'It's Zoe Atkin v Eileen Gu' - Team GB star 'ticking every box' ahead of halfpipe showdown at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Published 19/02/2026 at 12:13 GMT
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Zoe Atkin, fresh off her X Games triumph in Aspen, represents strong hopes for another Team GB medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, and TNT Sports expert James Woods feels only one other woman will prove a worthy challenge. That would be China's Eileen Gu, the most decorated female freeskier of all-time, and the clash between the pair sets up a fascinating freeski halfpipe event.
Atkin explains how 'tough' it is to beat Gu to halfpipe gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports expert James Woods feels there are only two contenders for the women's freeski halfpipe gold medal: Eileen Gu and Great Britain's Zoe Atkin.
Team GB medal hope Atkin has been made to wait before getting in on the action at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics - but will make her second Olympic appearance when qualifying gets underway for the halfpipe on Thursday (18:30 GMT, live on TNT Sports and discovery+).
Atkin could hardly be in a better vein of form heading into Milano Cortina, having picked up the X Games Aspen title just last month.
And Woods feels the 23-year-old Brit is in her element.
He continued: "It's really exciting to be talking about Zoe Atkin right now. She's been at the top for a long time, but in the last couple of years, she's had this moment, where she's got better, and better, and better.
"It's a bit of a cliché to talk about, but it's obvious to see she's enjoying skiing in the halfpipe. It is so big, it is so dangerous.
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Watch: Gu fires back at journalist over 'ridiculous' question
Video credit: TNT Sports
"At the end of the day, they're way up there, taking mad risks. If you're not fully invested and enjoying it, it's going to be so hard to perform. Zoe is ticking every single box right now."
China's Gu, though, will prove a stern challenger. Winning two gold medals and a silver in Beijing four years ago, the 24-year-old has bolstered her medal tally by two in Italy with a double silver swoop.
Already the most decorated female freestyle skier of all time, Atkin is aware of the challenge she faces in topping the podium.
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"It's definitely a really exciting time for freeski halfpipe," Atkin told TNT Sports. "There are so many amazing talents, Eileen, all the Canadians are also amazing skiers, the US, the Chinese.
"It's definitely going to be tough for sure, to make it on that podium. But the same as every competition, they're all tough, and I'm just trying to focus on what I can do.
"I'm working on some new things, so I'm really excited to put that in my Olympic run and see where that stacks up. I have to focus on my strengths, the amplitude I have, the different directions which are really key to a good score. I have to do me, and amplify my own strengths."
Why Atkin is embracing fear
Atkin explained how she has gained a greater understanding of fear, and how she can turn it into something she will embrace - rather than seek to avoid.
"Something that's unique about freeski halfpipe is that it's an action sport," said Atkin.
"It's very dangerous, there are very small margins for error and that fear is something that really used to hold me back.
"Learning a little bit more about the processes of fear and the power of the mind through my psychology modules at school and through cognitive science and understanding the processes of fear has really helped me.
"I think it's helped me take a step back a little bit when I'm in those high-pressure moments being like, 'okay this is just a feeling', I can be scared and push myself anyway."
And Atkin feels gaining that understanding has aided her improvements since making her Olympic debut four years ago.
"That's been really key to unlocking a level of performance that I feel like I've really shown in the past four years.
"So I'm definitely really excited to showcase my new skills and my new ability to handle all the high stress emotions that come with my sport."
Atkin, alongside Mia Brookes and Kirsty Muir, was tipped as one of Team GB's 'Golden Girls' heading into Milano Cortina, and represents the final chance for one of the three exciting talents to win a medal.
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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