Olympics 2026: Jungk and Grotheer secure silver and bronze in men's skeleton
Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer delivered a German one-two finish behind Britain’s dominant Matt Weston in the men's skeleton at the Cortina sliding centre on Friday, February 13, 2026 (ET). Weston set a new track record and took gold in 3: 43. 44, while Jungk and Grotheer crossed the line +0. 88 and +1. 07 seconds back respectively to claim silver and bronze.
Weston's runaway victory, German double on the podium
Matt Weston led from early on, building an unassailable advantage after two of the four runs and extending it to win comfortably. Behind him the contest for the remaining medals tightened. Axel Jungk held second at the midway point with Christopher Grotheer directly behind, and both capitalised on colder, faster ice to improve in the third run. The pair defended their positions in the final heat to secure Germany a silver–bronze result.
Drama off the ice: CAS rules on Ukrainian entry
The build-up to the medal decisions was overshadowed by a separate disciplinary development. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) confirmed that Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch is not permitted to start at the Games, bringing a close to the helmet controversy that had loomed over the competition. Debate over the application of IOC rules on expressions of opinion remained a talking point even after the CAS ruling.
How the Germans sealed their medals
Both Jungk and Grotheer used improved conditions in the penultimate run to gain time on direct rivals from China and Italy, keeping them at bay before the final heat. Grotheer laid down a strong time early in the last run and waited at the finish to greet his teammate. He called the result a moment of pride after a difficult season marked by injuries. Jungk admitted his final run was far from perfect, calling it a "total disaster" in the heat of emotion, but he said he was relieved and thrilled that the silver held.
Depth of German team and what comes next
Third German starter Felix Keisinger rounded out a strong national showing with sixth place overall (+1. 81 seconds), underscoring the team's depth in the discipline. With the skeleton program continuing at the Games, the men’s medalists have at least one more target: the inaugural Olympic mixed-team event. That team competition is scheduled for Sunday at 12: 00 PM ET, when mixed pairs will combine times from one male and one female sled to contest additional medals.
Looking ahead and broader reactions
Jungk, a two-time Olympic medallist, and Grotheer, a former Olympic champion, kept Germany firmly in the conversation for sliding-sport success in these Games. Both athletes said they would be conservative in celebrations, mindful of recovery and the upcoming mixed-team chance. The skeleton finals also pushed conversations about athlete equipment rules and freedoms back into the spotlight, even as on-track performances dominated headlines.
Also on fans’ radar: janine flock
While the men’s races drew attention in Cortina, interest in other top skeleton names remained high. Fans and analysts will soon turn their focus to the women's races and the mixed-team event, where established stars and newcomers alike will vie for podium places.
