GB Wins Two Skeleton Golds in World Cup Opener
Great Britain’s Matt Weston launched his skeleton World Cup season with an impressive victory in the opening race held in Cortina, Italy. The 28-year-old achieved this remarkable feat on Friday, finishing ahead of Austria’s Samuel Maier by a margin of 0.15 seconds. This victory marked Weston’s 10th World Cup gold medal.
Team Triumphs for Great Britain
In addition to Weston’s success, the British team of Tabby Stoecker and Marcus Wyatt also shone in the competition. They claimed victory in the team race with a combined time of 2:01.23. Their performance edged out Germany’s Jacqueline Pfeifer and Axel Jungk, who finished just 0.05 seconds behind. Austria’s duo Janine Flock and Maier also fell short, finishing two tenths of a second behind the British pair.
Highlight Performances
- Tabby Stoecker: Fastest woman in the race with a time of 1:01.31.
- Marcus Wyatt: Nearly matched the fastest men’s time with a score of 59.92 seconds.
Weston’s journey to victory wasn’t smooth. His start times of 4.78 and 4.76 seconds placed him 24th and 18th in the rankings, respectively. This left him with a challenging path to the podium. However, the two-time world champion navigated the 16-corner track skillfully, ultimately finishing with a time of 1:53.84. This victory marked his 21st podium finish in his last 25 races.
Post-Race Reflections
Following his victory, Weston expressed his delight, stating, “I’m delighted with that win. It’s been a tricky pre-season with the injury, so to come here and do that is a massive boost.” His triumph highlights the resilience and skill of the British skeleton team as they prepare for the Olympics.
