Olympic Champ Carries Gold Medals in Tom Daley Pouch

When most Olympians win gold, they lock their medals in a safe or display case. Matt Weston stuffs his in a knitted pouch and hands them to strangers.

The 26-year-old skeleton racer from Crowborough, England, just returned from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy with two gold medals: one for solo competition and another for the mixed team event with partner Tabitha Stoecker. His fiancée and agent have both scolded him for being too casual with the precious hardware, but Weston has a good reason for his approach.

"I really enjoy showing people and letting people hold them, and hopefully being able to hold them and see them inspires people to take up sport," Weston said. He wants kids and adults alike to feel the weight of Olympic gold in their hands and realize that extraordinary achievements start with ordinary people taking chances.

Weston knows this firsthand. Just nine years ago, he had never tried skeleton, the terrifying sport where athletes hurtle headfirst down an ice track at speeds up to 90 mph. Today he's a double Olympic champion.

The medals travel everywhere with him in a small knitted pouch created by none other than Tom Daley, the British Olympic diver who became famous for knitting in the stands during Tokyo 2020. "It's struggling a bit with two of them, it's a good problem to have, but it's a very cool and unique thing," Weston said with a laugh. "That is actually rarer than the medals are!"

Why This Inspires

Weston's casual attitude toward his achievements reflects something deeper than carelessness. It's generosity of spirit. He trains at the UK's only push start track at the University of Bath, the same facilities available to newcomers curious about skeleton racing.

By letting people hold his medals, he's breaking down the mystique that makes Olympic glory seem unreachable. The message is clear: these achievements belong not just to the champions who earn them, but to everyone who dares to try something new.

If touching two pieces of gold hanging from colorful ribbons convinces even one person to take up a sport, Weston believes the risk of a scratch or dent is worth it.