As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach, it is the perfect moment to look back at the Old Millfieldians who have represented their countries on sport’s coldest and most demanding stage.

Peter Torrens was the first Old Millfieldian to appear at a Winter Olympic Games, competing in alpine skiing at Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956. Unfortunately, his Olympic debut ended in disappointment when he missed a gate during the slalom and was disqualified. Despite this setback, Torrens laid the foundations for a legacy that would inspire future generations of Millfieldians to compete at the very highest level of winter sport.

More than two decades later, David Cargill followed in Torrens’ footsteps when he was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Skiing talent clearly ran in the family, as his sister Moira, was also chosen for the British team. David competed in the downhill event, a demanding 3,009m course featuring an 832m vertical drop that tested both speed and nerve. Against a strong international field, he finished 29th out of 46 starters, an impressive achievement at the pinnacle of alpine skiing.

Alexander Glavatsky-Yeadon also came from a distinguished skiing family. His grandfather was an Olympic ski jumper, making it little surprise that Alexander developed a passion for the slopes. A freestyle skier specialising in the halfpipe, he went on to represent Team GB at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, where he competed against the world’s best in one of the Games’ most spectacular and technically demanding disciplines, finishing in 28^th place.

James Whitley is the most recent Old Millfieldian to compete on the world’s coldest stage. Born in 1997 without hands, he started skiing on family holidays as a young child. He made his Paralympic debut at the Sochi 2014 Games, finishing 14th in the giant slalom and 15th in the slalom. At the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics, James recorded top ten finishes in both the downhill and slalom, while also competing in the giant slalom, Super-G, and super combined events. He achieved his best-ever Paralympic result at Beijing 2022, finishing an impressive sixth in the men’s giant slalom.

Bringing us to the present day, the Millfield Ski Team enjoyed a highly successful 24/25 season, delivering standout performances on both the national and international stage. The year began strongly with numerous medals claimed at the National Schools Indoor Championships South, followed by further podium finishes at the South Outdoor Championships. Internationally, Year 11 student Victoria Meneghetti represented Great Britain in Andorra, while Alex Kim competed for Korea in Val d’Isère. Continued success came at the British Interschool Championships in Verbier, where Nat Stringer, Julian Turck and Claire Von Yurt all secured podium finishes. The season concluded on a high, with Millfield crowned mixed team champions at the English Schools Indoor Championships.

Year 10 Nat Stringer could be our next student to head to the winter Olympics. His consistent top performances on the slopes have resulted in him being called up to both the Great Britain and England national squads. His selection has come from his successful year of top performances including three wins at the British Interschool Ski and British Ski Academy Championships.

At this Winter Olympics, we will be supporting Team GB Bobsledders Greg Cackett and Taylor Lawrence, who run our Power Speed Performance camps at Easter and Summer here at Millfield. They clinched gold at the Bobsleigh World Cup in Winterberg, Germany, in January 2025, and are aiming high this time. Find out about their camps here.

As preparations build towards the 2026 Winter Olympics, the achievements of the current Millfield Ski Team and the emergence of exciting young talent suggest that this legacy is far from complete. Millfieldians past, present and future continue to prove that they belong among the best.