British skeleton racer Matt Weston overcomes two broken backs to claim Olympic gold in Cortina, a victory born from personal sacrifice and relentless drive.

MATT Weston’s skeleton Olympic gold on Friday was a triumph over profound adversity, capped after the Briton broke his back twice in his athletic career.

The first fracture ended a promising taekwondo career for the 28-year-old, but bizarrely led him to discover skeleton, which he describes as hurtling head-first on a “very expensive tea tray”.

His second broken back came during a skeleton run, yet he persisted to claim two world championships and an overall World Cup title before his Olympic moment.

Friday’s victory made him only the third British man to win an individual Winter Games gold and the first since 1980, capping all his previous achievements.

The achievement was especially rewarding after his disappointment in Beijing four years ago brought him close to quitting the sport entirely.

“It means everything,” he said, after wiping away tears. “I’ve worked so hard for this but everyone back at home, my fiance, family and friends have sacrificed for me to be here.”

Weston revealed the personal cost of his pursuit, stating he had missed funerals and birthdays for this singular Olympic moment.

His fiancee Alex Howard-Jones and his parents were in the crowd to witness his victory, with a wedding planned for July this year.

“For the next few months at least I can say yes, this is the happiest day of my life, then I will have to change my answer,” said Weston, who could win another medal in Sunday’s mixed event.

Teammates call him “Captain 110%”, a moniker that fits his admitted desire to win at all costs in every endeavour.

“I want to win everything, I want to be a perfectionist in everything. I’m a nightmare when we play Monopoly at home,” he said.

His triumph adds another golden chapter for Britain in skeleton, where they are historically the most successful nation at the Winter Olympics.

Britain has won four gold, one silver and five bronze medals in the sport, a remarkable haul for a nation without a strong winter sports tradition.

Eight of those ten medals have come this century, repaying significant investment including a push-start track at the University of Bath and nearly £5 million in funding for these Games.

It takes a particular character to compete in a sport where athletes reach 90 kilometres per hour head-first down an icy track.

Weston, who trained with the elite Royal Marines when he took up skeleton, said those unfamiliar with the sport might misunderstand the skill involved.

“If it looks like I am lying there doing nothing it means I am doing everything right,” he said prior to the Games.

 The Sun Malaysia