Milano Cortina 2026 so far: British Ice Skating on Olympic ice

We’re into our second full week at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games - so here’s your catch-up on the British Ice Skating action so far.

So far, Team GB athletes have delivered a Games defined by speed, season’s best performances, and milestone moments on the sport’s biggest stage - from long track breakthroughs and short track drama, to a figure skating programme packed with energy, artistry and momentum across multiple disciplines. And there’s still more to come.

Long Track Speed Skating: Ellia Smeding’s Olympic pace

Ellia Smeding has produced one of Team GB’s defining performances of the Games so far in the women’s 1000m, stopping the clock at 1:15.834 to place 11th overall - the highest Olympic placing Team GB has achieved in this distance, and just 0.004 seconds away from the top 10.

That performance came in a session where the Olympic record fell twice, underlining just how fast the racing - and the ice - has been in Milano Cortina.

Ellia has since returned for the women’s 500m, adding the pure sprint to her schedule and gaining valuable Olympic racing mileage, with her final individual distance, the 1500m, still to come.

Key takeaways so far

• A new Team GB Olympic benchmark in the women’s 1000m

• Sprint racing added to the programme in the women’s 500m

• One more chance to close out the Games in the women’s 1500m

  
  

Short Track Speed Skating: Niall Treacy’s “anything can happen” Olympics

Short track has delivered exactly what it promises: speed, tactics, split-second decisions - and zero margin for error.

Niall Treacy opened Team GB’s short track campaign in the men’s 1000m, where a late incident ended his chances of progressing despite a strong start to the race.

He then returned for a huge 1500m night and produced a statement campaign across three rounds in one session:

• Quarterfinal: progressed with smart positioning and control

• Semifinal: a decisive win to book a place in the Olympic Final A

• Final A: classified 9th after a penalty in the closing stages

  
  

Reaching an Olympic Final A is a massive achievement in short track - a format where every lap can change the outcome - and Treacy’s performances have underlined his ability to compete with the world’s best when the pressure is at its highest.

Treacy’s Olympic campaign has now come to a close in the men’s 500m heats - the shortest, sharpest race of all, where reaction speed and acceleration are everything.

In his final event of Milano Cortina 2026, a race restart, relentless pace and tough racing right to the line saw Niall finish 4th in his heat, narrowly missing out on progression.

In short track, results rarely tell the full story. What was clear again on Olympic ice was the speed, fight and heart Niall brings to every lap - and the pride he’s delivered for British Ice Skating throughout these Games.

Figure Skating: season’s best moments and depth across the squad

Team Event: four disciplines, one statement of progress

Team GB’s Olympic figure skating campaign began in the Figure Skating Team Event, a nation-versus-nation format that demands strength across all four disciplines. It also marked Team GB’s first inclusion in the Olympic Figure Skating Team Event since 2014. Across the four segments, British Ice Skating athletes delivered key performances - including season’s best skates on the Olympic stage.

• Ice Dance (Rhythm Dance): Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson: Opened the Team Event with a standout season’s best 86.85, setting the tone and momentum for the squad.

• Men’s Singles (Short Program): Edward Appleby: Delivered under pressure on Olympic ice with a composed skate and a season’s best 69.68.

• Women’s Singles (Short Program): Kristen Spours: Gained valuable Olympic experience in the women’s short programme and contributed important points to the overall total.

• Pairs (Short Program): Anastasia Vaipan-Law & Luke Digby: Added crucial points in the pairs short, laying more Olympic foundations as the Games progressed into the individual event.

  
  

Simply qualifying for the Olympic Team Event start list is an achievement in itself - and Team GB’s performances across every discipline reinforced the growing depth of British figure skating.

Ice Dance: two Team GB teams, two big Olympic stories

Team GB had two ice dance teams take on the full Olympic event - and both delivered moments that will stand as major milestones.

• Lilah Fear & Lewis Gibson finished 7th overall on 204.32, the best Team GB Olympic ice dance result in over 30 years.

• Phebe Bekker & James Hernandez closed their Olympic debut 17th overall on 179.45, including a season’s best 106.99 in the Free Dance after a season’s best Rhythm Dance earlier in the competition.

  
  

Pairs: Ana & Luke step up on Olympic debut

In the Pairs Short Program, Anastasia Vaipan-Law & Luke Digby delivered a clean, confident skate to score a season’s best 66.07 and qualify through to the Free Skate - a major Olympic moment, and a clear sign of their momentum building through the Games.

How to watch and follow the rest of Milano Cortina 2026

UK viewers can follow coverage via BBC Sport (including iPlayer/Red Button) and discovery+ / TNT Sports. For daily schedules in UK time, results round-ups, athlete updates and the latest British Ice Skating content throughout the Games, visit the British Ice Skating Olympic Hub.

Inspire To Skate

Inspired by what you’ve watched in Milano Cortina? Inspire To Skate is British Ice Skating’s campaign designed to help more people take their first steps onto the ice - whether you’re discovering skating for the first time or returning after a break. Find out how to get involved via the British Ice Skating Olympic Hub.