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Matt Weston (right) became the first Briton to win two gold medals in one games when he emerged victorious with Tabitha Stoecker in the skeleton mixed team relay - Jure Makovec/Shutterstock
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Team GB have won double gold on a “Super Sunday” at the Winter Olympics after Matt Weston delivered a stunning performance in the mixed skeleton to seal his second victory of the Games.
Partnering Tabitha Stoecker, Weston followed up his victory in the men’s skeleton on Friday by producing an extraordinary final run to turn a 0.30sec deficit after the first legs into a 0.17sec victory. It placed Britain on top of the podium ahead of the two German pairs.
With Weston’s second win in the space of three days he became the first British man to claim two Winter Olympic gold medals, and put him alongside 2014 and 2018 skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold as Team GB’s most successful Winter Olympian.
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Tabby Stoecker took gold with Matt Weston in the mixed team skeleton event for Team GB’s third gold of the Games - Al Bello/Getty Images
With Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale also winning gold earlier in the day in the mixed snowboard cross, Team GB won more gold medals in the space of five hours on Sunday than they had ever managed during any entire previous Winter Olympics.
With a week of competition still to go, Britain have leapt to 12th on the medal table with three golds following what has been their finest ever day in the 102-year history of the Winter Olympics.
That is ahead of numerous countries with a strong winter sports pedigree including Canada, Finland and China.
“Getting two gold medals today is just incredible,” said Eve Muirhead, Team GB’s chef de mission. “[It’s] the most we have ever had in British Olympic winter history and, for Matt, being the most decorated male winter Olympian of all time is something really special.”
Britain’s second skeleton mixed team of Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt were also only just outside the medals in fourth, finishing 0.11sec off bronze after Tarbit went quickest of all the women racers.
07:16pm
Great Britain’s 15th gold medal at the Winter Olympics
Well, when it rains, it pours. Three gold medals in 48 hours is quite astonishing, given the country’s historical record.
Matt Weston’s individual skeleton title got the sled rolling, so to speak. Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes combined for mixed snowboard cross glory several hours ago, and this is the cherry on top. That is all from me.
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Cheers to another GB gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics - Marco Bertorello/AFP
07:10pm
Stoecker and Weston receive gold medals
No hanging about for the post-event ceremony. Prince Albert of Monaco does the honours, draping bronze and silver medals around the two German teams who stand on the lower steps of the podium.
“Gold medallists and Olympic champions, representing Great Britain...”
Tabby Stoecker and Matt Weston step up and clench their fists, roaring with happiness before Prince Albert puts their precious metal around their neck. They turn for the national anthem.
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Gold medals and toy stoat mascots for Stoecker and Weston - Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
07:04pm
The medal ceremony begins for Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker
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GB mixed skeleton team winners Stoecker and Weston step onto the podium at Cortina Sliding Centre - Al Bello/Getty Images
07:01pm
Team GB have the skeleton key
Freya Tarbit was the fastest woman, but she and Marcus Wyatt finished fourth, just 0.11 seconds from a medal.
“I can come away with my head held high that I can hold my own and hold it together with pressure,” Tarbit told the BBC. “Two gold medals for British skeleton is something to be immensely proud of. It is great for the programme, for us, for us to be part of. It’s just great that GB are so good at a winter sport.”
These gold medals in the last 48 hours could transform the sport of skeleton in the UK.
06:56pm
Weston’s run made the difference
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Matt Weston’s winning moment - Richard Heathcoate/Getty Images
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Weston in full flight, close to his top speed of 78mph at Cortina - Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
06:50pm
Great Britain up to 12th in latest medal table
06:48pm
‘We’ve done it again’: Weston and Stoecker react
Tabby Stoecker: “I can’t believe it. It’s a team effort, right, and when Matt came down and we were in the green... I think I am in shock.”
Matt Weston: “Luckily I felt like I knew what I needed to do. When I had the individual event, I took a load of confidence from that and I just had to almost in my head be boring and get the job done. We’ve done it again! Olympic champs!”
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Tabby Stoecker and Matt Weston on top of the world - Annegret Hilse/Reuters
06:44pm
Weston makes history
Matt Weston might come home from Milan-Cortina as a British sporting hero. He has become the first person from the UK to win two medals of any colour at the Winter Olympics, let alone two gold medals.
25-year-old Tabby Stoecker was jumping for joy on the ice as Weston slowed down his sled. What a team. They posed with a Union Flag in front of the photographers, delight personified.
06:39pm
The podium
1. Great Britain (Tabitha Stoecker and Matt Weston) 1:59:36
2. Germany (Susanne Kreher and Axel Jungk) at 0.17 seconds
3. Germany (Jacqueline Pfeifer and Christopher Grotheer) at 0.18 seconds
What a performance from Stoecker and Weston, especially the men’s skeleton champion who made light work of the 0.30-second deficit. Ground to make up? No problem.
Fourth place for Team GB’s other pair, Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt, missing out on a medal by just 0.11 seconds.
06:35pm
Gold for Team GB’s Tabby Stoecker and Matt Weston
Reaction time of 0.12, just what Team GB wanted. He is just 0.05 down int he first time check.
0.11 up through the third time check and the same at the fourth. He holds a tiny skid. 0.16 up before the final corners. Matt Weston has done it.
It is gold for Team GB, gold for Tabitha Stoecker and Matt Weston. 1:59.36, a track record.
Stoecker runs to Weston and they embrace each other on the ice. “Two-time!” Weston shouts.
06:33pm
Stoecker gives GB a chance of gold medal
If she can replicate her performance or go faster, she gives men’s winner Weston every chance of bringing home gold for GB.
0.30 reaction time for Stoecker, only twelfth best, but she is 0.14 seconds up on the German leaders in the first time check. A few skids and toes out to steady herself slows her down but she is doing a decent job.
She crosses the line in 1:00.77 - 0.30 seconds down on the German duo. Not sure where that extra time came from! She was neck-and-neck with the Germans going into the final corners. It will be tough for Weston to get that time back, but not impossible.
Here goes Matt Weston...
06:30pm
Second place for Germany’s Pfeifer and Grotheer
The penultimate team, the second German pair, goes.
Jacqueline Pfeifer overhauls her team-mate with 1:00.53, 0.06 seconds slower. Freya Tarbit still has the fastest women’s run.
Christopher Grotheer’s 0.24 reaction time is only tenth best today but my how he pulls time back in the mid-section at Cortina. Oof, so close, just 0.01 down on their compatriots.
Germany are currently one-two, but Team GB are in the bronze medal position. Just one team left: men’s skeleton gold medallist Matt Weston and Tabitha Stoecker...
06:26pm
Germany in the gold medal position
Susanne Kreher and Axel Jungk of Germany go next. Kreher puts them just 0.12 seconds in arrears after a strong run and Jungk’s reaction time of 0.13 off the start is the best so far.
Carrying more speed, by the final corners, he has edged ahead and pulls away. 1:59.53, 0.12 seconds ahead.
The podium as things stand:
1. Germany 1:59.53
2. Great Britain 0.12 seconds behind
3. China 0.40
Two teams left to come: the second German pair and last but not least, GB’s favourites Matt Weston and Tabitha Stoecker.
06:19pm
Team GB go fastest!
Marcus Wyatt’s reaction time of 0.19 is just what they would want, helping them to a lead of almost half a second early on.
Sixteen corners to negotiate. Wyatt falls a little behind Chen of China in the mid-section, but is still 0.29 seconds as he rounds the final bends.
Team GB go fastest. 1:59.65 puts them ahead with a new track record. That was mainly down to Tarbit’s bravura run.
06:18pm
Freya Tarbit is the fastest woman so far
Rapid reaction time of 0.15 from Tarbit and she goes fastest at the first split. She moves further ahead of the Chinese mark, finishing with 1.00.47, 0.30 seconds quicker than any other woman. What a run.
She takes out her gumshield and hugs a Team GB member. The job is half-done. Marcus Wyatt has the chance to move Team GB into the lead, with three teams to follow them.
06:16pm
Here go Team GB’s Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt
The first of the two GB pairs. How will debutant Tarbit fare and handle those nerves? Tarbit won mixed skeleton team bronze at the European Championships.
06:15pm
Jump-start wrecks Austrian chances
Janine Flock won the women’s skeleton, but she will not have another gold medal around her neck this evening. She jumped the start.
Despite a time of 1:00.60, the fastest by a woman so far today, a time penalty of 1.06 seconds. Austria can only manage fifth, despite the best efforts of Samuel Maier.
The podium as things stand:
1. China 1:59.93
2. Italy 0.11 seconds behind
3. Team USA 0.46 seconds
06:11pm
China break two-minute barrier to go ahead
Not long to enjoy the ascendancy for the home nation. China’s second pair, Dan Zhao and Wenhao Chen, move into the lead.
1:59.93, the first team to be gone in less than 120 seconds.
Five teams to go, with GB’s first pair Tarbit and Wyatt up after Austria, who go now.
06:06pm
Italy in the lead
Alessandra Fumagalli was 0.02 seconds ahead of Ro, powered by a superb start. Having fallen behind mid-race, she found a few milliseconds to pip the American.
Roared on by the home crowd, Amedeo Bagnis reacted quicker (0.15 seconds!) and went faster than any previous competitor, hitting 77.7mph. With such speed and precision, their overall time of 2.00.04 was 0.35 seconds faster than the Americans.
The winning team will go under the two-minute barrier, no doubt.
06:02pm
The leaders as we enter the business end of the mixed skeleton
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The current leaders, Austin Florian and Mystique Ro - Annegret Hilse/Reuters
06:00pm
Skeleton is not for the faint-hearted
South Korea’s run underlined that: female athlete Sujung Ho was sliding left and right a little wildly, having to put her toes out several times to correct and ensure she did not hit the woodwork. Fourth place for them, ultimately.
Seven teams to come: Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt are fourth from last, with Tabitha Stoecker and Matt Weston last.
05:55pm
Reigning American world champions go fastest
Mystique Ro and Austin Florian are sure-fire contenders. Despite a mid-way skid, 1.01.08 makes Ro the fastest of the women so far. It was all about her flying start.
Florian drives the advantage home, 0.41 up on the Chinese seconds after the start and keeping that lead. The American pair finish with 2.00.39.
05:49pm
Italy penalised for jump start
Showing the fine lines when it comes to the reaction start, Italy’s Valentina Margaglio jumps the gun marginally and is penalised 0.93 seconds, having initially finished ahead of Liang’s marker.
Nightmare for the home nation and Mattia Gaspari cannot repair the damage, as they finish fifth.
Six teams down, nine to go including both Team GB pairs.
05:46pm
China go in front, breaking the track record
China’s Yuxin Liang put them in the box seat, with a 0.15 reaction time on her start, which is the fastest so far today. Qinwei Lin helped to extend their gap, getting out of the blocks almost as fast.
The two Olympic debutants finish with 2.00.66, smashing the track record.
05:41pm
USA move in front
Norway were briefly leaders, but Kelly Curtis and Dan Barefoot pip them by 0.15 seconds with their time of 2.01.43. They celebrate wildly, as do the American fans. No nominative determinism for Barefoot there, who was wearing the de rigueur spiked shoes.
Four teams down, 11 to go. It is still very early days for the competition.
05:36pm
Brakes on for the early leaders
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Marta Andzane, part of Team Latvia, who have gone into the early lead - Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
05:31pm
Latvia go first and into the lead
Into the lead for Andzane and Indriksons, by dint of being the starters. 2.01.66 is a good pace-setter. Canada’s duo cannot beat it, 0.98 seconds slower.
2.01.23 is the track record, set by GB pair Tabitha Stoeker and Matt Weston at the World Cup event here back in November. They will surely need to go faster this afternoon to win gold.
05:25pm
Why the reaction start is crucial
The best competitors do not just strive for perfection on their heavy sleds, covering 1,445 metres and 16 corners in less than 58 seconds.
It is also all about not starting before the red lights go off.
The five flashing lights start flashing in a rhythm of 0.75 seconds. After the fifth light flashes, all five lights will turn off, and the track is clear for the athlete.
When the lights turn off (along with a loud acoustic signal), the clock starts. The time period between the last red light flashing and turn off is set randomly by the system, though it is between 0.3 and one second.
The minimum pre-determined reaction start time is 0.05 seconds. Any reaction start time below that is determined as a false start and will cause a penalty time, which would likely make all the difference.
05:14pm
Historic gold for Team GB already this afternoon
It has already been a ground-breaking day at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Gold for Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale in the thrilling mixed snowboard cross makes it the first time that Great Britain have won two gold medals at the Games.
Three could be company. Friday’s race showed that Matt Weston can handle the pressure and go faster than anyone else.
05:07pm
Starting order based on rankings
The starting order is based on the combined points of each skeleton team’s female and male athletes according to the current International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation rankings. So, there have been no heats or qualifying rounds.
Given Tabitha Stoecker and Matt Weston have the highest total, they go last; Latvian duo Marta Andzane and Emils Indriksons are the first of the 15 teams.
05:01pm
Relive Weston and Stoecker’s winning World Cup run
GB pair Tabby Stoecker and Matt Weston are favourites and have won even here before at Cortina. In November, they showed their skill and rapid-fire reactions. Another performance like that would no doubt be just the ticket for them.
04:50pm
Take it from GB’s Amelia Coltman: this event is Formula 1 on ice
03:54pm
Skeleton mixed team success would mean GB gold rush at Milan-Cortina
Well, you wait a week for a Great Britain gold medal at the Winter Olympics and three might well come along within 48 hours.
The skeleton mixed team event is a big chance for more glory, mere hours after the historic mixed snowboard cross success. Men’s skeleton champion Matt Weston has a chance of winning again as he combines with Tabitha Stoecker, who finished fifth in the women’s skeleton final.
They are among the favourites and will go off last of the 15 teams, due to their points in the IBSF rankings. Stoecker and Weston are back-to-back world silver medallists and, in November, won the World Cup event on this very track in Cortina by 0.05 seconds over Germany, setting the track record of 2:01.23 in the process.
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Matt Weston has a chance to become the only Briton to win two gold medals at the same Winter Olympics this afternoon - Andrew Milligan/PA
The skeleton mixed team event is making its debut in these Winter Olympics. Here is how it works: one female athlete and one male athlete from the same country compete together as one team, individually racing at speeds of up to 130km/h face-first on their sleds, steering subtly with their head, shoulders and feet.
The start order will be the female athlete first, followed by the male athlete. Although racing one straight after the other, it is not quite a relay. After completing one run, there is a reaction start once the track is clear for the team-mate – after a countdown of five red lights, the signals change to green, the clock is running and the next competitor must start their run as quickly as possible.
The two run times are added together to give each team a total time. The team with the lowest overall time will be the winners. No second heats like the individual event.
Of the 15 competing duos, Great Britain are one of five nations with two teams. Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt go off fourth from last, possessing an outside chance of a medal.
The USA are the reigning world champions, beating GB’s Stoecker and Weston by 0.10 seconds last March. Germany’s Jacqueline Pfeifer and Christopher Grotheer are also contenders for gold, going off as penultimate competitors.
The event starts at 5.20pm GMT.
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