Matt Weston is ready to rise to the challenge of being the overwhelming favourite at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and aims to secure a historic skeleton gold medal for Team GB.
Having dominated men’s skeleton in recent years, Weston has clinched consecutive world titles and celebrates his third straight World Cup overall win heading into the Games. This impressive track record places him firmly in the spotlight, with every competitor viewing him as the athlete to beat.
At 28 years old and training at the University of Bath, Weston is confident he has built the mental resilience necessary to handle the intense pressure. While the expectations are high, he channels that pressure into confidence and excitement as he targets the elusive Olympic gold — the missing jewel in his illustrious career.
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“The success I’ve had definitely adds pressure but also a lot of confidence,” Weston explains. “I am excited. I’ve worked extensively with psychologists over recent years to prepare mentally, ensuring I make every second count at the Games. It’s about focusing on my process, ticking every box without overthinking.”
The British skeleton team heads into the Olympics with renewed optimism, a stark turnaround from their disappointing performance in Beijing 2022, where Weston finished 15th, just ahead of teammate Marcus Wyatt. That underperformance prompted a funding cut of £1.7 million, but since then, the squad has revitalized their program. Weston and Wyatt dominated the World Cup this season, winning every event between them. The team of five now looks to build on this momentum, with Tabby Stoecker also a strong medal contender in the women’s event, and both Weston and Stoecker set to compete in the mixed team competition.
Reflecting on the lessons learned from Beijing, Weston credits the setbacks there with driving crucial improvements. “The disappointment in Beijing forced significant changes in the programme and in me personally. While it was tough, I wouldn’t change it because without that experience, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
With better equipment, refined training, and renewed confidence, Weston’s outlook for Milan-Cortina is bright. “The environment is completely different now. I’m genuinely excited for this Olympics and the opportunities it presents.”