Team GB wins first medal at Winter Olympics as Matt Weston secures gold
Team GB are finally off the mark at the Winter Olympics after Matt Weston sealed gold in the men's skeleton.
Weston, 28, was one of Team GB's brightest medal hopes in Milano Cortina. And he enjoyed an impressive start to his event, leading after the first two heats.
He rounded off his first two heats at 56.21 and 55.88, with his overall time sitting at 1:52.09 ahead of the second day. He then followed that up with another eye-catching time of 55.63 in the third heat.
Weston's final run was the best of the bunch with a track record time of 55.61. Weston was left in tears following his historic victory as he celebrated with his teammate Marcus Wyatt and Team GB coaches.
It was a remarkable turnaroud for Weston who had finished 15th four years ago. Meanwhile, Wyatt had a much better second day in Italy but was only able to finish seventh. He put together a total time of 3:45.77.
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Speaking after his victory, Weston said: "[It means] everything. It means a hell of a lot to me personally, I have worked so hard for this.
“Everyone back at home, my fiancee, my family, my friends, everyone that has sacrificed for me to be here. I have missed funerals, birthdays, everything for this moment and it feels amazing.”
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Weston's victory sees Team GB finally get on the medal table at the Winter Olympics. Elsewhere, German duo Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer secured silver and bronze respectively.
On Weston's run, Lizzie Yarnold said: "Matt Weston is travelling so fast and making decisions in tenths of a second, he doesn't have any time to think ahead.
"He must be physically exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed. These athletes work three sessions a day, looking at analysis, looking at tenths of a second. It's paid off."
Team GB chef de mission, Eve Muirhead added: "I'm absolutely over the moon for him, what a great guy, athlete, first medal of the Olympics, absolutely buzzing for him.
"The pressure he was under and he was cool as a cucumber. To come out and deliver those runs, I hate watching, that was unreal. It shows what an athlete he is, what a legend, he's shown what he's made of. He's had great support."