Home / Sports / Weston Sets Track Record, Leads Skeleton at Olympics
Weston Sets Track Record, Leads Skeleton at Olympics
12 Feb
Summary
- Matt Weston leads the Olympic skeleton event with a new track record.
- He holds a 0.30-second advantage over his competitors after two runs.
- Weston overcame a difficult first run to achieve a dominant second performance.
Matt Weston has asserted his dominance in skeleton at the Winter Olympics, setting a new track record on his way to establishing a substantial halfway lead. The two-time world champion recorded a time of 55.88 seconds in his second run, the only slider to go under 56 seconds. This performance added to his initial run, giving him a commanding 0.30-second advantage with two medal-deciding runs remaining.
Despite a frustrating opening run that included contact with the track wall, Weston responded impressively under pressure from German competitors. He improved his time by 0.33 seconds in his second run, achieving an overall time of 1 minute 52.09 seconds. This lead is significant in a sport often decided by hundredths of a second. Fellow Briton Marcus Wyatt is currently in seventh place, 0.66 seconds off the medal positions, while German sliders Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer trail Weston.
Weston arrived at the Games as Team GB's best hope for a medal, a pressure amplified by previous misses from other British hopefuls. His recent form includes five race wins and two podium finishes, securing a third consecutive World Cup title. The team faced pre-Olympic controversy with a banned helmet design, though athletes stated they were unfazed, having achieved success with older designs. Great Britain has a strong history in skeleton, aiming to recapture medal success after a disappointing Beijing campaign in 2022.
