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10 athletes who made the winter sport season their own

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8 months ago

April 18, 2025

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10 athletes who made the winter sport season their own

As the nights get longer and the sun begins to appear, it is time to look back at the winter season that was.

With less than a year until Milano Cortina 2026, there are no shortage of British athletes looking to fine-tune their preparations to make sure they peak at just the right time.

We’ve identified 10 who made the winter season their own:

Zoe Atkin

Zoe Atkin finally scaled the women’s freeski halfpipe summit this winter.

After bronze in 2021 and silver in 2023, 2025 was the 22-year-old’s year as she was crowned world champion in March.

Having first won World Cup gold at 16, Atkin needed to summon all of her experience after falling on the first run of the World Championships.

She duly did so, scoring 93.50 to win gold and finish just 0.5 points ahead of China’s Li Fanghui in silver.

It was the cherry on top of a sparkling season for Atkin after she and Li shared the crystal globe as joint winners of the World Cup.

Charlotte Bankes

Charlotte Bankes enjoyed a scarcely believable run of results in the women’s snowboard cross.

After missing out on a podium in the first race of the season, Bankes then won gold in four consecutive World Cups.

Another gold, and a bronze, followed before her season was cut short with a broken collarbone which left her second in the overall standings.

Bankes also claimed silver at the World Championships, missing out on her second title in a photo finish with eventual champion Michela Moioli.

Mia Brookes

Still only 18, Mia Brookes is already a big name in Big Air and Slopestyle.

She became world champion at just 16 and, in 2025, the snowboarder won her second consecutive Crystal Globe, as the leader of the World Cup standings.

Brookes claimed two individual wins across the five events which was enough to take the title, as she and Mari Fukada finished level on points.

She recorded four podiums in total, meaning she was able to sit out the final event and still claim the title.

Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson

After several near-misses, Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson made it onto the World Figure Skating Championships podium.

The Ice Dance duo were already fan favourites but have now established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

Their season began with gold at the Skate America Grand Prix, becoming the first non-Americans to claim the title since 2008.

More history followed with a third consecutive European podium as they claimed bronze in Tallinn.

The season was capped off in stunning style as the pair won world bronze in Boston to mark Great Britain’s first world figure skating medal since Torvil & Dean in 1984.

Team Jackson

Team Jackson’s women’s curling team got the party started as they earned Team GB’s first Olympic quota spot for Milano Cortina 2026.

Skipped by Sophie Jackson, the Scotland rink won European bronze in November, their first continental medal as this team.

The rink includes Beijing gold medallist Jennifer Dodds alongside Rebecca Morrison, Sophie Sinclair and alternate Fay Henderson.

Team Jackson finished sixth at the World Women’s Curling Championships in March to secure a place for Team GB at the Winter Olympic Games next year.

Team Mouat

Not to be outdone, Team Mouat’s men’s curlers experienced an unprecedented season on the ice.

The Beijing silver medallists won their second World Championship gold in 2025, doing so by coming through a qualification match – the first world champions to do so.

They concluded their season by making history as the first rink to win four Grand Slam events in one season.

The team, comprised of Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie, Hammy McMillan Jr and alternate Kyle Waddell, also claimed European silver to ensure their trophy cabinet will need an extra couple of shelves.

Kirsty Muir

The youngest member of Team GB at Beijing 2022 is enjoying a comeback for the ages.

Kirsty Muir tore her ACL in 2023 which required two surgeries and a year of rehab before she was back competing on the slopes.

She immediately qualified for the finals of the women’s ski slopestyle in her first event back, which was a sign of things to come.

Just two months later, Muir topped the podium as she won the World Cup in Tignes, which was made all the more special as it was her first-ever World Cup gold.

Dave Ryding

Dave Ryding has been in alpine skiing for a long time but is still making history.

The 38-year-old went to his first Olympics in 2010 and is now a four-time Olympian with eyes on a fifth appearance in Milano-Cortina next year.

The man who learned to ski on an artificial slope in Pendle finished sixth in the slalom at the World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm earlier this year.

In doing so, he recorded Great Britain’s best finish at a men’s Alpine World Ski Championships since CH Hudson in 1934.

Matt Weston

Matt Weston channelled the nerves and won big this season.

The skeleton star became Britain’s first-ever two-time world champion in the sport as he reclaimed his title in Lake Placid in March.

It was far from his only silverware of the season, as he defended his skeleton World Cup title.

Weston won two events and only missed the podium once, in the final event.

In the mixed team event, which will make its Games debut next year, Weston also claimed a second consecutive silver alongside Tabby Stoecker.

Marcus Wyatt

While Weston took the crown, Marcus Wyatt set the pace this season.

The slider finished second in the first two World Cup events of the season before claiming gold in Sigulda to hold an early lead in the standings.

With bronze in the final event, Wyatt claimed silver in the overall standings to mark the first time Great Britain have held the top two places.

The last World Cup event of the season also doubled as the European Championships with Wyatt taking silver, missing out on defending his title by mere hundredths of a second.

At the World Championships, it was another British 1-2 as Wyatt’s silver emphasised which nation is the one to beat in men’s skeleton.

Sportsbeat 2025

Related Topics:big event history Olympics photo season skating ski skiing snowboarding sports team winter

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Men’s T&F Opens Season at Diplomat Open

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3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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Lancaster, PA (December 6, 2025) – The DeSales University men’s track & field team opened the 2025-26 indoor T&F season competing at the Diplomat Open at Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.

The Bulldogs posted 10 MAC qualfying times/marks in the meet.

Among the qualifying times were junior Bryce Guthier taking second in the 400-meters with a time of 52.08. It is the fifth fastest time in indoor history. Senior Davis Trump also qualified in the 5K with a time of 16:20.32.

In the field events, DSU posted eight qualfying marks. Junior Weston Simak qualified for the MAC Championships in both the long jump (6.52m) and triple jump (13.72m). His triple jump mark was the second best in team history. First-year Luke Heimann also qualfied in the triple jump (11.86m).

Junior Jonathan Castronovo took home first place in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m, the second best long jump in team history.

First-year John Amoretti qualified in the shot put (12.33m), seniors Jonathan Eudja and Giovanni Wellington qualified in the weight throw with marks of 14.85m and 14.23m. First-year Ryan Rodriguez also quallified in the weight throw (11.89m).

The Bulldogs won’t return to action till the New Year at the Blue and Grey Invitational on Jan. 17th.

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Women’s Track & Field Turns in Multiple High Marks to Begin Season at Cornell

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3 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College women’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Lola Gitlin posted a time of 10:25.57 in the 3000-meter run to finish third overall.

Rachel Larson was a fourth place finisher with a time of 8.58 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. That time is currently No. 1 in Division III after the opening weekend of the season.

Aynisha McQuillar took fifth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 26.61 seconds. McQuillar also ran in the 60-meter dash and posted the 11th fastest time in DIII during the prelim with a performance of 7.78 seconds.

Lyla Powers was fifth in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:21.75.

Lily Seyfert claimed fifth in the shot put with a heave of 12.78 meters, which is currently ninth in the nation.

Bree Boyle and Erin Eastwood each cleared 3.54 meters in the pole vault, which is tied for 11th on the Division III performance list.

Alexis Brown turned in a leap of 11.02 meters in the triple jump for the 17th best mark in the country.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

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Men’s Track & Field Opens Indoor Season at Cornell Greg Page Relays

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4 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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RESULTS

ITHACA, N.Y. –

The Ithaca College men’s track & field team opened its 2025-26 season over the weekend as the Bombers made the short trip across town to compete in the Greg Page Relays hosted by Cornell University on December 5-6.

Anik Vossschulte claimed third in the 200-meter dash in a time of 23.32 seconds, while Jacob Antilety was seventh at 23.71 seconds.

Matt Lokshin posted a time of 8.65 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles to place third in the event. Aidan Irwin took fourth in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters.

Quinten Lewis posted a mark of 13.73 meters in the triple jump to place fourth and Sebastien-Oliver Lacrete was sixth at 12.68 meters, while Evan Cherry secured fifth in the long jump with a leap of 6.84 meters.

IC’s 4×400-meter relay team of Damian Simmonds, Griffin Lupes, Noah McKibben and George Nilson placed sixth in 3:34.49.

Luke Ellor finished sixth in the shot put with a mark of 14.40 meters.

Three Bombers finished within the top eight in the 500-meter dash as Brad Kellogg was sixth in 1:09.73, Peter Tysiak followed in seventh with 1:10.74 and Matthew DeJulio was next at 1:11.59.

Kaiden Chandler and Luke Ferrer posted times of 4:41.29 and 4:53.44 in the mile to finish in seventh and eighth.

Raf Campanile was seventh in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.25 meters.

Ithaca is off for the remainder of 2025 and will return to Cornell on January 10 for the Southern Tier Invitational.

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Women’s track and field athletes win three events at Utica Holiday Classic

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5 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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UTICA, N.Y. – The Hamilton College Continentals competed against 13 teams at the non-team scoring 2025 Utica University Track & Field Holiday Classic inside the Todd & Jenn Hutton Sports and Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 6.

The meet was the first of the 2025-26 season for the Hamilton women, who will be back at Utica for the Pioneers’ Winter Opener on Friday, Jan. 16 after taking a break for finals and the winter holiday.

The Continentals qualified for the 2026 All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference Indoor Championships in four different events and finished first in three events.

Emily Pogozelski ’26 won the 3,000-meter run by over 20 seconds with a regional-qualifying time of 10:27.93. Mackenzie Loudon ’29, who was competing in her first collegiate meet, took first place and qualified for regionals in the triple jump.

Loudon was also part of Hamilton’s winning 4×200-meter relay with Tatiana McCray ’28, Ava Chiappinelli ’29 and Marley Meyers ’28. Their performance was more than five seconds faster than the regional-qualifying time.

McCray ran a regional-qualifying 7.96 seconds and finished in second place in the 60-meter dash final. Chiappinelli also qualified for regionals in her first collegiate meet and finished right behind McCray with a time of 7.99 seconds.

TOP PERFORMANCES

300-Meter Dash (17 Runners)

4. Marley Meyers ’28, 43.08

7. Hannah Turner ’26, 43.91

60-Meter Dash (35 Runners)

2. Tatiana McCray ’28, 7.96 (PR, AARTFC)

3. Ava Chiappinelli ’29, 7.99 (AARTFC)

600-Meter Dash (16 Runners)

5. Aisha Kandji ’29, 1:47.31

4×200 Meter Relay (9 Teams)

1. McCray ’28, Mackenzie Loudon ’29, Chiappinelli ’29, Meyers ’28 (1:46.42, AARTFC)

3000-Meter Run (19 Runners)

1. Emily Pogozelski ’26, 10:27.93 (PR, AARTFC)

Triple Jump (15 Athletes)

1. Loudon, 11.29 meters (37 feet, 0.5 inches; AARTFC)

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Volleyball Advances to Program’s First Sweet Sixteen, Sweeps Florida Saturday

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5 hours ago

December 7, 2025

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DALLAS (SMU) – For the first time in program history, SMU volleyball is headed to the Sweet Sixteen after sweeping Florida (16-12) in the Round of 32 on Saturday with set scores of 25-11, 25-21, 26-24.

With the win, SMU won its 27th match of the season, tying the program record for single-season wins. It also gave coach Sam Erger her 100th victory at SMU and in her Division I head coaching career.

Averi Carlson dished out 38 assists, the most in a three-setter for the senior setter this season. Carlson led the Mustangs to a .370 hitting percentage in the win. Kennedi Rogers went for 14 kills, hitting .440, with four digs and three blocks. Malaya Jones closely trailed Rogers with 13 kills, eight digs and seven blocks, tying her career high.

SMU out-blocked the Gators 15-4, spearheaded by a career-high nine blocks from freshman Maggie Croft. The Mustangs’ blocking efforts helped hold the Gators to a .156 hitting percentage for the match.

MATCH NOTES

With 13 kills against Florida, Jones (503) is now the second player in SMU Volleyball history to reach 500 kills in a season. She joins Rachel Giubilato, who notched 568 kills in 2006.

Averi Carlson (1,341) moved to third in the rally scoring era and sixth all-time for single-season assists at SMU.

Jones reached the double-digit kill mark for the 26th time this season and for the ninth straight match.

Rogers recorded double-digit kills for the sixth time this season.

It marked Schilling’s 22nd time in double-figures this season and her fifth straight.

With six blocks against the Gators, Anyanwu draws within 14 of breaking the program record for most blocks in a season. (188 by Janelle Giordano in 2015)

SMU had double-digit blocks (15) for the 17th time this season and for the second straight match.

SMU has won 20 of its last 21 matches and its 12th straight.

The Mustangs end the 2025 season with 15 wins at Moody Coliseum, tying the program record for most in a season.

The win marks the Mustangs’ 15th sweep, 11th at home this season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SMU controlled the first set from start to finish in all phases of the game. SMU hit .483 with no errors on 29 swings in the first, while holding Florida to a .000 hitting percentage. Rogers put in five kills to lead the Mustangs, who got point production from six different players to help propel them to a 25-11 set one victory. SMU commanded the net with a 5-0 advantage in blocks.

Down four (16-12) in the second frame, SMU responded with five straight points on a run that included two aces from Madison Scheer. After trading points, SMU went on a 4-0 run to pull away in the frame. The Mustangs went on to win the frame 25-21.

Tied 20-20 entering the red zone of the third set, SMU got the first two points on an ace from Carlson and a block from the freshman tandem of Rogers and Croft. Despite a 3-1 run by Florida that put the Gators at set point first, the Mustangs responded with three straight to close the match, ending the frame with their sixth block of the set to win 26-24.

SMU LEADERS:

SMU Kills Leader: Kennedi Rogers (14)

SMU Assists Leader: Averi Carlson (38)

SMU Digs Leader: Jordyn Schilling (11)

SMU Blocks Leader: Maggie Croft (9)

SMU Ace Leader: Madison Scheer (2)

SMU Points Leader: Malaya Jones (17.5)



Up Next: SMU will get a rematch with No. 3 seed Purdue in the NCAA Regional Semifinal on Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, Pa.