British Olympic legend Lizzy Yarnold fought back tears in the BBC studio after Matt Weston won a dominant skeleton gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games on Friday.
Weston, 28, clinched Team GB’s first medal of the event in Italy in style, finishing nearly a second clear of his rivals – his 0.88sec margin of victory being the second biggest ever at an Olympics.
Double Olympic skeleton champion Yarnold, 37, was analysing his triumph before breaking down and being comforted by presenter Clare Balding.
‘It’s a hugely emotional moment when you have that Olympic medal,’ Yarnold said on the BBC coverage.
‘I’m finding it a sliding doors moment that I can’t believe we are here. I was so hoping for this moment…’
Yarnold then cupped her mouth as she held back tears. ‘I’m going to give you a break,’ Balding said as the Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018 gold medallist composed herself.
Double Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold fought back tears after Matt Weston won gold
Weston dominated the skeleton event to win Team GB’s first medal at the Milan-Cortina Games
Yarnold had earlier given her reaction to Weston’s victory. ‘Every single one of the four runs were absolute perfection. Incredibly impressive from Matt Weston,’ she said.
‘What stands out for me is each and every time Matt Weston stood at the start block he was looking down the track, he excelled, he accelerated, he was so focused.
‘I really can’t find the words to describe how incredibly impressed I am with his performance.’
Weston, supported by fiancée Alex Howard-Jones and family in Cortina, was the heavy favourite and led the competition from the start.
The 28-year-old clocked a combined time of 3:43.33 after breaking his own track record following each run.
Weston is the first British man to win an individual Winter Olympics gold medal since figure skater Robin Cousins in Moscow in 1980. He is also the first Team GB competitor to top the podium in the men’s skeleton at the Games.
‘[It means] everything,’ Weston, a former taekwondo and rugby player, told the BBC.
‘It means a hell of a lot to me personally, I have worked so hard for this.
Weston celebrated with fiancée Alex Howard-Jones and his family after the medal ceremony
‘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.
‘Even if you’re not part of my close circle, if you play the National Lottery you’re supporting me as well so thank you so much. Hopefully I did you proud.
‘I literally can’t describe it. I’ve been fortunate enough to win World Championships, European Championships and other things as well and this blows them all out of the water. I can’t describe the feeling. I almost feel numb.”
His fiancée added: ‘I don’t have any words. I told you that he’d get gold and he did. Couldn’t be prouder of him.’
