Chemmy Alcott; Olympic Gold for the BBC.
She Offers Me Protection
pop quiz: the lyric above is from what song and artist? clue: Guy and Rob create the best in a quarter of a century
I think it is fair to say that Team GB have not done as well at the 2026 Winter Olympics as was predicted or even hoped for. However, the real star of the season is Chemmy Alcott.
Mentored by Clare Balding, arguably the best in the business, Chemmy combines a thorough knowledge of the disciplines featured in the Winter Olympics, an infectious enthusiasm for Winter Sports and is much more pleasing on the eye than Graham Bell (comment by a woman!).
Chemmy’s own Olympic career didn’t include any medals, she made her Olympic debut aged 19 at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, where she competed in all the downhill alpine disciplines.
In 2006, the Winter Olympics were in Torino. Chemmy came 11th in the downhill, the best Team GB permormance since 1968.
Competing again in all downhill disciplines in the 2010 Winter Olympics in the ski resort of Whistler Blackcomb in Canada, Chemmy’s perfomance was very credible for a Team GB athelete.
Recovering from a broken leg, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was to be Chemmy’s last Olympic appearance.
From her retirement from prossional sport in 2014, Chemmy became a supporting presenter on BBC ski flagship programme Ski Sunday. Argue amoung yourselves whether 6 episodes a year consistutes a flagship programme. From January 2021, Chemmy took over the front of camera presenting role from Graham Bell. Her own competing experience, her warmth for the mountains, her role as a mother and her enthusiasm are infectious. Chemmy’s presence brought a lot more warmth and relevance to everyday skiers than previous presenting teams. Ed Leigh took Chemmy’s lead and the two are now formidable.
Fast forward to the past couple of weeks, the Winter Olymics 2026 in Cortina d’Amprzzo. Chemmy and Clare have made more positive headlines than most of the Team GB atheletes. I expect this is not what they would have wanted, but none the less…
pop trivia: Robbie Williams belted out the all-time classic ‘Angels‘ in 1997, it was voted the best song of the past 25 years at the 2005 BRIT awards. The song was co-written by Robbie’s long term colaborator Guy Chambers.
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