The Birmingham skier with big Winter Olympic hopes
Zoe Atkin's tricks and flicks can lower the colours of Chinese superstar Eileen Gu and fire her to a stunning Winter Olympic gold, reckons French freestyle skiing legend Kevin Rolland.
Atkin, whose family hail from Birmingham, travels to Milan-Cortina as one of Team GB’s top medal hopes after a memorable World Championship triumph last year.
The 23-year-old claimed halfpipe gold in Engadin, Switzerland before enjoying more World Cup success and most recently, soaring to X Games glory in Aspen.
To emulate those exploits in the Alps, Atkin will have to eclipse Gu, 22, who won both big air and halfpipe gold in Beijing four years ago and represents her biggest obstacle in the path to gold.
And Rolland, a former freestyle world champion and Olympic bronze medallist at Sochi 2014, says the huge heights she is able to scale can help her achieve that feat.
“I’ve been really impressed with Zoe,” said Rolland, who is working for TNT Sports across its live coverage of the Games. “She is going so high in the halfpipe – way higher than the other girls.
“She has all her chances to get a medal and to fight for gold – it will be a really big fight between her and Eileen Gu.
“It’s going to be really cool to see it unfold – technically Eileen is better in the air, but in terms of amplitude Zoe can be way better, so it’s going to be tough.”
Atkin’s event will take place in Livigno, located in the north of Italy and one of six host clusters spread out across over 20,000 Italian square miles.
She is one of a 53-strong Team GB delegation in Italy, led by Beijing 2022 curling gold medallist and current Chef de Mission Eve Muirhead.
Rolland, a five-time X Games gold medallist and French flagbearer in Beijing four years ago, will be based in Livigno running the rule on all the freestyle action.
He added: “I’m so excited to be here – the set-up looks crazy.
“Being the flag bearer was really emotional and really something special for me.
“It’s so exciting to be able to be here and enjoy it – it’s great to introduce freestyle sports to new people and help share those special moments.”
TNT Sports on discovery+ will be the go-to destination in the U.K to watch everything of Milano Cortina 2026 live all in one place, with over 850 hours of action from every sport, venue, and medal event.
