Matt Weston Delivers Team GB's First Gold Medal at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
In a stunning display of athletic prowess, Matt Weston has captured Team Great Britain's inaugural gold medal at the Winter Olympics in Italy. The 28-year-old skeleton athlete dominated the men's singles competition, cementing his status as a world-class slider with a commanding performance throughout the event.
A Favorite from the Start
Weston entered the competition as the clear favorite after establishing a significant lead during Thursday's preliminary heats. The world and European champion demonstrated his exceptional skill by setting track records in his first two runs, creating a substantial advantage over his competitors.
On Friday, Weston continued his record-breaking streak with another track record during his third heat. He maintained a decisive 0.39-second lead at the top of the leaderboard before securing the gold medal with a flawless final run at the Milano Cortina Games.
From Martial Arts to Ice Track
Born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Weston's athletic journey began in a completely different discipline. He practiced taekwondo until age 17, achieving considerable success in both national and international competitions while representing England abroad.
At the 2012 taekwondo European Cup, Weston earned both gold and silver medals. He added to his collection with silver and bronze medals at the 2014 International Taekwondo Federation World Cup before retiring from the sport at 17 due to a back fracture.
Weston also played rugby during this period, representing Kent county, his local Sevenoaks RFC team, and the Saracens Academy College. His transition to skeleton came through the British Skeleton Discover Your Gold talent identification program, following a recommendation from his weightlifting coach, Chris Dear.
The Psychology of Skeleton Racing
Speaking with Sky News sports presenter Jacquie Beltrao, Weston revealed the unique mental challenges of skeleton racing. He described how athletes must overcome significant fear when beginning the sport, noting the absence of brakes on the sled.
"To get over that fear when you first start and you go down and you have no brakes," Weston explained. "Whether you have a good run, a bad run, you crash or don't crash, you are going to the bottom because it's just sheet ice. Once you get over the fear and apprehension about that, it's so much fun."
Rapid Rise to Olympic Glory
Weston made his skeleton debut in 2019 after completing an intensive training period with the Royal Marines designed to test his physical and mental resilience. His competitive career began impressively with a 15th-place finish in his debut Europa Cup race in Winterberg, Germany.
He quickly followed this with a silver medal in Igls, Austria, and a bronze in Altenberg, Germany, just one month later. By 2020, Weston had advanced to the World Cup circuit, where he achieved a landmark victory in November 2021 - Great Britain's first men's World Cup win in skeleton in nearly 14 years.
Remarkably, just over two years after his competitive debut, Weston competed as an Olympian at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. His career accelerated further in 2023 when he began working with six-time world champion Martins Dukurs as his coach.
World Champion Dominance
Under Dukurs' guidance, Weston achieved extraordinary success on both European and world stages. He captured the European title in January 2023 and, just one week later, became world champion with a staggering 1.49-second victory margin.
The 2025/26 season began with Weston recovering from a thigh injury, but this setback failed to hinder his performance. In March 2025, he secured his second world championship crown, followed by his third consecutive overall World Cup title in January 2026 - just one month before the Winter Olympics commenced.
With these achievements, Matt Weston has established himself as Britain's most decorated slider at the world championship level, culminating in his historic gold medal performance at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
