BBC Winter Olympics pundit leaves as Clare Balding makes announcement | Other | Sport
That was followed up by a sensational performance from Matt Weston and Tabitha Stoecker, who triumphed in the mixed skeleton event to confirm Milano-Cortina as Team GB’s most successful-ever Winter Games. It comes after Weston twisted and turned his way to gold in the individual men’s event earlier in the week.
Someone who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win gold in skeleton is Lizzie Yarnold, who became the first British Winter Olympian to win two gold medals. Yarnold had a slightly different role for these Games, having landed herself a punditry gig with the BBC for the skeleton events.
Yarnold was there for both Weston’s individual gold and the mixed team event, with legendary broadcaster Clare Balding having anchored the coverage. But as the skeleton programme came to an end with Weston and Stoecker’s emphatic win on Sunday, so too did Yarnold’s time as a BBC pundit for the Games, which was abruptly announced live on air.
As such, Balding wished Yarnold a fond farewell following the close of Sunday’s proceedings, saying: “Lizzy, what a day for you to say farewell to Cortina, eh?” She responded warmly with: “I know, it’s been a great time.” Before Balding wrapped the conversation up with: “Lizzy thank you, safe journey home and I hope you enjoy watching the rest of the games with your family.”
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Balding previously had to pause the BBC’s coverage of the skeleton event on Friday following Weston’s individual triumph as Yarnold couldn’t help but let her emotions get the better of her. The 2014 and 2018 gold medalist burst into tears while speaking about Weston’s historic win, with Balding having to use all of her broadcast experience to manage the exchange.
Speaking on the show, an emotional Yarnold said: “It’s a hugely emotional moment when you have that Olympic medal. I’m finding it a sliding doors moment that I can’t believe we are here. I was so hoping for this moment.
“Every single one of the four runs were absolute perfection. Incredibly impressive from Matt Weston. What stands out for me is each and every time Matt Weston stood at the start block he was looking down the track, he excelled, he accelerated, he was so focused. I really can’t find the words to describe how incredibly impressed I am with his performance.”
