Bangor Mail

ON WITH THE SNOW

A century after the first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France, SHARON GREEN looks at the top 10 GB gold medal winners who have set the ice alight...

- PICTURES FROM OUR SPORTING PAST

for Team GB with the claiming gold. The side of William Jackson, Thomas Murray, Robin Welsh and Laurence

The most famous GB Winter Olympians of all time, and wowed the crowds – and judges – in Sarajevo when they danced to Bolero. Next week we remember that magical performanc­e 40 years ago.

became a superstar overnight in Vancouver when the former runner beat off the competitio­n in the exhilarati­ng and terrifying sport of women’s skeleton – bringing home the first British Winter Olympic gold medal for 30 years.

Olympic gold medals in the 2014 Sochi Games and the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchan­g, successful GB

and the most successful Olympic skeleton athlete of all time from any nation.

It was in Innsbruck that 26-year-old Birmingham-born became the first Briton to win the Olympic men’s figure-skating championsh­ip. He was at the peak of his career in 1976 and executed three triple jumps to beat rival, Vladimir Kovalyov of Russia. Curry also won World and European titles that same year.

pulled off a major upset at the Games in Garmisch-partenkirc­hen, Germany, beating favourites Canada and becoming the first team ever to win an Olympic, World and European gold in the same year.

tennis to focus on her skating proved dividends for who was awarded gold at the Oslo Games, adding to the bronze she won in 1948 and gold at the 1951 European Championsh­ips.

and won gold in Salt Lake City, beating Switzerlan­d in a thrilling final.

who took gold in the same event in Lake Placid. The year marked a pinnacle in the future Dancing On Ice judge’s amateur career, seeing him win gold at both the European Championsh­ips and the Olympics where he skated a spectacula­r long programme, receiving 5.9/6.0 from eight of the nine judges for artistic impression.

 ?? ?? LONDON CURLING: The Winter Olympics got off to a perfect start men’s curling team
Jackson defeated Sweden and France en route to victory.
BRITISH GRIT:
The GB ice hockey team
ICE QUEEN:
Giving up competitiv­e
Jeannette Altwegg
CURRYING FAVOUR:
John
LONDON CURLING: The Winter Olympics got off to a perfect start men’s curling team Jackson defeated Sweden and France en route to victory. BRITISH GRIT: The GB ice hockey team ICE QUEEN: Giving up competitiv­e Jeannette Altwegg CURRYING FAVOUR: John
 ?? ?? HURTLING TO GLORY: Amy Williams
PERFECT PAIR:
Torvill
Christophe­r Dean,
HURTLING TO GLORY: Amy Williams PERFECT PAIR: Torvill Christophe­r Dean,
 ?? ?? GOLD RUSH: With consecutiv­e
Lizzy Yarnold is the most
Winter Olympian
GOLD RUSH: With consecutiv­e Lizzy Yarnold is the most Winter Olympian
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GET ON BOARD: The Innsbruck Games ended a 12-year wait for a Team GB medal when Tony Nash and Robin Dixon conquered the bobsleigh run after being loaned an axel bolt from the Italians... who came third but were awarded a medal for sportsmans­hip.
Curry
SKATE BRITAIN: John Curry’s triumph was followed up four years later by Robin Cousins
Jayne GET ON BOARD: The Innsbruck Games ended a 12-year wait for a Team GB medal when Tony Nash and Robin Dixon conquered the bobsleigh run after being loaned an axel bolt from the Italians... who came third but were awarded a medal for sportsmans­hip. Curry SKATE BRITAIN: John Curry’s triumph was followed up four years later by Robin Cousins
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 ?? ?? CURL POWER: Team GB once again showed off its curling prowess when Rhona Martin the Women’s Curling team
CURL POWER: Team GB once again showed off its curling prowess when Rhona Martin the Women’s Curling team
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