Olympia 2026: Jungk and Grotheer Race to Skeleton Podium
In a thrilling competition at the Skeleton event of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer showcased remarkable performances, securing silver and bronze medals respectively. The gold medal was claimed by Britain’s Matt Weston, who dominated the event with a time of 3:43.44.
Key Highlights from the Skeleton Event
- Gold Medal: Matt Weston, Great Britain – 3:43.44
- Silver Medal: Axel Jungk, Germany – +0.88 seconds
- Bronze Medal: Christopher Grotheer, Germany – +1.07 seconds
- Sixth Place: Felix Keisinger, Germany – +1.81 seconds
Competition Overview
The Skeleton event’s excitement was heightened by the disqualification of Ukrainian athlete Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch. Despite the controversies surrounding helmet regulations, the focus remained on the athletes’ exceptional performances.
Initially, Jungk was in second place, with Grotheer close behind in third. Grotheer, who secured his Olympic spot just before the competition, expressed determination to push for a podium finish. He executed his plan successfully by improving his time in the third run, benefiting from favorable conditions due to the cold weather.
Weston, establishing a new track record, pulled ahead but Jungk and Grotheer managed to fend off challengers Wenhao Chen from China and Amedeo Bagnis of Italy, maintaining their podium positions as the competition progressed.
Final Moments and Reflections
In the last run held at the Sliding Center in Cortina, Grotheer set the stage by leading to a medal, while Jungk faced some difficulties. However, he ultimately secured second place, expressing relief and pride in his performance. Despite his concerns about wobbling during the run, his solid ranking was never in jeopardy.
Keisinger, the third German competitor, finished in sixth place, completing a commendable effort by the German team in this gripping skeleton contest.
