Cross-Country Skiing FIS Balkan Cup 2024 - 2025 (3-5 Pigadia)

I am more optimistic about the Freestyle events because I think the scoring in them is always biased towards the established favourites.  A bit like diving where the Chinese are always awarded a higher tariff because their dives are judged to be more complicated.  Obviously the big names still have to go out and perform without making a huge mess of it, but a complex routine performed at 95% will outscore an average routine performed at 100%

South American Games 2026   Rafaela/Rosario/Santa Fe (ARG) - 12 September 2026 - 26 September 2026     Official Website Programme Results System Facebook Page Discussion Thread

Central American and Caribbean Games 2026   Santo Domingo (DOM) - 24 July 2026 - 8 August 2026     Official Website Programme Results System Facebook Page Discussion Thread

At this point I'm basically just procrastinating on all my uni assignments but here's my attempt.    Great Britain's Medal Prospects  LIKELY   Curling - In my view, Mouat's rink are undeserving of the title of outright favourites, but they are certainly up there, as is the mixed team. The women's rink isn't as strong but they surprised me with the European performance so who knows. Overall, I think leaving without a medal would be seen as a real disappointment.    Freestyle Skiing - Zoe Atkin and Kirsty Muir have both won world cup and X games golds this season, so will be up there for the medals. Freestyle Skiing is an unpredictable sport though so no guarantees can be made. I would say Muir is the more likely out of the two (especially considering she's entered in two events). Elsewhere on the team the chances are slim to none. Gus Kenworthy has come out of retirement but frankly it would be a huge surprise to see him anywhere near to podium again.   Skeleton - After such a disappointing Beijing, the team has been reborn, with Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt claiming all world cup golds this season. The women's team has been less consistent, with Tabby Stoecker being the most likely to contend, although on their say all 3 women can challenge. The mixed relay provides further medal opportunities, although so far this season it has been quite unpredictable. Realistically though, multiple medals are on the cards and I would hope a gold is as well.   Snowboarding - Mia Brookes again performed strongly at the X-Games, so she should be in contention for both her events. Charlotte Bankes seems to be finding some form as well, and she and Huw Nightingale are always formidable in the snowboard cross. Across these events, I would hope there will be at least one medal, but winter sports always throw curveballs.   POSSIBLE   Bobsleigh - A couple of years ago this would have been fairly likely but Brad Halls form is not as strong. He seems to have been improving over the last few races to it wouldn't be unsurprising if he could snag a bronze in one of the disciplines, but nothing further is likely.   Figure Skating - The media likes to hype things up, and this talk about Fear and Gibson being the next Torvil and Dean is frankly misguided. To be clear, on their day, they can certainly content for a medal, but they have to be flawless, and their European performance was anything but. The emergence of the new French pairing will certainly harm their chances too.    VERY UNLIKELY   Alpine Skiing - It looks as though all three athletes are only entered in the Slalom, which does simplify our prospects. Dave Ryding has shown he can win a medal on his day, and Laurie Taylor finished 4th earlier in the season, but the be blunt it would be a major shock if either could get on the podium. Not impossible, but highly unlikely.   Cross Country Skiing - Andy Musgrave is in a similar camp to Dave Ryding where if everything falls into place, a medal is possible, but it is a huge stretch. Joe Davies looks to be the strongest on the team but again, the strength of other nations, even without the Russians, makes this highly improbable.   Short Track Speed Skating - Niall Treacy is the only athlete entered, and whilst he has won a world cup medal in the past, he would need quite a lot of fortune to repeat that feat. Again, it is short track, so who knows.       IMPOSSIBLE   Biathlon - No way, I was surprised we even sent a team.   Speed Skating - Elia Smeding has slowly been creeping up the order this season in the 1000m but I fear it is too little too late. A top 10 finish is on the cards though for sure.     Summary   To be honest I'm to wary of the unpredictability of winter sports to give the team a floor, but quietly I whisper 2 medals minimum.   If all went to plan, I could realistically see a maximum of 18 medals (3 curling, 3 Freestyle Skiing, 5 skeleton, 2  bobsleigh, 4 snowboarding and 1 figure skating), but I think I'm more likely to get struck by lightning then to get anywhere close to that.   This would leave me with an expected total of 6 medals, which would be a new record.    Can't wait to be proved woefully wrong and we stagger back with a few scraps like 4 years ago.   

It is a common thing in  that they don't find all the corpses until the spring thaw.