another medal contender.
Weston is a two-time world champion in the individual event, having won it first in 2023 before reclaiming the title in 2025, and a three-time world silver medallist in the mixed event, in which he could also win a medal in Cortina.
He also is a double European champion - in 2023 and 2026 - and three-time overall World Cup winner, the first British man to win it three times.
And he is arguably the most overwhelming Team GB favourite for gold over this entire Games.
Who is Matt Weston? GB skeleton star going for first Winter Olympics gold
19:42 , Flo CliffordTeam GB’s Matt Weston broke the track record in Cortina d’Ampezzo twice as he made a winning start to his Olympic skeleton campaign.
The Brit is in pole position to bring home the country’s first medal of this Games, leading by 0.3 seconds after the first two heats.
The remaining two heats on Friday will decide the medals - and it looks like it’ll be gold for Weston.
Who is Matt Weston? GB skeleton star going for first Winter Olympics gold
Lindsey Vonn set for further surgery on broken leg
19:33 , Mike JonesLindsey Vonn, the acclaimed American skiing standout, is set to undergo further surgery on her broken left leg this Saturday at an Italian hospital, with hopes of returning home soon after.
The procedure marks another step in her arduous recovery following a horrific crash during the Olympic downhill race at the Milan Cortina Games.
Speaking from her hospital bed in Treviso via an Instagram video message on Friday, Vonn expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of support.
Vonn set for more surgery on broken leg as she posts video update from hospital bed
Heat four still to come
19:24 , Mike JonesNo change to the top five, when the skeleton returns Matt Weston will be going for gold.
- Matt Weston (Great Britain) - 2:47.72
- Axel Jungk (Germany) - 2:48.11 (+0.39)
- Christopher Grotheer (Germany) - 2:48.47 (+0.75)
- Wenhao Chen (China) - 2:48.64 (+0.92)
- Amedeo Bagnis (Italy) - 2:48.67 (+0.95)
Heat four begins at 8pm.
Heat three finished
19:22 , Mike JonesThat’s it for the action from heat three and Matt Weston is circling a gold medal.
He's top of the standings with a time of 2:47.72 and has a lead of +0.39 seconds over second-placed Axel Jungk.
Heat four will be starting shortly, can Weston close it out and clinch gold?
Wyatt looks safe in 10th
19:07 , Mike JonesFor now at least Marcus Wyatt looks to have clung onto 10th place.
He's +0.33 clear of Rasmus Vestergaard Johansen in 11th place and only +0.23 off seventh place with one run to go.
Can he move back up the rankings after the final heat?
Top 10 best Wyatt can hope for
18:58 , Mike JonesMarcus Wyatt posted his quickest time of the three heats with a 56.32 but it hasn’t been good enough and he’s dropped from seventh overnight to currently 10th.
His aim now should be to smash his final heat and secure a top 10 finish.
That would be a decent result for the Brit who hasn’t quite hit his own heights in Milano-Cortina.
Men's skeleton current top five
18:56 , Mike JonesGreat Britain's Matt Weston has strengthened his grip on the gold medal and looks set to win the country’s first medal of these games.
He's posted the fastest time in all three runs and has extended his lead over second-placed Axel Jungk to +0.39 seconds.
Current top five:
- Matt Weston (Great Britain) - 2:47.72
- Axel Junkgk (Germany) - 2:48.11 (+0.39)
- Christopher Grotheer (Germany) - 2:48.47 (+0.75)
- Wenhao Chen (China) - 2:48.64 (+0.92)
- Amedeo Bagnis (Italy) - 2:48.67 (+0.95)
Marcus Wyatt stays seventh
18:46 , Mike JonesA run of 56.32 keeps Marcus Wyatt down in seventh place and his is the first of the heat three runs outside of the 55s.
As this heat goes on the ice will degrade and the times usually start to drop off.
No forward movement from Wyatt means his chances of a medal are very slim now.
Matt Weston closing in on gold medal
18:42 , Mike JonesThings could not have gone better for Matt Weston so far.
He’s set three track records in each of his three runs meaning it’ll be really difficult to rein him in if he manages a decent outing in the last run as well.
Grotheer slips away too!
18:38 , Mike JonesNot enough!
Matt Weston has certainly put down the marker for the rest of the field to beat.
The reigning Olympic champion, Christopher Grotheer, puts in a time of 55.92 in the third heat and slips further behind Weston.
The gap is now +0.75 from Grotheer to Weston.
He might be struggling to even win a medal now depending on how the next few sliders do.
Jungk drops back
18:36 , Mike JonesWe’re talking about the finest of margins and Germany's Axel Jungk, who was +0.30 behind Matt Weston, after two runs, now falls to +0.39 behind.
It’s not a huge gap, of course, but it means that Weston remains in control of his own destiny.
What can defending Olympic champion Christopher Grotheer do up next?
Weston smashes third run!
18:33 , Mike JonesMatt Weston, sitting in first place, begins the third heats and gets off to a start with a time of 4.53 before flying into the rest of the run.
The British slider makes a couple of slight errors but nothing that hinders him and he sets a new track record with a time of 55.63!
That should give Weston a firm grip on first place but the his competitors are yet to come.
Can Wyatt win a medal?
18:23 , Mike JonesRightly so the focus has been on Matt Weston who leads the men’s skeleton standings but Team GB also have Marcus Wyatt competing for the medals.
He starts the day sitting seventh with an overall time of 1:53.21.
That’s 1.12 seconds slower than Weston but only 0.66 behind third placed Christopher Grotheer.
Wyatt will need two spectacular runs to force his way up the leaderboard but he’s in with a chance.
Matt Weston aims for gold
18:15 , Mike JonesComing up shortly, Matt Weston has two runs in the men’s skeleton to try and win Olympic gold.
Weston leads the way by 0.3 seconds after setting the two fastest runs in the opening two heats yesterday.
If he does the same tonight, he claim Team GB’s first medal of 2026.
Here's Freya Tarbit chatting about her incredible run in heat two
18:07 , Mike JonesTeam GB’s Freya Tarbit spoke to BBC Sport and her second heat where she shot into first place before being overrun by the Austrian and Germans.
"I'm really pleased with it [the second run]. It's probably the best one I've done on the track,” Tarbit said.
“The first one was a bit messy but I felt really confidence on the second one.
"I stuck to my plan, clear on the changes I needed to make, stayed calm and just enjoyed it.
“The physiological feeling of nerves and adrenaline on that start block is crazy. As soon as your on the start block, I just remind myself that it's the same sled that in practice, it's still the same sport that I enjoy and love to do.
"I'm pretty tired, definitely ready for bed. Tomorrow, I'll be confident, clear on my plan, confident that I know what I'm doing on the track. Each run is an opportunity to get better."
Team GB’s skeleton star Matt Weston in gold medal position at halfway point
18:00 , Flo CliffordTeam GB’s Matt Weston broke the track record in Cortina d’Ampezzo twice as he made a winning start to his Olympic skeleton campaign.
The first day of the men’s skeleton heats has been dominated by the news that Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified by the IOC for refusing to back down on wearing a helmet honouring fellow Ukrainian athletes who have been killed during the Russian war.
Team GB’s skeleton star Matt Weston in gold medal position at halfway point
Ukrainian skeleton racer sees appeal against Winter Olympic disqualification dismissed by Cas
17:51 , Will CastleUkrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych will not be allowed to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld his disqualification for wearing a war tribute helmet.
During practice runs at Milan-Cortina, Heraskevych wore a helmet bearing the images of Ukrainians killed as a result of Russia’s invasion of the country, and insisted he would wear the helmet when the competition began on Thursday morning.
Heraskevych appeal over Olympic disqualification dismissed by Cas
Flock leads into day two!
17:48 , Mike JonesWow!
Austria’s Janine Flock sets a flying time of 1:54.48 and continues to lead overnight.
German pair Susanne Kreher (+0.04) and Jacqueline Pfeifer (+0.13) occupy the other podium spots.
Team GB's Tabby Stoecker is fifth (+0.53), with Freya Tarbit (+0.68) sixth and Amelia Coltman (+1.11) ninth.
It’ll be tough but can one of them fight for a medal tomorrow?
'We need to see what we can do to turn it around'
17:39 , Mike JonesTeam GB’s women’s curling skip Jen Dodds added: "Like Sophie said, it's just a shot here or there and at this level even if you have a 50% or 75% shot, the opposition is going to capitalise 90% of the time and South Korea did that today.
"We need to go back, look at the second half because we are putting ourselves in good positions in the first half. We need to assess; is that the ice changing? We need to have a look at things and see what we can do to turn it around."
Women's skeleton
17:39 , Mike JonesStoecker starts brilliantly but needs to keep up the pace through the middle of the course.
She doesn’t! A run of 57.61, slower that her first heat, drops her down a couple of places but keeps her in contention for the medals tomorrow.
Women's skeleton
17:36 , Mike JonesJacqueline Pfeifer of Germany sets a new track record! It’s a time of 57.18 and she flies into the lead after two runs.
Next up we have Tabby Stoecker, can she challenge for first place?
Women's skeleton
17:34 , Mike JonesTarbit’s time in first place falls to Germany’s Hannah Neise who is -0.31 quicker than the Brit.
Tabby Stoecker is still to come and we now know that Tarbit will be at worst sixth going into tomorrow’s final runs.
Women's skeleton
17:32 , Mike JonesUnreal from Freya Tarbit.
The Brit improves on her heat one time by 0.36 seconds to post a combined time of 1:55.16 and currently sits in first place.
Germany’s Kim Meylemans, and World Cup winner, can’t beat her time and Tarbit has set the marker for people to hit.
She’s easing up the standings as the time goes on. Five riders left to go in the second heat.
British curlers react to South Korea loss
17:30 , Mike JonesGreat Britain lost their second round robin match of the women’s curling this afternoon and they have been giving their thoughts after a tough match.
Sophie Jackson admitted: "This is not normal for us. We usually finish games off well so that is frustrating. It was only one shot here or there, we have to stay positive and create a better second half next time.
"We're used to that at this level. We are always analysing in training and in competition so we will try and figure out what we need to do better. We need to focus on the positives as well because we are actually playing well."
Can Team GB finally win a medal?
17:14 , Mike JonesTeam GB can finally end their medal drought on Friday after a slightly bittersweet start to the Games, with several stars finishing just off the podium.
That looks set to change with Matt Weston in the driving seat in the men’s skeleton, leading the field by 0.3 seconds and having broken the track record twice in Thursday’s first two heats.
Teammate Marcus Wyatt is over a second off the pace and has work to do down in seventh.
Heartbreak for Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson as Team GB’s medal drought continues
17:00 , Mike JonesThree decades’ wait for a British ice dance medal continued on a heartbreaking night for ice dancers Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson, who finished seventh overall.
The pair were ranked world No 1s heading into this season and a run of consistent top results, including four European podium finishes in a row and a world bronze medal in 2025, meant they were highly fancied to become the first British figure skating medallists since Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won bronze in Lillehammer 1994.
Heartbreak for Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson as Team GB’s medal drought continues
Why was a Ukrainian skeleton racer banned from the Winter Olympics?
16:39 , Lawrence OstlereThe president of the International Olympic Committee has defended the decision to ban Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing at the 2026 Winter Games.
During practice runs at Milan-Cortina, Heraskevych wore a helmet bearing the images of Ukrainians killed as a result of Russia’s invasion of the country, and insisted he would wear the helmet when the competition began on Thursday morning.
The IOC spent the past two days desperately trying to persuade Heraskevych not to wear the helmet, which is in contravention of rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas”.
Ukrainian star admits his Olympic dream
16:30 , Mike JonesUkrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has taken his fight against disqualification from the Milan Cortina Games to sport's highest court, even as he concedes that his opportunity to race has irrevocably slipped away.
The athlete was barred from competition after insisting on wearing a helmet adorned with images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since Russia's invasion four years ago.
Ukrainian star admits his Olympic dream is over despite appealing disqualification
A good showing from GB
16:15 , Mike JonesIn the first of the women’s skeleton heats, the three Team GB riders are all well placed and improvements can be made.
Here’s the current top five:
- Janine Flock (Austria) - 57.22
- Susanne Kreher (Germany) - 57.24 (+0.02)
- Tabby Stoecker (Great Britain) - 57.40 (+0.18)
- Jacqueline Pfeifer (Germany) - 57.43 (+0.21)
- Hannah Neise (Germany) - 57.45 (+0.23)
GB's Freya Tarbit (+0.54) and Amelia Coltman (+0.64) are eighth and 10th, respectively.
Winter Olympics 2026 medal table
16:00 , Mike JonesThe 2026 Winter Olympics is underway in northern Italy as Milan-Cortina plays host to the century-old sporting event.
Norway are historically the most successful nation in the Winter Games and the Norwegians are once again favourites to top the medal table, having claimed 16 golds in Beijing four years ago, four more than second-placed Germany
Winter Olympics 2026 medal table: Current standings as USA trail to hosts Italy
'It can be cruel'
15:47 , Mike JonesMore reaction from Charlotte Bankes who was earlier knocked out in the quarter-finals of the women’s snowboard cross.
Bankes told the BBC: “I feel like I’ve done exactly the same as four years ago. We have worked incredibly hard to improve that but I haven’t made any difference today.
“I have been struggling with the track all the week but we thought we found solutions. I really wanted this one. Too many mistakes.
“I am normally good at making the overtakes and I kind of made a good start until I made a mistake and that killed my speed. Didn’t manage to find the space.
“I was hoping to put on a better show. It can be cruel.”
'A disappointing performance'
15:38 , Mike Jones“It's nothing to do with injuries and all that,” assessed Charlotte Bankes after her snowboard cross exit.
“It's just a disappointing performance for me, and I'm just sorry for everybody watching, and all Team GB that supports us massively, and the team around me, because that's kind of what I feel like, I disappointed everybody like that.
“It could have been a great show. I mean, we're in Europe, our families are here, everything, but I didn’t manage to deliver.”
Quarter-final curse strikes again for Charlotte Bankes as GB medal drought continues
15:30 , Flo CliffordCharlotte Bankes suffered Winter Olympics heartbreak for the second Games in succession as she crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals.
It was the same result as in Beijing four years ago, when she was the heavy favourite to take the title.
Quarter-final curse strikes again for Charlotte Bankes as GB medal drought continues
Women's skeleton
15:25 , Mike JonesFreya Tarbit has a very nice run as well. She lands a time of 57.76 and crosses the line in seventh place.
Three good runs in this first heat from the three Team GB riders.
Decent from Coltman
15:22 , Mike JonesIn the women’s skeleton, Team GB’s Amelia Coltman posts a time of 57.86 sending her into sixth place and half a second off the podium.
Austria’s Janine Flock continues to lead the way.
Great Britain 3-9 South Korea
15:20 , Mike JonesBritain needed a miracle in this final end to secure anything out of this match.
A couple of disasters from Team GB and it’s another defeat in the round robin stage.
South Korea defeat Great Britain 9-3 with two ends left unplayed.
Women's skeleton
15:09 , Mike JonesA nice start for Team GB’s Tabby Stoecker who flies down the track.
She set off brilliantly but slowed up on the back end and finished +0.18 seconds slower than the current fastest time.
That puts Stoecker in second place with 22 riders to come in these heats.
Great Britain 3-7 South Korea
15:01 , Mike JonesGB have a chance! A nice from the Brits leaves Korea with a decision to make over the last stone.
They’re lying two up and decide to nudge out one of the threatening reds.
Rebecca Morrison has a tricky shot to come.
She needs to clip the inside of one of the yellows and fly across the house to nudge the other away as well.
With Britain trailing by three it has to be taken. Can she do it?
No she can’t. It’s very poor from her and she only manages to move one yellow handing another point to the Koreans.
GB are facing defeat in this match.
Move over, ‘Pommel Horse Guy.’ The US has a new Olympic breakout star
15:00 , Mike Jones“Pommel Horse Guy” has some competition as another bespectacled breakout star has captivated Olympics fans.
Throw in his mop of dark hair and American curler Aidan Oldenburg bears a striking resemblance to Stephen Nedoroscik, the eccentric gymnast who shot to fame with his bronze medal-clinching pommel horse routine at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But there’s one obvious exception.
Move over, ‘Pommel Horse Guy.’ The US has a new Olympic breakout star
Great Britain 3-6 South Korea
14:44 , Mike JonesTeam GB are truly under the pump in this sixth end. There are three yellows in the house and no reds.
That means Rebecca Morrison has to try and get rid of two yellows but doesn’t quite manage it with her final stone.
That set Korea up to take three points in the end and that’s a huge momentum swinger in this match.
Winter Olympics biathlete cleared to compete after winning appeal against doping suspension
14:30 , Mike JonesItalian biathlete Rebecca Passler has had her provisional doping suspension overturned, clearing her to compete in the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The National Court of Appeal of Nado Italia, the country's anti-doping body, upheld an appeal against her suspension, which followed a positive test for a banned substance last month.
Winter Olympics biathlete wins appeal against doping suspension
Great Britain 3-3 South Korea
14:28 , Mike JonesA tricky end for GB sees Rebecce Morrison with the final stone and needing to curl into the centre circle and displace the sitting two yellows.
She does well, nestling atop the ones nearest the centre and taking a point from the end.
The best outcome for that stone. All square again.
Great Britain 2-3 South Korea
14:11 , Mike JonesThere’s a let off for Team GB in the fourth end as a poor final stone from Korea comes up too short.
The Koreans were lying one up and they take the end moving themselves into the lead at the halfway stage.
Britain have the hammer now though and will look to overturn that deficit.
'It's heartbreaking'
14:08 , Mike JonesOlympic bronze medallist snowboarder, Jenny Jones, on Charlotte Bankes’ exit.
“I really think Charlotte did everything she could after her initial mistake,” she said.
“It wasn't the day for her, it's heart-breaking. I hope she doesn't beat herself up, because you started to see her [in her interview] assessing that in the wrong way.
“Hopefully she will think about it this evening, reset herself and try to focus on that mixed team event.”
Johannes Klaebo wins record-equalling gold as GB’s Andrew Musgrave shines in cross-country skiing
14:00 , Mike JonesNorway's Johannes Klaebo won the men's 10km freestyle cross-country ski race on Friday to earn his eighth Olympic title and equal the record for the most gold medals at the Winter Games.
Mathis Desloges of France won silver, his second of this Olympics, while Klaebo’s Norwegian compatriot Einar Hedegart won the bronze.
Klaebo wins record-equalling gold as GB’s Musgrave shines in cross-country skiing
Great Britain vs Korea curling
13:55 , Mike JonesOver to curling now and Team GB’s women are in action against South Korea.
After three ends the match is evenly poised at 2-2.
Women's snowboard cross
13:53 , Mike JonesJosie Baff take a bow!
The Australian pips Czech Republic’s Eva Adamczykova to the gold medal having seriously impressed in each of the knockout runs.
Italy’s Michela Moioli finishes up with the bronze and Noemie Wiedmer of Switzerland takes fourth in the final.
No joy for Team GB
13:36 , Mike JonesCharlotte Bankes’ quarter-final exit in the Women’s Snowboard Cross means that Team GB are still waiting to win their first medal in Milano-Cortina.
That could very well come tonight though.
GB’s Matt Weston is leading the men’s skeleton by 0.3 seconds with two heats left to go.
He’s back in action at 6.30pm and could go on to win gold.
'A bitter pill to swallow'
13:21 , Mike JonesSnowboard and freestyle skiiing commentator, Tim Warwood, spoke about Charlotte Bankes’ quarter-final exit on BBC Two.
“Charlotte Bankes tried to step up [at the start], gets it wrong and the rhythm is gone. She has got it all to do from there,” he explained.
“It's the one title that eludes her, she has won absolutely everything but the Olympics are the sticking point for her.
“That is a bitter pill to swallow for the genuine gold medal threat.”
Women's snowboard cross
13:17 , Mike JonesOh wow!
Chloe Trespeuch - the silver medallist in Beijing four years ago - is out as well.
She’s pipped to the line in her own quarter-final and that’s another big name out of the competition.
Women's snowboard cross
13:11 , Mike JonesThat’s gutting for Charlotte Bankes. She had more in the tank and raced brilliantly after that small mistake at the start of the run.
But, there’s no room for error on this course and in such a difficult quarter-finals.
Though she made a lat push to recover her hopes for a medal end at the same stage as four years ago.
Women's snowboard cross
13:07 , Mike JonesHere we go. Bankes went out at this stage four years ago.
She starts okay but makes an error and drops back into fourth!
Baff and Adamczykova stretch a lead at the front but Bankes manages to recover.
It comes down to the last section, a little touch with Siegenthaler and Bankes veers off course!
She finishes fourth and that’ll be it for her medal hopes.
Women's snowboard cross
13:04 , Mike JonesCharlotte Bankes is running in the first quarter-final.
She’s up against Australia’s Josie Baff, Sina Siegenthaler of Switzerland and the Czech Republic’s Eva Adamczykova.
This is a tough group. Top two head into the semi-finals.
Women's snowboard cross
13:03 , Mike Jones20-year-old Lea Casta of France takes the victory in heat eight and looks very impressive.
Casta won the Crystal Globe in the 2024/25 campaign as the overall World Cup winner beating Charlotte Bankes in the process.
Can she add an Olympic medal to her record?
Women's snowboard cross
12:54 , Mike JonesHeats five and six come and go pretty quickly and without major issue.
Italy’s Michela Moioli takes the win in heat six with Mia Clift of Australia taking the second qualifying spot.
Just the two heats left to go.
Women's snowboard cross
12:47 , Mike JonesHeat four sees the United States’ Stacy Gaskill put in an impressive run but she can only manages second place behind Julia Nirani-Pereira of France.
Nirani-Pereira shot out of the gate and got the best start of any rider so far.
She was ahead by quite a way and never relinquished her lead throughout the run.
Four heats to go before the quarter-finals.
Women's snowboard cross
12:41 , Mike JonesSix heats to go before the quarter-finals. Charlotte Bankes has done the first job but there’s still plenty of racing to be done before the medals are decided.
In heat three Faye Thelen of the USA leads the way but falls back into third. A fine turn shoots her back into second and she clinches a place in the quarters.
Chloe Trespeuch of France takes first place.
Women's snowboard cross
12:36 , Mike JonesCharlotte Bankes is up next in heat two.
She starts on the third gate and gets a good start to the race.
She comes out behind Abbey Wilson in second place, she takes a high line around the corner and leads into the final section.
Bankes leads over the final jump and Switzerland’s Sina Siegenthaler comes through to clinch second place!
Women's snowboard cross
12:33 , Mike JonesThe knockout rounds have begun. Czech Republic’s Eva Adamczykova is in the first heat and the No.1 seed finishes second behind Josie Baff of Australia.
Both women are through to the quarter-finals.
Adamczykova was half a second quicker than anyone else in the seeding runs but in had to head racing like this it comes down to fine margins.
Bankes focused on podium finish
12:30 , Mike JonesCharlotte Bankes says that she has been focused on reaching the Olympic podium since crashing out in the quarter-finals at Beijing four years ago.
"It's been the main focus for the last four years, but I know that I just need to focus on my riding,” Bankes said.
“For me to actually be able to ride at my full potential on race day, if I manage to do that I'll be happy and satsifed.
"I know if I'm doing that, I'm probably going to be fast, so it should end up in a good result as well."
GB’s Charlotte Bankes wins race against time for a second chance at the Olympics
12:25 , Flo Clifford2025 was shaping up to be Charlotte Bankes’ year. By April, the snowboarder was leading the World Cup standings with five wins and had just picked up a silver medal in the World Championships, only pipped to gold by a dramatic photo finish. She was on track for a third Snowboard Cross World Cup title in four years, the ideal preparation for her fourth Olympic Games.
Then she broke her collarbone, and suddenly her Olympic year was flipped upside down.
‘I was in the unknown’: GB’s Bankes on winning race against time to make the Olympics
Can Charlotte Bankes earn snowboard cross glory?
12:19 , Mike JonesAll 32 riders took part in the seeding runs earlier and the draw for the first knockout round is complete.
There will be eight heats with four riders in each. Two go through from each heat with everyone bidding for the best position as they go down the course.
Charlotte Bankes is set will go in heat two alongside Sina Siegenthaler of Switzerland, Australia’s Abbey Wilson and China’s Pang Chuyuan.
Why was a Ukrainian skeleton racer banned from the Winter Olympics?
12:13 , Lawrence OstlereThe president of the International Olympic Committee has defended the decision to ban Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing at the 2026 Winter Games.
During practice runs at Milan-Cortina, Heraskevych wore a helmet bearing the images of Ukrainians killed as a result of Russia’s invasion of the country, and insisted he would wear the helmet when the competition began on Thursday morning.
Why was a Ukrainian racer banned from the Winter Olympics over his war tribute?
Women's skeleton begins today
12:06 , Mike JonesWith Matt Weston leading the way after two runs in the men’s skeleton things are looking good for Team GB.
The women’s skeleton has historically been a success for Great Britain with Amy Williams and Lizzy Yarnold taking the gold medals in 2010, 2014 and 2018.
Milano-Cortina’s women’s competition begins today at 3pm and the women looking to emulate Williams and Yarnold are Tabby Stoecker, Amelia Coltman and Freya Tarbit.
All three will be competing for Team GB but they’ll have to punch above their weights to try and finish in the medal positions.
Charlotte Bankes on her targets for the Olympics
11:58 , Flo Clifford“I’ll try to perform at my best and go for a medal, and that’s kind of my goal: to be happy with how I’m riding and focus pretty much solely on that, not on the end result, because I know that it’ll come from that.”
Gold for Klaebo; sixth for Musgrave
11:43 , Jamie BraidwoodJust ridiculous stuff from Johannes Hosflot Klaebo, who has scorched his way to another Olympic gold ahead of his Norwegian rival Einar Hedegart, who collapses over the finish line in utter exhaustion but can only finish third!
France’s Mathis Desloges breaks up the Norwegian dominance to claim silver, and there is a very impressive sixth place for Great Britain’s Andrew Musgrave - his best-ever Olympics finish, one better than his previous best of seventh from Beijing.
Shirtless Andrew Musgrave knocked off podium in cross country
11:33 , Jamie BraidwoodThe sun is out so it’s taps aff for Team GB’s Andrew Musgrave in the cross-country skiing men's 10km interval start.
Musgrave jumps to the top of the standings after an impressive 21:06, but he is knocked off the podium as the top-ranked Norwegian’s come through.
Norway’s Johannes Hosflot Klaebo is bidding for an eighth Olympics gold.
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