Matt Weston wins first Winter Olympics gold medal for Team GB after excellent skeleton run to make history

Matt Weston has written his name into British sporting history by claiming Olympic gold in the skeleton at Cortina, delivering Team GB's opening medal of the 2026 Winter Games.

The 28-year-old's triumph marks the first time a British man has stood atop a winter Olympic podium since Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill captured ice dancing gold back in 1984.

Weston's victory also represents another landmark achievement, as no British male athlete has ever previously won Olympic gold in skeleton.

The two-time world champion dominated proceedings on the Italian track, confirming his position as the sport's preeminent competitor on the global stage.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

Weston established his superiority by breaking the track record on every single descent down the Cortina course, completing his final run in 55.61 seconds to post a combined time of 3:43:33.

Rather than protecting his substantial 0.39-second advantage heading into the last heat, the Briton pushed even harder on what became a triumphant final journey.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Snoop Dogg security guards 'involved in altercation' with Winter Olympics icon as US role turns sour
• Winter Olympics star in tears after 'passing wind' end gold medal hopes
• Volodymyr Zelensky weighs in on Winter Olympics row as Ukrainian star sensationally kicked out

His third run of 55.63 seconds had already sparked celebrations among the Union Jack-clad supporters lining the track.

After crossing the finish line, the normally composed athlete finally let his emotions show, pressing his face into the ice before performing his signature double fist-pump towards watching family and friends.

Germany's Axel Jungk claimed the silver medal, crossing the line 0.88 seconds adrift of Weston's winning time.

His compatriot Christopher Grotheer, who had won gold at the Beijing Games, took bronze with a deficit of 1.07 seconds to the champion.

British hopes of a second medal were dashed as Marcus Wyatt could only manage ninth place overall, recording a combined time of 3:45:77.

Wyatt had entered the competition as a genuine podium threat following two World Cup victories during the current season, but found the demanding Cortina circuit difficult to master.

More to follow...

**Our Standards:The GB News Editorial Charter **