Team GB returns home after record-breaking Winter Olympics
Team GB’s athletes have arrived back in the UK after the nation’s most successful Winter Olympics ever, reports BritPanorama.
The competitors touched down at London’s Gatwick Airport on Monday morning, greeted by crowds of fans, friends, and family.
Team GB delivered an unprecedented performance at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, securing three gold medals alongside one silver and one bronze. This remarkable haul represents Britain’s finest showing at any Winter Games in history.
The five-medal tally saw the British contingent claim 15th position in the final standings, comfortably surpassing UK Sport’s expectations. Norway dominated proceedings with 18 golds, while the United States finished second and the Netherlands third.
For the first time, British athletes captured multiple gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, establishing the nation as an emerging force in disciplines traditionally dominated by Alpine and Nordic nations. Matt Weston, who was pictured wearing his medals upon his return, emerged as the standout performer with an extraordinary double triumph.
The reigning world champion first claimed gold in the men’s skeleton, becoming the inaugural British male to secure Olympic victory in this event. His commanding display on the ice ended a week-long wait for Team GB’s opening medal of the competition. Mere hours later, Weston partnered with Tabitha Stoecker in the mixed team skeleton, overcoming a substantial gap in the concluding run to secure victory. This achievement made him the first British athlete to claim two gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.
Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale shone brightly during what became known as ‘Super Sunday’ in the Italian Alps, delivering Britain’s maiden gold medal on snow with their triumph in the mixed team snowboard cross. Both athletes entered the competition as reigning world champions, proving worthy of that status on the grand stage. Bankes produced a spectacular final leg, crossing the finish line ahead of the field in a gripping conclusion.
Their victories marked a watershed moment for British winter sports, breaking new ground beyond traditional disciplines. The men’s curling quartet of Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Hammy McMillan, and Bobby Lammie claimed silver following a hard-fought final against Canada, falling just short of ending a 102-year drought for British men’s curling gold. Zoe Atkin rounded off the medal collection on the final day, securing bronze in the women’s freeski halfpipe.
The warm reception at Gatwick underscores the achievements in Milan-Cortina and sets a promising tone for the future of British winter sports, showing that the nation is willing to embrace its emerging prowess on the global stage.
