Matt Weston, Britain’s premier skeleton athlete, is firmly focused on clinching Olympic gold, despite already dominating the World Cup circuit this season. With five victories from seven races, Weston has secured his third consecutive overall world championship, positioning himself as possibly the strongest British favourite in Winter Olympic history.
Competing with a serious thigh injury, Weston has shown remarkable resilience and determination. Training at the University of Bath, the 28-year-old revealed the challenges he’s faced: “I came into the season with a pretty big injury, so I haven’t been able to fire on all cylinders. It hasn’t been the ideal season. If you looked at my results you’d think otherwise, but it’s been a long road mentally and physically.”
Weston acknowledges that despite his impressive World Cup performances, the Olympic stage demands peak performance. “Winning races at 60 or 70% capacity gives you confidence, but the Olympics is a different matter. I know I’ll need to be at my best to keep it going.”
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Weston’s success is a significant improvement upon Britain’s disappointing showing at the 2022 Beijing Games, where Britain’s skeleton athletes failed to medal for the first time since 2002. Weston’s 14th-place finish was the team’s best result, an outcome that once made him consider retirement.
“After Beijing, I was close to quitting. It was a huge emotional reaction — you work your whole life towards the Olympics and it doesn’t turn out as hoped. I felt like I’d let down myself, family, and nation," he admits. “But I channeled that frustration into determination.”
Weston credits the setback in Beijing as a catalyst for their current success. “It forced us to reset completely, throw the rulebook out the window, and start fresh. Since then, it’s been an incredible journey.”
With the Winter Olympics approaching in Milan and Cortina, Matt Weston’s blend of experience, determination, and recent dominance makes him a formidable contender for British skeleton’s first Olympic gold.