Ecstasy & relief for Wyatt
Marcus Wyatt says he felt a mixture of ecstasy and relief in the moments after winning World Championship silver in the men’s skeleton yesterday.
Wyatt finished second in the biggest event of the year having already secured Overall World Cup silver at the end of the eight-race campaign last month.
The 33-year-old claimed his maiden World Championship medal a year after missing out by one hundredth of a second and two seasons after being in the medal spots on Day 1 before finishing fifth on Day 2.
Wyatt spoke pre-race about his desire to ‘tick the World Championship box’ and just how much this medal meant to him was immediately evident at the finish line and then the leader’s box in Lake Placid.
“It was a crazy day and I’m incredibly proud to finally have my first World Champs medal,” said Wyatt, who medalled five times on the World Cup circuit this season and had European Championship gold and silver to his name before finally breaking his World Championship jinx in New York State.
I was so relieved and ecstatic to see Martins (coach Martins Dukurs) holding out his finger at the end of that fourth run to show that I was guaranteed a medal - that was a pretty incredible moment.
“The third run wasn’t what I wanted and I was quite aware of what had happened last year and the year before but, when it came down to it, I knew I could do what I needed to do, and I proved that.
“Knowing I’d at least come third and finally got a World Champs medal was an amazing feeling but to then know it was going to be silver after Axel (Germany’s Axel Jungk) came so close was even better.”
Even better still for Wyatt was standing on the podium with his friend and team mate Matt Weston, who won gold to regain the title he first claimed in St Moritz two seasons ago.
The British pair had already nailed down the top two spots in the World Cup campaign but repeating that feat at the biggest individual event outside the Olympics was even more special for Wyatt.
“I’d been sat in second for most of the race so to secure a GB 1-2 after slipping to third after Run 3 was just brilliant,” added Wyatt.
“I was over the moon with any medal but I think silver is a big upgrade from bronze, especially when Matt won gold, too.
I think it’s what we deserve after the season we’ve had. We’ve shown throughout the year how good we are and how consistent we are and it’s felt like we’ve been dominating in lots of the races.
“For the two of us to be up there together was super, super special. It was an amazing place to be, especially having our friends and family out there, too. It’s something that will live long in the memory.”
World Championship schedule
All times are GMT
Thurs 6 & Fri 7 Mar
Men's Skeleton: Weston 1st; Wyatt 2nd; Bostock 18th
Women's Skeleton: Stoecker 8th; Coltman 14th; Tarbit 18th
Sat 8 Mar
2-man Bobsleigh Runs 1&2 2pm
Women's Monobob Runs 1&2 7pm
Sun 9 Mar
Skeleton Team Event 12am
2-man Bobsleigh Runs 3&4 2.30pm
Women's Monobob Runs 3&4 7.30pm
Sat 15 Mar
4-man Bobsleigh Runs 1&2 1pm
Women's Bobsleigh Runs 1&2 6pm
Sun 16 Mar
4-man Bobsleigh Runs 3&4 1pm
Women's Bobsleigh Runs 3&4 6pm
