British Olympic medallist calls on Northampton to support Team GB at Winter Olympics
2014 Winter Olympics silver medallist Michael Goodfellow has called on Northampton to support the nation at this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Goodfellow, now Team GB's Men’s Curling coach, is set to head out to Italy in the coming days as his team eye more glory on the ice.
Team GB's Curling team go into the Winter Olympics in outstanding form after winning men's silver and women's gold at the last edition in Beijing.
The men, named Team Mouat, are the reigning world champions, whilst the women, named Team Morrison, have underlined their strength with a silver medal at the 2025 European Championships.
Speaking on the eve of the Winter Olympics at the National Lottery-funded National Curling Academy in Stirling, Goodfellow said: "The team head to Milan-Cortina in a fantastic place. We’ve seen what this group is capable of on the biggest stages, and the work that’s gone in at the National Curling Academy has been incredible.
“Because of National Lottery players, who raise over £32million a week for good causes, our Olympic and Paralympic athletes have been able to turn their dreams into reality, inspiring people across the nation to get active in sport and physical activity.
“Support from communities across the UK makes a massive difference, and we’d love everyone to get behind Team GB and ParalympicsGB as we aim to build on recent success and chase further Games glory.”
Dave Leith, British Curling Performance Director, added: “The progress we’ve seen across British Curling in recent years is a direct result of sustained investment, world-class facilities and the dedication of athletes and staff across both our Olympic and Paralympic programmes.
“All five teams go into the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games with confidence, momentum and a proven ability to perform under pressure. With continued support from The National Lottery and fans across the UK, we’re excited about what this group can achieve on the world stage.”
UK Sport believe Team GB could win a record eight medals at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which would surpass the previous benchmark of five medals achieved at the 2014 and 2018 Winter Games in Sochi and PyeongChang retrospectively.
The National Lottery has invested over £200 million in winter sports since 1995, supporting elite athletes, grassroots clubs, and world-class facilities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, enabling champions to emerge from communities across the UK.