For decades, the UK was a marginal presence at Winter Olympics, its status embodied by Eddie “the Eagle” Edwards, the underdog who ski jumped his way into public affection by finishing last at the 1988 Calgary games.
Now a new generation led by a talented cohort of young skiers and snowboarders hopes to rewrite the script, as Team GB chases its biggest medal haul at a Winter Olympics, whose opening ceremony takes place in Milan on Friday.
Outstanding recent performances by the likes of freestyle skiers Kirsty Muir and Zoe Atkin and snowboarder Mia Brookes, who all won gold at the X Games last month that served as an Olympic warm-up, ensures they travel to Milano Cortina with realistic hopes of topping the podium. They join medal hopefuls in curling and skeleton, Britain’s traditional winter sports strengths.