Brighton graduate bringing physiotherapy expertise to Team GB at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
She'll be supporting bobsleigh and skeleton athletes.
University of Brighton graduate Katy Williams has been selected as part of Team GB’s physiotherapy team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Katy, a specialist in musculoskeletal and multi-sport physiotherapy, will provide expert support to athletes competing in bobsleigh and skeleton events.
The Games, taking place from 6th February to 23rd February, will see bobsleigh and skeleton athletes racing down icy tracks at extreme speeds. Katy will ensure competitors remain in peak physical condition, managing injury prevention, rehabilitation, and on-site treatment throughout the demanding schedule.
In partnership with Holly Rust-March from the UK Institute of Sport, Katy will collaborate with coaches and performance staff to help athletes recover between runs and handle the physical strains of their fast-paced events.
Skeleton athletes race head-first down ice tracks at speeds up to 140 km/h, while bobsleigh competitors navigate twisting circuits in high-tech sleds. The intense physical demands, including high g-forces and repeated impacts, place physiotherapy as a critical component of athlete performance and safety during the Olympics.
Katy described her role as part of Team GB as an honour:
"Being selected as a Physiotherapist for Team GB, alongside Holly Rust-March, to support the sports of Bobskeleton and Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympic Games is an honour. They are a great group of athletes to work with and have an incredible support team behind them. I can’t wait to help them perform at their best on the world stage."
Katy, who completed her MSc in Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton in 2018, credits the university with building the expertise and confidence that helped shape her career.
"Brighton gave me the tools to work effectively in high-pressure environments, and the support of mentors and fellow alumni has remained invaluable throughout my career. Brighton taught me how to combine technical expertise with practical problem-solving - something I use every day in elite sport."
Dr Angela Glynn, Dean of the School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Brighton, acknowledged the significance of Katy’s achievement.
"Katy’s selection for Team GB at the Winter Olympics is a fantastic achievement and a brilliant example of the impact our graduates can have in elite sport. Her expertise, dedication, and professionalism reflect the high standards we cultivate at Brighton, and we are proud to see her supporting athletes at the very highest level on the Olympic stage."
Katy’s career has spanned both summer and winter sports, working alongside Olympic, World, and European medallists across disciplines including tennis, rugby, modern pentathlon, bobsleigh, and skeleton.
She has supported athletes at events like the London 2012 Olympics, Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and multiple World University Games. Katy also brings her knowledge into the classroom as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bath, mentoring MSc students while contributing to professional development in sport and exercise medicine.
Throughout her career, Katy has collaborated with organisations such as the UK Sports Institute, the Lawn Tennis Association, Pentathlon GB, England Athletics, and the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association.
Her journey from Brighton graduate to key member of Team GB at the Winter Olympics highlights the vital role physiotherapy plays in supporting high-performance athletes.