Iconic Moments from the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that Inspire Brits, From the Podium to Beyond

80% of Brits say capturing moments of personal progress matter just as much as major milestones, as Samsung supports the Olympic and Paralympic athletes with the Galaxy Z Flip7 Olympic Edition at Milano Cortina 2026

LIVIGNO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 9: Gold medalist Mathilde Gremaud of Team Switzerland, Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People’s Republic of China and Bronze medalist Megan Oldham of Team Canada selfie on the podium after winning the Women’s Slopestyle Final on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Snow Park on February 9, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

London, UK – 13^th February 2026 – From Torvill and Dean’s unforgettable Boléro to Eddie the Eagle’s fearless ski jump, the Olympic Winter Games have delivered some of Britain’s most iconic sporting achievements.  Alongside medal-winning performances, they have also showcased the determination, belief and commitment that led them to success on the world’s biggest stage.

As anticipation builds for Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, new research from Samsung reveals that while gold-medal moments remain central to what fans celebrate, it’s the memorable journeys, breakthroughs and incremental wins behind them that continue to resonate with British fans today.

To celebrate Samsung’s partnership for Milano Cortina 2026, the brand commissioned research revealing that Torvill & Dean’s Boléro tops the list of the greatest Winter Olympic moments of all time for Brits, with 38% ranking it as the most iconic. Fans say these top moments stood out not just for the result, but also because their stories were moving (40%) and because they showed resilience (38%). Across the rankings, medal-winning performances that left the strongest impression were those rooted in emotion and perseverance, from underdog stories to comebacks and personal triumphs that went beyond medals.

This appreciation for the journey leading to milestone achievements extends far beyond elite sport. Samsung research reveals more than a third of Brits use their smartphone to capture moments of personal progress in their own lives (38%), from fitness milestones (40%) to trying something new (40%) to small day to day accomplishments (38%).

PHOTO CREDIT: MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 09: Gold medalist Jutta Leerdam of Team Netherlands, Silver medalist Femke Kok of Team Netherlands, and Bronze medalist Miho Takagi of Team Japan celebrate by taking a victory selfie during the medal ceremony for the Speed Skating Women’s 1000m on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 09, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Watching Winter Olympic athletes also appears to have a wider ripple effect, with a third of Brits saying the Games inspire them to challenge themselves (33%). Meanwhile, 81% agree it’s important to recognise small wins in everyday life with 61% saying that photos and videos of personal progress help them realise how far they’ve come.

Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience Vice President of Product and Marketing, Samsung UK & Ireland, said: 

“There’s a reason we’re drawn to the underdog stories and at the Winter Games they remind us that greatness can often be forged in the moments no one sees. Behind every iconic performance lie thousands of unglamorous hours: the falls, the 5am training sessions, the days you wanted to quit.

“Traditionally, the world has only seen the finished product. Today, that is changing. Athletes are opening the doors to their entire experience, sharing the setbacks, the relentless preparation, and the small breakthroughs that represent the true heart of the sport. Our partnership with Milano Cortina 2026 is built on this belief in authenticity. We want to ensure that the dedication behind the athlete is just as visible as the performance itself, celebrating the journey of every individual, no matter where it leads.”

Athlete’s journey resonates with viewers with three in ten having felt emotional watching the Winter Olympics, due to athletes finally achieving their dream (28%), an underdog story (27%) or watching someone overcome setbacks (23%). These moments of perseverance and progress are what transform sporting performances into lasting sources of inspiration.

Joining Team Samsung Galaxy’s roster for Milano Cortina 2026, Team GB Snowboarder Txema Mazet-Brown brings this mindset to life by sharing the small wins that shaped his Olympic Games journey.

“A lot of people only see what happens on competition day, but for me it’s the progress that happens every day that really matters” said Txema Mazet-Brown, Team Samsung Galaxy athlete. “It’s landing something you’ve been working on, learning from a fall, or just turning up and putting the work in when things don’t go perfectly. I’ve always felt like if you stay open to learning and keep pushing, things keep moving forward. Those small wins are what build your confidence over time and give you the belief to take the next step.”

The top twenty greatest Winter Olympic Games moments of all time, according to Brits, were:

1. Torvill & Dean’s Boléro (Sarajevo 1984)
2. Eddie the Eagle’s ski jump (Calgary 1988)
3. The Jamaican bobsleigh team debut (Calgary 1988)
4. Team GB women’s curling gold (Sochi 2014)
5. Amy Williams winning Team GB’s first solo gold in 30 years (Vancouver 2010)
6. Lizzy Yarnold back-to-back gold skeleton titles (Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018)
7. “Miracle on Ice” ice hockey upset (USA beating Soviet Union in 1980 4-3)
8. Team GB men’s curling silver (Salt Lake City 2002)
9. Chloe Kim’s record-breaking halfpipe win (Beijing 2022)
10. Jenny Jones’ snowboard slopestyle bronze – GB’s first medal on snow (Sochi 2014)
11. Shaun White’s iconic snowboard halfpipe runs (e.g., Vancouver 2010)
12. Shaun White’s comeback gold in the halfpipe (PyeongChang 2018)
13. Ester Ledecká winning in both skiing and snowboarding (PyeongChang 2018)
14. Hermann “The Herminator” Maier’s crash and comeback triumphs (Nagano 1998)
15. Yuzuru Hanyu’s legendary figure skating performances (e.g., PyeongChang 2018)
16. Steven Bradbury’s last corner short track gold (Salt Lake City 2002)
17. Eric Heiden’s clean sweep of five speed skating golds (Lake Placid 1980)
18. Shelly Rudman’s breakthrough skeleton silver (Turin 2006)
19. Izzy Atkin’s freestyle skiing bronze (PyeongChang 2018)
20. Chemmy Alcott’s comeback performances (e.g., Sochi 2014)