Skeleton-Dominant Weston powers to Britain's first gold of Games

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 13 : World number one and hot favourite Matt Weston kept his nerve to win the Olympic men's skeleton gold in emphatic style on Friday, incredibly clocking four track records in a row to give Britain their first medal of the Games.

Germany's Axel Jungk took silver for the second successive Games, a huge 0.88 seconds adrift, while compatriot and defending champion Christopher Grotheer got the bronze.

In truth though, there was only ever one man it.

Weston was on fire in Thursday’s opening runs and built a three-tenth cushion on Jungk.

The double world champion, who has just chalked up a third successive World Cup overall title, was first out again on Friday with a chilly, late evening start that brought an extra sheen – and its associated risk – to the ice.

It made no difference to the 28-year-old, however, as he chalked up a third track record to stretch his lead over the German duo.

Weston said this week that if it looks as if he is doing nothing, then things are going well, and that was exactly the case on Friday as there was barely a flicker of movement from any part of his body as he glided serenely – at 80mph – along the optimum line.

By the time he stood at the top for the final run of the day he knew he just had to avoid any major mishaps, but instead he went even faster to stamp his authority all over the competition.

PASSIONATE CELEBRATION

After climbing off his sled, Weston let out his trademark roar then sunk to his knees in relief, tears pouring down his face.

"It means everything. It means a hell of a lot to me personally, I've worked so hard for this," said Weston, who arrived in Cortina saying he was interested only in gold.

"But everyone back home - my fiance, my family, my friends,