SKATE expectations

Team GB has high-flying hopes for a record medal tally on the eve of the Winter Olympics in Italy

- LUCY READE and JEREMY ARMSTRONG

TEAM GB is being tipped for its best-ever medal haul as the Winter Olympics opens with a spectacular ceremony in Milan tomorrow night.

Pop superstar Mariah Carey and opera legend Andrea Bocelli will take centre stage at the San Siro stadium as millions tune in to see a British team full of talent.

Spread across northern Italy, the 25th Winter Games will be marked with ceremonies and parades in Predazzo, Livigno and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

UK Sport predicts up to eight medals could be won by Brits - our record is five, at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018.

Ice skating pair Lewis Gibson and Lilah Fear are “the new Torvill and Dean” after coming third in the world championships last year. They could bring home our first Olympic figure skating medal since 1994.

Lilah, 26, is flagbearer for the opening ceremony with bobsleigh pilot Brad Hall, 35. She said: “When I heard the news, I started crying, I was just flooded with so much emotion, honour, and pride.”

Britain’s curlers look set to add to their two medals from 2022, when the women brought home gold.

We also boast two of the best skeleton athletes in world champion Matt Weston and his teammate Marcus Wyatt.