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Emma Smith

@emmasmithbbc.bsky.social

Award-winning BBC Sport journo | Heard BBC World Service, BBC 5 Live, The Week Unwrapped | Seen BBC News, ABC News | Sports Journalism Association committee member | Manchester Laces goalkeeper coach

2,026 Followers  |  115 Following  |  353 Posts  |  Joined: 18.09.2023
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Posts by Emma Smith (@emmasmithbbc.bsky.social)

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Jess Fishlock: Welsh football great 'honoured' to be EuroGames ambassador Jess Fishlock, generally regarded as Wales' greatest ever female footballer, says she felt compelled to become an ambassador for the 2027 EuroGames in Cardiff due to the

EXCLUSIVE: Wales legend Jess Fishlock says she felt compelled to become an ambassador for the 2027 EuroGames in Cardiff because of the "political climate" for LGBT people in the UK.

We talked football in her home suburb, trans athletes and padel, here...
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

01.03.2026 08:23 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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What in the World - Winter Olympics 2026: What you missed - BBC Sounds The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have officially ended

Delighted to be back on the BBC's What In The World podcast - along with Sarah Mulkerrins - to round off #MilanoCortinaOlympics2026, talking Alysa Liu, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, Vladymyr Heraskevych and sneaky Canadian fingers. Have a listen: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

23.02.2026 17:59 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony: Milan-Cortina concludes in Verona IOC president Kirsty Coventry says the athletes

Over and out. #MilanoCortinaOlympics2026

www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

22.02.2026 22:16 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics: USA win men's ice hockey gold for first time in 46 years United States win the men's Olympic ice hockey gold medal for the first time in 46 years by beating neighbours Canada in overtime.

Jack Hughes, American hero.

www.bbc.com/sport/ice-ho...

22.02.2026 16:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Winter Olympics 2026: How do extreme skiers overcome fear of serious injury? What do you do if you fall 40 feet on to hard-packed snow? If you're a Winter Olympics athlete, you pick yourself up and try again.

I interviewed Olympic bronze medallist Zoe Atkin before Milan-Cortina 2026; she uses her knowledge of symbolic systems and AI, which she studies at university, to logically deal with fear and risk of injury. Fascinating chat with a fascinating woman.
www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

22.02.2026 12:26 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Three weeks ago, the Olympics in Milan started at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena with Italy women v France. Today, they finish with Canada v USA for the men's gold medal. It is the final the neutrals wanted, let's see if it lives up to expectations.

22.02.2026 11:05 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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French Alps 2030: Next Winter Olympics will hold speed skating in Italy or Netherlands The speed skating events at the 2030 Winter Olympics will take place outside host nation France, it has been confirmed.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articl...

21.02.2026 12:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The 2030 Winter Olympics will be hosted by French Alps, however it has been confirmed speed skating events will be held in Turin or the Netherlands.

2030 president Edgar Grospiron says the contract signed with IOC states events will be hosted in pre-existing venue outside France

21.02.2026 10:52 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics: Polish skater has facial surgery after short track crash Polish short track speed skater Kamila Sellier has undergone surgery after she was struck in the face by a blade in a serious crash at Milan-Cortina 2026.

Polish short track speed skater Kamila Sellier has undergone surgery after she was struck in the face by a blade in a serious crash at Milan-Cortina 2026.

As a competitor fell in the women's 1500m, her skate caught Sellier and sliced her under her left eye.

www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

21.02.2026 10:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey: Canada and USA to meet in charged final Milan-Cortina 2026 has been one of the most dramatic Winter Olympics in history - in sporting and political terms - so it is appropriate that the final medal event could be the most explosive of all.

At a Winter Olympics which has been charged by more drama, controversy and politics than most, the last medal event being Canada v USA in the men's ice hockey feels like the perfect finale.
Preview ft. history, player analysis, and Donald Trump, obviously.
www.bbc.com/sport/ice-ho...

20.02.2026 23:14 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics: Team GB '25 years' behind world's best in short track Great Britain has fallen 25 years behind the best short track nations in the world amid outdated facilities and rising costs, according to British Ice Skating's head of performance.

A failure to improve facilities over the last 25 years, plus a lack of funding now, have left GB's short track programme well behind the best in the world.
So head of performance Jon Eley says they will look to skeleton, among others, for how to improve.
www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

20.02.2026 19:41 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Head of Russia’s Antidoping Agency Was Involved in 2014 Doping Scheme, Whistle-Blower Claims

Head of Russia’s Antidoping Agency Was Involved in 2014 Doping Scheme, Whistle-Blower Claims

Major story by Juliet Macur right as Russia prepares to return to international sport

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/w...

20.02.2026 12:56 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4
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Eteri Tutberidze: Olympic reign of ex-Valieva coach ends in Milan When figure skating coach Eteri Tutberidze's behaviour towards her pupils was branded

After her skaters won women's Olympic gold in 2018 and 2022, the Eteri Tutberidze reign came to an end last night.
For many in figure skating, it was about time.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articl...

20.02.2026 07:19 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Alysa Liu: American superstar wins 2026 Winter Olympics women's figure skating gold American superstar Alysa Liu adds Olympic figure skating gold to her world title as she beats a standout field in the women's final.

Alysa Liu was already a figure skating champion and an American celebrity. Tonight at #MilanCortinaOlympics2026, she became a global superstar.
Report from the women's free skate, an Olympic event which truly lived up to hopes and expectations.
www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

19.02.2026 22:50 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics: Who will win medals in fascinating women's figure skating? 2026 Winter Olympics: Who will win medals in fascinating women's figure skating?

Japan to sweep 1-2-3? 'Neutral' Adeliia Petrosian on the podium? An unheralded 17-year-old champion? Amber Glenn to medal from 13th?

The women's figure skating is shaping up for one of the most fascinating finales at #MilanoCortinaOlympics2026

www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

18.02.2026 14:12 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I went to a presser where he talked through all this stuff in detail, want me to send you the quotes?

17.02.2026 19:00 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Yiannis Exarchos, OBS ceo: "There is a question around audio, the noise the equipment generates. For the athletes, this noise they cannot hear - they are travelling at high speed in the other direction. In the years we use this tech, I believe it will be possible to reduce the noise we hear."

17.02.2026 18:58 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Three times a period in ice hockey, they have a 'power break' - a chance for the ice to be cleaned, players to take a drink, and ads to be shown.

Six volunteers clean the ice by skating in unison, pushing ploughs up and down the ice to smooth it out.

Impressive and mesmeric.

17.02.2026 13:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm asking the big questions here, Paul.

17.02.2026 10:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics: What has gone wrong for British short track speed skating? When Niall Treacy skidded out of the men's 500m heats on Monday, Great Britain's hopes in the short track speed skating were finally put out of their misery.

As Niall Treacy skidded out of the men's 500m heats on Monday morning, British hopes at the short track speed skating were finally put out of their misery.
So why are GB so bad at one of the Winter Olympics' most popular events?
www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

17.02.2026 08:11 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Winter Olympics 2026: Niall Treacy crashes out & women curlers win Team GB speed skater Niall Treacy's Winter Olympics are over but the women's curlers beat Denmark to keep alive their semi-final hopes.

Niall Treacy was Team GB's only short track skater in Milan, having been one of 3 at Beijing 2022. In 2018, GB sent 5 to PyeongChang.

Short track lost Β£4.8m funding after 2018, and now shares Β£2m with long track and figure skating.

It's a bleak picture.

www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

16.02.2026 11:41 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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At the #MilanoCortina2026 ice hockey, it is notable how loud ads tell you "One you have finished your Coca-Cola make sure to recycle the bottles."
The Olympics bans on-field advertising; but IOC says: "We have given partners recognition without changing the nature of the Games."

15.02.2026 19:14 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

#MilanoCortina2026 snowboard slopestyle qualifiers have been moved forward to today with heavy snow forecast.
In World Cup events, when finals can't happen, medals are decided by the qualifying.
The IOC say they don't have an answer yet on plans if the finals can't take place.

15.02.2026 10:59 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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If you were watching the #MilanoCortinaOlympics2026 men's ice hockey match between Sweden and Slovakia just now and wondering why the Slovaks were celebrating a 5-3 defeat - here's why

14.02.2026 14:01 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

During breaks in the ice hockey, they have someone playing the electric pipe organ with some jaunty tunes.

I know this is traditional for the sport, but it just reminds of me of the ending of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

#MilanoCortinaOlympics2026

14.02.2026 13:03 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Winter Olympics: How figure skating wants to fight judging controversies While Milan-Cortina 2026 has brought the highest profile controversy regarding figure skating judging in recent years, it is not an isolated incident by any means.

At #MilanoCortina2026, the controversies of figure skating judging has been thrown into the spotlight - but has been an issue for years.
So how do the rules work, and what is being done to improve things? The answer, it seems, is AI.
Long read for BBC Sport.
www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

14.02.2026 10:01 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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2026 Winter Olympics: Mikhail Shaidorov wins men's figure skating gold as 'Quad God' Ilia Malinin crumbles Ilia Malinin, the red-hot favourite for men's figure skating gold, suffers a nightmare on the ice.

Report from a night at Milano Ice Skating Arena which was as memorable as hoped, for none of the reasons we expected.
Ilia Malinin, the Quad God, is mortal.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articl...

13.02.2026 22:43 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Forget Ilia Malinin for two seconds.
This is Kazakhstan's first Winter Olympic gold medal since Lillehammer 1994, when Vladimir Smirnov won the men's 50km cross-country skiing.
That was 10 years before Mikhail Shaidorov was born.

13.02.2026 22:21 β€” πŸ‘ 53    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Arianna Fontana: Italian phenomenon wins 13th Olympic speed skating medal A lot can change in sport over two decades - but not Arianna Fontana's ability to collect Olympic medals.

A lot can change in sport over two decades - but not Arianna Fontana's ability to collect Olympic medals.

An honour to see her win her 13th in front of a home crowd, 20 years after winning her first in front of a home crowd.

www.bbc.com/sport/articl...

12.02.2026 21:17 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0