Seven new events have been revealed on the programme for Beijing 2022 in what is expected to be the most gender equal Olympic Winter Games in history.
In February, Team GB enjoyed its best Winter Games in PyeongChang with a record five medals – beating their previous record of four, set in 1924 and 2014, and matching the target set by chiefs ahead of the competition.
Lizzy Yarnold’s sensational defence of the skeleton title was the crowning moment of an event which also saw Laura Deas and Dom Parsons seal bronze.
Young skiing superstar Izzy Atkin was third in the slopestyle with Billy Morgan’s superb snowboarding big air bronze a surprising delight for British fans.
And now the burgeoning talent in Britain’s winter sports ranks will have a further seven podiums to have a crack at, after the IOC announced a plethora of events for the 2022 Games in Beijing, China.
Skiing big air is included for men and women for the first time after the positivity received by the snowboarding big air in South Korea.
Morgan’s historic effort of 168.00 was agonisingly short of silver, claimed by the United States’ Kyle Mack’s score of 168.75. Canadian Sebastien Toutant took gold with 174.25.
The 28-year-old from Southampton’s success, on February 24, was the moment Britain confirmed its fifth medal of the Games.
The skiing big air will also give 20-year-old Atkin another opportunity to add to her medal collection – her fifth-place World Cup finish in Quebec City in February 2017 marked the start of her consistent rise up the rankings and standings.
She has since become the only British skier to win a slopestyle World Cup and also has a World Championship bronze under her belt.
The competition will also debut the women’s monobob, meaning there will be an equal number of men’s and women’s events in bobsleigh at a Games which is set to feature a record number of female athletes, up from 41 per cent to more than 45 per cent.
There will also be four mixed team events making their Olympic Winter Games bow – the short track relay, ski jumping, aerials and snowboard cross. Sportsbeat 2018