Amazing Facts & Medal-Winning Names From The Winter Olympics & Paralympics

This week, we’re celebrating the 2026 Winter Olympic Games & Paralympic Games with our favourite facts and the most successful names for Team GB. Plus, how Stikins® name labels keep sports kit safe at school, sporting events, or at your local park.

Brilliant Facts About The 2026 Winter Olympics & Paralympics

The 2026 Winter Olympics began on 6^th February. Did you know that:

• The 2026 Winter Olympics are the 25^th Winter Games to take place.
• Over 2,900 athletes from over 90 countries will compete in 116 events in 16 sports.
• After the Olympics, over 600 athletes will take part in the Winter Paralympics, which features 79 events in 6 sports.
• This year’s Games marked the debut of ski mountaineering (also known as Skimo) as an Olympic sport.
• The ages of the athletes ranges from 15 to 54 years old. 
• This year’s Winter Paralympic Games are the 13^th Winter Paralympics. This year also marks the 50^th anniversary of the 1^st Winter Paralympics, which were held in February 1976.
• The Games' mascots are two stoat siblings called Tina and Milan. Named after the two co-hosting cities (Cortina D’Ampezzo and Milan), Tina is a white stoat representing the Olympics, while Milo is a brown stoat born without one of his hind legs and represents the Paralympics.

The Most Successful Team GB Names Of The Winter Olympics & Paralympics

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Stikins® blog without us taking a look at the names associated with the Olympic & Paralympic Games. So, we’re celebrating with our own podium featuring the most successful names for Team GB athletes at the Winter Olympics.

Gold Medallist – JAMES

Five GB athletes named James have won medals at the Winter Olympics. Between them they have three gold medals in ice hockey (won by teammates James Foster, James Chappell, and James Borland in 1936); one silver medal in figure skating (won by James H Johnson in 1908); and one bronze in bobsleigh (won by James Cardno in 1936).

Silver Medallist – JOHN

Four GB athletes named John have won medals at the Winter Olympics. John Coward won gold for ice hockey in 1936 (a teammate of the three Jameses listed above); John Curry won gold for figure skating in 1976; John Crammond won bronze for skeleton in 1948; and John James Jackson won bronze for bobsleigh in 2014.

Bronze Medallist – ROBIN

Three GB athletes named Robin have won medals at the Winter Olympics and all three won gold. Robin Welsh won for curling in 1924, Robin Dixon for bobsleigh in 1964, and Robin Cousins for figure skating in 1980.

The most successful runner up is LIZZY (or ELIZABETH).

Lizzy Yarnold has won two gold medals in the Skeleton (in 2014 and 2018). This made her the first British Winter Olympian to win two gold medals, the first athlete to defend their title in the Skeleton at the Olympics, and the most successful British athlete at the Winter Olympics ever.

Keep Your Sports Kit Safe With Stikins® Name Labels All Year Round

Stikins® stick on name labels are the perfect way to keep sports kit safe. Our quick and easy name labels simply stick on and stay on – to sports kit of all shapes and sizes. You can label clothing, uniforms, and footwear – along with bags, kits, and protective gear. Simply peel each label carefully off the backing sheet and apply firmly to each item.

We recommend that you apply your name labels onto the wash-care label of clothing and on the side wall or beneath the tongue of footwear.

Each name label is bright white in colour and printed with a bold, black font. This makes your labels really clear and easy to read – especially in the hustle and bustle of busy changing rooms.

Stikins® take seconds to apply and seconds to identify who owns what – so your family need never lose their kit again in busy shared spaces at school, sports venues, or down the local park.

You can personalise your name labels with one or two lines or text; each line can hold up to 18 characters (including spaces). For closed environments, like schools, you can use a simple name. For open environments like public spaces and facilities, you can add a phone number or short email to make sure items can always be returned. 

We print and post every week day up to 3pm. So, if you order by 3pm, we’ll get your order posted same day (Mon-Fri). If you order after 3pm or over the weekend, we’ll post your order on the next working day. We post all orders on Royal Mail’s first class service and shipping is included in our prices.

You can order online at any time or by phone during office hours (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri).