Team GB has earned its first gold medal at the Winter Olympics as Matt Weston triumphed in the men’s skeleton event. Weston, aged 28, was a standout contender for Team GB in Milano Cortina and displayed a strong performance from the outset, leading after the initial two heats.
His first two runs clocked in at 56.21 and 55.88, accumulating an overall time of 1:52.09 going into the second day. Following this, Weston continued his impressive streak with a swift time of 55.63 in the third heat.
The pinnacle of Weston’s success came with his final run, setting a track record time of 55.61. Overwhelmed with emotion, Weston celebrated his historic win with teammate Marcus Wyatt and Team GB coaches.
This victory marked a remarkable comeback for Weston, who had finished 15th in the previous Winter Olympics. On the other hand, Wyatt improved on the second day in Italy but settled for seventh place with a total time of 3:45.77.
In his post-victory statement, Weston expressed the significance of the win, stating, “It means everything. It means a hell of a lot to me personally, I have worked so hard for this. Everyone back at home, my fiancee, my family, my friends, everyone that has sacrificed for me to be here. I have missed funerals, birthdays, everything for this moment and it feels amazing.”
With Weston’s triumph, Team GB has secured a place on the Winter Olympics medal table. Additionally, German athletes Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer clinched the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Commenting on Weston’s performance, Lizzie Yarnold remarked, “Matt Weston is traveling so fast and making decisions in tenths of a second, he doesn’t have any time to think ahead. He must be physically exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed. These athletes work three sessions a day, looking at analysis, looking at tenths of a second. It’s paid off.”
Eve Muirhead, Team GB’s chef de mission, expressed her elation for Weston, praising his composure under pressure and the support he received. Weston’s exceptional achievement has set the tone for Team GB’s Winter Olympics campaign.