Sisters Make Winter Olympics History 8 Years Apart

Two sisters, two bronze medals, and one very proud dad cheering from the slopes in Italy.

Zoe Atkin, 23, claimed bronze in the halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics in Livigno on Sunday, repeating the exact feat her older sister Izzy achieved eight years ago. The moment made Olympic history for Great Britain, as the sisters became the first British siblings to win Winter Olympic medals in over 100 years.

Born in Boston but representing Team GB through her British father Mike from Solihull, Zoe credits her sister as the driving force behind her success. "She's always been my biggest inspiration. She was always bullying me to jump off things on the mountain," Zoe said with a laugh.

Izzy was there in Italy, watching her little sister cross the finish line just as Zoe had been there for Izzy's bronze medal win years earlier. "It's a real full-circle moment because she was here supporting me, and I was there when she won her bronze medal, so it's really special," Zoe shared.

The family reunion on the slopes was brief but sweet. Mike Atkin said his daughters "got into an argument over whose Olympic medal was heavier" before Zoe was rushed off for her doping test and a quick journey to the closing ceremony in Verona, several hours away.

Sunny's Take

When reporters asked Mike the secret to raising Olympic medalists, he joked about checking the family notes. "Ribena and Marmite, they certainly had their share of those growing up!" he said. But the real magic ingredient seems to be sisterly love, even when it comes in the form of being pushed off mountains.

Zoe's bronze was Britain's fifth medal at the Milan-Cortina Games and helped Team GB equal their record-best haul from previous Winter Olympics. Even more remarkable, Britain won three gold medals at these games, the first time the country has ever won more than one gold at a single Winter Olympics.

For two sisters who grew up sharing Marmite sandwiches and Olympic dreams, standing together as medal winners feels like coming home.