BBC coverage error frustrates viewers during Matt Weston’s gold medal run
Viewers of the Winter Olympics expressed their frustration after a significant camera mishap during BBC’s coverage of Matt Weston‘s gold medal-winning skeleton run in the mixed team event on Sunday evening, reports BritPanorama.
As Weston prepared to launch down the track, the broadcast inexplicably shifted focus away from him, zooming in on his coach standing behind. This blunder did not go unnoticed by commentator John Hunt, who voiced his displeasure on-air, stating, “Oh, what are they doing? What are they playing at? That’s terrible.” He later added, “Sorry about the pictures but Matt is on his way.”
Weston, alongside partner Tabby Stoecker, faced tough competition from German pairs Susanne Kreher and Axel Jungk, who posted a combined time of 1:59.53, and Jacqueline Pfeifer and Christopher Grotheer, who finished close behind at 1:59.54. Stoecker completed her run first, setting Weston up for a challenging task.
The Surrey athlete needed to overcome a 0.3-second gap on their rivals to claim victory. With teammates Freya Tarbit and Marcus Wyatt having already recorded a time of 1:59.65, Great Britain was assured of at least a bronze medal before Weston took to the ice. He delivered a flawless performance with a track record time of 58.59 seconds, securing gold with a combined total of 1:59.36, beating the Germans by 0.17 seconds.
The BBC subsequently issued an apology for the broadcast error, clarifying that the television feed originated from the Olympic broadcast, which was beyond their direct control. Viewers expressed disappointment online, with one remarking, “Good to see a historic Team GB moment have a shadowed start due to focusing on the coach instead of Matt Weston when the lights went out.”
This triumph marked Team GB’s second gold medal in just five hours, following victories by Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale in the mixed team snowboard cross. Weston had already earned individual skeleton gold earlier in the games, making this his second title. Despite the celebrations, some observers noted the bittersweet nature of the moment, as Tarbit and Wyatt’s earlier run ultimately placed them in fourth, missing out on a medal.
Amid the chaos of broadcasting errors and athletic triumphs, one thing remains clear: the tension and excitement of Olympic competition continues to captivate audiences, intertwining both the successes and the slips that create unforgettable moments.
