CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy - Double Olympic skeleton champion Matt Weston is still processing his historic achievement, becoming the first Briton to win two medals at the same Winter Olympics. "I feel like I've had a lifetime since kitting out four weeks ago, everything's gone so crazy," Weston told Reuters.
Weston secured gold in the singles event, following in the footsteps of British Olympic medalists Amy Williams and Lizzy Yarnold. He then teamed up with Tabby Stoecker to win the inaugural Mixed Team event. This dual victory solidifies Britain's dominance in Olympic skeleton, despite the absence of a dedicated training track.
"The fact that people have watched me and been inspired to actually go and apply is very surreal, but I'm so proud to be a part of that," Weston stated, highlighting the sport's growing popularity. His success came on a day when Britain also won gold in Snowboard Cross Mixed Team, marking the first time the nation secured two Winter Olympic golds on the same day.
Weston, who entered the Games with three consecutive World Cup overall titles, dominated the singles competition with four successive track records. He described a deliberate strategy of focusing solely on his performance during the relay, deliberately shielding himself from team standings. This mental fortitude was cultivated after a disappointing 15th-place finish at the Beijing Olympics, with the 28-year-old athlete crediting sports psychology for helping him embrace pressure.
Reflecting on teammates who narrowly missed medals, Weston emphasized the collective effort. "Just because I've got the medals around my neck doesn't mean it's all down to me. It's a massive team behind me and also my teammates are part of that and I think the whole nation back home is so proud of every single one of us."