TeamGB’s youngest athlete Izzy Atkin made history today by becoming the first Briton ever to win a medal in an Olympic skiing event.
The 19-year-old literally flew into the record books by securing the bronze medal in the gravity defying skiing slope-style at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games.
Izzy follows snowboarding legend Jenny Jones, who won bronze in the snowboarding slope-style event at Sochi 2014, becoming the first Briton to win an Olympic medal on the snow.
Atkin’s podium position could be the first medal today in what TeamGB hope will be a ‘super Saturday’ at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games.
Izziy Atkin, 19, literally flew into the record books by securing the bronze medal in the gravity defying skiing slope-style at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games
There are medal hopes for Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Deas in the Skeleton event and short-track speed skater Elise Christie is hoping to put her 500m disappointment behind her with a crack at gold in the 1,500m this evening.
And TeamGB freestyle skier James Woods will take heart from Izzy’s victory as he competes in the Men’s slopestyle tomorrow.
Atkins said: ‘I’m just relieved and really happy, it’s overwhelming.
‘There were tons of big names in the field, it could have been anyone’s medal.
‘I knew I’d skied the best I could and I was just waiting for the last girls to drop. My heart was racing and I couldn’t believe it.
‘Watching the last few runs, I was really nervous. I wanted them to do well because we’re all friends but also for me, it worked out.
‘I’m speechless and stoked to win the bronze and represent Great Britain.
The 19-year-old said: She added: ‘I was not aware that I was the first Briton to win a medal on skis until someone told me.’ She is pictured celebrating her final run
Izzy played tribute to her team-mate Katie Summerhayes who came seventh despite badly injuring her ankle in training.
She added: ‘I was not aware that I was the first Briton to win a medal on skis until someone told me.
‘I was really happy to make it to the final.
‘I was not too focused on the outcome but I’m really pleased that I got the bronze.
‘I did not have any pressure. I just wanted to get down the slope.
‘It was awesome to be part of this competition.’
Izzy played tribute to her team-mate Katie Summerhayes who came seventh despite badly injuring her ankle in training.
She said: ‘It was really something to be able to ski with my team mate Katie Summerhayes.’
Atkin’s score was enough to claim a podium place, as Switzerland’s Sarah Hoefflin won gold and compatriot Mathilde Gremaud took silver
Izzy was lying fourth when she set off for her third and final run but she scored a whopping 84.60 points to move into a podium position.
And then, in a virtual repeat of snowboarder Jenny Jones’s bronze in Sochi four years ago, she endured a tense wait for another three skiers to complete their runs, including world silver medallist, Sweden’s Emma Dahlström.
But Atkin’s score was enough to claim a podium place, as Switzerland’s Sarah Hoefflin won gold and compatriot Mathilde Gremaud took silver.
After the race Izzy was congratulated by her devoted parents.
Her mum Winnie said: ‘This is a wonderful feeling.
‘Izzy is very reserved and quiet and just lets her skiing do the talking.
‘I didn’t realise Britain had never won a ski medal at the Winter Olympics before.
‘I’m glad I didn’t know that beforehand otherwise I would have worried even more!’
Dad Michael said: ‘I’m so proud of her. I could not see the take off for the final jump, I was just praying that she landed it safely.
‘I am really pleased that she was able to put together a run that did her justice to her as a skier.’
From left: Silver medal winner Mathilde Gremaud, of Switzerland, gold medal winner SarahHoefflin, of Switzerland, and Bronze medal winner Isabel Atkin, of Britain
Her team-mates and supporters were quick to congratulate her and Katie Summerhayes who came seventh.
Snowboarder Aimee Fuller wrote on twitter: ‘Holly [sic] SMOKES!!!
‘Girls you did us so proud on the World Stage.
‘A 3rd for #IzzyAtkin + @summerhayes you absolutely smashed it 7th place.
‘2 Brit girls in the top 8.
‘WATC out, @TeamGB coming in HOT!!!’
Snowboarder Jamie Nicholls wrote: ‘WOW!!! #IzzyAtkin and @suummerhayes both smashed it.
‘Izzy taking home to [sic] #Bronze for [union jack] what a day!!
‘#WeAreTheGreat @TeamGB.’
Snowboarder Zoe Gilllings-Brier added: ‘Yeah @IzzyAtkin !!!!!!!!’
Bronze medal winner Jenny Jones said the second medal is evidence that TeamGB is going from ‘strength to strength’.
She said: ‘It’s the first ever Olympic medal for the freestyle skiers and everyone in the team was watching with nerves.
‘That will give so much confidence to James Woods ahead of his event tomorrow.
‘We have both a ski and a snowboard medal now and we’re just going from strength to strength in freestyle.
‘This is Izzy’s first Olympics, she’s got at least one or two, maybe three, more Olympics in her.’
Bronze medalist, Isabel Atkin of Great Britain celebrates on the podium
She added: ‘How amazing was that. My heart was pounding, it was almost like deja vu!
‘It’s an incredible result for Izzy. That was a tense wait. I know how that feels now!
‘She’ll be over the moon with that result. She absolutely deserves to be in that spot. Hats off to her.
Although born and raised in the USA, Izzy’s fiercely patriotic British father Michael got in touch with the TeamGB free-style skiing coach Pat Sharples when daughter’s talent on the snow became too obvious to ignore.
Coach Sharples said: ‘They liked the way we run our team.
‘Izzy is a quiet person and unless you are a loud, big character you could get lost on the US Team.’
BBC Snowboarding commentator Ed Leigh described Atkins performance as ‘fantastic’.
He said: ‘A fantastic performance from Izzy Atkin. So, so composed. The 19-year-old took the day well within her stride.
‘She didn’t land her first qualifying run earlier. I was a little nervous for her second but it didn’t seem to affect her and took fourth coming into the finals.
‘She grew up in Park City [Utah, USA] with the best skiers in the world and she’s used that to her advantage.
‘She’s come onto the biggest stage of the world and claimed a bronze medal.’
TeamGB mate Katie Summerhayes overcame injury to make the final, after badly injuring her ankle during training, coming seventh.
She said: ‘I hurt my ankle in training and I wasn’t really able to walk on it so I tried to put everything out there.
‘It was the same result as four years ago and I’ve just worked so hard. It doesn’t feel good right now.
‘I’m gutted. I’ve worked so hard for the last four years and got injured two months ago. It’s going to hurt for a while I think.’
She added: ‘I definitely thought I wouldn’t be able to drop in as my ankle was so sore.
‘Up until this week I hadn’t completed a slopestyle course since November, so this is my return to snow. In qualification I had to keep it pretty mellow and my ankle was killing me.
‘I went up for the finals and decided to push it a bit more because I wanted to do myself justice. I had a crash in training this morning. However, this is the Olympics and I wanted to compete.
‘I’m still disappointed because I wanted to do better.’
Izzy Atkin in action during the women´s ski slopestyle in which she won a bronze medal for Great Britain (David Davies/PA Images)