Zoe Atkin is on the verge of creating history for Team GB at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The 23-year-old freestyle skier qualified first in the women’s freeski halfpipe event in Livigno. She now heads into the final as one of the strongest contenders for gold. Atkin has been in top form this season and arrives in Italy as the reigning world champion and World Cup leader.Four years after finishing ninth on her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Atkin looks ready for redemption. She has already won X Games gold and secured multiple World Cup podiums in the 2024-25 season. With confidence high and family by her side, she hopes to match or surpass her sister’s historic Olympic medal and write her own chapter in British skiing history.
Inside Zoe Atkin’s family: Father Mike and sister Izzy Atkin
Behind Zoe Atkin’s rise stands a close-knit and supportive family. Born in Boston to a British father and Malaysian mother, Zoe grew up in Massachusetts before moving west to support her sister’s ski career. Her father, Mike Atkin, grew up in Solihull, Birmingham, which made Zoe eligible to represent Great Britain.Mike has spoken openly about how proud he feels watching his daughter compete on the Olympic stage. Speaking to BBC, he explained that while Zoe feels nervous because of the scale of the 2026 Winter Olympics freestyle skiing games, the family has always encouraged her to stay calm and ski with confidence. According to him, their advice has always been simple – focus on delivering a run she can feel proud of rather than worrying about expectations. He added that the past year has been one of her strongest seasons, with some of the best skiing of her career.Meanwhile, Zoe Atkin sister, Izzy Atkin, remains a key source of inspiration. Izzy won Britain’s first Olympic skiing medal with slopestyle bronze at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. Zoe was there to celebrate that historic moment. Now the roles are reversed, with Izzy supporting her younger sister in Italy.Atkin shared with Olympics’ official website that having her family present in Livigno feels special, especially after the restrictions at the Beijing 2022 prevented them from attending. She described the excitement of seeing relatives waving British flags and cheering her from the bottom of the slope. For Zoe, that emotional support could be the extra push she needs as she aims for 2026 Winter Olympics freestyle skiing gold.
