THE BBC were forced to apologise after Team GB’s Winter Olympics gold medal was tarnished by a “terrible” blunder.
Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker produced a thrilling performance with their combined runs in the mixed team skeleton relay event.
The TV cameras cut away from Matt Weston as he pushed off for Olympic goldCredit: BBC
It returned to the Brit once he was already sprintingCredit: BBC
Weston produced a sublime performance on the iceCredit: BBC
Stoecker went first and left Weston needing to make up a sizable 0.3-second deficit on their German rivals.
As Weston prepared to wait for the red traffic lights to go out and prepare to begin his bid for gold, the camera was fixed on him.
But inexplicably, just before he took off, it moved up to show his coach standing behind him.
And Weston was not even in the frame when he pushed off, sprinting along the ice.
Instead, his 0.12-second reaction time showed on a graphic in the corner but the main screen was filled with the Team GB coach roaring their star man on.
The TV feed will have come from the Olympic broadcast – and would not have been under the BBC’s control.
But even so, the Beeb commentator immediately hit out with his furious response to the major mistake.
He said: “Oh, what are they doing?
“What are they playing at?
“That’s terrible.
“That’s a great start.
“Sorry about the pictures but Matt is on his way.”
Weston – who claimed individual gold on Friday – produced a flawless run to claw back Germany’s advantage.
And he crossed the line to give Team GB a combined time of 1:59.36 to win by 0.17 seconds.
That prompted delirium among Britain’s golden duo plus their coaches, family and fans in Italy.
It was Team GB’s second gold within five hours on a Super Sunday – the other being Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale in the snowboard cross mixed team event – and cemented Milano Cortina as their best Winter Olympic performance.
But fans on social media could not help but vent their fury at the shocking camerawork.
One said: “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.
“It’s a bit like focusing on Toto Wolff at the start of a Grand Prix. Madness!”
They later added: “The lights going out builds up the tension and adds to the entertainment factor as is that is the best shot to show.
“Hopefully they can find the wide shot of his start for replay packages!”
Another wrote: “So much happening, lest us not forget John Hunt ticking off the director. Marvellous stuff.”
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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