The sliding sport of skeleton returned to the world stage at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, delivering high drama, record-breaking performances, and a mix of heartbreak and triumph. Both the men’s and women’s competitions captured the imagination of fans, with athletes from across the globe vying for Olympic glory at the Cortina Sliding Centre. The event, known for its breathtaking speed and nerve-wracking descents, played out over four heats for each division, with the world’s best sliders pushing the limits of both skill and courage.
On the men’s side, all eyes were on Britain’s Matt Weston, who entered the Games with high expectations after a dominant run on the World Cup circuit. Weston, 28, lived up to the hype in spectacular fashion. Over the course of four runs spread across February 12 and 13, he set track records in each heat, ultimately clinching the gold medal with a combined time of 3 minutes, 43.33 seconds. This remarkable feat left his competitors trailing and the crowd in awe. As the final run approached, Weston’s lead was so commanding that his last slide felt more like a victory lap than a contest. Tears flowed as he crossed the finish line and embraced his coach, Latvian Olympic legend Martins Dukurs. "I expect every time I stand at the top of the start line, I’m going there for one reason and one reason only," Weston reflected. "And that’s to win."
Weston’s gold marks a historic achievement for British skeleton, making him the third Briton to claim Olympic gold in the sport, following in the footsteps of Amy Williams (Vancouver 2010) and Lizzy Yarnold (Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018). His journey has been nothing short of dominant; since finishing 15th at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Weston medaled in 28 of 34 World Cup or world championship races, winning 15 times. "I think I’m a massive perfectionist," Weston admitted. "That kind of manifests itself in a lot of ways in my life. But in skeleton, sometimes when I win, I’m annoyed because I haven’t won correctly." Yet, there was nothing to fault in this Olympic performance—Weston was simply untouchable.
The men’s podium was rounded out by German sliders Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer. Jungk, who took silver in 2022, repeated his feat with a time of 3:44.21, while Grotheer, the reigning Olympic champion, secured bronze at 3:44.40. The event was not without controversy, as Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified before the competition began due to a helmet tribute to fallen Ukrainian athletes and coaches, a decision upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. For Team USA, Austin Florian finished 12th, while Dan Barefoot took 20th. Florian, along with Mystique Ro, is set to compete in the mixed skeleton event, where the pair are reigning world champions.
The women’s skeleton competition proved equally compelling, with Austria’s Janine Flock once again in the spotlight. At 36, Flock arrived in Cortina d’Ampezzo as a four-time Olympian and a three-time World Cup overall champion, yet Olympic hardware had always eluded her. She burst out of the gates in the opening run on February 13, setting a track record of 57.22 seconds. Despite fierce competition from a trio of German sliders—Susanne Kreher, Jacqueline Pfeifer, and reigning Olympic champion Hannah Neise—Flock held her nerve and the lead through two heats, posting a combined time of 1:54.48. Kreher was a mere 0.04 seconds behind, with Pfeifer and Neise close on her heels.
"I just tried to do what I’ve been doing for 20 years now, having a really good run, enjoying the run and enjoying what I’m doing," Flock said after her stellar performance. Her composure under pressure was evident, particularly in the second heat, where she trailed at multiple splits but surged at the finish to reclaim the top spot. Flock’s track record was briefly broken by Pfeifer in the second run (57.18 seconds), but ultimately, it was Flock’s consistency and experience that kept her in front.
The women’s field was stacked with talent. Kreher, the 2023 world champion, delivered a stunning second run to challenge Flock, while Pfeifer and Neise lurked just behind. British sliders Tabitha Stoecker and Freya Tarbit occupied fifth and sixth, respectively, with times of 1:55.01 and 1:55.16. The defending world champion, Kimberly Bos of the Netherlands, endured a tough day, finishing 13th and trailing Flock by nearly a second and a half.
For the United States, Kelly Curtis and Mystique Ro represented Team USA, standing 10th and 17th at the midway mark. Both athletes were determined to improve their positions in the final heats scheduled for February 14. The U.S. skeleton team, featuring Curtis, Ro, Florian, and Barefoot, showcased both experience and emerging talent, with hopes high for the upcoming mixed event.
Flock’s Olympic journey has been one of near misses and perseverance. She finished fourth in PyeongChang 2018, ninth in Sochi 2014, and tenth in Beijing 2022. With her current lead, history is on her side—the midpoint leader in Olympic women’s skeleton has never finished worse than second. Yet, Flock knows all too well the heartbreak of late-race drama; in 2018, she led with one run remaining only to fall out of medal contention. This year, she’s determined to rewrite her Olympic story.
Coverage of the skeleton events was extensive, with live streams available on Peacock and select coverage on NBC and USA Network. Fans could catch every heat, from the men’s and women’s individual competitions to the mixed team event scheduled for February 15. For those without cable, streaming options through DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and other platforms ensured no one missed a moment of the action. The accessibility of the broadcasts and the drama on the ice combined to make skeleton one of the standout sports of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
As the final heats approach for the women’s skeleton, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion. Will Janine Flock finally capture the elusive Olympic medal that has slipped through her grasp, or will the German contingent spoil her dream? One thing’s certain—the world will be watching as the best skeleton sliders hurtle toward Olympic history.