British skeleton athlete Matt Weston, who won double gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, has become an advocate for climate action with the organisation Protect Our Winters (POW). Weston, 29, from Kent, says he wants future generations to be able to compete in winter sports, but warns that changing environmental conditions are threatening the sport.
Weston's Olympic triumph and new role
Weston broke the track record four times at the Cortina Sliding Centre to win Britain's first medal of the Games, then took gold in the mixed team event with Tabitha Stoecker, becoming the first GB athlete to win multiple golds at a single Winter Olympics. He now uses his profile to speak out about climate change, joining POW, which was founded by snowboarder Jeremy Jones in 2007 to mobilise the outdoor community.
Impact of warming on skeleton training
Weston notes that temperatures at St Moritz, home to the world's last natural ice track, have not been as cold as -27°C in years, and there are discussions about installing refrigeration. Artificial tracks also struggle, with missed training days due to warm weather. 'Our sport is won and lost by hundredths of a second,' he says, explaining that frost on the track acts like a brake.
Personal motivation and advocacy
Growing up in Kent, Weston enjoyed outdoor activities. After a back injury, he was recruited for skeleton. He now lives in London and uses public transport, supporting POW's Clean Miles campaign, which calls for better public transport for outdoor sports equipment. 'I want to be able to watch future guys go and race. If the changing environment is the thing that’s stopping them, that is pretty sad,' he says.
