BBC Issues Apology for 'Terrible' Coverage of Team GB's Historic Winter Olympics Moment
The BBC has been forced to issue an apology after its live coverage of the Winter Olympics missed the crucial start of Matt Weston's gold medal-winning run in the mixed team skeleton event. The broadcaster's camera work came under heavy criticism from viewers and commentators alike for failing to capture the historic sporting moment as it unfolded.
Camera Error Mars Historic Achievement
As Matt Weston prepared to launch down the slope in what would become a record-breaking run, the BBC's camera inexplicably shifted away from the Team GB athlete. Instead of focusing on Weston's start, the shot moved upward to show a Team GB official giving the signal behind him. This technical error meant that viewers across the United Kingdom missed witnessing the opening seconds of what would become Britain's second gold medal victory of the day at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
BBC commentator John Hunt expressed his frustration live on air, exclaiming: "Oh, what are they doing, what are they playing at; that's terrible!" Hunt subsequently apologised to viewers while attempting to regain his composure for the remainder of the run, adding: "That's a great start, sorry about the pictures... but Matt's on his way."
Weston Makes British Olympic History
Matt Weston, who had already claimed gold in the individual skeleton event earlier in the Games to secure Team GB's first medal, became the first British athlete to win two gold medals at a single Winter Olympics. His performance in the mixed team event, alongside teammate Tabitha Stoecker, defeated two German teams in a stunning display of athletic prowess.
Weston delivered a breathtaking 58.59-second run to secure his second victory of the Games, capping off what commentators dubbed a "Super Sunday" for Team GB. This remarkable achievement followed Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale's gold medal win in the snowboard cross mixed team event earlier the same day.
Team GB's Reaction to Historic Victory
The 28-year-old Weston was understandably elated with his historic achievement, telling BBC reporters: "Luckily, I felt like I kind of knew what I needed to do. Yesterday - not yesterday, the day before, it's all a bit of a whirlwind, when I had the individual event, I kind of took a load of confidence from that, and I just had to, almost in my head, be boring and get the job done. We've done it again!"
Tabitha Stoecker, fighting back tears during their joint interview, expressed her disbelief at their success: "Thanks [Matt]. I can't believe it. It's a team effort, and when Matt came down, and we were in the green, I was just in shock."
Impact on Team GB's Medal Tally
This historic victory propelled Great Britain to 12th place in the overall medal tally, with all three of their medals being gold victories achieved within a remarkable three-day span. The mixed team skeleton event saw Stoecker initially post a time of 1:00.77, placing the British team 0.30 seconds behind the German competitors before Weston's decisive final run.
Despite the BBC's camera error, which prevented fans from reliving the entirety of Weston's triumphant run, the athlete's performance has been widely celebrated as a landmark achievement in British Winter Olympics history. The broadcaster's coverage of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games continues on discovery+ via Prime Video, offering more than 850 hours of live action throughout the event.
