British skeleton star Matt Weston, favored for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, competes despite a banned helmet and global controversy over Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych.

Matt Weston, Britain’s top skeleton athlete, enters the 2026 Winter Olympics as the favorite to win gold, aiming to deliver on UK Sport’s £25.75 million investment in winter sports. Despite a recent setback when his team’s new helmet was banned by officials and an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport failed, Weston remains confident, citing strong practice performances and his ability to thrive under pressure. The competition, held over two days with four runs, has drawn international attention due to a separate controversy involving Ukrainian racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was barred from wearing a helmet featuring images of victims of the Russian invasion, a decision he called heartbreaking. Ukraine’s president praised the athlete for honoring fallen compatriots.