Izzy Atkin Wins Olympic Bronze In PyeongChang, First [Or Second] Ever Team GB Skiing Medal

Izzy Atkin has carved herself a slice of British Olympic history by claiming a bronze medal in the ladies’ ski slopestyle at Phoenix Snow Park, PyeongChang.

In doing so, Atkin (84.80 pts) becomes the first British freestyle skier to stand on the Olympic podium. 

Team GB did [briefly] previously win a bronze in the men's slalom of the 2002 Winter Olympics, However the medualist, Alain Baxter used a nasal inhaler purchased in the US which led to the presence of a banned substance in his urine. The IOC decision of their executive board was that Baxter was disqualified and was told to return his medal. Baxter returned the medal, for it to be awarded to Austrian Benjamin Raich.He was allowed to return to competition, although his appeal to have the medal reinstated failed. 

Switzerland claimed the top two places with Sarah Hoefflin (91.20) winning gold and Mathilde Gremaud silver (88.00).

The youngest member of Team GB was sitting 20th after the first run of qualifying but rose into fourth on her second run to safely finish inside the top 12 and earn herself a place in the final.

Atkin moved into fourth position on the first run of the final with a score of 68.40 and then rose into third on the second run with 79.40.

At the start of the final run, X-Games winner Maggie Voisin (USA) leapfrogged Atkin meaning the 19-year-old needed a strong final performance to get back in the medal hunt.

And she did just that, eclipsing Voisin by 3.2 points to get back in the bronze medal position.

With her parents and sister watching on from the stands, Atkin then had a nervous wait as the top three qualifiers took to their final runs however no one could make an impact on the final result.

“There were tons of big names in the field; it could have been anyone’s,” said Atkin. “Standing at the bottom after my third and final run I knew I had skied the best I could, and I was waiting for those last three or four girls to drop… my heart was racing! I just can’t believe it.

“I’m just stoked with how I skied and also stoked to win the bronze.”

Izzy currently lives in Park City, Utah. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and started skiing with her family when she was 3 years old. Isabel entered the freestyle/free skiing programs when she was 8. Between the ages of 9 and 14, she competed in all freestyle (moguls and aerials) and free skiing (slopestyle, half pipe and big air) events.

When she was 14, her family moved to Park City, Utah. She also likes to visit her family (on the father's side), all of whom are in the UK.

When she is not on the snow, she likes to mountain bike, hike, trampoline, camp, as well as go to the gym.

Katie Summerhayes (71.80) also put in a fantastic performance to not only qualify for her second Olympic final, but to finish seventh and match her performance from Sochi.

Summerhayes was fighting a race against time to be ready for PyeongChang after injuring her ankle in December, however the 22-year-old stepped it up to show why she is considered one of the best in the world.

James Woods and Tyler Harding will take to the men’s ski slopestyle competition tomorrow morning.