Tabby Stoecker slips amid 'nerves' but still in medal mix in women's skeleton with Freya Tarbit after 'best run'
Updated 13/02/2026 at 21:36 GMT
On a huge day of skeleton action for Team GB, Tabby Stoecker and Freya Tarbit gave themselves the chance to secure an Olympic medal on their debuts at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. After two runs, Stoecker is fifth in the standings overnight and Tarbit in sixth after delivering her "best run". Matt Weston won Team GB's first gold of the Games in the men's skeleton.
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Great Britain still have medal hopes in the women's skeleton as Tabby Stoecker and Freya Tarbit gave themselves a chance at a podium spot at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Stoecker was in third position after her opening run on Friday, having clocked 57.40, but backed it up with "the run she did not need", according to TNT Sports commentator Martin Haven.
In her debut Games, she hit the track for the second time and followed up her first effort with a run of 57.61, as she dropped two places and into fifth, but remains "still in the mix" for a medal, according to Haven.
"I think I need some food and a good sleep. And then a chat with my coach about a few problem areas that I had a bit in training too," Stoecker told TNT Sports reporter Laura Robson.
"It's not come as a surprise, but it's nice to fix things in the race so hopefully, tomorrow, we'll see some improvements.
"It's my first Olympics, so obviously today there were some nerves, and I was just soaking up the atmosphere.
"I think it's important to recognise that in terms of the performance, so tomorrow things will be a bit more familiar, and hopefully a bit more in the zone.
"To be honest, this whole experience has already been so amazing."
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Stoecker's teammate Tarbit boosted herself up the standings with a speedy second run to jump two places and into sixth.
Tarbit crossed the line in 57.40 and said she was "really proud" of herself ahead of Saturday's finale, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"That's probably the best run I've done down this track," Tarbit said.
"I was really clear going into the second run, the mistakes that I made [in Run 1], I knew how to fix them, and it actually gave me confidence going into the second run.
"I was just looking forward to it because I was thinking, 'If I can fix that, then I know I can do it'.
"It gives me confidence [for Saturday] knowing I've just done the best run I've ever done down the track under the pressure I was. I feel very excited for tomorrow."
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Asked about the team morale between Stoecker and Amelia Coltman - who also secured a top 10 place overnight - Tarbit revealed what she said to her team-mates before the opening run on Friday.
"Fun is definitely the right word," she said. "Before we raced today, I went into the girls' cabin and said, 'We're going to become Olympians today and I'm so proud of you both and I love you both'.
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"It's just incredible. We've done it and we're Olympians. We're halfway through our Olympic journey and it's incredible."
Stoecker added: "To be an Olympian is such an honour, and to do it with the team we have - the boys [Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt] are about to do their third and fourth heats and we're just so excited for them."
Matt Weston won Team GB’s long-awaited first medal of the Games as he secured a dominant gold in the men’s skeleton.
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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