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Team GB has secured its first medal at the Winter Olympics, with Matt Weston taking the top spot in the men's skeleton event, prompting praise for his outstanding performance.

Despite the absence of an ice track, Great Britain has consistently excelled in Olympic skeleton competitions, boasting an impressive record.

With his historic gold medal win on Friday, Matt Weston has joined a long list of British skeleton athletes who have achieved podium finishes at the Winter Olympics.

Following in the footsteps of Amy Williams and Lizzy Yarnold, who won gold twice, Weston is the first British man to claim the top spot, bringing the total number of medals in the sport to 10, with potential for further additions at the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Matt Weston, a two-time world champion, believes that Britain's success in skeleton despite lacking an ice track is likely to be frustrating for other nations, while Lizzy Yarnold views it as a unique strength.

Yarnold explained to BBC Sport that British athletes' ability to adapt and make the most of limited practice time is a key factor in their success, stating, "When we arrive at a track, we have six practice runs, and we make every single one count."

She emphasized the importance of focus and commitment, saying, "Everyone is tuned in to the specific performance advantage we're aiming for, and that's what sets us apart."

Yarnold noted that the British team's ability to turn potential drawbacks into strengths is a crucial aspect of their success, saying, "Sometimes, you can take a negative and turn it into a superpower."

The unassuming wooden hut on the University of Bath campus may not appear to be a hub of athletic excellence, but it has played a significant role in producing Olympic champions.

This humble facility is home to the UK's only push track and serves as the base for the skeleton and bobsleigh teams, where athletes hone their starts and build their strength during the summer months.

The team spends their summers on the 140m track, perfecting their techniques and preparing their bodies for the demands of the winter season.

In comparison to other areas of the sport, the technology used by the British team is relatively straightforward.

The story of British skeleton's success began in the 1990s, when PhD student Kristan Bromley was tasked with designing a sled for the British military, who participated in the sport as a recreational activity.

After the military declined to test his creation, Bromley took it upon himself to try it out, eventually becoming a four-time Olympian and designing the sleds that would help many British athletes achieve Olympic success.

Over the years, renowned companies such as McLaren and British Aerospace have contributed to the development of the sleds, while the introduction of specialized skin suits at the 2018 Games raised eyebrows.

In preparation for the 2026 Games, the team utilized a wind tunnel to enhance their performance.

Lizzy Yarnold emphasized the importance of research and innovation in skeleton, stating, "It's a combination of the human and the machine coming together that makes all the difference."

Yarnold often faces questions about the relative importance of the athlete versus the equipment, but she believes it is the interplay between the two that ultimately determines success.

On occasion, this balance has been disrupted, as seen when Team GB was barred from using new helmets that the Court of Arbitration for Sport deemed had been designed specifically to enhance aerodynamic performance.

Although this ruling did not ultimately impact the team's performance at these Games, it had disastrous consequences four years ago in Beijing, where the equipment was blamed for a lack of speed, resulting in a medal-less outing for the British skeleton team.

Prior to this, Team GB had secured a skeleton medal at every Winter Olympics since the sport's reinstatement in 2002, but this streak came to an end with Matt Weston's 15th-place finish being the highest among the four British competitors.

In the aftermath, the skeleton program faced a reduction in UK Sport funding, from £6.5m for the 2022 cycle to an initial £4.8m for 2026, although this was later increased to £5.8m.

Historically, skeleton has been one of Great Britain's most heavily funded winter sports, alongside skiing, snowboarding, and curling.

The question remains, however, how the sport attracts athletes in the first place, given that few British children grow up with aspirations of becoming a skeleton champion.

Matt Weston's introduction to skeleton came through the Discover Your Gold talent identification scheme, which also brought Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Deas into the sport.

Such schemes, which identify raw talent in potential athletes and direct them towards suitable sports, have been instrumental in bringing top athletes into the skeleton program.

Yarnold, a former heptathlete who initially considered pursuing modern pentathlon, credits these schemes with attracting capable athletes and pairing them with exceptional coaching and funding.

She noted that the British team's approach to talent identification allows them to capture athletes who are already physically gifted and eager to try a new sport, saying, "We're not a winter sport nation, so we don't have young athletes trying out these sports like they do in other countries."

Instead, the team focuses on providing opportunities for athletes to explore new possibilities and seize them, which Yarnold describes as "the moment of possibility, hope, and opportunity."

The British team's history of success has also made it an attractive proposition for top coaches from around the world.

In 2022, the team appointed Latvian Martins Dukurs, widely regarded as the greatest slider in the sport, as their new coach.

A six-time world champion with over 60 World Cup victories, Dukurs retired after the Beijing Games and joined the British team, bringing his vast experience and expertise to the role.

Matt Weston described Dukurs' appointment as "the icing on the cake," saying, "Martins is the best ever at what he's done, and his experience is invaluable."

Dukurs' father, Dainis, manages the track in Sigulda, providing his son with unparalleled access to ice time and allowing him to test equipment and refine his techniques at will.

However, joining a team without an ice track presented a new challenge for Dukurs, who told BBC Radio 5 Live, "I was used to having unlimited access to the ice, but the British team has to work harder to compensate for the lack of track time."

Dukurs expressed admiration for the British team's ability to achieve success despite this disadvantage, saying, "What they've achieved without a track is amazing, and it's a testament to their hard work and dedication."

The image of Martins Dukurs and Matt Weston embracing after the latter's Olympic gold medal win has become an iconic moment in British skeleton history.

Martins Dukurs and Matt Weston embrace after his Olympic gold was confirmed

So what do the British athletes put it down to? The answer is each other, their team camaraderie.

According to Marcus Wyatt, who secured a ninth-place finish in Cortina, the opportunities to practice on an ice track are limited, with athletes typically getting around 120-150 runs per year, which translates to less than two hours of actual competition time.

By exchanging experiences and insights with fellow athletes, individuals can significantly expand their knowledge base, effectively multiplying their understanding of the sport.

Over the past couple of years, Wyatt and his colleague Matt have developed a collaborative approach, regularly sharing ideas and expertise to enhance their performance.

On the eve of a competition, Wyatt might seek Matt's advice on navigating a challenging corner, and by implementing his suggestions, he may gain a competitive edge, potentially even outperforming Matt in the race.

This reciprocal support system allows them to help each other overcome difficulties, with the understanding that the favor will be returned in the future, fostering a sense of mutual benefit.

This teamwork-oriented mindset enables them to collectively strive for excellence, driving each other to achieve their best results.

Weston attributes their success to this cooperative dynamic, suggesting that it sets them apart from other competitors.

While their competitive spirit drives them to outdo each other on the track, they prioritize collaboration and mutual support during training sessions.

This dual approach, balancing competition with cooperation, is seen as a key factor in their distinction from other athletes.

A day-by-day guide to the Winter Olympics is available for those looking to stay up-to-date on the events.

The full schedule of events, including medal competitions and their corresponding times, can be accessed for planning purposes.

The Winter Olympics 2026 medal table will be updated regularly to reflect the current standings.