21 January 2023 , 10:47
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Matt Weston banished his Beijing demons by powering to European Championship glory in Germany.
Britain’s Skeleton star considered quitting the sport after last year’s Olympics at which Team GB, let down by equipment, finished also-rans.
But in Germany yesterday, on the Altenberg track where he won last week’s World Cup series event, the 25-year old again reigned supreme.
Britain had not had a European champion since Kristan Bromley won the last of his three titles in 2008.
Guided by new coach and 12-time Euro king Martins Dukurs, Weston bossed the two runs to win by 0.35 seconds, a massive margin in this sport.
Paralympic athlete and coach Hughes, 63, dies unexpectedly after Team GB success
Marcus Wyatt was fourth and Craig Thompson fifth to complete an outstanding day for the Brits.
(Viesturs Lacis Rekords)Weston said: “It was a lot harder after winning last week as there was added pressure.
“Keeping your nerves stable is already difficult enough when you’re about to run as fast as you can off an icy hill!
“Last week felt amazingly special, beating the Germans on their own track, and I didn’t think it could get any better.
“But this has topped that. To become Britain’s first European Champion for 15 years feels pretty sweet.”
Having Dukurs and his sled builder Matthias Guggenberger aboard has helped transform a British team down in the dumps after its China crisis.
“They’ve helped me to have belief in myself and to put it down on the track,” said Weston. “They’ve made a massive difference.”
The Surrey star’s focus switches now to the two-day World Championships which start on Thursday in St Moritz.
“Physically I’m not at my peak right now, we’re looking to peak in Moritz,” he said. “The Worlds is what we’ve been aiming for.
“The Germans are our biggest opponents at the moment and going on a track where they don’t have a home advantage I’m really excited for."
Paralympics GB athlete and coach Anthony Hughes dies unexpectedly aged 63