UK Sport to invest additional £2.4m in Olympic winter sports

UK Sport has earmarked an additional £2.4m worth of funding for winter Olympic and Paralympic sport.

The boost is designed to support athletes preparing for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina.

Bobsleigh (£895,738) and skeleton (£856,088), will receive the largest uplift in funding, with skating also getting an extra £431,035.

Ski and snowboarding will receive an extra £41,430, while para ski and snowboard will get £141,493.

The extra funding follows a 2022-23 season which was the most successful on record for British winter athletes.

Team GB won nine world championships medals across five Olympic sports (including four gold medals), and another nine medals in three Paralympic sports.

Britain’s four-man bob finished second at the World Championships, the nation’s first medal in the event in 84 years and stood on the World Cup podium in seven of eight four-man races.

In Skeleton, Matt Weston won individual World Championship Gold and there were two medals in the new mixed team event.

Dr Kate Baker, Director of Performance at UK Sport said, “Today’s announcement of additional financial support for five of our Olympic and Paralympic winter sports recognises the incredible potential of our current crop of athletes.

“They delivered several extraordinary sporting moments last season, and we are excited to see them back in action later this year as we continue to pursue our ambition to become an ever-greater force in Winter Olympic and Paralympic sport.

“Of course, we wouldn’t be able to continue to invest in these talented young athletes without the incredible support we continue to receive from National Lottery players who power Olympic and Paralympic sport in this country.”