Beijing Winter Olympics: Team GB's best medal hopes

Who are the ones to watch from Team GB?

Ski slopestyle silver medallist Gus Kenworthy is now competing for Team GB, after switching from USA
Author: Alex UsherPublished 4th Feb 2022

Today marks the official opening of the long-awaited Beijing Winter Olympics.

From bobsleigh to snowboarding, the Winter Olympics is always packed with memorable moments.

109 gold medals are up for grabs for the some 3,000 athletes from 91 nations travelling to Beijing for the iconic event. The medals can be won from seven different sports.

Some parts of the games have already started, as some matches in the curling competition have taken place.

Who are the ones to watch from Team GB this year?

There are 50 athletes flying the flag for Team GB in Beijing, but we're looking forward to who we believe are our best chances of getting medals this year.

Charlote Bankes - Snowboard cross

Charlotte Bankes will be representing Great Britain in snowboard cross at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. She represented France at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics but has been competing for Great Britain after the 2018-2019 season.

Brad Hall - Bobsleigh

Brad Hall will be competing in Beijing for Team GB once again, as he has also competed in both the two-man event and the four-man event at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Hall has also won World Cup medals as a pilot in both 2-man and 4-man bobsleigh.

Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds - Curling

Scots Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds compete in the men's and women's curling team events. The Beijing Olympics will be the first olympiad for both athletes.


Mouat competes as skip and Dodds as Eve Muirhead's sidekick.

Gus Kenworthy - Freestyle skiing

Essex-born Gus Kenworthy first started competing for Great Britain in 2019. Before that, he was representing the US in competitions even winning a silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

Kirsty Muir - Freestyle skiing

At only 17, Kirsty Muir represents one of TeamGB's best medal hopes. She won a number of junior titles growing up, getting her first senior international gold in 2019 in the slopestyle event. In March last year she won a World Cup silver medal in the ski slopestyle competiton.

Katie Ormerod - Snowboarding

Katie Ormerod was a big hope for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang but had to withdraw due to injury. This time around she'll be looking for medals in the slopestyle and big air snowboarding.

Dave Ryding - Alpine Skiing

Dave Ryding is already a three-time olympian and will be racing in the Alpine skiing event in Beijing

Beijing is the first city to host both the summer and winter Games after it hosted the 2008 summer Olympics.

It's been reported that over 49m gallons of artificial snow has been used across all venues for the games.

Are there any new sports this year?

There are a handful of sports that are making their way to the games for the first time in history, with mixed doubles across several different events being a popular new introduction.

Women's Monobob

Women's monobob joins the two-man, two-woman and four-man events on the Olympic program.

Men’s and Women’s Big Air (Freestyle Skiing)

Ski big air will make its Olympic debut in Beijing with medal events being held for both men and women.

Mixed Team Snowboard Cross

Mixed team snowboard cross debuted at the world championships in 2019.

Mixed Team Aerials

Aerials has been predominately an individual sport up to this point.

Mixed Team Short Track Relay

The short track program will add a third relay event to the Winter Olympics schedule as the new mixed team relay joins the existing men's 5000m and women's 3000m relays.

Mixed Team Ski Jumping

Ski jumping has featured a men's team event since 1988, but now a mixed team event will be added to the program for the first time.

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