Matt Weston spectacularly secured Britain’s first medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics by dominating the men’s skeleton event.
The British athlete clinched gold with an impressive cumulative margin of 0.88 seconds across four runs, leaving German competitors Alex Jungk and Christopher Grotheer with silver and bronze respectively.
Weston, a dual world champion, led the competition from the outset. He shattered track records during both of his initial runs at the Cortina Sliding Centre on Thursday, then surpassed his own marks twice more on Friday evening to claim Olympic glory.
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“I literally can’t describe it,” Weston admitted. “I’ve won world championships and European titles before, but this victory eclipses them all. It almost feels numb, like it isn’t real. I keep touching my medal just to remind myself it’s real.”
Despite his commanding lead, Weston remains driven by a relentless pursuit of perfection. “There are always things to improve,” he said. “Even when I set a track record, I’m still chasing the perfect line. Whether that’s achievable, I don’t know—but it’s what keeps me motivated.”
Weston’s perfectionism extends beyond sport. “I want to win in everything. I’m a nightmare playing Monopoly at home,” he joked. “My teammates call me Captain 110 percent because I can’t stand losing. Even during squats, if someone adds a kilo, I’ll do another set just to beat them.”
His victory also marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first British man to win Olympic skeleton gold. Previous British successes came from Amy Williams and Lizzy Yarnold in the women’s category, and Weston expressed pride in joining their legacy.
“We’ve had incredible athletes before me setting high standards,” Weston said. “After Beijing 2022 didn’t pan out as hoped due to equipment risks, we reset everything—new coaches, new approaches—and that turnaround paid off.”
Family support has been instrumental. Weston’s parents, Alison and Tom, along with his fiancée Alex, witnessed his achievement firsthand. “They push me the most,” he said. “My fiancée supports me despite my demanding schedule and the tough lifestyle of a skeleton athlete. We’re getting married in July, so that day will be the best of my life—for a few months before I probably change my mind!”