Great Britain’s record-equalling performances at Sochi 2014 have resulted in a doubling of funding from UK Sport for winter sports over the next four years.
On Thursday UK Sport announced it is to invest up to £27 million in Winter Olympic sports, who have demonstrated medal potential for PyeongChang 2018 or in 2022.
It comes after Great Britain equalled their greatest ever medal haul at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, including gold for Lizzy Yarnold in the skeleton.
There was also silver and bronze for the men’s and women’s curlers respectively while Jenny Jones’ snowboard slopestyle bronze – the first medal ever on snow – all helped Britain equal the record of four medals won at the inaugural Winter Olympics in Chamonix in 1924.
The new funding is a rise from the £14.2m invested in Olympic and Paralympic sports in the run-up to the 2014 Games.
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport said: “Our winter Olympic and Paralympic athletes performed exceptionally in Sochi.
“Inspired by our summer teams’ performances at London 2012, our winter athletes followed suit; proving that our UK system is working and we can create a nation of winners, with sustained funding from Government and The National Lottery invested strategically by UK Sport.
“The record £31 million investment announced today reflects the belief we have in the potential of our winter sports and athletes to make us proud again in four years’ time in PyeongChang, with yet more medal success.”
Yarnold’s gold medal prompts a £3.1m increase in skeleton funding while the curling medals have led to a funding rise of £3.3m.
That same amount will also go towards ski and snowboard sports following Jones’ history making bronze and short-track speed skating funding goes up to £4.3m from £2.9m.
© Sportsbeat 2014