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Elite athletes face fear head-on in high-stakes winter sports
For Team GB's Winter Olympians, overcoming fear is as critical as mastering technique. With the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games approaching, athletes like Zoe Atkin and Kirsty Muir reveal how they manage the mental challenges of their high-risk disciplines.
The fine line between success and injury
In winter sports, precision is everything. A misjudged landing or a split-second error can mean the difference between a podium finish and a serious accident. Freestyle skier Zoe Atkin, a medal hopeful for Team GB, describes fear as the biggest obstacle in her sport-ski halfpipe, where athletes perform gravity-defying tricks in a 22-foot-deep pipe.
"The biggest challenge of my sport is definitely overcoming the fear," says Atkin, who competed in her first Winter Olympics in 2022. "It's not about being an adrenaline junkie-it's about calculated risk."
From biology to the slopes: Atkin's mental edge
Atkin, 23, studies symbolic systems at Stanford University, blending computer science and cognitive science to understand how machines simulate human thought. This academic background has given her a unique perspective on fear.
"Being able to understand fear from a biological process has helped me on the slopes. It's not about eliminating it-it's about reframing it."
Zoe Atkin, Team GB freestyle skier
For Atkin, competition day is paradoxically when fear is lowest. "That's just nervousness about the result," she explains. "The real fear comes in training, when you're trying something new."
Injury and resilience: Muir's comeback story
Kirsty Muir, 21, competes in ski slopestyle and big air, where athletes perform tricks off rails and massive jumps. Her career nearly derailed in December 2023 when a torn cruciate ligament sidelined her for a year.
"The sport doesn't stop progressing," Muir says. "Having that much time off was difficult, but I'm fit and ready for Milan-Cortina."
Muir's approach to fear is pragmatic. "The key is accepting that crashes will happen. We train to fall safely-if you're about to over-rotate, it's better to land on your side."
Mindset tricks: From meditation to superstition
Atkin uses meditation to stay present. "I do a 10-minute session before competing. It helps me disregard unhelpful thoughts like 'what if I fall?'"
Muir, meanwhile, leans on superstition. "I have a lucky snood-a face mask I've had since I was young. And I only play The Pretender by Foo Fighters during competitions. It helps me switch off."
Both athletes emphasize preparation. "You don't go from zero to 100," Muir says. "You break it down, step by step, until you're comfortable. Then you commit."
Legacy and pressure
Atkin's sister, Izzy, won Britain's first skiing medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics-a bronze in slopestyle. "Watching her in Pyeongchang inspired me," Zoe says. "But internal expectations can be tough. I'm young, but I've achieved a lot-world champion, X Games gold. Yet the fear never fully disappears."
Muir echoes the sentiment. "Our sport is risky, but it's a choice. At the top of the course, it's just me and the run. I focus on putting in my best performance."
The road to Milan-Cortina
Both athletes enter the 2026 Games in peak form. Atkin has podium finishes in every World Cup this season, while Muir has won multiple events, including the X Games. Their ability to manage fear could be the deciding factor in their medal hopes.
"Fear is understandable," Atkin says. "But we train our whole lives for these moments. We're prepared."
