Weston Secures Double Gold, Makes History for Team GB in Cortina

Matt Weston has secured two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Cortina, winning the men's individual skeleton event and later partnering with Tabitha Stoecker to claim gold in the mixed team skeleton. These victories contribute to Great Britain achieving three gold medals at a single Winter Olympics for the first time, and mark the first instance of a Briton winning two gold medals at a Winter Games.

Men's Individual Skeleton Gold

Matt Weston won the men's Olympic skeleton event in Cortina, marking Team GB's first medal of the current Games. He also became the first British man to win an Olympic skeleton gold medal.

Weston completed the event with an overall time of 3:43.33, setting a track record in each of his four runs. He maintained a 0.39-second lead before his final run, which registered 55.61 seconds. Germany's Axel Jungk finished 0.88 seconds behind Weston to secure the silver medal. Christopher Grotheer, also from Germany and the defending Olympic champion, earned bronze, finishing 1.07 seconds behind Weston.

Weston, 28, from Redhill, had been considered a contender for the podium based on his performances over the preceding four years. His victory adds to his two World Championship titles and three Crystal Globes (World Cup trophies). The event occurred amidst external factors, including the disqualification of competitor Vladyslav Heraskevych, and followed Team GB's 2022 Beijing Games, where no skeleton medal was won.

Four years prior, Weston had considered leaving the sport after not reaching an Olympic podium. He later stated he had developed strategies to manage the pressures and expectations associated with his athletic career.

Weston attributed his success to support from friends and family, strategic rest, and dietary choices.

Mixed Team Skeleton Victory

Two days after his individual gold, Matt Weston secured a second gold medal in the mixed team skeleton event, partnering with Tabitha Stoecker. In this event, Stoecker completed her run in 1:00.77. Weston then completed his run in 58.59 seconds, resulting in a final team time of 1:59:36, which secured the gold medal for the British pair.

German teams claimed the other medals: Christopher Grotheer and Jacqueline Pfeifer secured silver, while Axel Jungk and Susanne Kreher earned bronze. A second British team, comprising Marcus Wyatt and Freya Tarbit, finished 0.01 seconds short of a medal position.

Weston commented on the team victory, noting the significance of a team achievement in a sport typically individual.

Team GB Records and Milestones

The victories by Matt Weston contributed to several significant achievements for Team GB at the Winter Olympics:

• Two Golds in a Single Day: Team GB secured two Winter Olympic titles on the day of the mixed team skeleton event. In addition to Weston and Stoecker's win, Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale claimed victory in the snowboard cross mixed team event earlier the same day.
• Three Golds at a Single Games: This marked the first time Great Britain had won three gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.
• First Double Gold Medalist: Matt Weston became the first Briton to win two gold medals at a Winter Olympics.