Olympic hero Weston welcomed home by proud family

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Olympic hero Weston welcomed home by proud family

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The family of double Winter Olympic gold medalist Matt Weston said they hoped to spend time with him and “let it all sink in” by welcoming him back home.

Weston’s brother Ed and his fiancée Alex Howard-Jones met the skeleton star and the rest of Team GB as they flew home to Gatwick Airport on Monday morning.

Weston, who became the first British Olympic athlete to win two medals at the same games, said his “feet haven’t really touched the ground” since his victory but he was looking forward to seeing his family again.

Howard-Jones, who will marry Weston in July, said: “Life will definitely be different but I know he will be the same Matt Weston. We are so excited and proud for him.”

Howard-Jones added: “He’s been away for a long time but we’re very proud of him and it was incredible to see him get on that podium.”

Weston, originally from Crowborough, East Sussex and born in Redhill, Surrey, won solo and team gold with skeleton partner Tabitha Stoecker at her second Winter Olympics, having finished 15th in Beijing in 2022.

Speaking at Gatwick, he said: “I need to find the voice of all the celebrations again. I hope to have some time to rest and relax with my family.”

Brother Ed, who watched Weston’s skeleton victories on television, added: “It was so nerve-racking watching him. It will be good for him to come home and let it all sink in.”

A man holding two gold medals and smiling. — Weston, from Crowborough, won gold in the solo skeleton and mixed team events [PA Media]

Returning from the Milan-Cortina games after the closing ceremony on Sunday, Team GB athletes were greeted by friends and family as well as members of the public.

Brad Hall, from Crawley, who piloted the Team GB bobsleigh team, said he was “definitely not ruling out” a return to the next Winter Olympics in 2030 but at 35 he would consider his options.

Hall, a four-time Winter Olympian, missed out on a medal after a “devastating” seventh-place finish.

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