Matt Weston's Golden Ambition: From Beijing Heartbreak to Olympic Confidence
Matt Weston, the reigning skeleton world champion and current world number one, radiates confidence as he prepares for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The 28-year-old Team GB slider has transformed crushing disappointment from the Beijing Games into a powerful driving force, establishing himself as Britain's strongest hope for gold.
A Season of Dominance
Weston's preparation has been nothing short of spectacular, having just secured the skeleton World Cup title with an impressive record of five victories from seven races. In the remaining two events, he finished second to his teammate Marcus Wyatt, demonstrating remarkable consistency at the highest level of competition.
"Excitement is definitely the word I'd use," Weston declares when discussing his Olympic prospects. "I'm just so excited. The pressure is higher, it's a bigger event, and there are a lot of eyes on me. But at the same time there's that confidence heightened by the momentum and the results I've got behind me. I know I can perform."
Overcoming Adversity
The journey to this point has been far from straightforward. Weston's experience at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 resulted in a disappointing 15th place finish that left him contemplating retirement from the sport entirely. "I wanted to quit the sport," he admits. "I felt that way for three or four weeks. I was very upset and there were a lot of tears, a lot of conversations with family and my fiancee."
However, this low point ultimately became a catalyst for transformation. "I wouldn't change a thing," Weston reflects. "I don't think I'd be in this position now, talking to you as a two-time world champion, having all this success, without that kind of hardship from Beijing. There's no way at all."
Technical and Psychological Edge
Weston's current supremacy extends beyond physical performance to psychological advantage. His dominance has become so pronounced that competitors now acknowledge his superiority before races even begin. "I've had comments from opponents saying: 'Oh, it's Matt again. How much are you going to win by this week?'" he reveals. "They're jovial comments and I laugh it off. But that means I am in your head."
This psychological edge complements significant technical improvements within the GB Skeleton programme. The appointment of six-time world champion Martins Dukurs as performance director has been particularly influential. "Martins knows the tracks inside out," Weston explains. "His equipment knowledge is amazing. But what I most value is his experience. He's been to multiple Olympic Games. He's won Olympic medals. He has vast knowledge of how to deal with pressure."
Recent Challenges and Resilience
Even during this successful season, Weston has faced significant physical challenges. A serious quadriceps tear in September threatened his Olympic participation entirely. "I gave myself a 12cm tear in my quads," he recalls. "That was almost my Olympics over. I thought that was it for about a week. It really felt touch and go because I was on crutches and completely missed pre-season."
Remarkably, Weston has turned this adversity into motivation, suggesting that "maybe it's my lucky charm. Getting injured in the summer makes me better on ice in the winter."
The Skeleton Experience
For those unfamiliar with skeleton racing, Weston describes the unique challenges of hurtling down an ice track headfirst at speeds approaching 90mph on a sled with no brakes. "My fastest speed is 142.5km which is touching 90 mph," he notes with characteristic understatement.
He recalls his introduction to the sport with amusement: "When you first start, you get off from halfway down the track. My first time was at Innsbruck and, at halfway, the coach was holding my legs and saying: 'Are you ready?' Then they let go and you start accelerating. It hits you then that you have no brakes."
Looking Forward to Milano Cortina
As the Winter Olympics approach, Weston's mindset remains firmly fixed on the ultimate prize. "I don't ever stand at the top of a start run aiming for anything less than gold," he states unequivocally. "My whole mindset since Beijing, and everything I've worked for, is that top step on the podium and that's all I can think of right now. That's everything I'm aiming for."
Despite acknowledging that "racing is unpredictable," Weston concludes with characteristic confidence: "We're in a very good position to get there." His journey from Beijing disappointment to Olympic favourite stands as a testament to resilience, technical improvement, and unwavering self-belief.
