Team GB Winter Olympics medal hopeful Matt Weston has disclosed that he frequently shares a bed with his teammate and closest rival, Marcus Wyatt, as they prepare for the Skeleton event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games in Italy. The duo, who are both strong contenders for medals, have developed an unusual off-track dynamic that Weston humorously compares to an "old married couple."
Unusual Bedfellows in High-Stakes Rivalry
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Weston outlined the practical realities of their training and competition schedule, which often forces them into close quarters. "We end up sharing a bed quite a lot," he said, citing budget constraints that typically result in twin bedrooms with beds pushed together. "The last time was in Sigulda, Latvia, just before Christmas. We're pretty used to each other by now—he has his side of the bed, I have mine, and there's this whole arrangement."
Despite their intense rivalry on the skeleton track, where athletes slide headfirst at speeds up to 90mph, Weston emphasized their mutual respect. "We've kind of got this unwritten agreement that the racing stays on the track. We get on great. Really, we do. If Marcus beats me, I'll be the first one to congratulate him and vice versa."
Weston's Dominance and Olympic Ambitions
Matt Weston enters the 2026 Winter Olympics as the favourite, having secured two world titles in the past three years and winning the most recent World Cup series by claiming victory in five of seven races. Marcus Wyatt won the other two races and earned a bronze, setting the stage for a compelling British showdown.
However, the memory of the 2022 Beijing Olympics looms large, where both athletes finished disappointingly in 15th and 16th place on new sleds. Weston admitted, "It took a pretty big emotional toll, the Olympics being such a disappointment. It was tough to swallow, but then I changed my mentality. I just thought, 'Right, enough wallowing—2026, let's go put this thing right.'"
He added, "I've not thought of anything apart from the Olympic gold, to be honest. The silver hasn't even come into my brain. Everything I've been working for the past four years is gold. All the world champs, European champs, Crystal Globes, they are all stepping stones up to this point."
Team GB's Skeleton Legacy and Current Challenges
Team GB has a storied history in skeleton, having medaled in seven of the last eight Olympic Games. This legacy adds pressure and expectation for Weston and Wyatt as they aim to reclaim Britain's podium position.
In a recent setback, the duo faced an early blow when new helmets they planned to wear for the games were banned. The team has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with a verdict anticipated imminently, potentially impacting their preparation and performance.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games are scheduled from February 6 to 22, with extensive live coverage available on platforms like discovery+. As the event approaches, the unique bond between Weston and Wyatt—forged through shared beds and fierce competition—highlights the personal dynamics behind elite athletic rivalries.
