Remember Eddie the Eagle and Cool Runnings? Defying the odds to just compete at the Winter Games, to be Olympians. Dogged determination. Then there was Torvill and Dean’s Bolero that not only tested the boundaries of a sport, but also expressed ultimate dedication and commitment. Inspirational.
This essence promises to again be represented at the Italian Winter Olympics (6th – 22nd February ‘26). It’ll be everywhere, across all disciplines; and the biggest stories will emerge where least expected.
Like the international skeleton romance. Brazilian Nicole Silveir and Belgium’s Kim Meylemans married last summer (shoe-horned into their training schedule) after both ‘surprising’ the other with engagement rings on a boat trip. A splash of a beach wedding party is now planned after the winter games, where both are contenders for a podium finish.
And like the USA family that ski. Seriously ski. The Macuga sisters are Lauren (alpine skiing), Alli (moguls) and Sam (ski jumping) – let’s hope the schedule doesn’t create too many divided loyalties for family support. It may become even more of a headache at the next Olympics, with younger brother Daniel also an avid alpine skier.
We'll get onto how to view the action from the UK shortly, but first things first – who to look out for and what to watch…
British interest
Team GB underdogs:
- Men’s ice hockey team – the UK’s first appearance in this sport since the 1948 Winter Olympics
- Men’s slalom (Dave Ryding, Laurie Taylor and Billy Major) – their journey on a shoestring budget is followed in the documentary ‘Keep Calm and Slalom’ - calculated to be less than 1% of other national teams’ funding
- Cross-country skiing: Andrew Muscoge – can he make a podium finish at his 5th Olympics?
Medal hopefuls:
- Bobsleigh – Adele Nicoll
- Cross country skiing – Joe Davies
- Curling – Bruce Mouat (thank you Scotland), and with Jen Dodds in the mixed doubles and also as skipper of the team event
- Freestyle skiing – Kirsty Muir
- Freestyle skiing halfpipe – Zoe Atkin
- Ice dance/figure skating – Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson
- Skeleton – Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt (individually)
- Slalom – Dave ‘the rocket’ Ryding (his 5th and last Olympics, and yes: he’s mentioned in our underdog list but marvellous things do happen at the Olympics!)
- Snowboard Cross – Charlotte Bankes
- Snowboarding – Mia Brookes
Must sees
Fast and furious comes in many guises at the Winter Olympics and make for riveting spectating. Here’s what we never miss:
- Ski Cross (20th & 21st Feb) and Snowboard Cross (12th & 13th Feb), the latter often abbreviated to SBX in schedules. 4 participants at a time hurtle down a tricky course in head-to-head races. 1st (and 2nd in the heats) across the line progress to the next round. Expect wipeouts and upsets. Both events come under the Freestyle umbrella.
- Biathlon is cross-country skiing with target shooting at specific points around the course. Notable in that accuracy - aka a steady hand - is needed between bouts of extreme physical exertion, this a real fitness test at altitude. The extra-loop rule for missing a target means things are endlessly changing, it’s a real nail-biting watch. Look out for the mass start events (1st over the finish line is the winner) on 20th & 21st Feb, the relays (17th & 18th Feb) and mixed relay on 8th
- Slidding (7th – 12th Feb): the collective term for speeding down a twisty ice track on one of 3 different sleds. Luge is lying on one’s back: racing feet first, skeleton is face down and head first while bobsleigh tends to be the team event with a more enclosed sled. The latter is steered by ropes attached to front runners, while the former two are steered by shifting body weight. Mesmerising. Although we wonder if these athletes have all been born under a full moon! Each event reqires a specific skill set, but we’d love a slidding triathlon where individuals make a run on each type of sled. New for ’26 is the women’s double luge, and to avoid confusion: bobsled is the American term for bobsleigh.
Other excitement
Also new for 2026 is the big hill in women’s ski jumping and a new sport: ski mountaineering (19th Feb, and mixed relay on the 21st). Often known as skimo, this is a blend of uphill and downhill skiing in the same race – we’ll be following with baited breath.
Speed skating needs a mention here too – whizzing round a tight track there’s plenty of scope for high-speed drama. Some races require team mates to bump another to take on the next lap, other races have a mass of skaters on the ice all at once. It’s always a spectacle, whatever happens.
Freestyle is full of drama too – these are the events to follow if you’ve ever skateboarded. Most disciplines have ski and snowboard versions, are full of aerial tricks and defy gravity.
In a nutshell
The Winter Olympics certainly isn't all about downhill skiing. It’s exhilarating across so many formats. Inspiring – physically. Invigorating and full of passion - on so many levels. Real Olympic Spirit.
How to watch in the UK
With Italy just an hour ahead of the UK, these games are as convenient as it gets for live coverage. Airing across the BBC (free) and on Discovery + (from TNT Sports) the Olympic schedule comes in an easy format on the official Olympic app. So easy in fact, we’ve downloaded it and started personalising things.
How is any of this relevant to Tom’s Cottage Cornwall? Firstly: the parallel of escapism – being conveyed to another world, a place of adventure and goodwill. Secondly: giving yourself the downtime (and permission) to watch daytime TV: by taking a February break. Thirdly: when did you - or anyone you know for that matter - last take a skiing holiday in Cornwall? All the action without the mishaps, beyond sitting on the remote. We've the TV* if you have the time.
*It's smart at Tom's Cottage and comes with high-speed Wi-Fi for endless catch-up, because walks on the beach do happen in Cornwall!
Tom’s Cottage is available through Classic Cottages.
