Reigning world champion Matt Weston delivered a stellar performance on day one of the men’s singles skeleton competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics, securing the overnight lead with a combined time of 1:52.09. Weston set a track record of 55.88 seconds during his second run, underscoring his status as a top contender for gold.
The Team GB athlete, who trains at the University of Bath, is currently ahead of German rivals Axel Jungk, the silver medallist from Beijing 2022, and defending Olympic champion Christopher Grotheer. As the competition heads into Friday’s final with two additional runs, the battle for medals remains wide open.
China’s Chen Wenhao impressed with a strong second run, currently sitting fourth with a time of 1:52.68, while Italy’s Amedeo Bagnis delivered a performance that has bolstered hopes for the host nation. Felix Keisinger of Germany and Marcus Wyatt, also representing Great Britain, round out the top seven.
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Reflecting on his first run, Weston admitted he had been too cautious, but corrected his approach for the second race. “I was quite annoyed after the first run… I tried to be a bit too relaxed because I tried to over-compensate for race day nerves,” he told BBC Sport. “Luckily I have been in this situation at major championships where I have had the overnight lead. I know how to act and hopefully tomorrow should be fun.”
Wyatt, who trails Weston among the top competitors, remains optimistic despite some mistakes. “It’s a couple of corners I have found tricky in training… This track is quite quirky and small mistakes cost time,” he commented.
However, the excitement of the competition has been overshadowed by the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) withdrew his accreditation after he refused to comply with IOC regulations requiring athletes to adhere to guidelines on expressions, specifically concerning the helmet he planned to wear. The helmet was intended to honor Ukrainian athletes who have lost their lives during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Despite multiple meetings and attempts to reach a compromise—including discussions involving IOC President Kirsty Coventry—Heraskevych declined to remove the helmet. The IOC emphasized that the issue centered not on the message but the location and manner of its expression during the Olympic event.
Heraskevych appealed to the IOC to lift the ban on his helmet, expressing regret about the incident overshadowing the Games. He called on the IOC for an apology and requested support in the form of generators for sports facilities in Ukraine.
As the skeleton event proceeds, the athletes on the ice will seek to focus on their performances amid the backdrop of political controversy that has cast a shadow over the opening day.