Matt Weston wins men's skeleton gold to give Team GB first medal of the Games
Matt Weston delivered a composed, record-breaking performance on the Cortina track to claim men's skeleton gold and hand Team GB its first medal of the Games. Weston set the track record on all four runs and posted a sensational overall time of 3: 43. 33 to dominate the field.
Dominant runs and clinical finishing
From the start Weston looked in command, tidying errors from his opening run and then repeatedly lowering the track benchmark. He entered the final heat with a comfortable 0. 39-second cushion but chose to push again, producing a closing run of 55. 61 seconds to seal victory. The gap to the silver medallist stretched to 0. 88 seconds, with the bronze a further 0. 19 seconds back.
Weston’s clean, aggressive lines and unruffled steering turned Cortina into his personal highway. He now adds Olympic gold to an already-stellar résumé that includes multiple world titles and three overall World Cup trophies. Reflecting on the win, Weston said: "It means everything. It means a hell of a lot to me personally, I've worked so hard for this. I've sacrificed everything for this moment and it feels amazing. Hopefully I made you proud. "
From near-retirement to Olympic champion
The 28-year-old from Redhill has come a long way since finishing 15th at the last Winter Games, a result that almost prompted him to quit the sport. He rebuilt his approach, learning to embrace pressure and to balance training with recovery and the small comforts that keep him focused — modest celebrations included: three slices of margherita and an early night after the victory.
Weston's triumph also helped him shrug off the distracting moments of the fortnight, including the late disqualification of a rival just before the opening heat. The gold marks a return to form for a programme that had been reassessing methods after a disappointing previous Olympics, and it has already sparked renewed interest at home in talent identification for sliding sports.
Eyeing more hardware in the new mixed team event
With the individual title secured, Weston immediately set his sights on the freshly introduced mixed team skeleton event, where he can contest a second medal at these Games. The format pairs one man and one woman from each nation, with combined times deciding the podium. Crucially, the mixed-team event features a reaction start: athletes must launch only when the start lights change, with a half-second penalty for false starts — an element Weston said adds “jeopardy” and adrenaline.
Weston will be paired with the fastest of the British women down the hill among Tabby Stoecker, Freya Tarbit and Amelia Coltman, with teammate Marcus Wyatt also in contention for the team race. Weston described the squad as strong and confident, adding that the mixed event presents a real chance to bring home "a few more bits of bling. "
Beyond the medals, Weston’s victory underlines the depth and resilience of the programme that has cultivated Britain into a skeleton powerhouse despite lacking a domestic ice track. His gold is both a personal vindication and a shot in the arm for a team intent on converting favouritism into podium returns across the Winter Games.
