Bucks Olympians going for gold in Italy

Buckinghamshire is well represented at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with Aylesbury’s Ellia Smeding making history as Team GB’s first-ever Olympic speed skater, and Amersham’s James Hernandez set to compete in ice dance alongside partner Phebe Bekker. Hernandez, who teamed up with Bekker in 2021, brings strong pedigree to the Games, including three senior British Figure Skating Championship silver medals and two junior national golds.

Ellia Smeding - Aylesbury

Ellia Smeding is Team GB's first speed skater for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Following a historic debut at Beijing 2022, Smeding will head to her second Olympics in Italy after an incredible return from injury last season. The speed skating will take place from 7-21 February at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.

Photos: Team GB

British speed skater Ellia Smeding moved half the world away to regain her spark – and now hopes her fresh perspective can deliver when it matters at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Smeding swapped her training base in the Netherlands for Calgary in Canada to work under coach Bart Schouten, in the hopes that it would act as a fresh start from a season dogged by injury.

It has worked a treat for the Aylesbury-born skater, who returned to the World Cup circuit to seal her place at a second Olympics, having become Team GB’s first female skater in 40 years at Beijing 2022.

The speed skating will take place from 7-21 February at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.

James Hernandez - Amersham

Milano Cortina will be James Hernandez’s first taste of a Winter Olympic Games when he partners Phebe Bekker in the ice dance.

Hernandez who teamed up with Bekker for the first time in 2021, has won three British Figure Skating Championships silver medals whilst also being a two-time gold medallist at the same event in the junior category.

Hernandez has twice competed at the World Championships at senior level - finishing 21st and 17th in 2024 and 2025 respectively – whilst also claiming 4th on the world stage as a junior.  

Born in London, Hernandez took up skating aged four and credits his sister for first getting him into the sport. His hometown is Amersham.

He skates for Guildford Figure Skating Club and previously partnered Emily Rose Brown until 2020.

Bekker and Hernandez are channeling Shakespeare this Olympic season, with their free dance set to a melody of Romeo and Juliet music, whilst their rhythm dance is to George Michael.

James Hernandez and his partner Phebe Bekker are scheduled to compete in the Ice Dance figure skating event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, with the rhythm dance on February 9, 2026, and the free dance on February 11, 2026. They are part of the Team GB figure skating squad competing at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.