At just 19, Izzy Atkin has rewritten Team GB’s history books by just becoming the youngest athlete to win an Olympic skiing medal.
However, listening to the young slopestyle sensation’s post-match interviews, it’s clear that Atkin’s formative years weren’t spent on this green and pleasant isle.
While Atkin’s British-born father says his daughter grew up on Marmite and Ribena, her American accent belied her part-British heritage yesterday – and didn’t go unnoticed by sports fans.
With a father born in the UK and a Malaysian mother, Atkin was actually born in Boston – not the Lincolnshire one – and calls the snow-dusted mountains of Park City, Utah home.
She does have a huge fan-base in Birmingham though, where her grandmother Betty lives, and the pensioner awoke yesterday to news of her granddaughter’s remarkable victory.
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 – but many British sports fans were left confused by her American accent
The teenager, 19, currently lives in Utah but has family in Birmingham, including her grandmother Betty, where her father Michael grew up
Izzy’s mother Winnie, born in Malaysia, said of her daughter’s victory: ‘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’
The 19-year-old literally flew into the record books by securing the bronze medal in the gravity-defying ski discipline slopestyle.
Izzy follows only snowboarding legend Jenny Jones for success on the mountain; Jones won bronze in the snowboarding slopestyle event at Sochi 2014, becoming the first Briton to win an Olympic medal on the snow.
In her interview after scooping the third spot on the podium, she said she was ‘speechless and stoked to win the bronze and represent Great Britain.’
Watching from the stands were her devoted parents Michael and Winnie.
Atkin grew up in Park City, Utah, with some of the world’s best skiers as friends.
Her father Michael said: ‘The kids grew up on Ribena and Marmite. When Isabel first went to England she was five months old.
‘We went back for Christmas and she was the screaming child on the overnight British Airways flight.
‘At that point we didn’t know whether we were going to stay long term in the US or not. She’s back in England a lot, visiting my family.’
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
Her mother Winnie said yesterday: ‘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!’
Atkin became an official member of Team GB team five years ago when GB park and pipe Head Coach Pat Sharples persuaded her to represent Great Britain after spotting she had a dual-heritage passport.
Atkin told the Telegraph: ‘My Dad grew up in the UK and Pat knew I had dual citizenship so he was really keen to get me on the team.’
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. She is pictured right hugging silver medal winner Mathilde Gremaud, of Switzerland
Izzy played tribute to her team-mate Katie Summerhayes who came seventh despite badly injuring her ankle in training
So dedicated to getting Atkin on board the good ship Team GB, he travelled to Colorado to meet the family in 2014, just before Sochi – and describes the trick-loving skier ‘as the dark horse’ of the current GB squad.
On Twitter though, many sports fans watching the action unfold questioned Atkin’s heritage.
@lukebensted quipped: ‘Izzy Atkin. American born. American Raised. Bravo to America on a great bronze medal.’
@Joffey added: ‘Izzy Atkin is American. Wooo go GB!’
@VinnyHeneghanFX wrote: ‘Well done Izzy Atkin, 2nd medal for team GB, nice American accent by the way #justsaying’
@kentvilla74 said he wasn’t impressed after hearing Atkin’s accent: ‘Was getting quite excited to find that ‘our own’ Izzy Atkin has won a Bronze in the slopestyle event. I then hear her interview and find out that she’s actually American ! Rather took the gloss off it.’
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.
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.
Izzy currently lives in Park City, Utah. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and started skiing with her family when she was 3 years old
Izzy’s proud father, Michael, said: Father 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’
Izzy’s team-mates and supporters were quick to congratulate her and Katie Summerhayes who came seventh
From left: Silver medal winner Mathilde Gremaud, of Switzerland, gold medal winner SarahHoefflin, of Switzerland, and Bronze medal winner Isabel Atkin, of Britain