'It doesn’t matter if you train as hard as you can, if you don’t sleep well, it’s almost not worth doing all of the other things': Team GB Olympic skeleton star explains the sleep tricks that power him to gold

Team GB Olympic Skeleton competitor Matt Weston lying on his back on a Dreams Dream Team mattress

(Image credit: Dreams)

It takes a lot to reach the top of the podium at the Winter Olympics: grit, bravery, hard work and yes, a good night's sleep. Gold medal performances start with sleep, which is why Dreams has partnered with Skeleton World Champion Matt Weston to craft athlete-approved mattresses from £559 at Dreams.

"It doesn’t matter if you eat amazing, you’ve got a private chef, you train as hard as you can, if you don’t sleep well, it’s almost not worth doing all of the other things because sleep is the main thing for recovery,” explains Weston.

And you don't need to be flying face first down a Skeleton slope to feel the benefits of sleep — so we asked Weston his top tips for sleeping well, whether you're watching Milano Cortina 2026 from the top of a ski slope or the comfort of your sofa.

It’s pivotal for me to have this extra time to calm myself down and unwind

Sleep is when your body (and your brain) can dedicate itself to vital repair work. Your muscles, bones and tendons all have a chance to rest and recover when you enjoy good sleep after hard training.

“Recovery is the main reason why sleep is so important," explains Weston.

But getting good sleep can be pretty difficult after a day of hurtling face first down an icy track, as Skeleton racers do.

"If I got home, showered and jumped straight into bed, I’d still be wide awake!" says the Winter Olympian. "So, it’s pivotal for me to have this extra time to calm myself down and unwind.”

For Weston, a proper bedtime routine is important even on competition day (Skeleton kicks off on February 12th.)

On the left, Team GB Olympic Skeleton star Matt Weston with a soft toy of Dreams mascot Beddie on his shoulder. On the right, the Dream Team Evesham Mattress on a bed frame in a bedroom — (Image credit: Dreams)

“When I’m racing at 6-7pm at night, I need to be pumped up and ready to go," he says. "When I get home, even if it’s late, I’ll take an extra 30-45 minutes to deliberately wind myself down."

Among his preferred relaxing hobbies are; "meditation, going for a walk or speaking to people back at home."

He also advises keeping your sleep space just that: a space for sleep.

“I’m not somebody who chills in my bed; I keep it very much as my sleep area," Weston notes.

"On season that’s difficult as you only really have a bedroom, so I try to not lie down on my bed unless I’m there to sleep, as it becomes your chill out area, not your sleep area.”

Good advice for anyone who enjoys an active lifestyle, even if the face-first at top-speed approach of Skeleton sounds like an actual living nightmare.

The rest of the dream team

Ruth is an experienced Senior Staff writer at Tom’s Guide, covering all things sleep and mattresses. She writes to help people sleep better, from how-tos to the latest deals to mattress reviews, and has interviewed an array of experts who share her passion. She is also our specialist on memory foam — she’s flown around the world to see memory foam being made — and leads our hotel mattress content. She has a deep interest in the link between sleep and health, and has tried enough mattresses, from Helix to Nectar to Simba, to know the right bed really can make a difference to your wellbeing. Before joining the team at Tom’s Guide, Ruth worked as a sleep and mattress writer for our sister website, TechRadar.

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