While the UK isn’t necessarily renowned for its prowess in winter sports, Team GB’s 2022 effort is still abnormally damp. Team GB haven’t come home empty handed since the 1992 games in Albertville, France, in which they were outscored by the People’s Republic of North Korea.
Since then, the team have garnered a grand total of 17 medals, ten of which were achieved at the last two games in Pyongchang and Sochi and seven of which were won in skeleton.
Given Team GB’s past success in skeleton, in which athletes sled headfirst down icy tracks at speeds as high as 80mph, one may have expected further success in the discipline. However, this has not been the case.
Following the retirement of two-time gold medal winning pilot Lizzy Yarnold, Team GB’s most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, British skeleton has become something of a skeleton in the closet.
The 2022 entrants have been lackluster at best. Wales born Laura Deas placed 16th in the final heat, her third-place finish in Pyeongchang a distant memory. Her teammate Brogan Crowley wasn’t any better, failing to qualify for the final at all.
Team GB’s closest encounter with the winners podium came in mixed doubles curling. The team, comprised of Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat, reached the semi-finals, losing narrowly to Norway 6-5.
They moved on to the consolation final and the chance to fight for a bronze medal, however, were beaten rather convincingly by Sweden, managing only three points to their opponent’s nine.
Beyond this, Team GB’s best efforts have been a 5th place in big air freestyle skiing and an 8th place finish in standard freestyle skiing, both of which were achieved by Kirsty Muir.
After this close shave with success in the early rounds, curling still looks to be a promising hunting ground for Team GB, who look likely to place well in both the men’s and women’s competition.
After topping the group stages, the men’s squad defeated the United States in the semi-finals by a score of 8-4 and will move on to the Grand Final where they will look to take revenge against Sweden and claim a first medal of the 2022 games.
The Women’s team seem to be following suit, placing third in the group stages. They will move on to continue Team GB’s crusade against Swedish curling, as they face off against the Swedes for a place in the gold medal match where they will play either Japan or Switzerland.
While time is running out for Team GB, all hope is not lost. Following the curling finals, British athletes remain in contention for freestyle skiing and speed skating.
Following the first two weeks of competition, Norway lead the medal count with 29, followed by Germany (22) and the United States of America (21).
