GB’s Zoe Atkin Wins Winter Olympics Bronze
Zoe went into the final as the top seed after posting the highest score of 91.50 in qualifying.
She is the reigning World and X Games ski halfpipe champion and has achieved three podium finishes from three starts on the World Cup circuit this season, including a gold.
But China’s oustanding Eileen Gu – the gold medallist in halfpipe at the last Winter Olympics – did not compete at many of those.
It was always going to be interesting to see how Zoe and Gu would match up against each other.
Gu fell in run one and Zoe led the standings with 90.50.
Zoe Atkin in the ski halfpipe final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB
It was looking good for the GB athlete.
But by the end of run two, Zoe had been pushed down to the bronze medal position with Gu (94.00) in first and Li Fangui (91.50), also of China, in second.
Zoe Atkin in the ski halfpipe final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB
With only the best run counting, it would all come down to the third and final run.
Ominously, Gu marginally improved her score to 94.75.
Then second placed Li improved her score to 93.00.
Zoe, the last to drop, also improved but it was not enough to the change the colour of the medal.
92.50 points and a bronze.
Zoe Atkin in the ski halfpipe final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB
It’s the first time GB has won a medal in the halfpipe.
It’s the country’s fifth medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics and the second on snow, after the gold for Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale in the mixed team snowboard cross.
Zoe Atkin wins bronze in ski halfpipe at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB
Zoe’s bronze matches her sister’s achievement at the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
Izzy Atkin won bronze in ski slopestyle and was at the bottom of the pipe to watch her younger sibling join her as an Olympic medallist.
“I’m so happy. I mean I’ve been looking forward to this for at least the past four years,” Zoe said to the BBC after the medal ceremony.
She added: “To put two runs down felt so good and the cherry on top – getting on the Olympic podium -means so much to me.
“I’ve literally dreamed about this moment since watching my sister win her bronze in 2018. So to back her up eight years later feels so good and to have her supporting me, it’s so full circle and I’m just so stoked.”
Zoe & Izzy Atkin at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Image © Sam Mellish/Team GB
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