Team GB hero Matt Weston reveals 'most surreal thing' about 30-minute chat with ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Published 21/02/2026 at 08:40 GMT
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Matt Weston has evolved into a household British name after his history-making antics at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. But the Team GB star says the reality of his double gold medal has not yet sunk in, and the "pretty surreal" experience continued after Jurgen Klopp recognised his achievements in a lengthy conversation. "It was pretty surreal," Weston said about "sound guy" Klopp.
Weston enjoys ‘surreal’ 30-minute chat with 'sound guy' Klopp
Video credit: SNTV
Team GB's double gold medallist Matt Weston said former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is "actually a really sound guy" after they had a lengthy conversation at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Weston created history for Team GB in northern Italy, as his gold in the men's skeleton and subsequent triumph alongside Tabitha Stoecker in the mixed event recorded two of the three British gold medals, with the team previously having never posted more than one gold at a single Winter Games.
And his two golds did not escape the attention of Klopp - who has been a high-profile visitor at Milano Cortina, soaking in the biathlon action and even being granted the responsibility of ringing the final-lap bell.
"I didn't quite think it was him because I was like, surely it's not Jurgen Klopp there," Weston said. "But he actually knew that I'd won two medals.
"I kind of like said ‘hello' and he goes, ‘Oh, you've got two golds, haven't you?' I was like, ‘Yeah, how do you know that?'
"That's probably the most surreal thing. But I was chatting to him for about 20-30 minutes and he's actually a really sound guy, so down to earth.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"But afterwards I had to say to me and Marcus [Wyatt], my team-mate, 'Did that just happen?'
"We were just chatting to Jurgen Klopp for about half-an-hour watching the bobsleigh, it was pretty surreal."
So it proves even elite-level athletes can be starstruck meeting other sporting icons.
Klopp ended Liverpool's 30-year Premier League title drought when he led the Merseyside club to domestic glory in 2020, while also winning the UEFA Champions League the season prior. He left the club in the summer of 2024 after nearly nine years.
And while Weston was delighted to meet the German coach, he joked he kept his own affiliations quiet.
"It's not Liverpool, unfortunately," Weston said when asked which football club he supported. "But I did keep that quiet when I was chatting to Jurgen!"
Weston only seemed to get stronger and stronger as he sent track records tumbling when recording a dominant victory in the men's skeleton to win Team GB's first gold at Milano Cortina - becoming just one of three British men to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Two days later, he stood atop the podium again, this time alongside Stoecker as they powered to mixed team gold by a 0.17s margin.
And Weston said he has still not quite fully grasped the reality of his achievements.
"Crazy, crazy, to be honest," he said. "I think as soon as I kind of stepped off the podium on the team race, I was whisked straight into media, doing this, meeting people, talking about what's happened over the past few days.
"So I've kind of gone over it a few times in my head, but still it doesn't feel real, it's definitely been a bit of a whirlwind."
Within a week of the action in Italy, Weston established himself as a household name. He said it is hard to fathom the effect his accomplishments have had on the audience at home.
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"I don't think it's really sunk in the impact I've had for people back at home, because when I was racing, I kind of turned my phone off," he said.
"I had a separate phone, so only a few people had my number and I wasn't on social media or anything like that, to kind of block out all the noise and I could really focus on the race. So when I turned it back on after the race, it's kind of gone mental, to be honest.
"One of the impacts that I've been most proud of is we've had over 4000 people come and sign up and try out for British skeleton since the races. So that's absolutely amazing, the fact that we've had so many people think, yeah, that could be me in a few years, so that's amazing."
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Weston also spoke about the honour of being a key part of Team GB's most successful Winter Olympics.
"Since I was such a young, young kid, Team GB has always had a very, very special place in my heart," Weston said. "One, to be able to go and represent those guys at an Olympics is insane and feels absolutely amazing.
"But to come away with two gold medals for them and be part of one of the most successful Winter Olympics we've ever had is... I don't really have any words.
"I’m just so proud that I can put my name up against some of those greats, and hopefully I've done GB proud."
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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